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DiD Centenary Challenge

Posted By: CatKnight

DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 09:19 AM

DiD: The Centenary

They said it would be over by Christmas. Over the last century it's almost become cliche, a term for foolish over-optimism and a complete failure to assess the enemy.

Over by Christmas: Ten million soldiers and five million civilians died over the next four years - about 4% of the population in France and Germany. Most of the military deaths happened in the trenches of course, where a combination of mass produced artillery and machine guns turned No Man's land into a meatgrinder.

In the air it was different, especially in the beginning. Flying was a danger in and of itself and the pilots on both sides often felt more camaraderie for each other than the poor fellows on the ground. Initially armed with pistols and rifles, two 'combattants' might take a few shots at each other, but any actual hits or damage was besides the point. Incidental.

That would change of course. The Eindecker would pave the way and soon machine-gun armed scouts made recon and artillery sighting dangerous occupations. Then the scouts turned on each other. Getting shot was, of course, bad enough but the real fear was fire. You had no parachute: Did you let yourself die in flames or jump and shatter on the earth a kilometer below?

DiD campaigns let us try to mimic the campaigns these people fought in. This isn't about accumulating victories. It's not about glory. This is about seeing your mother/wife/girlfriend/dog one more time. It's about returning to your home village and being able to say 'I was there.' It's about taking this terrible madness that the lords of Europe have started, and using it to tell a story. Your story.

Make it an epic.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 09:22 AM

Orders of the Day (Rules)

Enlistment

Create a pilot using manual enlistment, and select a two-seater squadron of your choice to place him in.
Select the current date (in game) for the group you'd like to join (see below.)
Characters should start at the following ranks:
* Britain: (RFC) Sergeant; (RNAS) Flight Sub-Lieutenant
* Germany: (Luft.) Offizerstellverter; (Marine) Flugmeister
* France: Sergent
Name your pilots in alphabetical order. The first pilot's name within each group should begin with 'A', then 'B', and so forth.

Groups
There are two groups within the campaign. They are:

Intrepid Fliers (Start date of February 1, 1915)
The 'Fliers' are synced with our real calendar by days of the week. Monday, February 1, 1915 equals Monday, June 1, 2015. OldHat has provided a calendar we can use.




Warbirds Rising (Start date of June 1, 1915)
The 'Warbirds' are synced by date. June 1, 1915 equals June 1, 2015.

Note that WOFF does not allow flights on the 31st day of a game month. This means there will be days where there should be no flights within a given group. Perhaps your CO gave you the day off.

You may have two pilots in this campaign active at any one time, one in each group.

Workshop Settings and Aids
Any and all aids are permitted. Go with what you're comfortable with.

All workshop settings are allowed except as follows:
* Outcomes – Normal
* Campaign date advance – Manual
* Weather: Historical
* Campaign Mission Frequency: Historical
* Log: Campaign Only
* Unlimited Weapons, Fuel: Off
* Flight Model: Realistic


Training

Once you've created your pilot it's time for training:

First Mission: In Workshop, set your logging to 'All' flights. Now go into QC, and schedule yourself a transfer flight from one of the airbases mentioned below to your new home airfield:
* British Career: Netheravon, Hounslow, Eastchurch, Biggin Hill
* French Career: Saint Inglevert
* German Career: Koln

Once you've accumulated 25 missions (total) in the campaign, you may (but are not required to) ignore this step for future pilots.

Be sure to set your Workshop back to only logging 'Campaign' flights when you're done. Advance the campaign by one day.

Second Mission: Let the WOFF Campaign Manager schedule you a mission, but ignore the directions. Instead, complete two circuits around your home airfield and land. Some suggestions for these missions: (a) Get familiar with your area of operation. Make notes of landmarks to familiarize yourself with the area (b) Practice flight leader commands: Attack (A), Rejoin (R), RTB (Ctrl + R), Land Here (Ctrl + L) and Split Formation (S). c) Practice maneuvers with your new aircraft. If hostile aircraft attempt to engage you, disengage and RTB.
Suggestion: When you land, you might want to speed up time until your friends return home so they don't get lost over enemy lines.

Third Mission: Let the WOFF Campaign Manager schedule you a mission, but ignore the directions. Fly to the front and back. Again, if hostile aircraft attempt to engage, disengage and RTB.


Further Missions

Generate missions and carry them out, as dictated by the WOFF manager’s campaign briefing screen.

You may, for role-playing reasons, choose to use QC to simulate transfer flights, runs for repaired aircraft and so forth. If you do so, be sure to reset your Workshop to log 'All missions' (and change it back when you're done), and advance the campaign one day after the mission.

Once per week (minimum), submit a survey highlighting your accomplishments. I will use that to feed weekly reports on our progress. The survey is at
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1VKtvQ6J_IIAeMa-FsZMyC5JnYPhPB1LAEZbQ20RS77k/viewform?usp=send_form

Fly only one day's worth of missions per real world date in accordance with the calendars above. If your pilot is hospitalized or captured, you'll need to wait those amount of days before flying again. With the weekly 'scoreboard' I'll include a line resyncing the campaign dates with the real date to make sure we stay on the same page.

Transfers

After 10 missions (including the ones above) you may, but are not required to, request a transfer to another squadron. Once in a new squadron, you may not ask again until 10 more missions have passed.

There may come a time (especially if you're playing the French) when your squadron becomes unplayable due to lack of useable aircraft. If that happens, you have three options:

Emergency transfer: Your pilot sits for a week (7 days). After that, you may restart him in a new career with any squadron from his country. You'll need to manually track the pilot's combined record.

Wait: If this is a problem that will eventually correct itself (such as a squadron switching to a different plane), you can choose to wait it out. Your pilot will simply be inactive until he can play again.

Retire: You can retire the character and start a new one.


Scoring

REVISED POST 104:

Missions flown = 1pt
Hours flown = 1pt per full hour
Claims total = 1pt (wether confirmed or not)
victories conf. = 2pts (as per the rule 1 claim for every 3 victories in a single mission)

Promotion = 10pts per level.

n.b. perhaps a new rule...when you make Captain (or what ever in other nations) then you have to transfer to be a flight commander some where else.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 09:57 AM

in...gota figure out where though first. will edit post later

and thanks
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 12:56 PM

On Holiday. Will sign up Monday. thumbsup
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 01:15 PM

I'll fly, will sign up later today with Arnold.
Off to cut down a tree for a friend.

Probably will do the fuel trick, 5% for any squadmates for flights 2 & 3
Posted By: Lewis

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 04:12 PM

I'd like to be involved with this, but I doubt that FlightGear would be the best sim to emulate this in, with it not having any Campaign mode. Plus this being a WOFF forum it's sort of conflicting of interest.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 04:37 PM

Put that old Blue Spruce right where it needed to land. No room for error on that old sappy conifer. Had to break out the 32" bar and chain on the Stihl 441 Magnum.
Why any one planted a tree that close to a house is beyond me...but it is down and I cut the large diameter trunk into sections they could roll to the bonfire. Left them the task of limbing, had a PBR tall boy and went home. It's quite the party they are having while they burn the tree up.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 05:05 PM

I'm in and I'll get my pilot and bio to you soon. Do we need to fill out the report with our starting info. before the campaign starts?
Posted By: CW3SF

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 06:02 PM

I just tried to enlist, and got a start date of 14 Feb. 1915. ( In Jasta 1 )

Is this OK??
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 06:10 PM

AAAARRRRGGGgggggg.....
I was all ready to fly some WOFF and got a call regarding an uncut lawn from an elderly man within garden tractor distance travel.
I'll take care of him in the hopes that if that issue ever arises for me in years ahead...I've some good Karma.

Rear 54" brush hog or 62" belly deck...... I'll consult Walter and mull it over with a PBR tall boy.
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 06:13 PM

Hey, slow down on those PBRs, you gotta fly later! beercheers
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 06:17 PM

I would go with the brush hog. And good luck on the Karma!
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 07:02 PM

Banjoman: You can if you want, but you don't need the report until the campaign starts.

CW3SF: Did you use manual enlistment rather than auto-enlist?

Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 07:24 PM

Not that many squads to choose from which start 1st February. Go to the first post in the other thread to see my graph and choose a squad that starts in January. Then select "Manual Squad Deployment" to advance the date to 1st February.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 08:47 PM

I left the belly deck on. 18 minutes there at full throttle with the "cruise control" on. The Old X-585 made good time there. I could feel the momentum of the rear wheel weights going down the long hill, didn't notice any issues climbing the hill to home. I cut him a few paths out back to buildings after I cut around the house. He gave me a Miller 16oz bottle when he looked over his Craftsman that runs fine, but has a seriously messed up deck.

Tomorrow the rear 48" tiller goes on. It was 34F early this am before the sun came up.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 09:18 PM

CW3SF: Ah, I think I found the issue.

Jasta 1 doesn't activate until February 14. You have two options:

First, there are squads active on February 1. Just cycle through until you find one.

Second, if you want to be in Jasta 1 from the beginning, you can set up your pilot but couldn't start until the game catches up with you on June 14.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 09:22 PM

.

I will be signing on for this campaign and am really looking forward to some early war flying again.

Also, I must offer a small point of order as concerns the following:

Originally Posted By: CatKnight
The Eindecker would pave the way and soon machine-gun armed scouts made recon and artillery sighting dangerous occupations.

It was actually Roland Garros who paved the way when he attached metal deflector wedges to the propeller blades on his Morane-Saulnier Type L and, on 1 April 1915, achieved the first ever downing of an aeroplane by firing through the propeller. He downed two more enemy planes in the same way before he was forced to land behind enemy lines due to ground fire and his plane was captured. It was inspected a short time later by Anthony Fokker who took Garros' idea and refined it with his interpretation of the interrupter gear. I say his interpretation as there was already a Entente design of such an idea that was on file but for some reason was not implemented until many months after Fokker's design had gone into service.

.
Posted By: Lewis

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 09:55 PM

Weren't the new Eindekkers slated to be escorts for FFA's, and weren't used in anything more than as behind lines escort fighters? I mean they didn't really patrol really close to the front for fear of their being captured if hit by AA or shot down. Also the Oberusal U.0's weren't exactly giving the E-I an advantage in climb.
Posted By: CW3SF

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 10:27 PM

OK, I am in FA-13 with a start date of 1 Feb. 1915.

Now, quick how do you drop bombs? Or just fly around with the rest of the Lads?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 11:24 PM

Please forgive me if I'm being dense, but can I enlist and conduct my flight from England to St. Omer today or do I need to wait until June 1?
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/15 11:43 PM

My best guesstimate is wait.....Heinz commercial time.

Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 01:41 AM

Banjoman: You can enlist today (with a start date of February or June 1), but wouldn't make your transfer flight until June 1st.

CW3SF Backspace to 'load' your bombs as your secondary weapon. Usually joysticks have a default button for their secondary weapon. You should be able to customize it in workshop.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 12:54 PM

.

CatKnight, you've noted that French pilots must fly from Etampes to their assigned aerodrome, however the field at Etampes is not in WOFF. Might I suggest Saint-Inglevert instead. I am planning on having my pilot serve with MS23 which will be based at Lahoussoye on 1 February, 1915. Flying from Saint-Inglevert would offer a cross-country flight of about 160km with a duration of about an hour and twenty minutes. Here is the map showing what would be a very easy to follow route, (open the image in a new window to view it full size):



.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 02:52 PM

Does anyone know if we'll be able to continue the French campaign in October 1915, once the new expansion arrives with the N.10? IIRC we will be getting the CI model. The squadrons require the CI and the A2 models (not to mention the N.12's). Will these squadrons be able to function with only the CI's? I wouldn't want to sit around until the N.11's arrive. Is there any other way to get around it apart from switching to RFC?

Second question - can we keep the rank of the previous pilot, or do we have to start from the bottom again with the new pilot?

And finally, Pol - any chance of more early French planes that could be included in the second expansion containing the Fokker D II?
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 03:20 PM

First question - I'm hoping that an expansion is released by then. Otherwise, no other workaround but to either skip or start a new pilot.

Second question - I say keep the previous rank, but I'll let CatKnight say for sure.
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 03:30 PM

Originally Posted By: RAF_Louvert
.

CatKnight, you've noted that French pilots must fly from Etampes to their assigned aerodrome, however the field at Etampes is not in WOFF. Might I suggest Saint-Inglevert instead. I am planning on having my pilot serve with MS23 which will be based at Lahoussoye on 1 February, 1915. Flying from Saint-Inglevert would offer a cross-country flight of about 160km with a duration of about an hour and twenty minutes.

.


Oops! You're right. I must have had my test pilot in 1917 when I saw Etampes.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 04:10 PM

OldHat, thanks for your reply. I am counting on the expansion to be released by September (two weeks) and we will be able to continue our campaigns uninterrupted. I'm just wondering if only one variant of N.10 (the CI) will be sufficient to keep the escadrilles operational. Maybe one of the devs would be able to answer it.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 06:18 PM

Lou: Saint Inglevert it is. Thanks!

Fullofit: I certainly hope so, though I think we'd need a developer to tell us for sure whether the N10C1 is sufficient.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 08:41 PM

Reporting for duty.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 09:53 PM

Reporting for duty, Sir!

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 09:56 PM

wave Adian

Hey guys, should I complete a survey now?
Or wait until after the first QC mission is flown?
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 10:07 PM

Introducing Sgt. Alan Smith:
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/15 10:59 PM

MudWasp: You can, but no need to fill out a survey til we take to the air.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/15 08:35 PM

OldHat or CatKnight, as with the French, Koln or Cologne is not on the map for the Germans for a staring point. Any suggestions.
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/15 08:49 PM


Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/15 09:09 PM

Not for a June start. Closest would be Mariakerke.
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/15 09:14 PM

Maybe try again. Can you see something like this?

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/15 09:41 PM

For Koln, select Germany....for a Brit select England....in the REGION part of the menu.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/15 09:44 PM

Man, I'm going to have one long haul from Ghistilles to Colmar when I need a new airplane!
May I fly one out of Koln?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/15 10:47 PM

You all will have to excuse me, I was born ignorant and had a relapse. I was looking in Flanders. Sorry Gents.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/15 10:57 PM

Originally Posted By: MFair
You all will have to excuse me, I was born ignorant and had a relapse. I was looking in Flanders. Sorry Gents.


That REGION setting has got me before too. cheers
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/15 01:33 AM

CatNight -- please consider me in.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/15 03:47 AM

MudWasp: I'd say yes. Going back for a new airplane is optional, so Koln is fine.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/15 03:54 AM


screenshot



Well yes, I pointed towards Germany and he just took off !
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/15 08:37 AM

As the official start is June (Feb 1915) I thought I'd let my pilot(s) do the advanced flight training school first. And so Sgt.Alfred Ball has completed the school and orderd to report to No6. Sqn RFC in France.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/15 03:14 AM

wave


Getting ready to head on over.

https://youtu.be/Sg4jHzkLmWM
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/15 03:53 AM

I was disappointed when I got to the head water shed of the Rhine. Was hoping to see some fingers that trialed off or woff into the hills.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/15 07:02 PM

wave

https://youtu.be/HvtQIh2wJRc


Havin a go at it for the Centenary Flights.

All I want to know is :

Where the E'LL is Biggin Hill better yet which one is Biggin Hill ?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/15 08:34 PM

I have a British and German pilot. The Aviatak is something else! And not in a good way. This should be fun.
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/15 08:54 PM

Introducing my pilot. I think I shall be making the flight from Köln to Phalempin on Saturday or Sunday RL. A test flight of the Aviatik BI leads me to think that this will take about 3 hours if I don't get lost or run out of fuel!

Posted By: Lewis

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/15 01:54 AM

Originally Posted By: carrick58
wave

https://youtu.be/HvtQIh2wJRc


Havin a go at it for the Centenary Flights.

All I want to know is :

Where the E'LL is Biggin Hill better yet which one is Biggin Hill ?


Well in modern maps Biggin Hill is 14.3 Nautical Miles N/NE from Gatwick, EGKK.

Could you re-enlist as an RNAS pilot and leave from Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey? It would be easier to find
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/15 03:07 AM

Biggin Hill should be available. Are you sure you're looking in England region?

Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/15 02:41 PM

After lurking for a month, this has dragged me out of the shadows...

The Vix cousins...there's lots of them.





Looking forward to this.

Ken
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/15 03:19 PM

Great! This will be fun to see how long I can make it with an "A" alphabet pilot.



Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/15 03:59 PM

Originally Posted By: Kuroken
After lurking for a month, this has dragged me out of the shadows...

The Vix cousins...there's lots of them.





Looking forward to this.

Ken


Ken,
Glad to see another southerner here. I'm just across the line in Mississippi.
Gook luck with your pilots.
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/15 04:44 PM

Welcome to (actively posting about) WOFF and DiD flying, Kuroken!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/15 06:13 PM

Hey MFair, don't forget about me, I'm a good Southern boy.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/15 11:56 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Hey MFair, don't forget about me, I'm a good Southern boy.


My sincerest apologies Sir! It's just that I see Oklahoma on your posts and forget you are from the south. wave hope you are not getting too much bad weather in your part of the Midwest. Wet, hot and humid here.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/15 12:39 AM


hosting images

Let us have a go at it.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/15 02:34 AM

MFair, we have had an incredible amount of rain. This past Saturday we had 4 inches just in the evening. The whole state of Oklahoma was under severe drought conditions, but not anymore. I really don't know what our current rain total is right now, but this is by far the wettest May that I've experienced since moving to Tulsa and I've lived here 20 years.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/15 02:44 AM

And here I am.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/15 03:25 AM

I had posted a pic before in the prior thread.
Repeating myself again...hope it's taken as LOUD and DRUNK winkngrin

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/15 03:33 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
MFair, we have had an incredible amount of rain. This past Saturday we had 4 inches just in the evening. The whole state of Oklahoma was under severe drought conditions, but not anymore. I really don't know what our current rain total is right now, but this is by far the wettest May that I've experienced since moving to Tulsa and I've lived here 20 years.


This HillBilly feels your pain as best he can. Most water I see is when the Beaver Swamp walls are beeing reconstructed as they are now. Man. the township gives me a special permit to get rid of them when they do, as they are doing this summer..... How should i politely tell them Beavers to move this year?

Edit... NOT Taken as LOUD and DRUNK....oops...fooking clouded up... I'll miss the moon light tonight for frogging.
Have to make do or cat5ch them anutter night. screwy
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/15 02:34 PM

Do you catch enough for a good batch of frog legs? I haven't been frog gigging since I was a kid.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/15 09:36 PM

reporting in for duty:
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/15 10:53 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Do you catch enough for a good batch of frog legs? I haven't been frog gigging since I was a kid.

No, only 3 very large bullfrogs. I'm rusty at it.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/15 03:47 AM

Almost there
Flt Training
Biggin Hill



5-29-15



I say, what a journey, I will having a go at Solo flight then graduation. Used the Trams to get through London then joined up with some service types for the Bike ride over to the hill. Seems so long ago and now almost over.


image url


uploading images
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/15 07:44 PM

Since Germany itelf is a long way from familiar flying areas, I thought an early account of my flight from Cologne to Phalempin in Flanders would be helpful.

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

Kölne. 1 Kompagnie Flieger Bataillon 3 (The German military flying school at Kölne)
Snow lay thick on the ground as Officier Stellvertreter Axel Liedenbrock prepared to take off. He was well wrapped up and the air was still and fairly clear, with only clumps of white cloud here and there.

His kit was in the front seat of his Aviatik BI in place of an observer. Liedenbrock climbed into the rear cockpit and checked his controls.

At 08:20 the Aviatik swept into the sky. Liedenbrock liked the power of the 100hp Mecedes engine. It was so much better than the training machines could give him. He didn't like the tail heaviness of the BI. He had to keep forward pressure on the wheel at all times. He climbed to an approximate height of 1000 metres and estimated his speed as varying between 80 and 100kmh depending on the wind. It was about 290 kilometres along his planned route, so Axel expected it to take 3 hours. His tank was full, which he hoped meant that he had four hours or better.

The first waypoint was the city of Kölne itself. The aerodrome was SE of it, so Liedenbrock headed toward the smoke of morning stoves. He crossed the mighty Rhine over the southern suburbs of the city. He smiled as he thought of the people looking up in amazement from below.



From here, Liedenbrock's planned route was to head west by compass until Flanders, find Lille and follow the rail lines south west from Lille to his new base at Phalempin.

There were rail lines here to the west of Koln, but for now Liedenbrock relied on his compass.

At 09:11, Liedenbrok overflew a town that he believed to be Aachen. At 09:52 he passed the town he knew to be Tienen.
At 10:00 the lone Aviatik was passing Brussels. The Belgian capital was to the north and between Liedenbrock and that place was a giant forest. Axel skirted the south edge of this in case he lost engine power and had to land.



The first evidence of war was found soon after Brussels slipped behind. At Etterbeck, there was an aerodrome with one of the great hangars used to store airships. Leidenbrock overflew this at 10:23, waving to the people below.



At 11:00, Liedenbrock reached the Scheldte river, which marks the eastern border of Flanders. Crossing it at Kluisbergen (due east of Kartrijk) he entered the war zone proper. Kartrijk was too far north for Liedenbrock. He established that he was north-east of his intended route and changed course appropriately. Soon, the built up areas of Roubaix and then Lille approached over the horizon.



The Aviatik was over Lille at 11:28 where Liedenbrock looked for the rail line and road that headed south-west in parallel. These he knew would guide him to Phalempin.

So they did. Phalempin was spotted at 11:30 near a balloon site. He circled to land, noting with dismay many fences in the fields around. The Aviatik touched down and taxied in 3 hours and 20 minutes after leaving the Flying School grounds.



Now Leidenborn had to report to... he checked his orders. Hauptman Steinborn.
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/15 07:51 PM

I got breathless just by reading your account of the long journey, so I can imagine how much stamina you needed to complete it. Cool report. thumbsup

Carrick, take care crossing the channel in case of engine failure. Happened to me only once in 4 crossings.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/15 10:35 PM

In!

And In!
Posted By: Lewis

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/15 02:05 AM

I like Maerans flight report. I've been practicing doing night flights from Vadeliancourt and Nanacy/Malseville to Mannheim/Ludwigschafen where the French squad MF-25 'The Owls', started doing their night bombing runs to the factory areas in the Saar valley and other areas that had previously been French steel smelting plants. It's a difficult route to master in the dark.
Posted By: CW3SF

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/15 02:12 PM

Like all above, I have been practicing with the AV, mostly bombing & landing. I am not good at bombing.

Albert Bergman will show up for duty on 1 Feb 1915, to do his best for Germany.

I hope I have all of the proper checks on correct spots ( outcomes, weather, etc. ) and follow through with the first 3 missions properly.

Having no "real paper maps" I assume the in flight map "M" will work for mission one. Will it give me a headings to follow?

If bad weather forces me to land short of my landing field, you will find me RON in the nearest Gasthouse.

Will we get a final list of rules and "must do's"??

CW3SF
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/15 02:28 PM

.

CW3SF, you could fly WSW from Koln following that main road until you hit the edge of my Flanders map at which point you could then navigate using the 'paper map' and WOFF landmarks. I've just posted an updated download that includes the situation maps for 1915.

Here is a link to that thread: WOFF Map Set May 2015 Update 3

.
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/15 02:32 PM

Wow Maeran, 3 and a half hours!

I thought my last mission of just over two was a long one but that really takes the cake. In fact it also takes the cake tin, the sifter, the egg whisk and half the bloody kitchen!

My hat's off to you. cheers
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/15 04:53 PM

It's something to do once, I guess. I wouldn't want to do it again. Although a hopping 'tour' might be a possibility.
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/15 04:58 PM

Good Luck, you guys, fly safely!

RR
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/15 05:31 PM

For those who don't fly in realtime, then just fly at a high enough altitude, point your craft West and use time compression.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/15 07:17 PM

Almost There
Sgt, Rfc
In Transit



May 31, 1915.


Assigned to Ferry a BE Over There. Departed Biggin Hill to Manston ,But I Ended up at Dover after getting lost . Refueled and Crossed the Channel landing at St Inglevert. then on to 2 Sqn at Ablee Airfield in Flanders.

Took a pic of Biggin Hill.


upload img
Posted By: CW3SF

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/15 07:20 PM

Being a full time RVer ( in a 36 X 8 foot coach ), we do not have a printer along with lots of other heavy stuff.

I plan to leave Koln with a full gas tank and fly on a heading of 225 Mag untill I reach the limit of WOFF maps.

Wish me luck.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/15 08:59 PM

And we're airborne!

REAL DATE: June 1, 2015

Intrepid Fliers: February 1, 1915
Warbirds Rising: June 1, 1915


Final Rules are on Page 1. Please note that it makes sense to get your transfer flight out of the way on the weekend, but in game it takes place on February/June 1, and advance your campaign a day after it's done. The first scoreboard will be posted next Sunday.

Good luck everyone!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 12:10 AM






Adian Lothbrok has made it across the channel to his new home.
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 12:18 AM

Sgt Alan Smith (Warbirds Rising)

Date: 1 June 1915
Mission: Transfer Flight from Biggin Hill to Ablee

1 June 1915 The day has finally arrived. I am off to the front, assigned to 6th Squadron. My observer, Capt. Sebastin Johnson and I are assigned to fly a BE to our new home at Abeele, in Flanders. The weather is terrible for a cross channel flight-steady rain, and almost a solid cloud base at about 4,000 feet. I won't be sorry to leave this English weather! Capt. Johnson suggests that since we really don't want to have our engine quit over the channel, we should get in the air early and do some touch and go's at Biggin Hill. The machine handles wonderfully. After landing and refueling, the adjutant verifies my latest flights in my log book and notes that I now have ten hours solo time, and so should be capable of this short flight to France. He's a queer one. I never know when he is being serious.

Capt Johnson and I are back in the air at 9:15 AM. With luck, we should get use to our new home in time for lunch. It continues to rain. I climb to 2000 feet, and head ESE, staying below the clouds so I can follow the roads. At Tonbridge, I climb to 3500 feet, and head to Ashford, my next navigation checkpoint. However, ten minutes East of Tonbridge, the aircraft begins to lose oil pressure. Fortunately, Kent is relatively flat, and I spot a suitable pasture. After shutting down the engine before it seizes, I make a successful dead stick landing, which was possibly the best landing I have ever made. A friendly farmer gives Capt Johnson a ride into Tonebridge to call Biggin Hill, and they send a mechanic to repair the engine. Fortunately, the problem was a relatively minor seal, which is quickly replaced. While the mechanic does the repairs, the farmer and I patch some holes in the field to provide as smooth a take off run as possible. By 1:30, the job is done and I do some engine run ups to make sure the repair holds. By 1:45, we are back in the air. By this time, the weather has substantially cleared, with only scattered clouds at 2000-4500 feet, and no more rain and light winds. Following roads, we easily make our next navigation check point at Dover without incident and then onto Calais, and from there on to our new home at Abeele, landing at 3:15 PM.
[Player note-I had a random engine failure and set it down in a field. To recreate a subsequent take off, I did another QC flight with the time suitably adjusted for a subsequent T/O, using Bekesbourne airfield, which is located relatively close to the pasture I landed in ]

Leaving Biggin Hill

In a cow pasture

Leaving England
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 01:06 AM

Nice pictures, everyone!

The flight from Koln (Cologne) to the front is over 3 hours. Yeesh. I don't want to have to do that too often!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 03:01 AM

Flight Sub-Lieutenant Arthur Ethelstan (Warbirds Rising)

Date: June 1, 1915
Orders: Transfer flight from Eastchurch to RFC aircraft depot at St. Omer and then onto RNAS 1 based St. Pol-sur-Mer

Flight Lieutenant Thayer and I left promptly from Eastchurch at 8:22am and headed southeast towards Dover for the crossing of the channel. The weather was a perfect June day with light fluffy clouds and a warm sun, if I hadn't known that we were flying off to war I would've thought we were on holiday. The flight to Dover was uneventful and pleasant with the two of us pointing out landmarks that we each were familiar with. I'm not ashamed to say that as I approached Dover I didn't get quite an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach as I looked on that vast amount of water that we had to cross. Silently saying a small prayer for the engine, I turned a few degrees to the east and began our crossing. It wasn't long before we saw the Dover-Calais ferry heading for Dover, I waggled the wings in a friendly hello. Before long we were across and I proceeded onto St. Omer. As we flew along, we both remarked how pretty France looked from the air and also it didn't appear to us, at least, that there was a war on. It wasn't long until St. Omer appeared and then the airfield. I circled and then landed and left the plane in the skilled hands of the aircraft depot's mechanics. While Lieutenant Thayer and I refreshed ourselves, the mechanics had our plane refueled and positioned for our flight to St. Pol-sur-Mer. We took off around 11:30 and arrived at St. Pol-sur-Mer in time for a delicious luncheon. After lunch, I reported to Squadron Commander Bancroft and he brought me up to date on my duties and what he expected of me and everyone else in the squadron. Tomorrow, is to be spent in training flight to familiarize myself with our operating area. I look forward to what tomorrow brings.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 08:10 AM

Very long flight from Koln to Colmar. Followed the river upstream to the head waters and then took a compass heading. 284 minutes of wonderful scenery.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 09:09 AM

Salute

have 2 pilots...but Alfred Ball (RFC) got a little delayed and arrives at No.6 a few days later...
So My Hun Pilot "Anton Leber" (yes a real name from the real unit) had to make 2 missions to get to Rumbeke Airfield. All told he had to put in over 5 hrs. First leg to bring a BI to Giramont airpark, Verdun sector. Upon arriving Anton was very annoyed to learn the he would have to fly the same aircraft to Rumbeke and report to FFA.6 that is stationed there.

"Why the hell didn't I just fly there in the first place!"








Mr & Mrs. Ball will be getting a letter tommorow (I think)
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 11:40 AM

Ok. I've managed to upload my video finally, but not in HD due to a slow broken internet connection. After takeoff, I just stayed on a WSW course and eventually reached the pilot pool after about an hour and fifty minutes. I'll try to fly to my final base today.

Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 11:48 AM

.

Sergent Allard Tremblay made his cross-country trip this AM from St. Inglevert down to Lahoussoye and his assignment with MS23. It was 8:00 on a beautiful winter's morning and the Morane Saulnier he had been given ran wonderfully as he lifted from the snowy ground. Here was his route.





Climbing into a crisp winter's sky with St. Inglevert slipping under the left wing.


The sun was just cresting the horizon as Sgt. Tremblay gained altitude.


Passing the Forêt de Boulogne as he flew south along the coast.


Sunrise at 1,500 meters.


Reaching the mouth of the Somme, Allard turns southeast to follow the river.


Passing Abbeville as he nears his destination.


Through a break in the clouds Lahoussoye comes into view.


Making the long descent to his new home, Sgt. Tremblay had climbed to 2,600 meters through the course of his flight, according to his wrist altimeter.


Coming into land, all was very quiet.


Safely on the ground, Allard reported in and was greeted most heartily by Capitaine Auguste de Reverend, Commander of MS23. Now the settling in begins.




.

.
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 01:49 PM

Great video, Oldhat! I was feeling some icy vibes from your observer, though... Bit of a pill, is he?
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 02:08 PM

Oldhat; very nice vid in spite of not being HD.

Some very enthralling screen shots in this thread folks!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 03:28 PM

Good luck Gents. It seems all so far have made it to their new homes without any fatalities. My German aviator got lucky and had a dud engine right after takeoff and was able to land back at Koln. He was given a new machine and told to be on his way. 3 plus hours later he landed at Bertincourt.

Nice video OldHat!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 05:40 PM

Sgt, Almost There
2 Sgn, Rfc.
Flanders.




1 June 1915.


I say, bit of a cockup. I Have to pay more attention to Navigation. Landed at the wrong Aerodrome . Put down at Albee only to be told the chaps are at Merville so off on a lark to fine the chaps.
Posted By: Kuroken

Ambrose Vix - Letter Home 1 February 1915 - 06/01/15 08:22 PM




Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 08:31 PM

Thanks fellas.

Rick, when I was recording that scene, I imagined him saying something like "Hey you! what are you staring at?"

Carrick, I just did the same thing as you. I left at sunset from the pilot pool to the final base and landed on the wrong field, but I still had my engine running. So, I took off again and found the right one. The landscape is so sparse that it's easy to get lost.



Home sweet Home


EDIT: I'm really enjoying and learning from the variety of reports in this thread, the other DiD and the reports from the front thread. Very nice reading to pass the morning breakfast.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/15 10:32 PM

Sgt Sterling and Capt. Harris ferried a new MS 'L' to RFC-3 today. The plane was perfect, and the crew actually found the aerodrome, despite some poor visibility due to some cloud layers. An interesting mix of pilots welcomed them: a Sgt. McCudden, quiet but seems to have a good head, and a 2Lt. Harvey-Kelley, yup the same one who was the fist flyer over here. Boy, this should be fun!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/15 03:22 AM

wave
yep

I think it was easy to get lost back then so this is realistic. I remember reading stories where early aviators landed near farms to ask for directions or followed train tracks to destinations. reading
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/15 04:50 AM

Ofz. Alfonse Straub
FFA 62, Aviatik B.I
June 2, 1915



We arrived on a warm, late spring day at Douai airfield. The trip from Koln took a little under four hours, with the fields and towns of Germany finally yielding to those of Belgium. The only real difference I noticed is the distinct lack of forest - the Flanders region is more heavily developed than the north.

Upon arriving I reported to Hautpmann Gerhard Holland, an amiable fellow. He said my first few missions would be simple enough, really just getting more used to my mount before the real fun begins.

As for said mount, the Aviatik machine is a wonder of modern technology. Still, even at 80 kph she has trouble staying in the air and, except for a dive, it's hard to imagine a machine going faster. This means she has a tendency to stall which can make her awkward, especially immediately after lift off.

Along with the captain and myself there are four others in our squadron. Two in particular stand out: Leutnant Oswald Boelcke seems like a natural leader to me and will no doubt command his own FFA some day. Boelcke says he has been working on rules or guidelines for new pilots to survive by. I'll be very curious to see what he comes up with.

Offizierstellvertreter Max Immelman is the other. I watched in awe as he put the Aviatik through its paces that first afternoon. I never saw an aircraft come around so fast - would not have thought it possible. I spoke with him and we got along famously, having a fascinating conversation about an aeroplane's energy and how best to utilize it.

I wish I could say I got along with my beobachter, Walter Moelders. When I found him quite out of order in the officer's mess I told him he would have a hard time of it tomorrow, which is when he made a reference to my mother I had to resent, and it deteriorated from there. I would not want to count on him in a fight.

On June 2nd I flew my two 'training' flights, one being a pair of laps around Douai, and the other a sprint to the front. During the latter I flew low over Lens to the admiration of the Frenchmen there.



You can't really hate them you know. Yes, the French need to be put in their place, but after this is over I would like to visit out of uniform. Maybe next spring.

Approaching the lines I got my first good look at the trenches.



I almost feel sorry for anyone trying to storm those!

Speaking of which, since I was kindly given some bombs for this 'mission,' I dropped them on the French trenches. No real damage however.

Tomorrow, Leutnant Boelcke promised me some real action. So far our missions revolve around artillery spotting and bombing. I can't wait!
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/15 12:13 PM

Well Anton (FFA.6) has been working hard getting to know the area. It's Squadron policy that all newcomers make their own maps.

below is just a bit of his work today.

Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/15 03:13 PM

Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/15 04:00 PM

.

Fine batch of reports folks. Good to see everyone has made it to their assignments.

Sgt. Tremblay was tasked today by his CO, Capitaine de Reverend, with two sorties. The first was this morning when he was told to make a few large circles around Lahoussoye as he climbed to 1,500 meters and get a sense of his surroundings. The second was in the afternoon when he was instructed to fly east to the front lines and back to take note of landmark features and such. While the first sortie went as planned the second was cut short when his engine began failing about the time he reached Albert. He landed in a field on the south edge of the city and he and his observer, Sgt. Jerome Fauchard, had a brisk walk into town where they managed to get word back to camp and have a team sent to fetch them and their Morane.



Looking for a suitable field to land in on the south side of Albert.

.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/15 04:58 PM

Almost There
Sgt, B Flight
2 Sgn, Rfc
Flanders, France.





2 June 1915.



The Sqn Commander had me up doing circuits this morning. Then Tea with Biscuits and Jam. Followed by lectures and making ready for afternoon Orientation Hop.

1305 hrs Departed with 2 ships up to the lines then broke off and flew East till I spotted a River and followed it back towards the Field.

upload a gif


free picture upload


image upload without registration
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/15 07:02 PM

Arnold did a couple laps around Colmar airfield and then found a balloon nearby.


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/15 02:00 AM

Journal Entry - June 2, 1915

Today was a day of training and getting to know the area around St. Pol. I've been assigned 2nd Lieutenant Edmund Thayer as my observer and you can't imagine how happy I am about that. He flew over from England with me and we found that the only thing separating us is our rank, he is quite the comedian and I imagine working with him will be quite a pleasure.

We got an early start and initially flew a few circuits around the local area learning the landmarks and getting comfortable with our bus. Since I'm a lowly Sub-Lieutenant I've been assigned a B.E.2c and if the truth be told, is a very stable and easy to fly aeroplane, but it is incredibly slow. After our morning training flights we landed and had a spot of lunch with the rest of the boys in the mess. Our afternoon schedule was to fly up to the front and keeping on our side of the front we were to fly a few miles along the front and then return. This being our second day in France, we were both just a little anxious as to what the front had in store for us. Before we took off, 2nd lieutenant Thayer had plotted what he felt would be the best route for our inspection flight and away we went. I can only imagine Thayer was thinking when we reached the front, but I know that I was speechless. I don't believe I have ever witnessed a place as desolate and unforgiving as that small patch of the front that we witnessed. It looks completely sterile, but it is teeming with men that are determined to kill each other in the most gruesome of ways. I thank God that my brothers are too young for service and that I was fortunate enough to be selected for the flying service. I eventually turned for home and the trip home was certainly much more subdued that the flight out. All in all, it was a tiring and very sobering day. I've just been informed that tomorrow I start working for real. I only hope that when the chips are down I can fulfill my duty with honor.

I've included a few photographs that Thayer took with his Browning.

Here is the local supply train.


Our home


Thayer, he didn't want his picture taken


Dunkerque


Desolation of the Front


Unfortunate souls at the front
Posted By: Lewis

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/15 02:44 AM

February, 12 1915,

Flight Log of Sous-leutenant Gerald Anoise: Flying from Etampes to Belfort-Chaux by way of Epinal-Mirecourt.


So today is the big day, I start my flight to the last Escadrille in France flying Bleriot-XI-Militaires,

BL-47, originally from Rheims, but since the Alsace region is not so busy, the big wigs at Armee d' la Aire have shipped the squad and their old workhorses, to sunny, (and cold) E-SE France in foothills of the Vosges. Word has it we will be flying cover escort for a Maurice Farman squad at Chaux, Esc. MF-29.

It is a cold morning, I have layered up in most of my clothes and the sheepskin sidcot to make packing my kit easier. But surprise. I have a companion. Emmanuel Poitiere also headed to Chaux. He is a Sargeant and has been interning at observation and running the Chaux aircraft shop. He was at Etampes readying our latest 'new' aircraft, 3 Bleriots, and has a bet on whether he can handle a full day of near subzero weather in an open cockpit.

There's a thin dingy fog roiling over the aerodrome, it is below 4 degrees centigrade with it possibly thawing a tiny bit if the sun can melt through the murk. The good thing is the weather is calling for light westerly winds, and a general clearing trend. Luckily Manu is a small chap, and most of his kit is bound East on a train, as is my bigger trunk. Our aero is a beauty, recently recovered, and re-engined with a LeRhone 7C 60 HP rotativ, with a monobloc carburetor with fuel and air control, and will make at least 120 KPH in cruise. We wait outside while the subalterns adjust and fuss over the little plane with fuel and oil. Soon it is time.

We take our seats. the seating is more snug than the cockpit of a Bleriot XI-2, and we have carefully loaded as much errata as we can safely fit between our floor and seats. I pump up the tank, get the fuel flowing and wait as the engine is primed and pulled over a few times. "Contact", the little LeRhone sputters to life and I coup the magneto while adjusting the tampier levers. Chocks away, and we trundle off. The engine revs slowly build and we are aloft in a few hundred meters. The climb is slow as I get the engine leaned to full revs, we're allowed only a few kilos of additional weight, besides our own weight and fuel, and the Bleriot is going to be leisurely about gaining altitude.

We climb above the mists, you can see some of Paris from about 200 meters up but the mists close again as we circle to the east from our Westerly aimed departure. A full moon sets behind us. There are areas of light frosting on the open ground below and the sun is just breaking to eastern horizon.





We average about 90 KPH while in climb, so to keep the engine well spun and loaded lightly. The newly risen sun is glinting off a big water course to our NE, the Seine, to intercept our eventual guide of the railroad tracks east from Paris. We pass over the train our gear is stowed upon, (we're hoping..) some 40 minutes into the flight. I level the Bleriot at about 1180 meters and pull the tampier back a little.

This wind is damn cold, I thank the assembly crew for mounting a small windscreen, it becomes my shield against the shrieking bite of the wind on my head. Manu has wrapped his face up with a long scarf, only his googles show from beneath is flight helmet. The mists clear more and a bank of Eastern clouds, underlit by the rising sun greets us.





I'm sure we'll make at least Mirecourt by mid to late afternoon, but I suspect this flight will have a few stops. I have marked out a few aerodromes that we can turn in at if our little overloaded Bleriot doesn't take well to our bulk and the cold. But for now the engine spins sweetly, holding 1190 rpm, and we easily hold altitude.

To be continued..
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/15 01:34 PM








Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/15 01:43 PM



Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/15 01:52 PM

Great stories Gents. This is going to be interesting. It seems we have some more very good authors out there!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/15 08:10 PM

Almost There
Sgt, Rfc
B Flight, 2 Sqn
Flanders, France.


June 3, 1915.



2 Hops today for DivArty up at Lines near Lens. I must say No Mans land was lit up with Heavy and light Cannon fire. Most impressive. I was briefed to mark maps so I don't know if the Arty chaps hit what they were aiming at.


how do you print screen
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/15 11:41 PM

First day of training did not go too well for Alfred. 7:00 am in February in a snow storm looks nothing like yesterday's transit flight.

Making circles around the aerodrome to get familiar with the surroundings would be futile. He opted to follow his flight leader to the front instead and do the circles the next day. The sun finally started to rise and Alfred congratulated himself for going with his gut and sticking with the rest of the flight.

This didn't last long and a different feeling crept into his gut. A strange noise announced a system failure and Alfred with his observer quickly turned home with terror on their faces. Fortunately it was not far and eventually he was able to find the base through the snow storm which did not stop even for a second. After landing Alfred thought he found the source of the failure as there was a small leak in the cockpit, but after showing it to his mechanic he found out to his disgust that the source of the leak was his observer, who relieved himself sometime after the failure occurred. He will re-fly the mission tomorrow and have a talk with his observer.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/15 11:53 PM

Glad you didn't fry your pilot on that system failure. Think Funeral Pyre... I had one that wound up with front engine afire. Cut the mix to off on a throttle wheel, but had too much altitude to get down quickly. Then I dove as fast as could be without ripping the craft apart. That put out the fire, but the pilot was wounded too much to return back for duty.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/04/15 01:42 AM

MudWasp: My observer also doubles as a firewall (with automatic sprinkler I may add).
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/04/15 01:51 AM

In better weather it is easier.
Clear view after pass, roll, cut throttle, line up with head to side, release bombs.... is my fun way winkngrin copter
Posted By: Lewis

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/04/15 02:25 AM

Bon Sang!

What a trip this has become, Myself and Manu are now residing overnight in a small hostelery outside of the town of Troyes. Yes, our little Bleriot has developed a problem, an intermittent sparking, or mixture problems, maybe even water in the fuel, but it's too cold and not enough tools to diagnose our plane's condition this afternoon. As it is we're lucky to have landed West of town, because the land gets wilder and more forested the further east of Troyes we travel. We especially lucked out with a relatively flat and unploughed bit of pasture to make our sputtering landing on.

Manu is a bit upset, as he oversaw the installation of the new engine himself. It's an unforeseen he should have foreseen I'm guessing. 'My friend, we're all going to have bad days...' I try to make small talk and defuse his frustration. We, after my landing, find a small land holder with a 'barn' nearby we can park the aeroplane in, more of an open sided roof, but it is sheltered with large stacks of hay and a west wall. His wife serves us a good lunch before I walk into town to contact Epinal and Belfort. Our farmer friend's tools are a bit limited for the job Manu considers for repair, so we look in town for tools we can borrow or rent. We may be here another day.

The aerodrome at Mirecourt wants to send a truck out and haul us the rest of the way in. Manu is stubborn, "I will get this going again, and we will arrive under our own power." he chides me when I suggest we take the offer for haulage. I sort of understand his pride in this, but I outrank him a little. "We fold the wings up and wait for a lift, I don't see the problem." But then I remember his wager, how much does he have riding on this trip?

We turn in for the evening, the short daylight limits us to a quick bit of morning wrenching and I trust that Manu's knowledge with aero engines should get us on our way.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/04/15 03:03 AM

Journal Entry: June 3, 1915

04:00 comes awfully early when you've made the mistake of staying up too late, oh well, that's life in the Royal Navy. I've been waiting for this day to come for almost a year and now it has arrived. I've finally been ordered to the front on my first combat patrol. I can't tell if what I'm feeling is excitement or dread, maybe it is a little of both. Anyway, breakfast has been eaten, engine has been warmed up, maps and other gear have been rounded up, so we best be off. Took off promptly at 06:05am and headed off over the channel to climb to our operating altitude. After what seemed like forever, we turned and headed off to the front where we had been ordered to photograph any troop movement along the front just east of Poperinghe. We arrived without incident and began circling over our target while I took all of the requested photographs. It was a smashing good time as we had the sky entirely to ourselves. On one of our circuits two Hun aeroplanes just flew right below us, they looked at us and we them. Before anybody could do anything they were gone, just as well, I don't know if I could have done anything anyway. As we were turning for home, my engine started making the most horrible racket one would ever want to hear while flying over Hunland. I had to leave the formation and begin limping for home. I remember the old salts in the squadron telling me that if I had engine trouble and I had to set her down somewhere other than an airfield then I was to look for a road to use because as they would say, "You really don't want to hit any fences, they can really ruin your day". I set her down and walked the few miles to a phone and had the squadron lorry come and fetch us. I would say, that was enough excitement for me on my first day.

Here are more photographs that Thayer took with his Browning.

Heading out to the lines.


Taking photographs of troop movements


Huns that flew right under us.


Thayer and myself sitting in a field.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/04/15 03:10 AM

I did one flight a day, three were needed to fly normal/regular squad missions. It's the 4th soon.
I've a kite with no gun....
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/04/15 09:15 AM

Tuesday 2nd Feb 1915
Home of Mr & Mrs Ball, Stapleford, Notts.

“Well, open it then.”

“Alright, alright, no need to make fuss Mary.” John Ball picked up the letter from the kitchen table. “Who’s Lt.Pennington?”

“I don’t know, why?”

“Cause his name is on the front of the letter…. With ‘passed’ stamped on it”.

“Get on with it John.” Mary Ball was smiling as news from her only child had finally arrived.
John opened the letter with a knife, revealing a letter on RFC note paper. He started reading, but to himself.
“Well, say something. I need to know how he is”. Mary’s voice sounded a little apprehensive.

“Says here that our Alfred has passed his advanced flying school. Where that was has been blacked out. He writes…. ‘Dear Mom and Dad. The weather has been cold but very clear these weeks, and we are all progressing very well. I’ve been learning to’ …. That’s blacked out as well.”
‘Captain Triggers says I’m doing well and that I should be on my way to France quite soon. Imagine that, me a Lad from Stapleford going abroad to France. I have passed all my exams and am now a full Pilot. I met a nice bloke, Alan Farmer. He’s a smithy but says he learned to fly on his own on account of his father once owning an areoplane himself. In fact I’ve met a lot of decent chaps here, but almost all are officers. I have received word that a few of us will be off to’ …. “Blacked out again.”

‘This is all very exciting, and I hope the war will not be over before I get there. Tell Mom not to worry. They say that our machines are top notch, better than anything the Germans have, and that they (the Hun) turn for home the moment they see us. I’ll write again as soon as I get to my Squadron. Before I forget, could you send me extra socks, long underwear and scarfs? It’s quite cold at 2000ft.’

“Well that’s it Mary. Alfred is doing fine.”
“Yes it sounds like he is.”
“But”
“The thought of Alfred being over there, flying at 2000 ft and such, and with Germans also flying”

“Now don’t you fuss girl, our Alfred can look after himself. If he says things are fine then that’s good enough for me.”




Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/04/15 05:03 PM

Ofsv Liedenbrock left his Aviatik and approached the group of men who had come out to watch him land. One was wearing the two pips of a Hauptmann. Liedenbrock stood to attention and saluted him.

"Officier Stellvertreter Axel Liedenbrock, sir. I have been ordered to ferry this Aviatik to Phalempin and then report for duty to Hauptmann Steinborn. Is that yourself, sir?"

"It is indeed," Steinborn looked Axel up and down as if he were appraising a horse. "That was a good landing. How many hours do you have?"

"15 hours solo, sir." Liedenbrock replied. "Plus the three additional hours it took me to reach here today. The weather has been too poor, sir. Otherwise I would have more."
"I see. Well, it's not perfect of course, but there is only one solution which is more flying!" Steinborn smiled. "Welcome to Feldfleiger Abteilung 18, Officier Stellvertreter. Here we are the eyes of the army. Very important!" Steinborn turned and spoke to one of the enlisted men. "Caspar, show this man to his quarters!" He smiled at Liedenbrock. "The officers are billeted in various farm buildings nearby. You should be comfortable enough. I shall see you at dinner."


The next day Steinborn flew with Liedenbrock in the new Aviatik. The Hauptmann explained that this was a familiarisation flight in the general area of the aerodrome.
"I want you to see how the lie of the land compares to your maps." The Saxon captain told him as they prepared to take-off. "Go where I direct you. Note the road and rail junctions. We will go as far north as Lille and as far south as Lens. We range further in our duties of course, but this is our home area and I want you to know it well."

They spent the morning flying up and down the Lille-Lens rail line. Liedenbrock noted how the roads and rail line between these two towns dominated the area and were a ready guide to the airman. Two hours later Liedenbrock landed. Steinborn climbed out and addressed his pilot.

"Which flying school did you come from?"
"Koln, sir."
"Is that a circus school?"
"No sir. What do you mean sir?"
"You were rolling all over the sky, Officier Stelvertreter. Perhaps you think yourself an acrobat! Keep my aeroplanes on a level wing. You are there to drive the observer to what he wishes to see. You will conduct this in a fashion appropriate to officers and gentlemen of His Majesty the Kaiser's armed forces. No more trick flying!"


That evening, one of the other pilots, Feldwebel Bruecher, gave Axel some advice on this.
"The observers want a steady base to make their notes from. These Aviatiks sideslip badly if you use the ailerons. So do not use them! Turn with the rudder. The ailerons are for controling any adverse roll."

Hauptmann Steinborn took the new Aviatik for his own use. Liedenbrock and his regular observer, Oblt Kamper were to use an older machine. It was still better than the old 'Arrow' type biplanes that Axel had been training with.

"This is another training flight." Steinborn had told him. "Fly up to the lines and then up and down for a time. See what you can see."

The lines were quiet in the snow of early February. No-one moved in the open, but Liedenbrock could clearly see the networks of trench-lines, they were so clear that it looked like they had been drawn on the landscape.

The next day was Liedenbrock's first active mission. It was no different from the day before, but this time Kamper looked at the British lines below and made notes of anything he considered worth reporting. After an hour the Aviatik touched down again at Phalempin.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/04/15 06:29 PM

Almost there
Sgt, B Flt
2 Sqn, Rfc
Flanders


4 June 1915.

Mission: Bombardment

Target: Haubourdin Aerodrome

B Flight: 4 Be2 armed with 4 bombs ea.
A Flt: 1 a/c Roaming Patrol


Remarks: Jolly good show, I feel like there's a war going on. The flight made a few hits on the field among the Maintenance Tents others struck around those areas. I dropped my eggs and saw them explode on the airfield apron leading up to the aircraft parking area. By Jove, we are in it now.


picture share


uploading images
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/15 02:56 AM

Ofz. Alfonse Straub
FFA-62; Aviatik B.I
June 3-4, 1915



I have three missions under my belt in two days and have at least avoided disgrace. I even earned my first kill, some kind of truck near the front lines at Ypres.

On the 3rd we were told to bomb an aerodrome. Leutnant Boelcke led the flight. It was perfectly routine, a fine flight with good men in good weather. Once I thought I saw some enemies - or at least the boys in the infantry thought so for they kept up a steady bombardment. They showed no interest in us though.

My aim was...not good. Actually none of us did particularly well. We returned home happy to have another chance later in the day, but disappointed in our progress.

Hauptmann Holland had me sit out the afternoon flight. As I understand it, only Immelmann and Boelcke went out, and between them managed to bomb one of the French flak pieces guarding the field.

Good enough, says HQ, for the next day we have a new target east of Amentieres. About half way there my engine abruptly stalled out - a leak in the fuel line I later learned. I must have been dripping petrol across half of Eastern France. My aeroplane entered a steep dive and I just barely recovered, coming to a landing at Houplin field.

After repairs I was ordered to rendevous with the afternoon flight led once more by Leutnant Boelcke. We would try for the soldiers at Ypres this time. This is where I bagged my truck and returned home in modest triumph.

Along the way home I saw some of our adversaries. Strange, I feel more in common with them than with our boys on the ground. We exchanged civil waves...



...right before they dropped their bombs on our troops. Rude!



Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/15 12:02 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/15 12:13 PM



Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/15 01:24 PM

2 June 2015 Capt. Sebastin Johnson and I were assigned to familiarize ourselves with the area around the airfield. The weather was mostly sunny, with cumulus clouds with bases at approximately 2500 feet. Wind was 8 miles from the NNW. The orders to “familiarize ourselves with the area” were fairly vague, so we flew at between 1000-2000 feet east toward Ypres and familiarized ourselves with the terrain, especially around Poperinge, or “Pops” as we call it. From the air, Pops looked to have already had a difficult time of it. The Germans have figured that it is one of our main supply centers for this sector, and have been shelling it heavily. We stayed approximately 3 miles on our side of the front lines. I found navigating by the map to be very confusing, and was only by luck I found the airfield. I’m going to have to get much more familiar with the ground around here.


Historical citation: http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/town-poperinge.htm
0 Points



3 June 1915 The CO wasn’t too happy with our semi-authorized flight towards the front lines yesterday, so this time he assigned us a familiarization flight around the airfield, but to the west. The weather was good, and we had an enjoyable flight, with no problems. On our return, it was announced that the squadron was to turn in the Fe 2b’s, and the older Be 2’s. In exchange, we were receiving new Be2c’s, with a Lewis gun for the observer. The squadron also received two Nieuport Scouts. I’m not sure who will get those, but the rumors are that one of them will go to Capt. Hawker. In any case, I know that I won’t get one, being only a Sargent.
0 Points


4 June 1915 My first operational mission was a dud. I was assigned to fly with another aircraft and bomb the German lines with some 25 lb. bombs. Unfortunately, I had engine trouble almost immediately and had to abort back to the field. However, the other aircraft carried out the mission and returned without loss.
0 Points

5 June 1915 My second operational mission was more of a success. I was assigned to the 0500 patrol behind our lines with another aircraft, flown by Sgt. Hoskins. The weather wasn’t too bad. It was about ¾ overcast and threatening to rain the entire mission. However, as long as I kept below 4000 feet, I could still see the ground and navigate. While the patrol was supposed to consist of two aircraft, Sgt. Hoskins developed engine problems. He tried to land at a nearby aerodrome, but was unable to make it, and ended up landing safely in a farmer’s field. I completed the patrol alone, and returned to the airfield. When I landed, the CO sent me to Pops to retrieve some parts to repair Hoskin’s aircraft. I was able to snap this picture of the place:




2 Points
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/15 06:20 PM

Excellent writing there Combs and Kuroken. Replacing Fees with Quirks? Terrible.

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

"Look at Loewenstern," said Friedrich Kampe to Liedenbrock as they checked over 'number 3' before take-off. "He has his family crest everywhere. His notebook, his dressing gown. Even the case for his binoculars has a badge on it."
Axel looked at him. "Do you have a crest?"
"Not really." Kampe shrugged. "My family are only Niederer Adel. But, they were frequently Mayors in Gaggenau, and before that Vogts." He saw the lack of recognition on Liedenbrock's face. "That was a type of governor, before Baden started electing mayors. I might reasonably use Gaggenau's shield, I suppose."

"We could put it on the aeroplane," suggested Axel. "If we also paint on the arms of Hamburg."
"Oh?" Laughed Kampe. "And when did you rule Hamburg?"
"I never did," persisted Liedenbrock. "But we Liedenbrocks have a reputation for adventure that I want to live up to. And importantly, you do not build a reputation without being recognised. I want people to see this machine and know it is us. What do you think?" Axel leaned across conspiratorially. "Gaggenau could go first."
Axel could tell that Kampe was tempted.
"I'll think about it." He said.

Steinborn had instructed them to bomb an aerodrome at Izel-Les-Hameux. The Aviatiks would cross the lines in pairs and make their way to the enemy airfield to drop two 5 kilo bombs apiece. The observers were also to look to see what aircraft were there and anything else of military value.

Kampe wanted Liedenbrock to fly to Bethune first, and then follow the road south west of the town. This would take them over another known aerodrome at Hesdigneul and a nearby rail spur. Kamp considered that any activity on that rail line might be of interest.

It was over the town of Bethune that Liedenbrock first encountered Flak. He had heard about it, at the flying school mainly, but now little puffs of grey smoke punctuated the sky ahead of him and to his right. He found them curious. It seemed that the French were making little clouds. They certainly didn't seem threatening, being so far away.

Soon the Flak died away. The two Aviatiks passed over Hesdigneul unmolested. Kampe looked out with his binoculars and occasionally made notes. Leidenbrock turned south to their objective.

Swinging around to the west, the two German machines dropped their bombs on the aerodrome. The bombs all missed, although Leidenbrock's two drops did make craters in the landing field. As he peered over the side, Axel saw a structure with wings and a spindley frame. He did not know what it was. Henry Farman or FE2b. Perhaps Kampe could tell better.

There was more flak as they flew east over Savy, where there was another airfield and an army camp. Kampe's pencil was busy as they flew over the camp. Leidenbrock caught his eye and made a circling indication with his finger. Did he want to circle around? Kampe shook his head. No, he had got what information he needed.

Walter Ritter flying with his observer, Henke was in the other kette lead by Steinborn and succeeded in hitting one of the hangars with his bombs. Steinborn declared the entire mission a success as a result.

In the sitting room that evening, Kampe watched as Wilhelm von Loewenstern filled his pipe, with a crest on the bowl from a tobacco box which was also emblazoned with heraldry.
"Tell me, Liedenbrock. What colours are on the coat of arms of Hamburg?"
"It is a white castle on a red field."
Kampe smiled and poured himself a brandy. "That is most convenient. Gaggenau is also red and white."



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/15 10:17 PM

Sgt, Almost There
2 Sqn, Rfc.
Flanders

6 June 1915.


Posted to morning mission with B Flight. Our 4 BE2,s took off for the lines at 0506 hrs climbing to 700 meters then headed towards the lines across from Lens. 7/10ths cloud cover over target area but found a hole and completed the mission. A piece of cake point: +1


upload img
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/07/15 12:52 PM

.

Sergent Tremblay and his gunner/obs Sergent Fauchard have spent a quiet first week at Lahoussoye, until this morning. They were assigned a patrol of the lines to the east, from Miraumont down to Péronne and back. Allard coaxed the Morane up to 2,700 meters as he and Jerome kept a lookout for any hostile craft that might be trying to cross the lines. About 45 minutes into the patrol, as they were passing over Fricourt, they spotted an aeroplane just off to their east and below them about 500 meters. It turned out to be a lone Aviatik which they immediately engaged. After a protracted game of cat-and-mouse Sergent Tremblay was able to give Sergent Fauchard several good shooting opportunities which were taken full advantage of. The enemy aeroplane began trailing black smoke and giving up altitude. A final burst from the Lewis gun and the Aviatik hit the ground hard and flipped on its back as its pilot attempted a landing. When the pair returned to camp and excitedly turned in their very first claim they were told it would likely be denied as the incident took place on the Boche side of the mud and they had no confirmation, to which Capitaine de Reverend added, "But you have the personal satisfaction of knowing you downed an enemy craft. Bravo!"


A single enemy aeroplane attempting to make a run for home after being spotted by Allard and Jerome.


Several excellent volleys from the Lewis and Sergent Fauchard had the Aviatik trailing smoke and dropping down.


The Boche pilot attempted a landing that ended in a total wreck.


Sergent Tremblay followed the Somme back to Lahoussoye.


They came in to land just as a patrol from the north was returning.


After pulling up to the hanger and shutting down the Le Rhône Allard and Jerome raced to the CO's office to turn in their AARs and their claim only to receive the disappointing caution that their first victory would very likely be denied them due to no corroborating witnesses. Ah well - c'est la guerre.

.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/07/15 10:47 PM

Bravo, Lou! First blood!


Scoreboard as of June 7

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/07/15 11:30 PM

Missed the deadline. Damn!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 03:02 AM

Crap, it's too late to turn in my report.
Posted By: CW3SF

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 03:13 AM

I am doing well, with my very bad bombing? So far I hit one chicken house, killed the only rooster, and thus made all of the hens very unhappy. Other than that, fly out, do my best and fly home and land. Love the slow landing speed.

I see some with more than one mission per day-- I would love to fly more missions within the one day. Can we??

Would love to get something that shoot any thing from my V. B1 very tail heavy crate. Good engine!!

Are shotguns OK?
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 05:48 AM

CW3SF: Yes, if your squadron flies multiple missions per day, then you can fly as many as they give you.

If you can figure out how to get a shotgun up there, go for it. smile

Fullofit, Banjoman: There's always next week!
Posted By: CW3SF

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 01:25 PM

OK, will fly all they give me within each day.

So when do I get a gun for my observer that I can jump in to and set the plane on "autopilot"?? And Then would the "autopilot" fly aggresive for the "gunner" ( now me ) to get the best shot?

Lots to learn about this "new adventure" we are in!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 01:46 PM

CatKnight, what time do you want us to have the reports turned in so this doesn't happen to me again?
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 02:08 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 02:15 PM




Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 03:33 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Crap, it's too late to turn in my report.

I missed it too. In the future I'll try to report on Saturday mornings...
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 05:25 PM

Almost There
Sgt, B Flight
2 Sqn, Rfc
Flanders


June 8, 1915.


Morning Hop: B Flight dispatched 4 Be2's on a bombardment raid to Houplin Aerodrome. Dropped 16 bombs and had 1 hit a Tent all others fell Short or Over Target Zone. No Losses. 3


adult photo sharing

Afternoon Hop: Great fun. 6 a/c from the Sqn dispatched to bomb a Rail Road junction by Loos. B flight dropped 16 bombs all in area but only a few Rails got tore up. We did make a lot of new holes. Spotted 2 e/a and had fun attacking them. My gunner got off 2 shots then my a/c stalled. Recovered but never caught up with them so RTB.


adult photo sharing


20mb image hosting


img host


free photo upload

Points 2

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 10:04 PM

Adain Lothbrok made his 1st deep bombing mission over enemy territory today. Still have not seen an enemy plane but the Archie was something to behold. All landed safe and the CO says we did some good.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 11:54 PM



Adalwolf Becker has flown a few missions. One bombing of front lines and one Arty spotting. He even managed to hit something with his bombs which is a first. Rather be lucky than good!

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/15 11:58 PM

Gents, Been a bit busy of late and just getting around to catching up on whats happening. Great reads. Kuroken,I really like the old format use and great story line. Louseems to have the first victory even though it is uncomfirmed. Good on ya! Looking forward to keeping up.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 12:03 AM

Gents, (not you Hun devils), did you see in the paper that a naval bloke yesterday (June 7th) dropped bombs on a Zeppelin in the air and brought it down?! Great show, lt. Warneford!
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 12:45 AM

Are you guys dive bombing or level bombing. If level, are you using the F6 view or just winging it?

Thanks! rr
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 12:51 AM

I've been level bombing in the Aviatik BI. Experimenting in QC I think I should be able to get decent results from 1000 meters by looking through the hole in the floor.
In practice I haven't hit anything outside of QC but I've only had 2 bombing missions yet. Dive bombing probably wouldn't help as I have the observer blocking my forward view anyway.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 12:57 AM

Originally Posted By: loftyc
Gents, (not you Hun devils), did you see in the paper that a naval bloke yesterday (June 7th) dropped bombs on a Zeppelin in the air and brought it down?! Great show, lt. Warneford!

Yeah, Alvin is flying with Rex Warneford in 1 Naval Wing (which will become 1 Sqdn RNAS in August) - Reading up on Rex, he was very interesting. I think Alvin will have some thoughts on Rex in Wednesday's letter home.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 01:20 AM

Deadline:

Hm. I hadn't really thought of it. Let's go for Sundays at 5 PM UTC
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 02:50 AM

Kuroken, my pilot is also in 1 RNAS and I was wondering if you would mind if I start including him in my reports. I thought it might be kind of cool.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 12:11 PM

Salute

Alfred has been a bit buisy but having fun.




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 03:35 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Kuroken, my pilot is also in 1 RNAS and I was wondering if you would mind if I start including him in my reports. I thought it might be kind of cool.

By all means. Alvin is not exactly a friendly kind of guy, and tends to shy away from close personal contacts, but use him as you like. Probably won't be much to say about him unless he a) does something heroic (unlikely) or b) is killed by his BE2 well before the first E I hits the sky (more likely).

Ken
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 03:36 PM

Lederhosen: Very nice post! I like the 'chalkboard' graphic!

The flare picture looks like someone's shooting at you with a laser from above. xwing
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 03:55 PM

Originally Posted By: CatKnight
Lederhosen: Very nice post! I like the 'chalkboard' graphic!

The flare picture looks like someone's shooting at you with a laser from above. xwing


me too
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 04:02 PM

Ken, Arthur was thinking maybe Alvin can introduce him to Alice sometime. biggrin I still haven't decided how I want to portray Arthur. I'm so busy with trying to create a story for Abner my '17 DID pilot that I haven't been able to come up with anything for Arthur.
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 05:52 PM

Liedenbrock and Kampe were sent up to spot for artillery near Ypres. They had reached the target area and signalled for the first battery to fire when Liedenbrock noticed a change in the engine noise.

A few circles were made, with Kampe noting the shell bursts and dropping corrections to the artillery below. The engine became far hoarser and Kampe looked at Liedenbrock. Axel shook his head and pointed down. Kampe agreed and dropped a final note to the artillery commander explaining their trouble. Axel determined to head for Menen as it was the nearest airfield.

About 10 kilometers from the aerodrome, the engine clattered to a stop the propeller began to slow.
Axel hoped that they had enough height to reach the airfield. They did not. Liedenbrock put the Aviatik down safely, but only narrowly missed a fence. The aerodrome was only across the far side of the next field. Axel got out and went to get assistance while Kampe waited with the machine.



Liedenbrock returned with men from the aerodrome to bring the Aviatik in. While they did so, Kampe walked ahead and telephoned Phalempin. Ritter and Henke were sent out to complete the shoot while Liedenbrock and Kampe got "number 3" in order. It turned out that a seal on the carburetter had failed, thinning out the mixture with extra air until the engine choked out. With a replacement seal the Mercedes engine came back to life.


That afternoon, Steinborn ordered them to bomb enemy trenches near Fricourt. Liedenbrock and Kampe took off with Bruechner and Henke in 'number four' behind them. After twenty minutes in the air, Bruechner turned back for home. Liedenbrock dropped his bombs at the prescribed location, but could not discern if the two 5 kilogram bombs had acheived anything at all compared to the artillery bombardment that was also taking place.

On the return to Phalempin it was getting dark. A pile of debris was on the field, but there was space to land. Apparently Breuchner's landing had been heavy and a bomb had detonated. The two airmen were dead. Liedenbrock never saw the bodies. Probably for the best.
Posted By: CW3SF

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 07:30 PM

I enlisted " Akin Daniels " in the 3RFC at Abeele on Feb 8th as a Sergeant.

I sure hope I do not shoot down my self some mission. This should be great fun to see I do fighting on both sides.

Report on Sunday. Is about 10 pm Mt. Standard time ( Colorado ) OK , or do I need to report at an earler time?
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 08:30 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Ken, Arthur was thinking maybe Alvin can introduce him to Alice sometime. biggrin I still haven't decided how I want to portray Arthur. I'm so busy with trying to create a story for Abner my '17 DID pilot that I haven't been able to come up with anything for Arthur.

That would work - Alice is quite the little trollop who loves her some airmen.

Of course, I don't know what will happen with her budding romance with cousin Ambrose's buddy, Greg Ryan - with any luck Ryan will die, embittering Alice and leading her to a "live for today" lifestyle. If not, they'll just have to break up. These things happen in war....
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 09:30 PM

Arnold has flown two recce missions from Colmar, one northwest towards St. Die and the other southeast over the front lines. No enemy aircraft encountered and all craft made it back home safely. A couple pics of the nice flying weather.





Time advanced a couple of days after his last flight.
Posted By: Adger

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 09:35 PM

Sorry i cant join this Extraordinary challenge as work commitments keep me busy but WOW......Im loving the stories ,screenshots,reports etc..great great work fellas thumbsup
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/15 11:53 PM

Scoring question. I just completed a bombing mission with my German pilot. The debrief says I had two "hits" . Is that 2 points? I have no idea who hit what on a bombing mission.

Having fun Gents. A tip of my "old hat" to OldHat and CatKnight,
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/10/15 03:36 AM

Sgt, Almost There
2 Sqn, Rfc
Flanders


9 June 1915.


Assigned to Two flights today both short hops near Loos.

Recon: Clouds over target area (Troops) so dropped down to 1000 meters then home. On Landing, the # 4 Be2 . Pranged on the field and should be down for a few days with Heavy damage. 3

Afternoon: The flight went back to the same spot and dropped bombs from our 3 a/c some said there was a little damage but HQ Army is not happy.

2


image search
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/10/15 03:40 AM

Diary entry from Sgt Alfred Eagles, 4 Sqn RFC:




8 June 1917

Off to the great adventure! Quick brekkies of eggs and toast and out to the old BE with Captain Nash. We took off from Biggin Hill just after six and made course for Dover, where we turned southeast for the French coast. After about a half hour we spotted the curve in the coastline between Boulogne and Calais -- we'd veered a little west of our intended landfall.

Just as we crossed the coast, the engine began making odd noises. I turned east along the coast and searched for an airfield but saw nothing. The banging and thumping from the engine grew louder so I switched off and landed on the coast road. We phoned to St Omer and were ordered to make for the emergency field at St-Inglevert, which was only about three miles off. A maintenance team would recover the BE and bring it there for repair. It looks like we may be on our own for two or three days until a new engine can be fitted.

The field at St-Inglevert is under the command of a Flight Lieutenant and houses only a few mechanics and administrative rankers. The head man there had no accommodation for us so we got a tender to drive us to Calais and took rooms in the Terminus Hotel. I am trusting the RFC to pay for our lodging, as I shall be quick broke otherwise. In the meanwhile, we are both quite comfortable, but wish we were reunited with our trunks, which were sent to the squadron ahead of us.

Now to wait...

"The banging and thumping from the engine grew louder so I switched off and landed on the coast road."
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/10/15 01:15 PM



Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/10/15 01:22 PM



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/11/15 04:34 AM

Almost There
Sgt, Rfc
2 Sqn
Flanders

10 June 1915.


By Jove a real Banger today. 4 ships left for a Recon by Lens. Reaching the Lines , I spotted and engaged 2 Hun Recon Types. I pulled in front and a little low my gunner banged away 85 Rds. The sods just hung there finally Archie opened up and they turned for home. If I only had a gun firing forward I would have had them both.


how to print screen on pc

1 point
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/11/15 08:26 AM

Plinking with the .303 is fun





Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/11/15 04:57 PM

Another day and another artillery shoot. Leidenbrock circled around their assigned position while Kampe did his work.

As he looked around, Liedenbrock spotted two aeroplanes far below him. He watched with interest as they crossed into German territory. One machine suddenly deviated and made north. Then it came to a stop as it landed near the lines.

"Ours or theirs?" Liedenbrock wondered and decended to take a look.

It was a French monoplane that had come to rest in a quiet area that was hardly damaged by the battles of the previous autumn. Liedenbrock overflew the two airmen. This was the closest he had ever been to the enemy.

The Frenchmen just stared upwards.



Thinking this all very gentlemanly, Leidenbrock saluted them and returned south to his observation. The soldiers in the lines had no appreciation for the antics of these birdmen and shot a number of holes in the Aviatik's wings.



Duly chastised, Axel climbed away. He wondered what Steinborn would make of his wing damage.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/15 04:19 AM

Almost There
Sgt, Rfc
2 Sqn, Rfc

Flanders

June 11, 1915.



Dawn Recon Western most of our Operational Area. 4 a/c flown. No new trench's or bunkers observed. A supply train was spotted moving up. No aerial contact spotted.


3 a/c Arty Spot flown during the late afternoon. What a site, small and large explosions all over NML. However did notice that for a rolling barrage a lot of space was left open. Recommended that Volleys be closer together.


gifs upload

points 2 ea.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/15 07:13 AM

Answering da questions:

CWS: 5 PM UTC is 1 PM US Eastern, or Noon US Central on Sunday. I'd consider filling out your form on Saturday if you can.

MFair: Personally for bombing missions I've been thinking that if there are any ground kills then that counts as a successful mission. If YOU get a ground kill then that's worth 1 point.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/15 12:14 PM

Originally Posted By: Maeran







I'm assuming you made that skin.....but where did you put it????? and with which name???

danke
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/15 12:40 PM

Yes I did.

You put the skin in the campaign/CampaignData/skins folder and the naming convention is very specific.

"Off_Aviatik_BI_ace_t_FFA 8b 1915_Axel Leidenbrock.dds" Replacing "Axel Leidenbrock" with whatever particular name you want. Note the spaces as well as underscores.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/15 02:04 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/15 02:07 PM


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 03:31 AM

Journal Entry June 12, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Well, it's been a long and exhausting two weeks since I got to St. Pol. I believe Thayer and myself have really bonded into a fine team, though, I was really frustrated with the lad on the 10th, but I'll get to that in a bit. The rest of lads all seem to be a professional lot. We have normally been flying two sorties a day and I don't know if that's a normal schedule or not, what I do know is at the end of the day I'm very tired and I've been retiring early. I've met an interesting fellow named Alvin, rather quiet and keeps to himself in the mess. I think I'll see if I can strike up a conversation with him the next time we're together. I imagine there is quite an interesting story behind that quiet facade.

Well enough of the chit-chat sort of stuff, let's get right to the action, shall we. I know that what we do is vitally important to the chaps in the trenches and I know that our work makes a difference in this bloody war, but if I don't ever have to go on another photographing sortie, I'll be happy as a lark. They are dreadfully dull, we fly up to the front, circle over some spot on the front lines and then fly back home. In the two weeks that I've been flying I've seen three Hun aeroplanes and they were quite a distance off from us. That all changed on the afternoon sortie on the 10th and both the morning and afternoon sorties today. First let me describe the action on the 10th, we had flown to the front for one of our photo sorties, which we had completed successfully and we turned for home. As we were proceeding, I saw a single Hun machine flying in the opposite direction back toward the front. I had the craziest of notions and I turned to pursue the Hun. In the meantime, I told Thayer of my intention and he seemed game, so on we flew. In a short time, I had positioned myself in front of the Hun roughly 50 meters ahead, but Thayer just sat there. I signalled him to fire, but nothing happened. All of this time I'm jockeying our bus around to keep the Hun in position and avoid stalling, and nothing happened. Exasperated, I turned for home and said nothing the entire flight back. Once on the ground, I had a few choice words with Thayer, respectfully of course, the old boy does outrank me. He said some such nonsense of not having a clear shot. I was dreadfully worried that Thayer didn't have the metal for this game of ours. Well, let me tell you I couldn't have been more shocked by his behaviour in both of today's sorties. We took off at our usual time this morning for our usual photo sortie. When we arrived at the front I spotted two Hun aeroplanes approaching from the southeast and lower than our altitude. I was waiting for Lieutenant Epps to signal, but he continued with the mission at hand. I thought to myself, I'll give Thayer another opportunity. So, I dove and began to position myself in front of the trailing Hun aeroplane. I can only imagine what the Hun was thinking because he made no effort to prevent me from accomplishing my mission. Once in position, Thayer opened up like a whole hoard of Huns were attacking and before I knew what had happened the Hun aeroplane dropped a wing and plunged to Earth. I spun around and there sat Thayer with the biggest Cheshire cat grin I've ever seen.



We rejoined Lieutenant Epps and completed our mission and returned to St. Pol. After we landed, Lieutenant Epps ran over and started pounding on our backs exclaiming, "Bloody good show, old man!" over and over. After we filled out the necessary paperwork, I asked Thayer what happened, he laughed and said, "I told you I didn't have a good shot the other day." If that had been all that happened today, I would have been completely satisfied, but Thayer wasn't finished. In our afternoon sortie, which was of course another opportunity to take photos of the front, we arrived at our usual location and began taking photographs. This afternoon was quite busy with at least 6 Hun planes zipping around taking care of their business. As we were leaving, I saw a lone Hun flying over the front and I thought to myself 'Why not have a go at that old boy.' I informed Thayer of my intent, received a huge grin in reply and began to gently dive and position myself in front of this Hun. Once again, the Hun just sat and watched me getting into position. Could it be that the Huns don't know that we have Lewis guns up front with our observers? Anyway, once in position, Thayer began to fire that Lewis for all it was worth. This poor Hun burst into flames and began the long plunge Earthward. For a moment, I actually felt dirty for what I had done, it was like putting cattle down when it's slaughtering time. I turned to look at Thayer and he had that grin again, I wonder if maybe I've created a monster.



We landed and again Lieutenant Epps was overjoyed at our success. Needless to say, both claims were confirmed and we were quite the sensation at mess tonight. It does worry me a little that Thayer might be enjoying this business a little too much. Well, I'll wrap this journal entry up for today and retire. I'm sure I have another photo gathering sortie in the morning.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 04:58 AM

Almost There
Sgt, Rfc
2 Sqn War-birds Rising
Flanders


June 12, 1915.



2 Ships posted for morning Arty Spot. I was tasked to photo the shoot although I dont know why Hq cant just go to the lines and watch ?

screen cap

Afternoon Flight: The Sqn put up 3 machines on Recon to the Eastern limit of our A.O. across from Arras. I say what a sitter. However, the flight was peaceful no enemy about and done from 2000 meters.

online photo storage

Points 2 ea flight.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 09:42 AM

Originally Posted By: Maeran
Yes I did.

You put the skin in the campaign/CampaignData/skins folder and the naming convention is very specific.

"Off_Aviatik_BI_ace_t_FFA 8b 1915_Axel Leidenbrock.dds" Replacing "Axel Leidenbrock" with whatever particular name you want. Note the spaces as well as underscores.



hmmm did all that but ...only default is used.
my DIII skin works though??????
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 11:03 AM

Double check your naming of the file. I missed the "Off" part at the start at first and it wouldn't work. Cavaliere put me right.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 12:09 PM

Originally Posted By: lederhosen
Originally Posted By: Maeran
Yes I did.

You put the skin in the campaign/CampaignData/skins folder and the naming convention is very specific.

"Off_Aviatik_BI_ace_t_FFA 8b 1915_Axel Leidenbrock.dds" Replacing "Axel Leidenbrock" with whatever particular name you want. Note the spaces as well as underscores.



hmmm did all that but ...only default is used.
my DIII skin works though??????


I flat-out copy and paste the name from another skin and just add a letter or 2 at the end to make it stick out in the list; no problems missing a letter, or syntax, etc.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 12:26 PM

Banjoman,Congratulations on the 2 victories. At this rate you will be an ace in no time! Have not seen an enemy machine yet in my campaign, which is fine as it is a long war. Good on ya mate.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 01:06 PM

I hope Banjoman stays far away from my man Arnold and his Aviatik BI
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 02:25 PM

MudWasp, it is almost criminal, these Aviatik B.I pilots don't even try to evade. You really could rack up a pretty high score if you wanted, but I think I'll try and keep Thayer in check, not very sporting and all.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 03:30 PM

yeah .. I hope the next patch will give the Hun a rifle too !!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 03:53 PM

Hey CatKnight, just entered my log report for this week and I noticed that there isn't any way to enter our hours flown, don't we want to keep track of those?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 04:26 PM

Journal Entry: June 13, 1915
St. Pol-sur-mer

Surprise, surprise, this morning's mission was another reconnaissance sortie. We flew off, arrived at our part of the front and proceeded to take photos of the same part of the front that we photographed yesterday. I'm sorry if I sound frustrated, but I just think we could be doing so much more to help with the war effort, but who am I, I'm just a lowly sub-lieutenant and nobody asked me. Anyway, we saw a couple of Hun machines off in the distance but other than that it was just another typical sortie. We returned to St. Pol and enjoyed a wonderful luncheon. I'm rather fond of seafood and since we are right on the coast our mess sergeant can get most everything that we desire. I really don't know what he did before the war, but he can cook sole as well any restaurant that I've visited. After luncheon, a game of Whist will usually get started or some fellow will begin to play the piano while the others will drift off to take care of personal matters. Dear reader, that's just a small glimpse of a typical afternoon for the lads. We usually will leave for our afternoon sorties somewhere between 2 to 3 o'clock and today wasn't any different. Our mission was different, however, for today we were heading up to the front to do a line patrol. The difference being, this time we were specifically tasked with destroying Huns. I wonder if the success that Thayer and I have enjoyed had something to do with the change in our sortie. At any rate, we took off accompanied by Flight Commander Whiting and his observer, Lieutenant Gunn. We arrived at our patrol sector without incident and it wasn't long before I spotted a Hun aeroplane above us and flying toward our side of the lines. I looked toward FC Whiting and it didn't look like he had spotted the Hun so I began to climb to intercept him. I must have spooked the poor fellow because he began to turn for home. I continued the pursuit and eventually I was able to position ourselves where Thayer could engage. This Hun was made of better stuff because he at least tried to evade, but to no avail, Thayer was finally able to down him with a burst to his engine. He died in the most horrible of ways, plummeting to Earth like a comet.



We landed, were congratulated by Whiting and Gunn and filed our reports. Today's action brings our total to three. I think I'm beginning to see the wisdom in Thayer's last words to me after we discussed today's action, "We need to get while the getting is good." I foresee a day where I will pine for these days.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/15 11:34 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
MudWasp, it is almost criminal, these Aviatik B.I pilots don't even try to evade. You really could rack up a pretty high score if you wanted, but I think I'll try and keep Thayer in check, not very sporting and all.


Not always, as I just found out. Adain Lothbrok spotted a lone Hun on his last mission and when I tried to get ahead and under him, he went all over the sky. I guess word got around that you were shooting at them!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/14/15 01:22 AM

This is true. My pilot just found that out first hand. A simple patrol way, way behind friendly lines at 2300 m. Spotted the Hun way, way above. Didn't think we'll ever get him. Wasn't even sure Morane could fly this high. We finally got up to 200 m below him, but he knew what he was doing. He stayed just high enough out of range and I struggled to keep up with him without stalling - my wingman did jut that and ended some 500 m below us. He eventually caught up with us. Meter by meter we went higher and higher and eventually got in range. My observer almost emptied the entire supply of ammunition (60 rounds left), but we got him. Now I'm just waiting for the confirmation from the CO.

Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/14/15 03:47 AM

Banjoman: Nope, no need for hours. Just number of missions, confirmed kills and score for comparison purposes is fine.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/14/15 10:02 AM

Originally Posted By: MFair
Originally Posted By: Banjoman
MudWasp, it is almost criminal, these Aviatik B.I pilots don't even try to evade. You really could rack up a pretty high score if you wanted, but I think I'll try and keep Thayer in check, not very sporting and all.


Not always, as I just found out. Adain Lothbrok spotted a lone Hun on his last mission and when I tried to get ahead and under him, he went all over the sky. I guess word got around that you were shooting at them!


We sent out a memo to all German pilots after Banjoman's killing spree became known to us. Some pilots are also training in Ramming tactics... I'm carrying a sling shot in my flight coat winkngrin

Hey, if you really want to go on an Aviatik killing spree... enlist a high ranking Brit in a Bristol Scout!
attack
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/14/15 11:59 AM

my thoughts about attacking the Hun AvB1/II

since it aint got a gun why not do this....
You get only 10 rds rapid. If he's not going down after that then wave and leave him alone.
I know that when the CI arrives that the Hun pilots are going to attack everything in sight though.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/14/15 07:10 PM

HahahaHa.. Arnold went on a bombing run. He lead one other Aviatik and the target assigned was a RR station. His rpms started to bounce just after he crossed the fronlines and he decided to head for home. He was about to pass over an observation balloon so he continued straight and level and let them drop.



He then thought twice about signaling his squadmate to continue with the mission and decided against it. Arnold barely made it home to Colmar, his engine rpms kept fluctuating and the high end kept falling. Both landed OK and he filed a balloon claim that was confirmed.



He was awarded a mighty fine Goblet too!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/14/15 07:22 PM

Now that was awesome, good job. I'll definitely make sure I don't shoot him down. biggrin
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/14/15 08:27 PM

You're WAYYYYYY UP NORTH.......correct?

duck
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/14/15 08:40 PM

Yep, and truth be told, you'd probably drop a bomb on me. explode
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 12:23 AM

Sgt Alan Smith
11 June 1915

After surviving eleven days, Sgt. Smith died. He and his observer were assigned to lead a deep reconnaissance mission over a German airfield, ten miles across the lines. Upon arrival at the front lines, his wingman aborted due to a probable engine problem. The intrepid Sgt. Smith pressed on and arrived 8000 feet over the German airfield without incident. Almost immediately, though, things went south. His engine rpms began to drop, and wisely choosing the better part of valor, began to head home. Although the engine RPMs continued to drop, he was able to keep his airspeed up, by nursing his engine and trading a bit of altitude for speed. He made the front lines without any further incident, crossing them at about 6000 feet. However, the RPMs continued to drop, and it looked like he would not be able to make any airfields. He and his observer spied a nice level and long field that allowed an approach into the wind and set up the landing. Despite this, Sgt. Smith stalled his BE 2c 100 feet above the ground and crashed, killing him and his observer.

{In fact, what happened is my kid came in when I was on final and asked me a question. Distracted, I stalled the aircraft.)
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 12:34 AM

Introducing St. Bryan Smithe:
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 01:08 AM

Tough break Combs. I hope your next pilot has better luck! A toast to the departed.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 01:33 AM

That's too bad, Combs. You are the first of many who will be awarded the Croix de Bois.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 01:42 AM

MudWasp: Nicely done! Score one for the Hun!

Combs: Ouch, that's too bad. That's two down (CW3SF also lost a pilot) in two weeks and we aren't even shooting at each other yet!

Well okay, the British are shooting. The Germans are just peaceful observers.

Except MudWasp.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 01:43 AM

Scoreboard for June 14

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 01:52 AM

I knew a "retard" named Byran" when I was young.
I didn't call him that..."BReeTarRRDDD"....

He saved me one day, I was sliding SPADS and Camels down the slide at elementary school. Some Bullys wanted to destroy my toys, perhaps me too...but Burt came to my rescue.

RIP BURT I'll never forget your Big Head and Heart.
You defended me from bullies and taught to be a fighter.

Last I knew you were dead or in a mental hospital...much the same

I Salute you Burt Bergstrand salute
The spirit of the bear was in you, and it still lives in me
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 02:12 AM

It was my own fault-I should have paused the game when my daughter came in the room. I'm not such a good pilot that I can multi-task a dead stick landing in a field with a competing question from my daughter on how to solve a computer issue. I simply lost situational awareness regarding my speed, and didn't realize it had dropped as much as it did. I had all sorts of room and altitude, and could have come in a lot faster than I did

On a slightly related point: Is there a text file anywhere the player can see what is wrong with the aircraft? Right now, I really don't know what the failure was. I'm just curious to know if it is saved somewhere so I can look at it for historical flavor.


Originally Posted By: CatKnight
MudWasp: Nicely done! Score one for the Hun!

Combs: Ouch, that's too bad. That's two down (CW3SF also lost a pilot) in two weeks and we aren't even shooting at each other yet!

Well okay, the British are shooting. The Germans are just peaceful observers.

Except MudWasp.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 02:12 PM






(actually I had the buried-to-the-wing spawning bug and it was one of the rare times that I hadn't done a backup of the pilots directory after the last batch of flights...and I could hardly just let it stand as another failed mission. Ambrose has enough of those. Anyway, it's probably the most excitement he'll see for another six months, barring a collision or emergency landing gone wrong, both of which would be the the last excitement he sees...)
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 02:25 PM



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 02:48 PM

Ken, great letter from Alvin. You have me really curious about this whole Blackpool business. It isn't Arthur who is bloodthirsty, but his observer Thayer and remember he outranks me so when he tells me to approach a Boche plane, I have to obey. I like how you are playing your character Alvin, really mysterious, keep up the good work.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/15 03:25 PM

Thanky!

Yeah, Alvin has some serious psychological issues, mostly revolving around what happened in Blackpool a year ago, and they color his perceptions on most things. His cousin Ambrose, though a year older, is a lot more naive about the war, and more caught up in the whole courtly knights of the sky thing and the great adventure of it all.

Both character arcs are on a low simmer at the moment, though Alvin's has the possibility to go to full boil pretty fast, depending on circumstances. Assuming that their fire isn't put out with a mishandled emergency landing or the arrival of Eindeckers...

There will be a bit more about what happened in Blackpool, probably sometime later this week unless something really interesting happens in his daily flights.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/16/15 03:00 AM

Journal Entry: June 15, 1915
St. Pol-sur-mer

Well, yesterday was pretty much a dud day. Thayer and I flew our morning and afternoon sorties as usual but we didn't see anything, just performed our duties and returned home to our airfield. I'm sure it won't be long when I wish everyday was as yesterday. Had a rather nice game of football yesterday with the lads, it is a wonderful pasttime that not only invigorates you physically but also mentally. I get the impression from some of the fellows that they don't approve of what Thayer and I are doing. No one has confronted either of us, but I notice the looks. I would ask them, aren't we in a war and aren't those Hun machines that we've brought down actively pursuing activities that will harm our lads. I'm no great moralist, but it seems to me that if I've a chance to protect a Tommy from some Hun depredation, then that's my duty and by Jove, I will not be condemned for not doing my duty. Furthermore, I've heard nothing negative from Ackerman in regards to our performance, so I will continue as before until I'm instructed otherwise.

Dear reader, let me tell you about today's excitement. Our morning patrol was another Line Patrol maybe the brass is starting to see the merit in what Thayer and I are accomplishing. Anyway, we arrived at the front being led again by Lieutenant Epps who if the truth be told, I'm rather fond of, he's a terrible footballer, but he is a smashing good flight leader. We had just begun our patrol when I noticed off to the southeast of us two Hun machines that were dropping bombs on our boys. I was outraged, their lives are bad enough without bombs falling on them. I signalled Epps, who must have been looking away because he never noticed them. I didn't need Thayer's command this time as like I said, I was outraged. I've found that the best way to approach one of these Hun machines is to fly at the same altitude and parallel. Then all you have to do is apply and reduce throttle to approach them and then a little rudder to ease into position. I had hardly gotten us into position, when I hear Thayer commencing to fire his trusty Lewis. It isn't long before the Hun is smoking and we witness him crashing just past the lines. I return to Epps and he waggles his wings because he had witnessed the whole thing. We return to a delicious luncheon and I took a short nap before the afternoon sortie. Imagine our frustration, when Ackerman orders us to fly a training flight for the afternoon sortie to test the new rigging that had just been completed on our bus. We had just taken off when I happened to glance back out our field and noticed explosions. For a minute, I was perplexed as to what was happening and then it hit me. I quickly looked up and there were the Hun bastards that were bombing my airfield. I looked at Thayer and he nodded his approval and our training flight quickly became a hunt. I squeezed every inch of altitude out of our old bus and I finally caught up with the Huns over Dunkerque. I began my attack on the leftmost aeroplane in the formation and it wasn't long before Thayer had his engine smoking. I followed him down and the Hun attempted to land just east of Dunkerque, but he cracked up in some trees. As I swooped over him, I saw the pilot and his observer crawling gingerly out of the wreckage. I turned for home and landed without any difficulty. The first words out of everyones mouths were, "Did you get one of those bastards?" I assured them that we did. Now, I'm not noticing those looks near as often and from as many men, maybe now the fellows understand that this isn't a game and to win we need to kill as many of them as we can or it might not ever end. By the way, that was our fifth kill and we had quite the bash that evening.

The cowards who bombed us.


Hun about to crash into the trees.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/16/15 04:00 AM

Almost There, Sgt
2 Sqn, Rfc
Flanders


June 15, 1915

Posted to a recon flight (2 Be2,s) up to Loos and back. It was a nice and smooth flight at 2000 meters. No enemy machines spotted. All back safe.




2 points
Posted By: CW3SF

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/16/15 01:50 PM

Please remove all of "My Pilots" from this event " Albert Bergman" and "Bob Daniels".

Thanks, CW3SF
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/15 12:17 PM

Now we all know about the Bloody Baron and such, but there was another Fox that was known, but alas all but forgoten before Richthofen started making his way into the history books. A BBC cleaning lady accidently nocked over a pile of old films while dusting the vaults. After trying to put things back in order she managed to mix the dates up, and so, as if by Godly intervention, this story came to be discovered.


Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/15 02:23 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/15 02:31 PM



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/15 09:15 PM

Journal Entry: June 17, 1915
St. Pol-sur-mer

I really don't understand my fellow fliers in the squadron. We get explicit orders for both the morning sortie and the afternoon sortie, to prevent the enemy machines from crossing the lines by any means necessary. So, what does Flight Lieutenant Sheely do during this morning's sortie when a Hun machine passes right over us, nothing is the correct answer? I'll tell you dear reader, he would've let the Hun pass completely unmolested if Thayer and I hadn't been present. Let me tell you exactly what happened and you can be the judge if we acted in a proper military fashion. We took off this morning for our usual morning sortie and this time we were ordered to do a line patrol, which consists of flying over a certain section of the front with the specific intent of stopping the enemy from crossing said front. Everything was going according to plan and we arrived at our patrol sector without incident. It wasn't long before I saw a Hun approaching us at a higher altitude. I motioned to Thayer and he acknowledged me by getting his Lewis prepared. I waved at Sheely and received no indication that he saw me, so I waited patiently for him to act. The Hun actually flew right over us, maybe 100 to 200 feet above us and no reaction from Sheely. Just so the reader understands, the Hun was flying across the front and toward our territory, exactly what we had been ordered to prevent. Well, you may call me many things, but I do understand explicit orders, so I pulled our bus into a climbing turn and began to pursue the Hun. I managed to close with him just south of Niewpoort. Thayer began firing and managed to disable his engine and the Hun had to crash land just inside our lines. I can't believe that Thayer and I are the only ones that truly understand what we are involved in, this isn't a gentleman's game, this is full scale war and I'm terrified that it will get much worse before it gets better. I wonder if maybe it's because my father fought in the Boer War and I remember his stories of how hard the Boer's fought and how it was necessary to totally defeat them if we wanted any chance for peace. I'm sure some of my fellow fliers think I'm a monster, but if by killing these Huns I could shorten this war by one day, then I would kill many more. I'm sorry if that sounds brutal, but that's the way of it. Now for some happier news, apparently, the CO had put my name in for a DSO and tonight after dinner he announced that it had been approved. We had quite the party, which I'm sure I'll regret in the morning. Sorry dear reader, but Thayer had forgotten his camera so no photographs of this sortie.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/15 09:29 PM

Ken, my latest report isn't directed at Alvin, I'm just frustrated with the AI pilots. Even when we have orders to engage the enemy they just fly right past them. I guess when we get fighters maybe then their behavior will change.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/15 11:44 PM

Yeah, had the same thing with a solo AV breezing along 500 feet below a flight of three of us for a good 3-4 minutes. Roughly same course (I think his waypoint was the same airfield as ours), none of the AI pilots showed the slightest interest. Alvin was happy. I was neutral, since I'm not fond of the limited movement range of the gun on the BE - used to pointing and shooting with my single-seat campaigns, though I've been very successful with Strutters in a 70 Sqdn campaign.

I think a lot of it has to do with the two-seater AI (see the same thing in RoF) - if they've got two seats, defense seems to be in their blood. If an enemy aircraft comes into the gunners field of fire and range, the gunner will usually open up. Pilots will generally continue on blissfully until the plane starts getting hit, and then they start evading, but to escape the fire, not to attack.

It's irritating, but at least with your kills you'll probably get promoted soon, and be leading your own flights much of the time.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/15 08:33 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Ken, my latest report isn't directed at Alvin, I'm just frustrated with the AI pilots. Even when we have orders to engage the enemy they just fly right past them. I guess when we get fighters maybe then their behavior will change.


I'm sure it has to do with how the files are written. Only one 2-seater (that I know of) acts like a scout and thats the Roland. All other 2 seaters will fly their merry way and will not attack. In fact the Roland goes berzerk if any enemy gets near. Its just something that one has to think of before you go out on the mission.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/15 11:42 AM

Baron von Borste had his first official run over the lines and it almost ended his career !








time to run and find a FOXhole...ha ha ha, Boom Boom
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/15 03:18 PM

Banjoman, Lederhosen: I'm pretty sure that's how they're programmed as well. Keep in mind some of us are being unusually aggressive in the BE 2c. (I'm looking at you Thayer!)

Lederhosen: What does Basil think about the Pfalz? I ran a few QCs yesterday and was impressed. The rear gunner is definitely a step up from the Aviatik B.I
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/15 04:23 PM

I think the bird fly's better than the Morane actually...dont pull up so much
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/15 05:39 PM

Catknight, he's just following orders. biggrin What's interesting is when I joined 1 RNAS there were two pilots that had 9 kills, but no one since June 1 has made any move to engage the enemy, except the dynamic duo of Ethelstan and Thayer. I think you're right and they are just programmed that way, I'm sure things will change when we get to single seaters.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/15 08:23 PM

Sgt , Almost There
2 Sqn, Rfc
Flanders.



18 June 1915.

Bad Mission: B flights 2 a/c corkscrewed up to 2000 meters and headed for the lines for a Arty Spot mission near Oppy.
Broken clouds all the way then 10/ 10ths clouds cover over target. The leed machine waved Washout so we RTB.

Points 1


capture
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/15 01:33 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/15 01:37 PM



Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/15 03:01 PM

.

Sergent Tremblay and his gunner/obs Sergent Fauchard have been awarded their first victory. Yesterday afternoon they were assigned a patrol of the lines at Bapaume and were accompanied by Sgt. Rouquette and his gunner/obs Lt. Sallares. The two Moranes climbed into a beautiful blue winter's sky as they worked their way northeasterly. At Beaumont-Hamel Sgt. Tremblay spotted an aeroplane straight east of their position that looked to be doing a reconnaissance. He signaled his flight mates and guided his mount to investigate. The intruder turned out to be a lone Aviatik who, upon seeing the approaching pair, swung around and headed for home. However, Allard and Jerome had gotten close enough before being spotted so that they were able to overtake the enemy craft as it was nearing Bertincourt. Sgt. Tremblay drew up alongside the Boche, who did little to avoid them at that point, and after Sgt. Fauchard sent but two short bursts from his Lewis into the enemy plane it erupted in flames and fell. It fully startled the Frenchmen who then watched as the burning ship crashed between two tent hangers at the aerodrome below, setting both of them alight. It was a gruesome thing to see. Upon returning to camp Sgt. Tremblay and his gunner turned in their report, which was supported by Lt. Sallares and his pilot. This morning confirmation of the claim was given and Allard and Jerome had their names added to the escadrille's tally board.


Sgt. Tremblay closing in on his prey.


Pulling up along side and turning into the Boche to give Sgt, Fauchard a clear shot.


The Aviatik bursts into flames almost at once from Jerome's handiwork.


The fireball hits the ground and torches the hangers on either side of the impact.


Allard makes a final survey of the unnerving scene before heading back to camp.

A victory to be sure, but not one the young Sergent is feeling altogether good about as he continues to imagine what the end must have been like for his foe. C'est la guerre.

.




Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/15 03:31 PM

Good job Lou, it looks like the Morane is a better plane for giving your observer a shot. The BE.2C has the observer in front of you and it makes it awkward sometimes when you are trying to line up a shot.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/15 06:14 PM

Sgt, Almost There
2 Sqn, Rfc
Flanders


19 June 1915.


I say, bit of Bad luck for A flight. B flight was returning from a Bombardment mission and A flight had 2 a/c on Roaming cover flight. One of the machines landed short of the field. Actually, the chap put it in the River. Head later the pilot broke his neck, but the gunner was ok.

2 points.


free image uploading


photo share
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/15 07:01 PM

That's a new one for me Carrick. Never saw a water landing before.

Lou,congratulations on the victory.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/15 03:13 AM

wave

MFair:

Me Too. He must have been one of those Navy Pilots. I have read that in WWII a former Navy Sea Plane Pilot forgot what a/c he was landing and crashed a smaller airplane. The story went on to state that he made a normal landing approach for a Sea plane but was too high when he cut the power The smaller land a/c just fell out of the sky for the last 10 ft or so. Of course, if he had been in a Sea plane the landing would been spot on.


Lou: Good going
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/15 04:58 PM

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France

Bryan Smythe
12 June 1915
I just arrived in Abeele late yesterday. While I was getting billeting arranged I was informed that the squadron had just lost a machine that day. Apparently, a BE 2 had gone down with engine trouble, and the pilot had stalled and crashed while landing. He hadn’t been with the squadron very long. Lieut. Lloyd and my first job was to go through his belongings and pack them up for shipment to his family. Very unpleasant business. His name was Smith, Alan Smith. A bit disconcerting, myself and him having similar names.
Today, myself and Lieut. Lloyd were assigned an to do an artillery spotting mission. Because we were new to the area, we flew as a wingman for Lieut. Dillon. I had a terrible time keeping formation. Lieut. Dillon was flying an Fe2. They are slightly faster, and despite everything I did, I couldn’t keep formation with him. However, I’m not sure how much longer I will have that formation keeping problem. Rumor in the squadron is that they are turning the Fe’s in, and getting Be2s in exchange. No one here is happy about that change, and think it is a bit like trading a racehorse for a plow horse.
12 June-Approaching the Front Lines near the Lys River
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/15 05:14 PM

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France

13 June 1915
Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France

13 June 1915
No word yet on when the squadron is going to exchange the Fe2 for the Be2s. We are also supposed to be getting some additional scouting aircraft. We already have two, and Supply says a third is will be waiting for pick up at St. Omer very soon. While I would like to get a Scout, I still have trouble with just handling the BE. It looks like I’ll be assigned to “B” flight. The Flight Commander tells me not to worry about my lack of experience in the air, because at the rate they are flying now, I’ll have twenty hours by next week. That would double my flight time. I can’t imagine flying that much!
Today we did an artillery spotting mission to support a French attack to the south. Very quiet. We took no fire, and saw no hostile aircraft. I’m still having trouble keeping up with the Fee.

13 June 1915-Trying to keep up with an Fe2
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/15 05:51 PM

Sgt, Almost There
2 Sqn Rfc
Flanders


June 20, 1915.

Planned on a big party in the mess tonight, but after talking to the ADJ, I put in for a transfer instead. It seems the Row is over my shot down Aviatik. We finished the morning bombardment of the lines ( 3 a/c), They turned for home and I went hunting across the lines. Spotted and attacked 2 Recon Types, one broke off and headed for a Hun A.F. I followed and 41 rds later his motor stopped. He tried to glide to the field,but crashed into the Trees just shy of the landing area.
The ADJ stated NOT Confirmed. No witness No Victory. So I put in for a transfer .

2 Points

how to do a screenshot on a pc


screen shot





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Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/15 06:50 PM

Arnold Reinhardt
FA 294b
Colmar, Alsace

Less than 2 minutes after becoming air born, Arnold's BI suffered a system failure. He didn't have enough altitude to make it back to Colmar....





RIP Arnold salute
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/15 07:16 PM

Yikes! That's a grim outcome, MudWasp!


Anybody run into any 'Balance of Power' stuff yet?
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/15 07:20 PM

14 June 1915
We had a bit of an adventure today. The CO had us patrol the front lines to the north, near the coast by Nieuport. Just as in the past two days, 2nd Lieut. Lloyd and I was flying wing on an F.E.2. Just as in my earlier flights, he lost us west of the front lines. We went ahead and did our patrol alone, but saw nothing. After patrolling and seeing nothing for twenty minutes or so, Lieut. Lloyd passed me a note that said “Fly to Ghistelles.” Ghistelle is a German airfield near the coast. So I flew there at about 8000 feet. The Germans must have been asleep, as no one bothered us.

When we got back and reported, the adjutant told us the CO would be mad about our little adventure. Apparently, the CO is a bit of a stickler for rules, and we had deviated from our mission plan. Lieut. Lloyd explained that we were merely showing a bit of initiative. We had patrolled along the front for as long as assigned, and seeing nothing had gone on a hunting expedition. While sympathetic, the adjutant maintained that the CO would still be upset with our deviation. “Have you met Capt. Strange?” he asked us. “He’s in ‘A’ flight. About a month ago, he was flying a scout and attacked an Aviatik. He used up a drum of ammunition for his Lewis. Since he couldn’t reach that wing-mounted Lewis while sitting down, he stood up in the cockpit to replace the drum. As soon as he did, damned if his machine didn’t’ flip right on its back. So there’s Capt. Strange, hanging onto the Lewis drum for dear life on an inverted airplane. Now that’s a pretty grim situation, but then the machine goes into a flat spin! Somehow, Capt. Strange managed to kick his legs back into the cockpit. He must have been able to hook onto something with his foot, because he was able to swing back into the cockpit and pull out of the spin. When he gets back, the CO was upset that he caused unnecessary damage to his cockpit! So yes, I think the CO will be upset. Fortunately for you, Sergeant, he will be upset with the Lieutenant, because he told you to fly there.”

Lieutenant Lloyd then told me to go back to the hanger and check on the aircraft, and that he would talk to the CO. I don’t know how that conversation went, because I never heard anything more. When I asked Lieut. Lloyd about it later, he just said that we were still on the flight schedule for tomorrow, so he guessed the CO was okay with it. I told the Lieutenant that in my opinion, the sound of the artillery to the south probably had more to do with us being on the schedule for tomorrow.
Historical Information from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Strange

14 June-Patrol near Neiuport

Capt. Strange
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/15 07:26 PM

Originally Posted By: Rick_Rawlings
Yikes! That's a grim outcome, MudWasp!


Anybody run into any 'Balance of Power' stuff yet?


I'd like to fly the Pfalz two seater.
Can't find the squad lederhosen is in, FFA 4b, in the manual enlistment section
WOFF often gives a different squad label on different pages of the logbook
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/15 07:51 PM

Found my way by auto enlist and then quit back to manual.
Arnold's older brother...

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/15 10:49 PM

Combs, I really like your paper log reports. Very realistic.
Mudwasp, Bad way to bow out Bud. Good luck with number 2.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/15 04:20 AM

jawdrop Aw MudWasp what a way to go.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/15 04:53 AM

Never had a system failure that quick before, no altitude, trees in all directions except 180 back to Colmar. Couldn't clear the trees...
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/15 05:38 AM

Mud: I hope your next pilot burns hard. smile
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/15 06:15 PM

Sgt, Almost There
2 Sqn, Rfc
Flanders



June 21, 1915.


I was finishing up a Photo Recon Hop near Messines when a Oil lines blew. I had bags of altitude so put down on our side on a dirt road. My gunner found that the oil line fitting came loose so the rubber hose just slid off and dumped most of the oil. Good thing I shut it down quickly. A farmer gave us the use of a cart so we could find a phone and call base.


image hosting 15mb
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/15 09:47 PM

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France

15-16 June 1915
The past two days have been front line patrols over the front with Dixon as lead. We’ve had good weather, but haven’t seen any Germans. The faster Fe2 keeps leaving us shortly after we reach altitude. The BE simply can’t keep formation with them. God help us if we actually come into contact with armed German scouts.

17 June 1915

We had a recon over the front lines with Baily and Dixon. The weather was raining. There were towering thunderheads, with bases at around 4000 feet. Very majestic and awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, they made it impossible to do any type of meaningful reconnaissance from 8000 feet. The flight leader didn’t deviate from the assigned altitude and drop lower, so we didn't accomplish much.



Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/15 09:50 PM

Kewl external view cloud pic, felt a twinge of vertigo...might just be the PBR whispering to me.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/15 04:15 AM

Scoreboard




Now that new planes are starting to enter the game, if you don't see yours listed feel free to add it under 'Other' and I will add the new model for next time.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/15 04:32 AM

Ofz. Ambrose Straub
FFA 48; Aviatik B.I
June 21, 1915


Have you ever met someone who so annoyed you that you didn't even bother trying to be pleasant or friendly? That is me and Flieger Hans Adam.

I transferred to FFA 48 in Alsace, figuring that if no one is going to give me or my observer a gun, I might as well enjoy the scenery. I arrived at Habsheim on the 18th and tried to make introductions to my new kommandant, Offizierstellvertreter Sandleitner, but Herr Sandleitner was still adjusting to the idea of running his own squad and could not be spared.

I spent the 18th flying around and admiring the sites. We are in an open area south of the forest at Colmar not far from where the Rhine enters Switzerland. I flew 'real' missions on the 20th and 21st. They seem to consist of reconnsaisance along the lower end of the Maginot Line to make sure the French don't try anything too awkward. Unlikely given the nature of the terrain.

In the first we flew near Belfort. I had three fliegers in company including Adam. As we didn't see anyone and still had fuel available, I chose to fly to the Swiss border and work our way back. Adam took exception to that, and while at mess that night he shared his unfavorable impression of Prussian hunters and their desire to dig in every little hole.

I replied that I wasn't Prussian, and I didn't have a favorable impression of his face. I would be pleased to rearrange it for him. Sandleitner made me stand down, but he sounded more amused than offended.

I know Flieger Adam talked to him, for the next morning I found he had his own flight while I would still lead the other fliegers. I avenged myself by forcing him to polish the cowl of my engine before we lifted off. Rank has certain advantages. It only occurred to me later that I gave him cause and opportunity to sabotage me, but neither happened.

It was just as well he was on his own, for I asked my observer, Papenberg, to take some pictures for me. They're a little blurry and grainy, but I like them:

This is soon after liftoff. Notice how the Alsacians are very civilized about surrounding their plots with trees and not those nasty titanium fences favored in Flanders.



This is the airfield just west of Colmar. Last night we listened in horror as Sandleitner told us how a pilot lost power just after take off and sailed into the trees.



The foothills are simply beautiful. I hope to explore them on foot someday.



We were so low over the French lines that machine guns blazed everywhere. No hits thankfully. I was more worried about sailing into the hills.



On the way home I skimmed over a lake to the southeast that I believe runs into the Rhine. There is a great rail bridge leading into Germany proper.



That evening Sandleitner let me know that Flieger Adam had been captured, apparently forced down over enemy trenches. I should be sorry for the man. Or humbled about how fragile we all are in this great cataclysmic war. I'm neither. If he escapes, fine. If not, perhaps I will appreciate his replacement more.
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/15 11:14 AM

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France


18 June 1915
Another Artillery spotting mission, but again we were too high to do good work. No HA seen.


19 June 1915-AM

Two missions today. The morning job was a front line patrol over Lens with Lieut Williams and Lieut. Garfield. By the time we reached the front lines, I was trailing badly. While over the lines, I spotted an unidentified aircraft, slightly above and north of our position, at about 3 miles distance, heading southwest. It appeared to be greyish, so we thought it might be a German. I tried to get Lieut. Williams’ attention, but they were almost a mile ahead of me, they didn’t see my warnings.

Lieut. Lloyd and I determined to pursue the HA, and turned west to intercept. We quickly gained on the aircraft, and identified it as an Aviatik. I tried to approach it from underneath and behind. The Aviatik did not appear to take note of our approach. Possibly he was concentrating on reconnaissance. When we got slightly in front of him, Lieutenant Lloyd gave him about 30 rounds. We saw a few hits on the aircraft, but it simply turned back towards its own lines. We tried pursuing, but I found it to be very tricky to get into a good firing position for the Lieutenant. While slow, a maneuvering Aviatik presents a significant collision risk because we have to get slightly below and in front of him to fire. All the time, I’m trying to fly the airplane, while trying to help the observer aim at a target behind me! Eventually, we simply let him go and returned to base, much pleased with ourselves. After landing and reporting, Lieutenant Lloyd pulled me aside. We discussed the engagement, and decided that by Lieutenant Lloyd would try to help point out the enemy aircraft position once I passed in front of it. We may get a chance to try this new system, as we have a patrol mission scheduled for this afternoon.

Stalking an Aviatik


A good firing position
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/15 01:52 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/15 01:59 PM




Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/15 03:53 PM

Well done Ken, you've really spent a lot of time building your characters back stories. I'm really enjoying the DID campaign but to be honest I just don't think I'm as good a storyteller as the rest of you guys. I'm starting to realize that it is going to be very difficult keeping our stories together because I haven't had anybody die in my game and since I'm not using any HAs that makes a big change as well. Anyway, I'm really enjoying the story you are weaving for Alvin.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/15 07:53 PM

Thanks. Actually, other than poor Rex, I don't have any HAs (and Rex wasn't an ace, just a VC winner). With Rex dead (the way I described it in a previous "letter to Alice", more or less), they're all regular pilots. And they're dropping like flies. In addition to the plane and crew lost a few days ago, have lost two more planes and crews in today's two flights. All Morane crews. I'm beginning to appreciate the BE a bit more....

If you don't mind, I'll continue to mention Arthur, when appropriate (promotion, more kills. medals, and whatever else) Alvin doesn't have any friends since Rex died, so the focus is moving toward his personal dilemmas - at least till the Germans start shooting back.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/15 07:59 PM

That's fine and I'll keep mentioning Alvin. I actually think it could make for a much better story since we are both in the same squadron. I think that is really interesting that you've had so many losses, I haven't had a one, matter of fact, if I wasn't such a loose cannon then nothing would be happening in my version of 1 RNAS at all. biggrin
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/15 11:23 PM

Sgt Alfred Nash -- Diary entries...

10 June 1915

Finally got the news that the BE was airworthy again and checked out of the Terminus Hotel in Calais. Capt Nash is quite the man about town and I had to sneak away from him frequently so that I could stay within my means. As it is I owe him two quid.

Flew from St-Inglevert to Bailleul West without incident and reported to the OC, Major Longcroft. We have the role of artillery observation and reconnaissance, plus a new role of gas spotting. This involves sending messages to the front line infantry warning of approaching gas clouds!

14 June 1915

Spotted my first "Hun" today on the return from an artillery shoot. Our BE approached the Hun from behind, completely unnoticed, and swooped underneath him to give Capt Nash a crack with his Lee Enfield. Nash managed a few rounds, but probably frightened me more that the poor German fellow in the other aircraft. Seeing no result we went home.


"Our BE approached the Hun from behind, completely unnoticed...."



19 June 1915

Flew into enemy territory to drop some bombs on the aerodrome at Houplin. Saw them hit the field, but do no obvious damage.

21 June 1915

Bombed enemy front line positions. No Archie or serious return file. Saw bomb fall among enemy positions.

22 June 1915

Long recce jaunt on a line from Lille to Menin. Paraded back and forward at 6000 feet, but failed to see a single other aircraft. I'm starting to get quite confident here. We were escorted by two of the modern Bristols, each with a forward-firing machine gun.
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/15 03:13 AM

19 June 1915-PM

The afternoon job was another patrol over the front near Lens. Lieut. Carter was the lead, flying a FE2. Like previous flights, his faster craft quickly outpaced us. By the time we arrived over the front, he was almost two miles ahead of us. As we arrived at the northern most point of the area, we spotted two grey aircraft 2.5 north of us heading east and below us. Carter was too far away to signal, and suspecting they were enemy aircraft, Lloyd and I flew out of our patrol area to intercept, finally accomplishing the trick as the aircraft approached the enemy airfield at Haubourdin. We identified them as two Avitak BI and began our attack as the enemy began their decent. Although it took several descending turns around the airfield, eventually by following where Lieut. Lloyd’s was pointing the Lewis, I managed to put Lloyd in a decent firing position. He fired a good burst into the wingman and I observed it wingover and spiral towards the ground from approximately 1200 feet altitude and crash about 500 yards east of the airfield. Immediately afterwards, Lieut. Lloyd targeted the lead aircraft, firing a burst into it. However, we didn’t observe any effect. About that time, our descending fight had dropped us low enough that we began seeing tracers from the MGs at Haubourdin flying past our bus. Neither one of us wanted to have to face the Germans after shooting down one of their aircraft on approach to its home field, so we departed the area, and returned to base. Although we put in a claim, it was denied due to there being no witness. The report is below:

While over the German lines at 8000 feet, spotted two enemy Aviatik two seaters and to the north of me, flying East over the German side of the lines, approximately 2000 feet below. Dived to engage and approached in from the rear quarter. Made a series of passes on the formation as it approached the German airfield at Haubourdin, north of the city of Lens. Fired approximately 30 rounds into the wingman, after which it spiraled towards the ground from approximately 1200 feet, crashing approximately 500 yards east of the airfield. Also engaged the lead aircraft with approximately 20 rounds with no obvious result. Broke off the engagement after we began taking ground MG fire.


Fight over Haubourdin.


Aviatik Crash Site-Haubourdin AF to the left
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/15 03:42 AM

Journal Entry: June 22, 1915
St. Pol-sur-mer

Charles Dickens said it best when he said, "it was the best of times it was the worst of times". He definitely had today in mind when he wrote that great quote, this was the best day for me and the worst day for me. Let me fill you in on what happened today, dear reader. This morning started out no different than any other morning in our squadron, I was assigned the morning observation flight that was being led by my good friend Flight Lieutenant Justin Bell and his observer Lieutenant Dick Stephens. We had breakfast as usual, we took off as usual, as a matter of fact everything about the flight was usual. As we were climbing to reach our patrol altitude, Lt. Bell signaled that he had some kind of trouble and was heading back. This in itself was not unusual because our buses have a tendency to go 'belly up' on us from time to time. I acknowledged his signal and moved into the lead position. We continued on and completed our mission without incident. We turned for home and were landing in no time. As we were walking back up to the Operations shack, we all noticed that something dreadful must have happened, but I couldn't imagine what it was. Before we could even ask what had happened, the operations officer blurted out, "They're dead!'. Well, naturally my first question was, "Who?" He stammered, "Lt. Bell and Stephens, they crashed short of the field, burned up, nothing left." I felt like the life had been sucked out of me, I knew that we would eventually suffer causalities, but for my friend to die in such a needless waste was something I wasn't prepared for. This was our first causality and we weren't handling it well, it's situations like these where real leaders are necessary. The CO took over and got each one of us focused on some necessary task to take our minds off of our shock and grief. That was the worst of times. The best of times would occur in the afternoon and Justin would've been proud, but it was still very bittersweet. Our afternoon sortie was going to be a line patrol and I wanted to do something that I could memorialize Justin's memory. By the way, Justin had already managed seven victories and that is another reason his death was so senseless, he was really accomplishing something out here. Anyway, we arrived at our patrol area and it isn't long before a Hun flies right over us. I turn and pursue and I close just east of Niewpoort where Thayer gives him a couple of good bursts from his Lewis after which his engine starts smoking and begins the long plunge to Earth.



"That one is for you, Justin." and I turn and rejoin our flight. We land, I fill out the paperwork and the victory is quickly confirmed because Lieutenant Edwards is within 300m distance and saw the entire engagement. Later that evening after mess, I'm informed by the CO that I've been promoted to Flight Lieutenant, awarded the Military Cross and I'll be flying the Morane from now on. I'm so glad to get rid of the BE.2C. So, dear reader, you now see why I quoted that dear quote from Dickens. What should have been a stellar day for me was marred by the senseless and untimely death of a dear friend. Justin Bell had the same sort of combative drive that I do and I'll try my best to make him proud of what I do out here. Since we were such close friends, the CO suggested that it would be very meaningful if I would write something to his mother, Oh Lord, what do I say.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/15 09:25 AM

Feb.22 1915
Baron Basil von Borste FFA 4b

Well that didn't go well. While the ground crews were warming up the engines, a lone French Morane flew over and pointed his middle finger to them. "What cheek. Fyling here and giving us the "Stinky Finger". Well Basil ordered his pilot to go after that "Franzmann"
Little did he know that it was that dasterdly ace "Garross".

I think the Fox bit off a little more than he could chew.

end result after a very lively shoot up.....10 days at the Vets!

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/15 10:26 AM




But what he didn't tell them only happened the day before:





Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/15 11:35 AM

Lederhosen, that Pfalz looks the business.

February is dull dull dull. For the next 6 months the most interesting thing that can happen with an Aviatik pilot is engine failure! Does anyone object to my shifting Axel to the June campaign? It should shorten the monotony a bit.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/15 05:45 PM

Catknight, enjoy the Alsace scenery!
lederhosen, that two seater battle looked like fun!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/15 07:50 PM

Sgt, Almost There
2 Sqn Rfc
Flanders

June 23, 1915.

Posted to an Arty spotting mission. It was a short hop to the lines. From our 2 a/c we could see the shell fire hitting in NML or close to our own troops. Request a cease fire then home and tea. Upon landing I was told to pack my kit and go over to 3 Sqn and report for duty. I heard that they were flying a French Umbrella Wing type a/c with a machine gun.


picture uploading
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/15 10:29 PM

Maeran: C'mon over. The weather's warmer.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 03:07 AM

Journal Entry: June 23, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Today was the first full day flying the Morane and even though Thayer and I had success in the afternoon sortie, the jury is still out on whether I will like it or not. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Thayer absolutely loves our new bus. He spoke at length tonight at mess about the improved field of fire for his deadly Lewis and I would say that his actions this afternoon would support that position. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself, let me describe my day.

Woke up to another glorious day in June with high fluffy clouds and a light breeze. We are close enough to the ocean to receive a delightful breeze full of the salty clean smell that I love about the ocean. Since my promotion, I'm now tasked with leading flights on a regular basis and this morning would be my first. It would just be Thayer and myself and Lt. Simon Askew and his observer Lt. Alfred Gunn. Our morning's mission would be a line patrol and it wasn't long before we were airborne and off to our patrol area. We had reached the southern end of our patrol sector and I was just turning us north, when I spotted a sneaky Hun trying to cross our lines just to the north. I signaled Simon and we turned after him. We chased him down after a mile or so and Thayer soon started firing and I noticed that he was scoring hits. The Hun turned away from us but flew right into the firing zone of Alfred and he started scoring hits right away as well. After the burst from Alfred, the Hun heeled over and spiraled to the ground. We were so excited for Simon and Alfred and didn't hesitate to congratulate them on arriving back home. Maybe, with Simon and Alfred scoring a victory it will rouse the rest of the squadron into taking some kind of action when meeting the Hun in the air.

Our afternoon sortie was another line patrol, but this time Lt. Lawrence Newbury and his observer Lt. Tom Stanley would be accompanying me. It was another beautiful day with high fluffy clouds and we wasted no time in getting into the air. In no time at all we had reached our patrol area and once again just as I was turning us north another Hun flew past us also heading north. I signaled Lawrence and began pursuit. After a pursuit of about half a mile, we closed and this time Thayer finished him off with a long burst which must have damaged his engine. The Hun began a slow dive which ended with him crashing just on the other side of the lines.



We are still awaiting confirmation on this victory, but since Lawrence and Tom were right there it should be a formality. I guess results speak for themselves and the Morane is good for what it was designed to do and that is give the observer a good field of fire. I'm just not convinced it is a better flier than the BE.2C, only time will tell.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 12:24 PM


Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 12:33 PM



Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 06:54 PM

Man i wish i could write as well as many of you are writing. Guess I'm more of a picture book guy. Please excuse my grammar and punctuation in my feeble try to tell more with words.

BurnHarnd Reinhardt was told to leave Kohln at 4am and to head for Namur. Kommandant didn't say why and something seemed amiss to BurnHardt, but he didn't question his orders. Shortly before when he expected to arrive at Namur his engine rpms started to bounce. Just before he landed in the twilight he knew his engine was about to go kaput. He managed to land just fine. After landing he told the mechanic of his planes engine troubles and was told to see the Kommandant. He could tell something was odd in the voice of the mechanic.

That is when he learned the news that his younger brother Arnold had recently died shortly after take off due a leaky fuel line. More bad news came as BurnHard learned his Grandfather had passed on a few days earlier. As is the custom with his family in Thale his Granfather's corpse was burned and the Kommandant presented him with clay urn. Grandfather's old friend, Uncle Herman, had preformed the old Thale ceramony as there were no more local Reinhardt family members alive.

Kommandant went on to ask BurnHard what should be done with his brother's corpse which was badly burned in the wreckage of his Aviatik. BurnHard asked that it be sent to Namur while his Pfalz was repaired. He went to ask if he could further burn the corpse to ashes as his family custom. All bone and some flesh remained intact and that wasn't right to him. Kommandant agreed to his request, but noted there wasn't much spare firewood and that his brother's remains wouldn't arrive until wednesday.

BurnHard stated he would make more firewood and inquired about where to bunk down. Kommandant suggested the mechanics shack and joked about not having enough room in the massive Zepplin hangers which even caused BurnHard to chuckle...and then think for a bit.... "That gas burns easy and hot, doesn't it Kommandant?"

"What chu thinkin bout BurHard?"

"A funeral pyre for my brother Arnold, in the sky at dawn." was his answer.

"Bunk in with Fritz, talk about it and get back to me in the morning. He is overwhelmed with work and helping him might take your mind off recent bad news. Your Pflaz needs work too."

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 07:22 PM

Sounded fine to me MudWasp. I think you are not giving yourself enough credit. Keep them coming.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 08:05 PM

Rusty nuts and threaded bolts are what that part of my mind is like. A little liquid lubrication works wonders, but too much creates a Cluster F&*(@ed mess.

Thanks for the encouragement my friend.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 08:30 PM

MudWasp, that was fine. Some of these guys should be professional writers, so I learned not to try and compete because I'm just not that good of a writer, instead just tell your story.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 09:40 PM

yep
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 10:38 PM

Gentlemen,
Sergent Achille Renard flying with MS 57 was finally awarded his first confirmed victory after 44 missions. Drinks are on me! cheers
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 11:25 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
MudWasp, that was fine. Some of these guys should be professional writers, so I learned not to try and compete because I'm just not that good of a writer, instead just tell your story.


Well said! thumbsup
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 11:26 PM

Fullofit, congratulations on the victory!
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 11:31 PM

Looked good to me Mudwasp. Don't sell yourself short!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 11:34 PM

Fullofit, welcome to the club.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/15 11:51 PM

44....Been along time coming.
Ya Burst da Seal!
Now ya know the how to do it, and more victories will come.
Don't fly too close, those crazy Germans may very well wheel ram ya from above.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/15 12:15 AM

Thanks guys.
Achille had a few victories prior to this one, but all unconfirmed. This one ironically was confirmed with no witnesses.
The Hun was skimming the tops of the trees. Trying to avoid radar? My initial thought was to fly on top of him and force him into the trees, but thought better of it. I still needed my wheels to land, this being DID. We both gained some altitude once my observer started shooting. Of course he could not reciprocate on his Aviatik.
Then something I've never seen the AI do before happened. He dove under me and stayed there, trying to match my course. My observer had no clear shot. With the low altitude he could not do this for long and eventually I pulled along side him and my observer finished him off with a burst from his MG to the tune of La Marseillaise. This sim never stops to amaze me.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/15 12:41 AM

You can fly lower than ea in WOFF...if you can still fly after an EA engagement that went wrong. I like rivers with army bases nearby when being the mouse.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/15 04:21 PM

Sgt, Almost There
RFC-3 Sqn
Auchel
Flanders, France.

June 25, 1915.

Went over the lines to do a bombardment, Jolly good show our 2 a/c flight put 2 near the target. The Morane that we fly in the Sqn seems slower and wider in the turn than a Be2, but the Lewis Gun in the back is Wicket.


photo hosting sites

2 Points.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/15 05:50 PM

Maybe somebody can answer this for me, did the 1 RNAS historically not perform any bombing missions? I haven't had a single bombing mission, all I get are recons and line patrols while some of you seem to do quite a few bombing missions.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/15 06:28 PM

I've not seen a bombing mission with 1 RNAS yet either in 48 missions. Though it may be because our BEs aren't equipped for bombing. Ambrose gets quite a few bombing missions in his Morane.

You're in a Morane now, and as will be seen when Alice gets her letter tomorrow, so is Alvin. A dozen missions in that deathtrap should show if it's just the BE, or if the RNAS doesn't believe in bombs.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/15 10:16 PM

Sgt. Archer Sterling is dead. he was trying to in in close position so that his crappy gunner might actually shoot at and hit the Aviatik, and there was a fatal collision.

Right before that, he noticed something weird that might be his gunner's problem: should the Lewis gun's aiming vane be pointing downwind, instead of into the wind like it is?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/15 10:54 PM

I didn't think that vane thingy on the end of the Lewis actually did anything. I'll check when I fly next.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/15 11:32 PM

In the sim it is indeed static; in real life, it swiveled to allow deflection. I was just thinking that if it is to be permanent, it at least should face the other way. Just a little thing to look at some day when there's nothing else more important for the devs to work on.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/15 12:55 AM

loftycSorry about Archer. It looks like a long war to me.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/15 11:54 AM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/15 12:08 PM




Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/15 01:28 PM

Ken, welcome to the club. You know what's funny, in my DID campaign I've also shot down Leffers.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/15 03:29 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
in my DID campaign I've also shot down Leffers.

Probably not for the last time...

Interestingly, I'm not sure the inadvertent kill had anything to do with Alvin's promotion. After whining about promotion in his most recent letter, Ambrose was promoted to 2nd Lt. after today's mission, and he hasn't done anything but fly around and miss targets when bombing. So maybe it was just Alvin's time.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/15 04:06 PM

That's the one thing that bothers me about HAs, in a past campaign I shot down the same HA four times. That's why I'm currently using one of the HA mods.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/15 03:56 PM

Sgt, Almost There
RFC-3 Sqn
Auchel
Flanders, France.


June 27, 1915.


Dawn Flight: Arty spot on the lines across from Lens. Heavy shelling but they were all over No Mans Land.
Redirected as best we could then RTB.

Just landed and was ordered to refuel, It seems a Convoy is moving up to the front South of Lens. Departed and scouted the assigned area but no Convoy or troops spotted.


img upload

4 points.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/15 07:24 PM

Man, when you have a bad time it sure costs you. Engine failure on mission, landed in a field, did not complete mission, plane destroyed. -4 points. But I am still alive.
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/15 09:33 PM

Originally Posted By: MFair
But I am still alive.


+10000000 points!!!!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/15 10:44 PM

Adain Lothbrok scored his 1st victory over a Hun machine. Confirmed!

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/15 11:31 PM

BurnHard left the Kommandant's quarters and was again awestruck by sight of the huge zeppelin hanger that dominated the opposite side of Namur airfield. More so now than he had been before landing his malfunctioning pfalz in the early dawn. It dwarfed everything else around especially his troubled pfalz that Fritz was tinkering working on.

"You're mighty lucky to be alive this morning." called out Fritz as Burnhard approached. "This fuel leak could have fried you crispy had you flown much further."

"Luckier than my brother. Kommandant told me burned alive shortly after taking off from Colmar a few days back.". Fritz bit his upper lip and started to say something, but BurnHard cut him off with a hand wave and replied, "Yeah, things could be worse. How hard will it be to fix?".

"Quick fix, an hour or so. Help me push her over towards my brick repair hanger. "

Fritz had just finished the repair when Kommandant suddenly appeared with a rather grim look on his face and more bad news for BurnHard. The train his brother's remains were on had been destroyed at a railyard near Buhl Lorraine. Enemy bombers had exploded the adjacent cars carring artillary ammo. The train and the railroad storage warehouses were all oblitered.

BurnHard was cleared to leave Namur and invited for fresh sausages. He declined even though he was suprised to see sausages. Fritz went on to tell him that one of the benefits of being at a zeppelin base was the availability of beef intestines for gas bag repairs. The other, an abundant hydrogen supply, had BurnHard thinking of an ample fuel source for the funeral pyre he could no longer give to his brother Arnold. He decided to take Fritz up on the offer to take some sausages with him for the trip to Duoai. Sooner or later his appetite would return.

As he sat in the seat of his repaired Pflaz and looked out at the huge hanger he thought about all the hydrogen inside a zeppelin and what a massive funeral pyre it would make for the crew onboard. "Things could be worse", he muttered to himself as he fired up the Pflaz and headed for Duoai.

oops.... wrong screen shot

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/15 11:36 PM

thumbsup Congrats MFair.
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/15 11:46 PM

Wow! You downed that aircraft with an Enfield, no less! I'm very impressed! cheers
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/15 11:57 PM

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 12:10 AM

Originally Posted By: Rick_Rawlings
Originally Posted By: MFair
But I am still alive.


+10000000 points!!!!


thumbsup
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 12:13 AM

MudWasp, I think your getting this story telling down pat!

Thanks on the victory Gents. I think it was the second shot that knocked the engine.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 12:16 AM

The trip to Douai went by in a hazy fast flash wave for BurnHard. The angry skies had held off for the most part and soon he was above his home airfield.

Landed just fine and was thankful for no equipment mishaps. Reported in to the Kommandant, found his bunk, met his squadmates, and crashed. He awoke half thinking his days journey had been a bad dream.

His squad is small and soon he learned much about all six of them as he shared the 15lbs of sausage Fritz had stashed below his seat.
In the next couple days he flew some around the airfield and made a trip to the nearby front lines. He often thought about funeral pyres when he saw observation balloons.


Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 12:21 AM

You got the right system for giving your gunner a shooting angle.!
I think I saw his head move before his rifle sighted in for a shot...and you moved in to make the shot angle even better.
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 12:51 AM

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France
20-22 June 1915
The French ground attack southwest of Lens is reportedly taking heavy casualties. During the past three days, the squadron has been assigned to patrol the front near Lens to help keep the German reconnaissance aircraft from observing the French and the British army in that sector. We’ve gone up each day, but haven’t spotted any EA at all.

23 June 1915

We had a bit of a switch in missions today. Rather than heading south east to support the French, we were assigned to patrol behind the German lines to the east, near Ypres. For the first time, I flew the lead aircraft, with Sgt. Garfield as my wingman. It was a morning job. Surprisingly, there were a fair number of scattered thunderstoms in the area. Fortunately, we could avoid them fairly easily. Just behind the German lines, we caught two Aviatiks flying east. Myself and Sgt Garfield intercepted them. In the melee, we lost the lead aircraft, but we managed to severely damage his wingman’s engine, which stopped. During our fight, I almost collided with his aircraft, missing by what seemed to be inches! Eventually, he crash landed about a half mile east of the German airfield at Menen. I almost joined him in crashing in the same field, as I was so focused on making sure he crashed, that I ended up flying both low and slow, a very dangerous technique. When I finally realized that I was below the height of the trees approaching in front of me, I pulled up, but almost stalled the aircraft because I was too slow. Fortunately, I put my nose down in time to avoid stalling, and barely cleared the trees at the end of the field that claimed the Aviatik. Sgt. Garfield rejoined me, and we flew back to base without further incident. Surprisingly, my claim was denied, despite Sgt. Garfield being on hand to witness it.


Storms on 23 June


Aviatik with stopped engine near Menen
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 01:00 AM

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France

23 June 1915
Had a bit of a harrowing adventure today. Lieutenant Lloyd and I were assigned to do a morning artillery spot along with Lieutenants McDonald and Dillon. Our take off was fine, but about twelve minutes into the mission, my engine started knocking quiet a bit. I immediately turned for the nearest base and throttled down, then the engine completely stopped. I spied what I thought was a suitable looking field, but came in too fast, and realized I was going to hit some trees at the end. I pulled up and missed the trees, but stalled and crashed, destroying my bus. Surprisingly, both Lieut. Lloyd and I walked away from this crash without an scratch. My Guardian angel must have been looking out for us!


Take off for an artillery spot
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 01:12 AM

You've had a busy week Combs!
These system failures have been rough on the early birds.....
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 01:32 AM

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France

25 June 1915
I was thinking about luck today, and realized that Lieutenant Lloyd and I have been extraordinarily lucky. The day after downing that Aviatik we crashed, but walked away without a scratch. The very next day, the CO assigned us to a easy mission to patrol well within our lines. We simply had to orbit one of the nearby airfields and keep away German reconnaissance aircraft. The flight commander said we got this easy mission, because after our crash yesterday, the CO wanted us to have an easy flight. I was assigned to lead, and Sgt. Garfield was my wing. As we were climbing out, Lieutenant Lloyd spotted a flight of three Aviatiks heading east. Apparently, they had just dropped some bombs on something nearby. We pursued, but they were well above us. We didn’t finally catch them until just after they crossed the lines, heading for their home base. Lloyd fired about a couple of bursts into the right wingman near the German airfield at Houplin. We saw him spin out of control, and I’m sure he crashed. I then went after the lead aircraft. Although we hit him, he was able to get away. My claim was again denied when I got back to base. I was stewing about my bad luck, but Lieutenant Lloyd correctly pointed out that I was very lucky. In the past week, we’ve cheated death at least twice-once when I almost crashed the aircraft chasing the Aviatik near Menen, and once when I wrecked on the 23rd. In return, we’ve shot down three Aviatiks, even if the records don’t show it. At the least, we are luckier than some. Lieutenant Lloyd also reminded me that the book of Proverbs says not to gloat when your enemy falls. He’s right. We have been extraordinarily lucky.

26-27 June 1915

Very routine missions the past couple of days. On the 26th, I did a bombing attack on some front line positions. The lead aircraft dropped his bombs from 6000 feet, so I did the same. Of course, we didn’t hit anything from that altitude. On the 27th, we had a patrol deep over German lines over their field at Phalempin. Surprisingly, we didn’t see any EA, and returned home without incident.



Homeward bound from the Morning Job



Out of control Aviatik near Houplin

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 01:36 AM

Congrats on confirmed kill MFair.
As to the system failures, I have not had a single one with either one of my pilots, or any member of their flight since patch 2.06. Weird, I even checked if the setting was not reset in the Workshop. Had plenty of them occurring prior to the latest patch. Lucky I guess, but somehow I doubt it.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 01:39 AM

I'm glad I've a rear gunner now in the Pfalz....the Aviatiks are getting slain hard.
Watch out for the C series if your DiD date is concurrent with calendar. Anybody flying one of them yet?
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 01:52 AM

System Failures...It's a gamble and like gambling it can have some streaks of good or bad luck.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 02:42 AM

Had to open my big mouth. Got a system failure right after my last post. Thankfully AFTER landing. Still lucky.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 12:17 PM

yep the old jinx comment... glad you didn't die cause of it thumbsup
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 04:56 PM

popcorn

The next Jinx: A New paint Job.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 05:07 PM

Sgt. Almost There
1 Rfc
Flanders

June 28, 1915

B flight, 2nd Section. (3 a/c)


Hokie Smokes, Flew two Strikes against Harbourdin A.F. today. A cockup the 1st one, Bombs missed ( mine hit the road ) Landed at the wrong AF ( points -1)

The sqn did better the second time around ( mine still missed overshot and hit trees) 2 hit next to the Hanger tent.
( Ponts 1)


image upload no size limit


post a picture
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 09:15 PM

Sgt. Bond Jameson ferried in a Be-2c to RFC-6 at Abeele yesterday, and did a couple flights around the area today. He was a bit nervous to go up to the front since hearing all about the fighting in and around Ypres, but he was surprised to not see a single shell or anything going on there. However, he did nearly soil his sidcot when all of a sudden a pair of German planes flew right past, not 50 yards away! They came from right in front, and Bond didn't see them at all because of Capt. Chittenden, his observer, right in his way. There has to be a better arrangement...? From what he's heard of the German design, they probably didn't see him either, but that really doesn't make him any happier.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/15 10:01 PM

The name is: Jameson, Bond Jameson. On His Majesty's (not so secret) Service.
Great name Loftyc. jamesbond
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/29/15 01:13 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/29/15 01:18 PM



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/29/15 01:39 PM

Another good letter Ken, it is remarkable how different your experience in 1 RNAS is from mine. I've only had one flier die from a crash whereas you've had pilots dropping like flies. I guess that is just one of the cool things about WOFF, no campaign is like any other.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/15 12:04 AM

BurnHard Reinhardt was chosen to lead an artillery spotting mission down south near the frontlines west of Perrone. He flew west from Douai and turned south keeping the easily spotted cratered mud off his right wing and eventually crossed the river that signaled to him that this was the general area to be on alert for ground artillery burst spotting. Ten minutes or so later he spotted a steady shelling falling near the RR tracks of enemy territory.



Once spotted he reached back and tapped his rear gunner Gerhard on the shoulder and pointed it out to him. He then wagged his wings some as a siginal to Dieter Buchener that they were over target. Buchener has a habit of flying in BurnHard's blind spot causing him worries of collisions and often leaves him wondering if he was still even airborne. He could only hope that Gerhard the gunner would alert him if something happened to Buchener.

He lingered there for 10 minutes or so before reversing course and returning to Douai.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/15 02:06 AM

Nice stories everyone. Keep it up! Not much to report on my end: I chose to annoy a Morane with an Aviatik just to see what would happen, and he shot me for my trouble. frown

As you can see, a few 'new' pilots, and the Pfalz A.I is making an appearance.

SCOREBOARD



I only plan to publish this monthly or so. It's the top inactive (usually killed) character for each player. Sort of a high score.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/15 07:38 AM

errr CatKnight... I thought we could have 2 pilots at the same time. So Alfred Ball should still be alive.
Basil is Pilot #2. I gave him a "B" name to match his pilot pic. I can see now why you thought Alfred was dead. Pls let him live on.

danke
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/15 10:21 AM

Well my last post was almost redundant. Here's why.

Talk about massive engine problems









Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/15 11:51 AM

OUCH!
I see the broken prop.
Never had what you described happen to me...YET
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/15 03:09 PM

Lederhosen: That's what I get for assuming. I'll return Alfred to the active list. Try not to get...

uhm...burned to a crisp?

I am AMAZED you survived that. I'm used to a flamer being instant death.

--

I just noticed an interesting little detail there. 'Greasing your faces' before the flight? Was that to protect the pilot's skin from the high winds?

Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/15 03:47 PM

Grease - sometimes described as 'whale grease' was used to protect exposed skin from cold.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/15 04:32 PM

Oddly, the new scorecard is showing the results (for me at least) of last week, not the report I made Saturday night. Am I the only one?
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/15 01:06 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/15 01:12 PM



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/15 01:19 PM

Ken, I'm really enjoying your letter from Alvin. It looks like Alvin will be joining me on the dark side pretty soon, because that's the mindset that Arthur has taken. If we want to go home then we must kill all of the enemy.
Posted By: BKCason

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/15 01:38 PM

Patton:
Now I want you to remember that no b*d ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb b*d die for his country.

EDIT: Hmmm, I didn't realize there was a profanity filter so I put in the * in place. Oh well, you still get the meaning.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/15 10:10 PM

July 1, 1915
Adj Achille Renard has suffered a system failure during his approach to the airfield. Was unable to maintain altitude and had to land immediately. Unfortunately this meant hitting the fence, which appeared out of thin air. Fortunately he survived the collision but will spend a week in hospital under the loving care of nurse Jaqueline. Titanium fences are so 1914.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/15 11:02 PM

Kuroken;

Very poignant letter from Alvin! Much to think about! thumbsup
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/15 12:25 AM

Journal Entry: July 1, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Just got back from a few days leave and I spent it basking in the sun with my first love, the ocean. Nothing like three days of fishing, sailing and swimming in the ocean to clear one's head of all the stress and strain of this never-ending war flying. I really don't know how Thayer spent his leave, but I'd be willing to bet that there was wine, women and song involved. Thayer likes to live on the proverbial edge, if you will, of life, while I much prefer a calmer pace of life. You might not think that if all you had to go by was our war record, but the fact is that most of our victories were at the prompting of Thayer. While I'm pleased with what he and I are accomplishing, I don't know if I would have the same level of success if I was on my own. Anyway, things to ponder while lying on my bed.

Our mission this morning was a line patrol, which is Thayer's favorite because these translate to hunting missions. He really loves the Morane because of the larger field of fire and he also can perform his photographing duties much easier. I on the other hand, really don't like our bus. I can't see anything above me or behind me and I'm constantly yelling back to Thayer for guidance. At any rate, we were leading the flight which consisted of Lt. Epps (pilot) and Capt. Rogers (Obsrv). We had reached the southern end of our patrol area and were turning north when Thayer tapped me on the shoulder and informed me that we had company. I turned and began to climb and that is when I saw the two Hun machines flying from our side of the lines heading back home. I waggled my wings to signal Epps and turned to close with the Huns. Lt. Epps had seen them as well and he also began to close. It is much harder to get our bus into a good firing position because I can't see a blasted thing, but with the assistance of Thayer I finally managed to place our bus where Thayer could use his Lewis. Thayer fired a really short burst and then ceased firing. I turned slightly and could see the Hun plunging on fire to Earth. I surmised that Thayer had hit the fuel tank and the engine, which caused the aeroplane to burst into flames. Afterward, Thayer told me that he had only fired thirty rounds. It is most disquieting to see that funeral pyre falling, spiralling ever so slowly to Earth, lucky for us, there is whiskey back at St. Pol and tomorrow we will have forgotten. Apparently, while we were busy with our Hun, that sneaky fellow Epps had just been putting the finishing touches to his Hun. I turned us back to St. Pol and we landed without incident. The CO was very pleased when we reported that we both had been successful. By the way, both victories had been confirmed by dinner time.

Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/15 12:48 AM

Banjoman;

You are really tearing up the skies with that bus. thumbsup
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/15 01:09 AM

Robert, my motto is 'Get while the getting is good'. When the Huns get the E series I imagine my success will quickly dry up. biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/15 01:19 AM

Now that one of my pilots is resting in a hospital I have some time and I thought it would be nice to know what's been happening around the world during the last month.
Here are the events for February 1915 - Intrepid Fliers:

February 1
A Turkish attack at El Quantara on the Suez Canal was repulsed by fire from British ships.
Russian forces counterattacked against a German advance in continued fighting at Bolomow.
February 2
Forward elements of Turkish forces reached the Suez Canal.
February 3
Turkish troops attacked El Firdan and crossed the Suez Canal but were beaten back by Indian and Ghurka troops along with French ships.
Three of the conspirators involved in the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were hanged by Austrian authorities.
February 4
The commander of the German High Seas Fleet publicly declared a war zone around the British Isles and announced that all merchant ships would be sunk without warning when a submarine blockade of Britain begins on 18 February.
February 5
The British, French and Russian Governments agreed to pool their financial resources.
February 6
British ocean liner RMS Lusitania arrived at Liverpool flying the flag of the United States.
February 7
The Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes, also known as the Winter Battle of the Masurian Lakes, begun between German and Russian forces.
February 9
After being stationed at Salisbury Plain in England, units of the 1st Canadian Division embarked for France.
February 11
US President Woodrow Wilson warned Germany that attacks on US ships breached US neutrality whilst simultaneously protesting to Great Britain about the misuse of the American flag on British ships.
February 12
French troops began an offensive in Champagne on the Western Front.
February 14
German troops captured British trenches near St Eloi on the Western Front.
February 15
Allied governments suggested to Greece that it should intervene in support of Serbia and promised military support at the port of Salonika.
The sepoys of the Indian 4th Light Infantry mutinied against the British in Singapore.
February 16
The British Government decided to send the 29th Division to Gallipoli.
February 17
Two German Zeppelins were forced down by high winds in north-west Denmark.
February 18
The German submarine blockade of Britain came into force.
French forces made slight gains near Verdun, in Artois, Champagne and Vosges.
February 19
The Allied naval bombardment of the Dardanelles and Gallipoli began.
The Norwegian ship SS Belridge was torpedoed by a German submarine near Folkestone in Kent - the first victim of the German blockade.
February 20
The British Government issued orders for the deployment at Gallipoli of Australian and New Zealand troops who were in Egypt.
February 22
Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes ended in a German victory with the Russians suffering heavy losses.
February 23
The Royal Marines landed at the island of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea.
February 24
The First British Territorial Division left England for France.
February 25
British ships resumed their bombardment of the Dardanelles forts.
February 26
German troops employed liquid fire for the first time against French troops in the Verdun Sector.
February 27
The Russians recaptured Przasnysz during the First Battle of Przasnysz in Poland.
February 28
The troops of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry staged the first trench raid of the war near Ypres, Belgium.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/15 01:22 AM

News for the Warbirds Rising - June 1915:

June 1
French troops captured the trenches at Souchez, north of Arras on the Western Front.
June 2
The British Government announced a blockade of the coast of Asia Minor.
June 3
Przemysl was retaken by Austro-German forces.
San Marino declared war on Austria-Hungary.
June 4
The Third and final Battle of Krithia began at Gallipoli as the Allies attempted to push inland from their beach-heads.
June 5
The First Franco-British ministerial conference was held at Calais in order to coordinate war policy and strategy.
June 6
Zeppelin L9 bombed Hull on the east coast of England causing considerable damage.
June 7
The German airship LZ37 was destroyed in the air near Ghent in Belgium by Lieut Warneford of the Royal Naval Air Service - the first time an airship was successfully shot down by an aeroplane.
June 8
William Jennings Bryan resigned as United States Secretary of State in disagreement with President Wilson's policy towards Germany.
June 9
Italian forces captured the town of Monfalcone along the Isonzo front.
June 10
Allied forces captured Garua in the Cameroons.
June 12
German troops attacked north of Shavli and at Mosciska in Galicia.
June 13
Greek statesman Eleftherios Venizelos won in the Greek elections. His party of Venizelists won 193 out of 316 seats.
June 15
The Zeppelin L10 was involved in an unsuccessful bombing raid on the north-east coast of Britain.
June 16
British troops advanced in Bellewarde, a small hamlet north of Hooge and east of Ypres in Belgium.
June 17
The Russian evacuation of Lemberg began as Austrian forces pushed forward in Galicia.
June 18
The Second Battle of Artois ended in stalemate in the final Allied offensive of Spring 1915.
June 19
South African forces begun an advance on Otavifontein in German Southwest Africa.
June 20
The Royal Navy cruiser HMS Roxburgh was damaged by a torpedo from German U boat U-38.
June 21
British troops reached the Euphrates in Mesopotamia and reoccupied Aden.
June 22
Austro-Hungarian forces recaptured the city of Lemburg from the Russians.
June 23
The First Battle of Isonzo begun when Italian troops attacked the Austro-Hungarian army on the Italian Front.
June 24
Robert Lansing was appointed Secretary of State in the USA following the resignation of William Jennings Bryan earlier in the month.
June 25
The German press published an official statement addressing the German use of poison gas at the start of the Second Battle of Ypres two months earlier.
June 26
Montenegrian forces captured San Giovanni di Medua in Albania.
June 28
The Battle of Gully Ravine begun at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli peninsula between Indian and British troops and the Ottoman army.
June 29
A bill was introduced in Britain for the creation of a National Register.
June 30
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Lightning sank after striking mines off the Kent coast of England.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/15 03:34 AM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders


1 July 1915.


Our 3 a/c section struck the enemy at Haubordin AF this morning. My bombing improved by dropping down to 1500 meters. They exploded on the flight line in front of a Recon type. The other a/c got close hits. ( 3 points)


free picture upload


screenshot windows 7

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/15 05:17 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders

2 July 1915.


The section bombed the trenches today. The 3 of us dropped from 2000 meters and great piles of dirt flew up in the air. I doubt if we hit any place close or on the trench line. However, the C.O. was happy said Well done chaps.

{points 3 ?}


upload image online
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/15 11:46 AM

[/b]Fullofit[b], it truly was a world war, wasn't it? Before I fly in WOFF, I like to check the daily timeline ( I use http://www.greatwar.co.uk/timeline/ww1-timeline.htm )to get the bigger picture, and see how it matches with the sim's newspaper (I use the news mod from 77scout)
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/15 01:34 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/15 01:39 PM




Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/15 09:15 PM

Originally Posted By: loftyc
[/b]Fullofit[b], it truly was a world war, wasn't it? Before I fly in WOFF, I like to check the daily timeline ( I use http://www.greatwar.co.uk/timeline/ww1-timeline.htm )to get the bigger picture, and see how it matches with the sim's newspaper (I use the news mod from 77scout)

LoftyC: With all this flying who's got time to read the news? Maybe the observer could read all the more interesting articles to us while en route to target, instead of pointing the gun at our forehead. I use the news mod as well, but it still doesn't come often enough. The most frequent news is the weather report.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/04/15 03:55 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders


4 Jul 1915.

Fireworks today. I was posted as acting flight commander on a 2 a/c Arty spot. We had just finished up and spotted 2 Hun Recon machines. Bang up little fight, we did a lot of slow turns in front of the Huns as our gunners banged away. the followed one Hun down towards his side. His prop stopped and was last seen gliding off to Hunland. On the bad side, We had to cross the lines at 300 meters took 3 hits in the wing and another that killed my gunner. Put down at friendly airfield.
Ammo Rpt: Lewis Gun empty. Wing man a/c shot off 62 rds.


image post


image hosting over 10mb


photo uploading
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/15 09:18 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders

5 July 1915.


Troop Bombardment

3 a/c

0500 hrs.

I flew as #3 on this one shot hop and lots of Dirt an d rocks blowing skyward. All 4 of my 20lb bombs Undershot missing the trenches completely. All a/c back safe.


imagehosting
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/15 05:59 AM

The war is beginning to heat up for the July crew. The Fokkers are starting to wake up.

Scoreboard
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/15 12:27 PM


Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/15 01:15 PM



Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/15 01:18 PM




Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/15 03:10 PM

Nice stories, Kuroken!

It seems both Vixs have found German planes that can shoot back!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/15 03:21 PM

CatKnight, it is so interesting that Kuroken and I are in the same squadron but are having totally different experiences. I haven't seen a single one of the planes that he is now seeing, I'm sure it won't be long.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/15 06:10 PM

Originally Posted By: CatKnight
Nice stories, Kuroken!

It seems both Vixs have found German planes that can shoot back!


Yeah, weeeeeeeeeeee! As if it's not bad enough that every flight in a Morane is a potential emergency landing, or, as I saw in today's flight, sometimes there's no time for an emergency landing - one of the A Flight's planes started making a terrible roaring sound I've not heard before - I looked back to see his plane turning back toward St. Pol, totally engulfed in fire. Maybe 30 secs from when I heard the sound to watching him burning and tumbling down into the Channel. No enemy aircraft, and we were about a mile off the French coast, so no Archie either.

I'm not sure Germans shooting at me is my main worry....
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/15 01:18 AM

I was flying around in my Aviatik last week when I saw a single puff of smoke. I took that as a signal to turn for home, but not really an emergency so I banked around.

Then my plane made a sound very much like a..uhm...methane bomb, and I turned around to see this thick trail of black smoke. Time to turn the engine off and hope for the best.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/15 02:56 AM

Yup, that was the sound. By the time I'd gone to external view to see around the observer, the plane was almost fully engulfed in flame, trying to get back to the field. He didn't get far before it nosed over and down he went, like a falling meteor.

Scary stuff. I'm hoping that killing the engine and landing as quickly as possible, anywhere I can, will keep it from happening to one of my pilots. I'd rather eat a fence than burn.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/15 08:34 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders

7 July 1915.

Up on a Recon with 2 other a/c. Spotted a Hun Recon so had a go at it. Gunner got of a full 97 rd Drum but no joy. We were low by then and Ground fire came up hot and accurate. They punched 6 holes in my Kite so I went Home.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/15 11:35 AM

Big day in history...for ww1 buffs that is.







Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/15 01:15 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/15 01:20 PM



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/15 03:55 PM

Question for the group, should we include when we are awarded medals in our campaign write ups? The reason I ask is we all know that WOFF awards medals a lot quicker than in real life and I just wanted to know what the group felt about it.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/15 04:06 PM

It would be easier for all of us, I think.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/15 07:04 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Question for the group, should we include when we are awarded medals in our campaign write ups? The reason I ask is we all know that WOFF awards medals a lot quicker than in real life and I just wanted to know what the group felt about it.

I figure all of our pilots will end up with chests full of medals from our respective flying services if they live long enough. Then they'll die, and new pilots will take their places and start it all over again. So in the end, does it matter?
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/15 10:11 PM

Banjoman: Your discretion. If you think you earned it, why not?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/15 10:29 PM

popcorn

Sure: If ya got it, flaunt it
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/15 10:38 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders


8 Jul 17.

Off with 2 a/c to bombard a Hun AF the other side of Lens. I must say, I dont care much for the deep penetration flights. The Hun aerodrome had a large cloud over it but we dropped anyway. Hits ?

( Points 1)


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Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/09/15 05:08 AM

Ofz. Alfonse Straub
FFA 48; Aviatik B.I
July 6-7, 1915



It has been a boring few weeks: Just enough went wrong to keep me on my toes, but not enough to be worth writing about. Perhaps this won't be a gripping yarn either, but it's good to put pen to paper again.

As a reminder, there are six of us: Offz. Sandleitner, our fearless leader: Nice man, pleasant to talk to - when you can actually get his attention. Offz. Nebgen, a mechanic from Bavaria who used his skills and family connections to earn him this role. Fliegers Hammer and Todt - the former even more enigmatic than our leader, while the latter and I (verbally) jousted over which part of Germany was superior, mine or his. I won, of course, and he resents it, which I don't care. Lastly there's Offz. Andreas Collin, who stepped in after 'poor' Flieger Adam was captured. An unknown quantity, though highly confident in his skills.

We've spent the past several days reconning the same patch of hilly, forested land over and over. The French and English are certainly there, but if they're planning something it's beyond my ken and I have no idea what Army HQ thinks we're going to find. It's gotten to the point where we'll send two people up to do our duty and go home as quickly as possible.

Two fliers, for we've heard in Flanders some murderous BE 2 and Morane pilots have taken to settling in front of our Aviatiks and shooting them down. May they burn for their crimes. Perhaps I could be doing the same: Some of the squadrons are getting the new C model Aviatiks. It would probably be a hilarious battle watching two planes with rear gunners try to slug it out.

On the sixth it was just Collin and I, and we flew our routine patrol/recon. By this point I can almost do it with my eyes closed, and between you and me I do just that for a few seconds at a time until the next air pocket brings me to my senses. When I'm not doing that I simply enjoy the sights.



Our route takes us over The Web. That's my name for it - I don't know what, or even if, the converging network has a name. I'm surprised a town hasn't sprung up there, a depot or petrol station, anything. Perhaps after the war when we've finished knocking the French around.



My observer, Edgar Papenberg, has the real job. Whatever Army wants involves using a camera, and we've figured out that attaching the camera via a brace to the plane itself improves the pictures' quality amazingly. Every five seconds or so he takes an exposure as I wheel around. Every so often he reloads the camera. When he runs out of film he signals we can go.

Whatever it is he took pictures of got Army's attention, for on the 7th they sent two flights: Sandleitner leading one, while I led the second with my good friend Todt. We exchanged some unplesantries comparing our pay books and headed back past the rail tracks, past the Web and so to circle our English and French friends some more.

Today they're in a bad mood: They open fire on us, which only encourages me to fly a little higher. It's a dismal day over the front, but not so bad I have trouble staying under the clouds. Papenberg and Todt's observer take more pictures.

After Papenberg finishes we head home. I'm still a bit bored with the routine and idily tapping at switches as we begin our descent. I accidentally kill the magnetos.



In reality, I'd just remapped my joystick so I had one button to turn off the engine in an emergency. I forgot what it did, and thought to myself 'What harm can it do?' so I pressed it. Oops.

After much scrambling and cursing, where my poor Aviatik tried to simultaneously stall AND dive, I got the engine to fire and landed behind Todt.

Where was Sandleitner's flight? I'd seen him turn away to the northeast shortly after takeoff to gain altitude, a step I found unnecessary. Had he been delayed? Worse, had some of those Moranes crossed the line? I knew there were some stationed at Fontaine, perhaps 20 miles away.

After about 20 minutes I washed up then headed into the mess where the orderly made me a sandwich. Stepping back into the sunlight, I heard the familiar drone of engines. I swore Offz. Sandleitner jumped out of his plane before it was completely stopped.

"Where the devil were you?" he demanded, storming to me and wiping his face with his scarf.

"Sir?"

"You!" He pointed at my sandwich, which seemed to offend him. "You weren't on station when we arrived!"

"I'm sorry, sir, but we were there. Papenberg has a full camera as does Todt's man. Perhaps we were gone when you showed? There really is no reason to make a separate climb when..."

"We were supposed to go together so we could compare pictures!" he complained. "Now Army's going to want us to go back there."

I smirked and took a bite out of my sandwich. Army was going to send us back there anyway. Who was he kidding?

Sandleitner shook his head and stormed past me to clean up.

"Try the roast beef!" I called after him.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/09/15 09:14 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders

9 July 1915.


I was posted to due the morning Recon. Out on the ramp warming the motors at 0445 hrs. We launched at 0455 hrs and as we got up to 300 meters my #2 a/c went U/S and wound up in the weeds. He almost made the field but the wind was against him. No one hurt,but Heavy damage to the machine. I did the Recon and RTB.


free screen capture

points 1
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/09/15 10:37 PM

Early March saw BurnHard leading two other Pfalz planes on a bombing raid targeting enemy troops south of Arras. Most of the snow has melted off the ground except for shaded areas near trees and fence rows.




As he snaked his way south along the lines an enemy troop concentration was spotted. It look to be good as any enemy target on the frontlines.

So he let his bombs go and soon heard those of the rest of the flight whistling towards the hunkered down enemy.
Some bombs hit!



BurnHard then turned towards German turf and and flew North paralleling the front lines. He did spot German flak bursts drawing near and decided to dive down to avoid an enemy contact. That tactic worked and soon all from his FA47b flight were safely back at Douai.

3pts
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/15 04:36 AM

Ofz. Alfonse Straub
FFA 48; Aviatik B.I (Fokker E.I)
July 8-9, 1915



Some more quiet time on the Alsace front. On the 8th, wouldn't you know Sandleitner was right? The Army sent us right back to the same patch of ground we'd been watching for a week now to see if we could coordinate our cameras better.

This time it's Nebgen and Todt in one flight, while I take out Flieger Hammer. There really isn't much to say, except the Frogs in Fontaine were on a similar mission we were. Twice we saw flights of two Moranes a piece - or far all I know they were the same flight. Regardless, Papenberg and I watched as closely as possible to make sure they tried no mischief. They must have watched as well, to make sure we weren't ambitious C.Is, for after awhile we tipped our wings at each other. Their observer even waved.

When we landed, we found mechanics gathered around a new prize: A single-seater Morane!


(The Fokker E.I has shown up for our 'aces' to use. Since I use the Aces 0 mod, that means no one! Below I gave myself a free 'test' flight.)

During dinner, Offizierstellvertreter Sandleitner told us about her. Apparently some Dutchman named Fokker thinks he's figured out how to get a gun to fire through the propeller. There are already a small handful of these flying in Flanders and enjoying limited success.

"The Eindecker isn't cleared for use by our squadron," he told us. "There are too many questions, and anyway what would we do with our observers? No, it is here strictly for defending our airfield and for further testing."

Testing simply involved flying a few laps around the airfield and sharing our thoughts. Sandleitner offered the Offizierstellvertreters a chance to try her out on the 'morrow. We agreed eagerly. Neither Flieger would be invited to join us.

I was third in seniority, so took her up at about 9 AM. The Eindecker was...a nervous creature. While rolling down the field the plane tried to slip to the left. I compensated and took off, and now she tried to bank to the right. Indeed, her rotary engine made turning right a breeze.

Once underway with some speed, the plane settled down. Slowly I circled the field. Sandleitner asked we stay in sight, and also that we avoid being seen by people on the ground in case spies are about.



Isolated houses here and there made the latter difficult, but I figured as long as I didn't fire the gun or tarry any curious onlookers would mistake me for a Pfalz built Morane. Indeed, now that Fokker had solved the gun synchronization issue I wondered if they would put forward firing guns on the Pfalz as well. A plane that could shoot both forward and back would be deadly indeed.

Almost as soon as I had that thought, it occured to me how dangerous that would be. Up until now, except for a few isolated instances, aerial 'warfare' had been non-existent. We might take shots at each other with pistols and rifles, but the general expectation was everyone would make it home. Aeroplanes dedicated to hunt other planes would escalate the war. We build the Fokker, and of course the Frogs have to build something to compensate.

The days of two flights tipping their wings at each other and going about their business might be drawing to a close. As I landed next to Hammer's Aviatik, I wondered if newer in this case was really such a good idea.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/15 10:03 AM

Bad day for Alfred I'm afraid...here's why







The patrol had ended. Sgt.Ball and his Observer Cpt. Clark were bombing targets around Ligney-Petit. Nothing spectacular, as the bombs were way off target. After making a target of themselves, Cpt.Clark pointed for home and a nice cupa tea. The flight home was uneventful and soon Alfred started to descend and follow the road to Poperinghe.

A few miles from the airfield Alfred noticed a lone lorry heading for God knows where. Cpt. Clark started to smile, as if he knew what was about to happen. Thus with no protests coming from the front cockpit, Alfred turned and dived for the unfortunate driver. The route wasn’t that easy with large ugly trees near the road, but Alfred was sure of his abilities, and so, with the wheels just above the road he stormed towards his victim. Looking over the cowling Alfred could actually see the amazement in the face of the poor driver. By a very small margin Alfred just missed the Lorry while pulling up. Cpt. Clark was laughing, but he was moving his head rather slowly left and right as if he knew something.

A few minutes later and Be2#469 landed, another mission over.

“You, that Man!!”
“Yes Yooou, you ‘orrible little Man”, barked the Squadron Sgt.Major, “don’t move. Headdress off! Attention! To your front in double quick time, quick maaarch! Left right left right left right leeffft!”

Alfred wanted to know what was going on, “Whats wr---“

“Shut your cake-ole Flt.Sgt. Ball, you’re on charge is you” came the reply. The two of them, one shouting the cadence the other looking quite funny trying his best to keep up. They entered “B” flight office where Lt. Dolly was waiting.
“Left right left right left right….. Halt. Left tuuurrrn! Sgt Alfred Ball as requested Sar!”



“Thank you Sgt.Major” came from Lt. Dolly, “I see that Flight Captain Mannequin is waiting for you Sgt.Ball…..good luck” And so, with fear written all over his face, Sgt Alfred Ball went on to face his first, of many, charges during his time with the RFC. The little entourage marched into Cpt. Mannequins office, and with a huge Bang and a damn fine regulation salute, Alfred began to dread what was coming.



“Sergeant Ball, do you know why you are here? Let me tell you a little story, one with a very unhappy ending.. for you in the end I suppose.” Cpt. Mannequin sat behind his desk and glared Alfred in the eyes. “You know why you here?”

“Well, yes Sir, you requested a Pilot I suppose”

“Yes, quite true. And have a guess why you are replacing a Pilot. Don’t bother Man, I’ll tell you why. This other Pilot decided one day that he was tired with military flying and wanted to do some stunting. He saw a car with a few Red Tabs sitting in it and decided to show them how good he could fly. Well he put on a fine display. Any idea what happened Sergeant ?”

Silence

“He put the wind up some General, and then flew his Be2 into a damn tree. The end result was 2 dead men and one of his Majesties aircraft STRUCK OFF CHARGE!! Not to mention the balling out this squadron had to endure because of this event. The driver of the Lorry today was bringing supplies to this airfield. He’s a bit upset and is waiting for you in the Sergeants mess. If I were you, I’d apologize and buy him a beer and hope that this incident stays here…do you understand me Sgt.Ball ?”

“Yes Sir I do.”

“Good. You’re on 14 days extra duties, 30 days no grog and 14 days suspension of pay. Sgt.Major thank you.”

“Saar. Sgt. Ball left Turn! Out of the office, left wheel, in double quick time, quick Maaarch!. Left right left right left right… Arms Straight! Thumbs pointing forward you Oribble little MAANNN! “
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/15 12:49 PM

Lt. Dolly & Captain Mannequin made my morning winkngrin
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/15 02:05 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/15 02:20 PM




Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/15 05:29 PM

thumbsup Well done great stories to go with my morning Cup of Java.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/15 05:36 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders


July 10, 1915.


I say, frightful morning. I just couldn't aim the bombs on the run over Vimy Junction. T missed it completely even after I went down 1600 meters. My #2 Mac got the hits on target and saved the day. Good thing he came along Wot? Heard a banging noise on the way back so put down at Savy AF ( friendly) to have a look see.


screenshot windows

-1 point
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/15 01:57 AM

Journal Entry: July 10, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Well, this has been a whirlwind couple of days. First, the mess is all abuzz with the rumors of the Huns having some new kind of aeroplane. Neither Thayer or myself are convinced that the Huns even have a new kind of aeroplane, I mean really, could the Huns have developed something that is qualitatively better than what we have, I think not. We are the British for Heavens sakes, we span the globe and I'm sure that if there was anything better than what we are flying then we would have it. We've both decided that we shan't believe it until we witness it with our own eyes. Enough of this talk of Hun super weapons, let's get to the exciting part, shall we.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were like every other day with morning and afternoon sorties. The pace picked up for Thayer and myself when we were fortunate enough to score our eleventh victory during the morning mission



and our twelfth victory during our afternoon sortie. This was our second double and we were feeling mighty proud of ourselves.



Thursday was routine and those kind of days are very welcome with this constant flying and the ever present threat of mechanical failure. Dinner was delicious as usual and the small talk centered once again on the reports of these new Hun machines, which caused quite the discussion when Thayer announced to the group that he thought these rumors were "pure rubbish". He went on further by stating, "With the success that Ethelstan and I are having, don't you think that if the Huns did have these super machines they would be using them against us? Furthermore, we haven't see hide nor hair of any such machines." Well needless to say, that started quite a row and it might have gotten out of hand if the CO hadn't stepped in and made a general annoucement to the men. We were told that there would be no flying on the 10th because some brass was visiting our squadron for a tour and inspection. Friday dawned sunny and beautiful and promised to be another glorious day. We ate breakfast, shaved and put on our best uniforms and sat around awaiting the arrival of our guests. Everyone was quite curious because we had never had visitors in the past and as you know dear reader, when routines get changed people get curious. It wasn't long before we were called to attention as three staff cars began to pull up to the airfield. Out came more brass than I've ever seen, there were men that I've never seen before and a few that I was familiar with. After they composed themselves, our CO called in a loud voice, "Flight Lieutenant Arthur Ethelstan and 2nd Lieutenant Edmund Thayer, step forward". We looked at each other and wilted, could we be in trouble for our vocal disagreements about the new Hun machine. We stepped forward with much fear and trepidation and awaited our approaching doom. Well, the older general, I believe Trenchard was his name, began to read and I started to hear words like valorous and above the call of duty. By this time I was so confused I hadn't any idea what was going on until I heard the general say, "It is my pleasure to confer upon each of you the Victoria's Cross." Well as you can imagine, I almost fainted. I was expecting punishment but instead was rewarded. I don't even remember what I said as the General stuck me with the medal's pin. As soon as he finished and we were dismissed, everyone swarmed around us. These Generals are shaking our hands like real chums and everyone else is pounding us on our backs. Afterward, the CO told us that he had decided that it would be a good surprise if he didn't tell us what was going to happen. The rest of the day is pretty much of a blur, with the party getting started around lunchtime and just ending after dinner.

Now that I'm all alone with my thoughts, I'm not sure that I am all that happy with receiving this medal. Our CO will now expect us to always perform at the level this medal requires and though the two of us are committed to always doing our duty, we aren't perfect. I'm completely honored and humbled by receiving this medal, I can't but somehow feel like politics were part of the decision. Certainly, we've been very successful against the Huns, but I wouldn't say we are any braver than anyone else in the squadron. I think the brass are hoping this will motivate the others to push harder and I also think this is going to be used as a morale booster for the other squadrons. Whatever the motivation, I will wear this with pride and hope I can live up to the expectations this medal requires.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/15 12:48 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
"It is my pleasure to confer upon each of you the Victoria's Cross."

Very cool, and good point about the pressure that kind of highest honor can put on somebody. I'm sure Alvin will have something to say about it in his Monday letter.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/15 04:08 PM

Nice shooting Banjoman
11 is an impressive tally!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/15 06:12 PM

Journal Entry: July 11, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Woke up to a splitting headache and could hardly move, now I remember why I very seldom partake of alcohol. After splashing copious amounts of water on my face, over my head and just about anywhere I could reach, I drug myself to mess to scrounge up a cup of tea. Upon arrival I spotted Thayer just as chipper as a young lad, sometimes I have no idea what makes that man tick. Anyway, after some toast and tea I was feeling much more like myself and I learned that we had an easy day scheduled for today. The CO informed the two of us that we were going to do another run around the area to make sure our bus was rigged properly and everything was in order. That was sweet music to my ears and it wasn't long before we were in the air. It is amazing how the brisk, clean air of flying will clear one's head. We were heading out over the channel to climb to our operating altitude when I head a very distinct rumbling sound, not unlike thunder. I turned and blast it all, those Huns were bombing our airfield again. I quickly looked up and located the offending Huns, signaled Thayer and began to climb. It wasn't until we were just a little east of Dunkerque that I was finally able to get into our attacking position and Thayer with his usual efficiency made quick work of one of the Huns.



We were unable to bring down the second Hun because he was able to slink back across the lines before we could catch him. We turned for home and it wasn't long before I was landing, of course, everyone wanted to know if I had gotten either of those two Huns, and I assured them that we got one of them. At lunch, Thayer and I were discussing the morning's events and we came to the conclusion that we don't know if the Huns are incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. How many of these Huns must we kill before they stop coming? We've shot down thirteen planes and yet they still come, we wondered if maybe we put some kind of marking on our plane to tell the Huns who they are dealing with. We asked the CO and he gave his permission, now all we need is some kind of symbol that will strike fear in the heart of the Huns. I told Thayer that he could decide what the symbol should be, so I'm sure it will be something outlandish.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/15 07:22 PM

It is good to be a cat at this time of the war.
That second Hun was good at being a mouse. Probably a breeder, better eliminate that one or an infestation will happen.


Go pound their nest before things get outta hand.....bombing run smash
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/15 11:00 PM

Still catching up from my R/L holiday week. Here's Sgt. Smythe's log book from 28 June-4 July:

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France
27 June-4 July 1915
I haven’t had much of a chance to catch up with this journal. No sooner did I get back from the mission on June 27, then I was told I had received a 48 hour pass, but I needed to get on the transport immediately if I wanted to spend it anywhere but at Abeele. Needless to say, I had my kit packed and was on the truck in a matter of minutes. I got as far as St. Omer, but didn’t make it any further that night. While getting a billet, I ran into some Aussies who were heading east. We got to drinking, and when I woke up the next day, most of my money was gone, my jacket was ripped, and I somehow had lost my right boot, but had managed to replace it with a second left boot that looked to be about a size larger than what I normally wear. The Sargent Major took what was left of my money, saying that it would help to defray some of the damages to the lodging house down the road. He also suggested that I head back to Abeele. Since returning, it has been pretty pleasant flying. I’m flying every day, and haven’t seen any Germans at all. Even their Archie has been very quiet, since we finished up the offensive near Lens two weeks ago.
Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/15 02:17 AM

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France
5-11 July 1915





Posted By: Combs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/15 11:38 AM

Sgt. Bryan Smythe
Warbird Rising
6th Squadron, RAF
Abeele, Flanders, France

5-7 July 1915
The flying continues to be very pleasant. Lieutenant Lloyd and I are flying every day, but the missions are very routine. There has been a lot of talk about this new German pursuit aircraft, but no one in our squadron has seen one. In fact, the Germans have been very quiet-We haven’t encountered any German aircraft or even Archie since I returned from my leave.


8 July 1915
I had a minor adventure today. We were assigned to do a bomb drop with Lieutenant Dixon and Sgt. Garfield. The bomb run went without a hitch. My string landed fairly close to the trench line, but I fear not close enough. Shortly after we made our way home, my oil line broke, and I lost all oil pressure. I shut down the engine to prevent damage. Although there were no airfields nearby, I was still at altitude, so I thought I might make Bailleul. I managed to stretch out my glide, and ended up in a pasture about 500 yards south of the field. Had there not been a line of trees right before the field, I might have made it all the way in, but I thought the better of trying to risk getting over the trees with a dud engine, so I set the bus down in the field. We were both very pleased with our effort, and had a very nice lunch at Bailleul while the mechanics fixed our bus.


Bombs Away

Dead Engine


Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/15 12:09 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/15 12:11 PM



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/15 07:12 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders


July 13, 1915.



The section was sent over Haubourdin AF for bombing today. My bombs seem to slide sideways and short as they went down missing all the tents but throwing up alot of dirt. The other a/c got hits and RTB as I dove and made a firing pass for my rear seatguy. I dont know if he anything, he shot off 40 rds and we had a good time. The kite did pick up 2 hits 1 in the wing and one in the elevator .


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/14/15 03:31 AM

Journal Entry: July 13, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Yesterday was exciting and that would be the understatement of the month. Thayer and I had a line patrol sortie for our morning's work, which was just fine for us. We took off and proceeded up to the front and arrived at our usual patrol area without incident. It wasn't long before Thayer was tapping me on the shoulder and pointing off to starboard. There is one thing you can say about the Huns, they are a prompt and predictable people. This Hun was arriving almost like clockwork. Well, if they are going to keep coming, then we will oblige them by shooting them down. I got into position and assumed that things would go as they had in the past. Thayer, is my closest friend in this blasted war and I count on him to protect us, but sometimes I think that he might be addled in some fashion. Anyway, he starts firing like usual but this time he begans to yell rather vigorously. I'm busy flying the plane, so I can't see why he is yelling, but it isn't long before the Hun has burst into flames and begin the long dive to Earth.



It wasn't until we landed that I could ask him why he had been yelling. he just pointed to the tail. I turned and that's when I noticed the bullet holes, in his exuberance to shoot down the Hun, he had actually shot our tail. I'm sure all of the color left my face as a cold hand gripped my heart. The dolt just gave a weak laugh as I staggered away.

I really don't understand the brass at all. This afternoon, the CO called me into his office. After the usual formalities he asked me to sit, I took a seat. He then informed me that I had been promoted to Flight Commander effective immediately. I was stunned and began to protest, "Sir, I haven't served long enough to deserve this promotion." He allowed me to stammer a few more protests and ended with a brusque, "Ethelstan, what's done is done. I expect you to do your duty and if the higher ups think you can handle this new responsibility, then your duty is to accept it." I stood, saluted and left his office and wandered around the airfield for a while. First the VC, and now this promotion, I truly am dreading what the future might bring.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/14/15 04:49 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders


14 Jul 1915


Up to the lines dropping bombs, some hit, but not mine. This high altitude 2000 meters or more dont seem to be practical for me to hit anything.


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Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/15 03:36 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/15 03:38 PM



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/15 06:11 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders


July 15, 1915


I say, Smashing good patrol wot ? Our 3 a/c section was doing a bombardment over Bertaincourt AF. When I spotted 3 e/a in a V formation so I scooted on over. They must have been looking ahead because I was able to fly under and in front of their # 3. My Back Seater fired off 68 rds and got the motor or and Oil line Black smoke everywhere the he slanted left and nosed down for Hunland. By then we were totally lost so crossed and landed at a friendly AF for directions home.


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[url=http://postimg.org/image/shjdybd0v/full/]

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Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/15 07:02 PM

Good tactics and kill.
Seen any Aviatik CI in the air?

BurnHard has flown a couple recon runs spotting troops and artillery fall.
No enemy engaged him, no system failures.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/17/15 03:36 AM

yep


I thought so too, but No confirmed Kills. I haven't seen any C-1,s as of yet.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/17/15 03:42 AM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders


16 July 1915.


Bloody Wash out. Popped over to NML for an Arty Spotting mission in 9/10ths cloud cover. Our 3 a/c section couldn't see a bloody thing. If we had gone lower to avoid the clouds, we would have been at 300 meters above machine gun nests. The Flight leed fired the washout flare and we RTB.


gif upload
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/17/15 01:19 PM



Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/17/15 01:25 PM


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/17/15 09:01 PM

Sgt, Almost There
3 RFC
Flanders


17 July 1915.


I say, Jolly good show. I put a bomb in the middle of the Maint Tent over at Phalenpin AF today. E'LL of a good shot from 1200 meters, the other 2 a/c put em down close to their living area.


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Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/17/15 09:35 PM

Good Bombing!
Hey, if you destroy an enemy plane on the ground....it's likely to be a claimable.

The best is dropping bombs on EA that are "On Alert"...Good Fun, but Low Percentage of a hit as the targets are often rolling on the airfield.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/18/15 03:03 AM

reading

MudWasp: Everytime I go lower I get shot up so maybe I will stay high for awhile. lol biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/18/15 03:49 AM

Journal Entry: July 17, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Well, it's been four days since I was promoted to Flight Commander and I haven't destroyed the squadron, yet. No seriously, I'm starting to learn my new responsibilities and the expectations that come with the new position. I must admit I do appreciate the increase in pay and the respect that the rank deserves, but I've learned that the Empire must run on paperwork. For the last four days, I've been swamped with reports and reports of reports and other forms of paper torture. In my mind, I always envisioned an officer gallantly leading his men into battle, but I've learned the truth, that same officer is more than likely stuck behind a desk filling out some blasted paperwork that nobody will ever read. The first thing the CO did after he announced my promotion was make me the new Supply Officer. I'm tasked with filling out requisition forms for our food stocks and all of the necessary parts and material to keep our buses running. It's quite a daunting task and I work on it whenever I'm not flying.

Speaking of flying, let me relate the excitement from this afternoon's sortie. I was leading B Flight in a defensive patrol orbiting over a nearby airfield. We were pleasantly orbiting the airfield when I noticed to the Southwest of us an aircraft that was being pestered by our archie. I signaled the flight and turned to investigate. This was quite a cheeky Hun, for he surmised that if he flew low enough he might just be able to sneak in and get his pictures and then sneak out. I led the Flight in a dive and flew right into position where Thayer took care of business, as they say, and before long the Hun was crashing right outside of Dunkerque. Fortunately for the Hun, he was so low that some local farmers were able to pull both the pilot and observer from the wreckage before they were consumed by the flames. We landed, piled into a lorry, and rushed over to town. Found the observer in the local Constabulary's office, just shaken up, but otherwise unhurt. The pilot on the other hand was seriously wounded and was rushed to the hospital. We loaded the observer up and brought him to our airfield for the usual smash up. It turns out that he was quite fluent in English and that made our time together much easier for all concerned. He informed us that his name was Lt Eugen Molders and he had cousins living in England and that accounted for his fine English. Apparently, the Huns sing the same songs we do because after a few drinks Lt. Molders was singing as loud as the rest of us. At some point in the party, Lt. Molders asked to speak to the person that had vanquished him in the air. He was directed my way, clicked his heels together like a good Prussian and said, "I just wanted to salute the fine airman who had bested us today." He then proceeded to tell me that they know all about me and they actually have a name for Thayer and myself. I chuckled, and asked, "What pray tell, do you call me?" He said, "Der Sensenmann". "What does that mean?", I queried. Lt. Molders thought for a minute and said, "I believe in English it would translate out to The Grim Reaper." Well, I started laughing and then Thayer joined in and it wasn't long before everybody was laughing. I've never had a nickname before and when I do, it's the Grim Reaper. I'm laughing as I write this, but it has given me an idea. Thayer and I haven't been able to come up with an idea for a personal marking for our bus. I believe if that is what the Huns are already calling us, then why not mark our bus as such, sounds like a capital idea.



Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/18/15 09:26 PM

Nice read Banjoman. Congrats on another victory.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/19/15 07:34 PM

Journal Entry: July 19, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Well, my personal battle with paperwork rages on. Do you have any idea how many forms I have to fill out just to get a replacement propeller? I imagine not, and neither did I until I became the squadron supply officer. As King Henry said, "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more." and so I will continue my battle against my implacable foe.

A bit of exciting news, after our enjoyable time with Lt. Molders, I tasked Corporal Tomlinson to create a suitable Grim Reaper for our bus. It turns out that Corp. Tomlinson is quite the artist and jumped at the opportunity to revive his artistic skills. Here are a few photographs of his work. I should say that we are quite pleased with his endeavours.







On a more serious note, I would say that our new bus is proving to be quite fortunate for us. During this morning's sortie we were patrolling over La Gorgue airfield and I noticed another Hun machine attempting to sneak through at a very low altitude. I'm sure I wouldn't have seen him if it hadn't been for the archie that was furiously objecting to his presence. I dove and Thayer fired and fired and then fired some more until the Hun was seen crash landing just north of Loos. When we landed I asked Thayer what had happened, his only response was, "Somedays I'm on and somedays I'm not." That, my dear readers is the essence of dear old Thayer.


Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/15 01:31 PM





Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/15 01:33 PM

Posted By: Hellshade

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/15 02:27 PM

Great stuff BJM. Keep sharing! smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/15 03:16 PM

Ken, it seems that Ambrose is becoming a stone cold killer like Arthur.

Hellshade, thanks, I'm really enjoying Arthur.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/15 03:50 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Ken, it seems that Ambrose is becoming a stone cold killer like Arthur.

Of my two pilots, Alvin is a lot harder than Ambrose. The death of Rex Warneford (who you didn't have since you run without HAs) and his talk with Godolphin on his day off affected him, but not so much that he's quite ready to start shooting. His demons actually keep that in check to some extent.

Ambrose, on the other hand, was more naive and idealistic about the war, and since 3 Sqdn has had light casualties, he hadn't been personally touched. The death of his long-time observer combined with the arrival of Hubert Harvey-Kelly (another HA - interesting dude) was enough to change him profoundly. There's still some of the old Ambrose in there, but now he's a man with a mission.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/21/15 03:20 AM

Excellent posts everyone! Keep them coming!

I'm sorry I didn't get an update up last week. I've been a bit unwell and now my work life's about to get very busy. Bleh.

SCOREBOARD

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/15 03:56 AM

Almost There
Sgt, 2 Rfc
Flanders


July 21, 1915


The section did an Arty Spot for what appeared to be 1 Gun with large shells. 5 to 8 shots and Home for Tea.


how to take a screenshot on a pc
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/15 01:47 PM



Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/15 01:49 PM



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/15 07:32 PM

Almost There
Sgt, 2 Rfc
Flanders


July 22, 1915.

Drove me Bus up to the lines and dropped 4 bombs on the German positions. Great Clogs of earth thrown up but couldnt see if we hit anything.


screenshot program
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/15 01:17 AM

Okay, this has been the oddest evening of flying for me since this started...

First, I fly Ambrose, as usual. He does his lets-kill-kill-kill thing that he's doing these days and goes after two AV B1s. Get the first one. Shoots up the second, who turns and runs for home. I try to engage again, but he's getting closer to Houplin (which we'd just bombed) and starting to land. I figure I'll make one more pass and if I don't get him, I'll head back to the barn.

We're low - like 1500 ft low - Archie is bad. We have a nearby blast - observer at 96% health, Ambrose at 97% percent. I don't realize, at the time, that it also tore a gaping hole in my fuel tank and I'm leaking fuel like a sieve. I continue my maneuvering until I get the low fuel warning. I look. 11%. Turn toward home (front line is maybe 6-7 miles W.) Don't get far before the fuel is gone.

I'm at 1500 feet, I have no fuel, and I know I won't make it over the lines to land, so I put down in a field maybe a mile and half from Houplin, resigned to a few days in POW cage. Instead, I get the results page, Ambrose and observer are "shaken up", no mention of landing behind the line. Click Done and it's the next day and we're ready to fly.

Having been forced down behind the lines in other campaigns, I've never not been captured. Maybe it's distance to the lines based?

So then it's on to Alvin, where he gets a "special assignment", the first bombing mission I've seen in 1 RNAS since I started the campaign 6+ weeks ago. Fine. I know how to bomb thanks to Ambrose. Weather's lousy, but we make it to Ghistelles, drop the bombs, and head back across our lines. As I'm crossing the lines, I see this:



A mile+ long convey of trucks, on a road that runs across NML. I didn't go down for a closer look, and honestly am not sure if they were German or British, but the convoy was half on one side of the lines, half on the other. And we were more than a mile out of Shakeytown.

Okay, then on to the afternoon flight, when Alvin's wingman did the famous "burst into flames" trick while we were still gaining altitude over the Channel. Heard a noise, went to external view (Smiler, Alvin's observer, has a REALLY big butt) and the other Morane was already totally involved, as we used to say in the fire service, and heading down. Haven't seen this in three weeks or so, but have been flying on autopilot with my external view watching my wingmen, waiting for this so I could see it happen.

Of course, this time I wasn't watching him. I was still thinking about the convoy (and humming the song). My main reason for wanting to see it happen is to determine if there's time to kill the engine before it and the rest of the plane catches fire. Or a warning sign. Smoke or something before the whole thing is burning.

Definitely three unusual flights, one after the other. Which you can read about from Ambrose and Alvin's perspectives on Monday when Alice gets the letters.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/15 03:07 AM

I've seen convoys crossing NML like that before and I've had wingmen just suddenly burst into flames, but I've never been able to land behind enemy lines without being captured. Maybe the game did its calculations and since you escaped just didn't tell you, but I would think you as the player would want to know that. I
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/15 03:49 AM

Agreed. Ambrose certainly could have escaped capture and recrossed the lines with his observer, though 6 or so miles is a pretty good distance. In fact, that's how I'll write it on the Monday letter to Alice. A harrowing tale of evasion and escape, perhaps.

It's just odd - I am almost certain I've been forced down with other pilots fairly close to the lines - even closer than 6 miles in enemy territory. And it's always resulted in at least a couple/few days in a POW camp before I escape. And sometimes it's a week or more after that before the observer escapes.

I'm not complaining - Ambrose is headed toward some major changes, as will be evident in tomorrow's letter to Alice, and it would be an annoyance to sit things out for a week waiting to escape. I was already thinking about how it would go down for Ambrose when I realized I was going to have to land a mile or two from Houplin.

So it was definitely a pleasant surprise.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/15 08:47 PM






Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/15 08:52 PM



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/15 09:30 PM

Poor old Ambrose and congrats to Alvin's promotion. Too bad Ambrose and Arthur can't join forces, we'd make a fine pair of Hun killers.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/15 04:32 AM

Almost There
Sgt, 2 Rfc
Flanders


July 24, 1915.


I say , bit of bad luck. Prang my kite during take off, I gave a little to much elevator and the prop struck the ground. It wasn't too bad till the ground loop started. Wicket. The ob was just shook up but I will be down for 6 days. My ship kind looks like match wood.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/15 01:30 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Poor old Ambrose and congrats to Alvin's promotion. Too bad Ambrose and Arthur can't join forces, we'd make a fine pair of Hun killers.


Yeah, unfortunately Arthur will always be four months ahead of Ambrose. Though if Ambrose lives to July, he might be able to mention that RNAS pilot who's tearing it up near the Channel.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/26/15 12:05 AM

Alfred Pennyworth has suffered the dreaded great ball of fire engine failure. Fortunately for him it happened during the landing approach and he was able to land his plane, but not without damage to the machine, his observer or himself. He will be spending 9 days in the hospital cared for by nurse Katie.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/27/15 05:31 PM






Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/27/15 05:33 PM



Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/15 10:43 AM






Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/15 01:26 PM

Nice pics Lederhosen!
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/15 06:46 PM


Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/15 01:36 PM









(Yes, it was a bit of a conceit to have Ambrose receive his VC from George V, but I figured this early in the war, it was certainly possible - the first VC actually awarded to an RFC flyer was about a month later, and he (William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse) died the next day from his wounds. And it made for a nice positive story for the newspapers...)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/15 03:26 PM

Ken, great story, Ambrose is a rapidly rising star. I sure hope he survives because you can spin a good tale.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/15 04:22 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Ken, great story, Ambrose is a rapidly rising star. I sure hope he survives because you can spin a good tale.


Thanks! I have some doubts on how long Ambrose can stay alive - he's become more reckless than he should be, counting on luck and my flying skill to get him out of anything he gets into, but that probably can't last forever. And because he's fairly unsophisticated and doesn't have a cynical bone in his body, something like this will only amplify that recklessness.

So we'll see. He's self-aware enough to know he's being reckless sometimes, and has commented on it in his letters. It's a race to see if he can temper it before it kills him.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/15 06:23 PM

On a different note, keep tabs on his medals. I have a sneaking suspicion that WOFF doesn't really handle medals correctly. Arthur has already been awarded another VC, I just didn't tell anybody because I thought it odd. I did some research and found that three men actually were awarded the VC twice and now I just waiting to receive another one. If I do, then that will get listed as a 'bug'.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/15 09:01 PM

Yeah, Ambrose got a second DSO today - since the program doesn't seem to be able to award bars to medals (DSO with 1 bar, DSO with 2, etc.) for subsequent awards of the same medal it just gives you another one. I'll describe that as a bar in his letter home, and if he gets a third, as a second bar. But that's as far as the bars go, near as I can determine, so if he gets a 4th, I won't mention it at all.

My Briff pilot has two VCs, two DSOs, and some other stuff - all in 6 weeks at the front. I put him on pause when I started the Centenary Challenge, so I don't know how many more of each he might get if he'd kept on the same pace moving forward.

It may be a bug, or it may just be how the program handles medal eligibility. A couple of DSOs, to represent bars, are okay, and even a second VC instead of a bar for it, which is what actually was issued.

Beyond that, I don't plan to even mention it.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/15 08:11 PM






Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/15 08:14 PM


Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/15 09:07 PM

Kuroken;

I have been meaning to comment on your report posts here for some time. I just haven't had much quality time on the forum as of late.

Your reports are fantastic and greatly appreciated. I have managed to read through most of them in spare time and thoroughly enjoy the reads. I just wanted to let you know that your work is not in vain!

Best Regards and keep them coming Sir!
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/15 12:21 AM

Thanks, Robert!

I wanted to do something a little different and this seems to be working.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/15 04:07 PM

Another month's behind us.
Here's what's been happening around the world in March - Intrepid Fliers:

March 1
Great Britain and France announced a total blockade of merchant shipping to and from Germany.
March 2
The British naval bombardment of the forts resumed in the Dardanelles.
March 4
The French Government decided to send an Expeditionary Force to the Dardanelles whilst Turkish defenders drove off British landing parties at the entrance to the Narrows.
March 5
The Greek Government offered naval and military support for operations at the Dardanelles.
British naval forces began the bombardment of the strategic city of Smyrna on the Aegean coast.
March 6
Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos resigned after a disagreement with King Constantine of Greece about the country's role in the war.
March 7
The Greek Government asked for an explanation of the British occupation at Lemnos.
March 9
The British Government explained that it was a military necessity to attack Lemnos.
The British bombardment of Smyrna ended.
March 10
The British army attacked at the start of the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, giving support to the much larger French offensive in Champagne.
Dimitrios Gounaris replaced Eleftherios Venizelos as Prime Minister of Greece.
March 11
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Bayano was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-27.
March 12
General Sir Ian Hamilton was appointed to command the Allied Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in order to gain control of the Dardanelles straits.
March 14
The German cruiser SMS Dresden was scuttled by her crew after it was attacked by British warships off the coast of Chile.
March 15
The Royal navy cruiser HMS Amethyst was damaged by field artillery whilst on minesweeping duties in the Dardanelles.
March 17
Following his appointment earlier in the month, General Sir Ian Hamilton took up his position as Commander-in- Chief of the Allied Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.
March 18
The Allied naval attack of the Dardanelles forts was repelled by the defending Turks. British battleships HMS Irresistible and HMS Ocean and the French battleship Bouvet were all sunk in the battle.
March 20
The British Government guaranteed that Greece would have Lemnos after the war.
March 21
In the first German airship raid on Paris two Zeppelins dropped high explosives and bombs on the capital city.
March 22
The Siege of Przemysl ended when the Russians captured the fortress at the strategically important city.
March 23
Originally built as a tramp steamer, HMS Manica was the first kite balloon ship to be commissioned by the Admiralty.
March 25
The German military commander General Liman von Sanders was appointed to command the Turkish forces at Gallipoli.
March 28
The first American casualty of war was killed when the cargo-passenger ship Falaba was torpedoed by the German submarine U-28.
March 29
The British and United States Governments agreed that rubber would not be exported except to Great Britain.
March 30
South African forces occupied Aus in German South West Africa.
March 31
The city of Libau on the Baltic Sea was shelled by the Germans.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/15 04:07 PM

Almost There
Sgt, 2 Rfc
Flanders


August 1, 1915.


As my Ami friend said, its nice to be back in zee saddle again. 2 a/c were posted for A.F. bombardment this afternoon. However, McCudden,s machine turned out to be U/S so I took off alone to Douai. Bang up flight, went in low level an a big explosion occurred from bomb hits. I made a second pass so that my gunner could fire off 18 rds then home and tea. My kite had slight damage 9 bullet holes in the wings some close enough for my gunner to reach out and touch.


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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/15 04:09 PM

And the news for July - Warbirds Rising:

July 1
The Battle of Otavi was fought between South African and German forces in German South
West Africa. The final battle of the South-West Africa Campaign ended with a decisive South African victory.
July 2
The British government formed the Ministry of Munitions and passed the Munitions of War Act which required compulsory arbitration of labour disputes and banned strikes and lockouts.
July 3
The Germans continued their advance into Poland along the Eastern Front.
July 5
Fierce fighting continued between French and German troops at Souchez, Arras and on the Meuse.
July 6
British and French ministers held the first Allied war conference at Calais.
July 7
The First Battle of Isonzo ended with a victory for the Austro-Hungarians.
The Italian armoured cruiser Amalfi was torpedoed and sunk in the Adriatic by the Austro-Hungarian submarine U-26.
July 9
German troops in South-West Africa surrendered to General Botha's South African forces at Tsumeb, 370 km north of Windhoek.
July 11
The German cruiser SMS Konigsberg was destroyed and sunk in the Rufiji river in German East Africa by British river monitors.
July 12
The German Government announced its intention to take control of the coal industry.
July 13
A new Austro-German offensive began on the Eastern Front.
July 14
The Canadian Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden attended his first meeting of the British Cabinet.
July 15
The National Registration Act became law in Great Britain.
July 16
The Battle of Krasnostav began.
July 17
Bulgaria signed a secret alliance with Germany, Austria and Turkey.
July 18
Following the conclusion of the First Battle of Isonzo earlier in the month, the Second Battle of Isonzo began on the Italian Front with heavier artillery support against the Austro-Hungarian army.
July 20
The Battle of La Linge began between French and German forces near the Vosges mountains of Alsace.
July 21
The Russian town of Ivangorod was invaded by Austro-German forces.
July 22
British forces captured Bukoba on Victoria Nyanza in German East Africa.
July 23
Austrian warships bombarded Ortona and the Tremiti Islands in the Adriatic Sea.
July 24
Rozan and Pultulsk in North Poland were captured by German forces.
July 25
The American steamer Leelanaw was torpedoed off the Scottish coast.
July 26
Italian troops landed on and occupied Pelagosa Island in the middle of the Adriatic.
July 28
Germans forces crossed the Vistula between Warsaw and Ivangorod.
July 29
The East Persia Cordon was established in order to protect British interests and prevent enemy infiltration from Persia into Afghanistan.
July 30
German troops used flame throwers for the first time against the British lines at Hooge In Belgium.
The Pope sent an appeal for peace to belligerent Governments.
July 31
The Battle of Strelcze was fought on the Eastern Front.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/15 04:12 PM

popcorn

Holy C%$# what a lot of typing ( Keyboarding )
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/15 04:08 AM

Almost There
Sgt, 3 Rfc
Flanders



August 2, 1915.


Ran up to the lines for bombardment with 3 a/c. I dont know if mine hit anything but they did go down on the enemy lines.


free upload
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/15 12:42 PM






Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/15 12:56 PM





Posted By: CW3SF

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/15 04:01 PM

ALVIN

WORD EXCESS
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/04/15 01:00 PM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
And the news for July - Warbirds Rising:

...

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)


Lots of things on the Eastern Front and the Med; still several more weeks before the Battle of Loos fiasco in the west.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/04/15 01:09 PM

Sgt. Bond Jameson reporting back from leave:

I was going to spend time on an island, actually going under the water instead of flying high above it. I thought they'd send me over on a boat, but you'll not believe what happened: I went over on some type of aeroplane that neither Messrs. Wells nor Verne had even dreamt of yet. It must have held dozens of people, and gone at least 200 mph, but also the engines didn't have any propellers! Crazy, I know! But I swear I wasn't drunk or anything. So if it was real, then why aren't they using it to bomb the Huns?

Well, it's off to Ypres in my BE2. I have a feeling that I'll never be happy in it again.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/04/15 04:38 PM

Almost There
2 Rfc
Flanders

August 4, 1915.


Up to the lines for an Arty spot. I say, not a tidy show. Big guns firing but all over the place.


adult photo hosting
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/05/15 04:41 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/05/15 04:42 PM


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/05/15 07:47 PM

Almost There
Sgt, 3 Rfc
Flanders




5 August 1915.



Posted to an Arty Spot mission, it didn't go to well. I was the far left hand a/c in the formation with heavy cloud cover. In fact, every time we turned over target at 2000 meters the ground was obscured. Hope the other 2 chaps saw something.



imgurl
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/06/15 05:00 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/06/15 05:02 PM

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/07/15 10:00 AM







"Do you think they have a chance Sir?"

Captain Mannequin turned slowly away from the fire place, "Price was a ground pounder. If anyone knows how to survive then him. Still we have to look at this realistically what Dolly. You havn't-"

"Reported them as missing...not yet. The Paperwork is done but I thought I'd wait a day or two, if thats fine by you Sir?"

"Yes you did the right thing I suppose. Damn bad news I'm afraid, damn bad news."
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/07/15 11:18 AM

Lederhose;

I expect the next report to say they made it back across the lines!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!!!


Damn!
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/15 12:46 PM

.

I haven't had much free time as of late to keep up in either of the DID challenges, much to my dismay. But Allard has managed a few sorties over the last several weeks and was presented l'Croix de Guerre avec Palme for his efforts. I am fearful however for him and his observer because at some point they are going to meet up with an enemy aeroplane that can actually shoot back. Methinks the Morane will not fair well in such an encounter, unless of course the intrepid French duo bravely run away.




.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/15 06:24 PM




Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/15 07:17 PM

Kuroken;

I'm enjoying your series on Alvin. Keep them coming.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/15 08:02 PM

Almost There
Sgt, 2 Rfc
Flanders


August 10 1915.



Up to the lines dropping bombs on the PBI. The 3 of us dropped 4 25lb bombs each and all 12 missed. The C.O. and the Adj are Browned off at us.


images hosting
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/11/15 11:14 AM





Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/11/15 12:59 PM

Nice lederhosen.

I really like the "letter home" (nothing to worry about, forced landing, everything's fine) combined with the real story.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/11/15 04:22 PM

Almost There
2Lt, 3 Rfc
Flanders

August 11, 1915.


Well done oh boy, shouted the Adj above the Noise. I was warming the motor for the sections A.F. Attack over by Loos. The Adj handed me the appointment to 2LT. Wicked I thought as I gunned the motor and took off.

Since I was section leader, I took us in to target at Low Level ( less than 800 meters) and smack the bombs were right on. After pulling up , I made 2 more down on the deck runs for my back seater. Ever mindful of the economy ? He fired in 3 to 7 rd burst's Claiming hits on the 3 parked Recon machines for the expenditure of 43 rds.


free upload pictures


free picture hosting
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/11/15 05:27 PM

You kicked butt in that ground attack!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/15 01:22 AM

Journal Entry: August 11, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Well, the last two weeks were glorious because I wasn't here. The higher ups apparently decided I needed a rest because of the pace I'd been on. I, of course, wasn't going to complain and I took my leave like any good soldier would. I spent the last two weeks fishing with my father, sleeping late, taking long walks along the seashore, and generally just being lazy. I would have expected dreading coming back, but just the opposite happened, toward the end of my leave I was getting restless to get back to the boys. All in all, it was a good leave and I dare say I'll get another like it for a long time.

When I arrived yesterday, it felt like I had never left, the same fellows flying the same missions. It didn't take long to get caught up on all of the news and I was glad to hear that nothing terrible had happened to any of my comrades. There was one bit of news that I was rather excited to learn, it seems that Alvin Vix may finally be coming out of his shell. I learned that the other day he deliberately sought out and destroyed a number of Hun machines. I say, jolly good show, he's a fine pilot and is turning out to be a good and conscientious officer, but I've always felt that he was just a bystander in this war and I believe that is one thing we can do without. We need everybody pulling their weight if we are going to beat the Hun.

For some strange reason, the CO has reassigned Thayer to another pilot and given me Tom Stanley as an observer. Tom is a fine fellow, but why break up such a successful team as Thayer and Ethelstan. The CO said that Tom needed to learn from my experience and Edmund has been assigned to a newer pilot to share his experience, so I can see the logic. I sure hope this doesn't jinx Edmund and myself.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/15 02:41 PM





Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/15 06:50 PM

tanksalot MudWasp.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/15 06:57 PM

Almost There
2Lt, 3 Rfc
Flanders


August 12, 1915.



Lifted off with 3 a/c for an Arty Spot Mission and came back with 2 machines. One machine ( Sgt Foss) dropped out on the way to target. Why ? Spotted him landing on our side of the lines in an open field. Mission complete/ RTB.


image post
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/15 07:39 PM

Sgt. Bond Jameson has disappeared. Literally. I had an issue yesterday that I figured I'd fix be reinstalling. No big deal, I've done it before. Except this time, I didn't realize that I forgot to put aside my pilots folder. So he's gone. They're all...gone...

Even worse is that my disc reader, well, isn't; it had lots of trouble with the main files, and it won't even acknowledge my v2 file on the disc that it's saved on. So I'm back to v1.26 until the new hardware gets here. All this just a few days after my 1917 DiD pilot spontaneously combusted.
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/15 08:02 PM

That's a bummer, loftyc. I hope you have better luck with your new hardware.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/15 09:11 PM

Loftyc, that really stinks. I wonder if the Devs could add the pilot backup utility into WOFF, it would probably help with the remembering part.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/15 09:52 PM

Originally Posted By: loftyc
Sgt. Bond Jameson has disappeared. Literally. I had an issue yesterday that I figured I'd fix be reinstalling. No big deal, I've done it before. Except this time, I didn't realize that I forgot to put aside my pilots folder. So he's gone. They're all...gone...

Even worse is that my disc reader, well, isn't; it had lots of trouble with the main files, and it won't even acknowledge my v2 file on the disc that it's saved on. So I'm back to v1.26 until the new hardware gets here. All this just a few days after my 1917 DiD pilot spontaneously combusted.


Loftyc

Get my backup and restore facility from the WOFF User Mods section.

You should alwYs use it to start WOFF. After it backs up or restores pilots it will ask you if you want to launch WOFF.

NO REASON TO FORGET BACKUPS IF U DO THIS.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/13/15 03:17 AM

Journal Entry: August 12, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

If there could ever really be such a thing as a good day in a war, then this day would be it. It all started with this morning's sortie. At breakfast, I had a good conversation with Trent and Oscar, the other two pilots in my flight for this morning's sortie, and I explained to them my ideas on how we might better carry out our attacks against the Huns, they were game and actually seemed excited. I also spoke with Tom about what I expected from him and explained that all he needed to do was to shoot straight and I would handle the rest. The morning was beautiful and it wasn't long before we were patrolling deep in Hunland. It wasn't long until I spotted a flight of three Aviatiks and I signaled Trent and Oscar and turned to attack. Tom had already seen the enemy and so he was prepared when I led our flight into the midst of the Hun flight. Almost immediately Tom started banging away at our Hun and I could hear that Trent's and Oscar's observers were doing the same. Here are some photographs of Trent's and Oscar's victories. My victory wasn't as spectacular and I didn't bother with a photograph.





This is the first time since I've been promoted to Flight Commander and flight leader that I've felt that I actually was leading men into battle. I was so proud of my flight that I gave Trent and Oscar a handshake that must have wrenched their shoulders when we landed. The Old man was extremely pleased with out performance and ordered that I begin to coach the other pilots in how to attack the Huns. Our flight destroyed an entire enemy flight, what if we could do that on every sortie? Could that possibly shorten this dreadful war? I firmly believe that the more painful we can make it for the Hun then maybe they will sue for peace and this blasted war will end.

As if this day could get any better, I managed to score my nineteenth victory in the afternoon sortie. I found a cheeky Hun patrolling over St. Omer and I stalked him for more than 30 minutes before Tom sent him packing.



I do miss Edmund, we made a wonderful team, but I do believe Tom is showing quite a lot of spunk and I look forward to working with him. I'll say goodnight as I wrap up a productive day for King and Country.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/13/15 10:41 AM









„Let me get this right Captain Price, your claiming a Hun Balloon by bombing, correct?”

“Yes, that right. Somewhere west of Menin. I’m sure someone must have seen it go down. It was only few miles over the lines. Went up like very light, err down that is.”

“Anyone near you at that time? Another Squad perhaps?”

“Well…no. You see we left our formation to look for Lorry’s and such, which is why we headed east. It was a bit cloudy too as we used the cover to sneak in as it were. Did you notice anyone Sgt?”

“Err no Sir. It was just like you said Sir, a bit cloudy and I did my best to keep us out of sight Sir.”

“Nathen, just how am I going to sell this one to Wing? They’re going to think I’m mad …or worse.
I know I know, I believe you two. If you say it was hit and sent down then it happened.
Problem is no one saw it I’m afraid.”

“Dolly”

“Sir”

“Get on the blower. Call the Engineers,
if someone saw this Balloon of yours then they would have.
Ask them if they can confirm this morning’s event please.”

“Anything else?.....no”

“Errr, yes just one more thing Sir.”

“Yes Sgt.”

“I noticed that the Hun now has a monoplane in our area.
I spotted two flying south to north. I thought they were ours. They look very similar to the Morane used by No.3 Squadron Sir.
It was just their marking that gave them away Sir.”

“hmmm, a new Hun. We’ll have to keep an eye out then. Thank you Ball.”

“Sir, if I may suggest.”

“Yes Strange, what loony invention of yours this time?”

“Err no Sir. I thought that as we have another line patrol this afternoon,
then perhaps we could fly with two machines together and try to bag another Sausage like this Morning Sir.
I’d say let Sgt.Ball and Cpt.Price take some bombs along and repeat their deed.
I and my Observer could then witness this event and put in a proper claim this time.”

“Splendid idea Strange. You up to it again Cpt.Price?”

“Why yes Sir, of course.”

“Good that’s settled then.
You lot ask Dolly where the next Balloon is, take a couple of bombs and go cook a Sausage with eggs. Not bad what??”
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/14/15 12:10 AM





Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/14/15 09:31 AM


Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/14/15 03:29 PM




Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/15 03:34 AM

Journal Entry: August 14, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

By George, I think my mates are finally getting the hang of aerial fighting. This afternoon's sortie was a wonderful example of what can be accomplished through teamwork. Lt. Sheeley and myself had been ordered to fly a line patrol sortie in the Loos area and before we left I huddled with Barry and his observer to discuss what each of us would do in any particular situation. We took off and in no time we were orbiting over Loos. In just a few minutes time I spotted a Hun machine that was blatantly flying over our side of the lines and signaled Barry, and turned to engage. It wasn't long before I was in position and Tom started banging away with his Lewis. I knew that Tom had hit him hard in the engine and I began to pull away to begin another firing run. Before I could even manage to do that, Tom was tapping my shoulder and pointing downward. I looked in the direction he was pointing and here came Barry charging in to administer the coup de grace. Tom quickly took a photograph of the Hun right as Barry was finishing him off.



It looks like maybe my mates are finally starting to understand what I've been telling them all along about aerial fighting. When we landed I told Barry that the drinks are on me. It won't be long until everybody has joined in and maybe then we can really start to do some damage to the Hun.

As a side note, I did manage to score my 20th victory in the morning sortie, but in light of the afternoon's happenings I think it's not nearly as important.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/15 09:14 AM



Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/15 03:36 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/15 12:22 PM




Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/15 01:22 AM

Journal Entry: August 22, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I'm so furious I could scream. I've been ordered by the old man to start building some fighting spirit in my fellow fliers and what do those idiot bean-counters up in Wing headquarters do, they stifle all of my work. Let me try and explain the situation. It all started two days ago, Oscar and I get ordered to do a line patrol up near Loos and I'm excited about the prospect of what Oscar might do in this sortie. Oscar has been exhibiting more and more confidence and fighting spirit, so to encourage that I'm going to let him take the lead if we encounter any Huns during the patrol. As usual, a Hun comes trundling along not unlike a cow going to the slaughter and before I can even signal Oscar he has already started his attack. As a matter of fact, you can see just how close this poor Hun came to ramming me.



After his successful attack we returned to St. Pol and began our celebrations. I just learned a few minutes ago that his claim has been rejected. He was so overjoyed at his success, this news will crush him. It's as if those idiots at Wing are fighting against us. Why should they care if he gets credit for this victory, they will never lay their life on the line like Oscar will. If he should fall, they won't even notice. Bean-counters, damn them all, they should be lined up and shot. I will just have to explain this to him somehow while still encouraging him. Blast, I hate this job.

I've been promoted to Squadron Commander, but does it really matter? I've no squadron to command, so I'll just continue with my supply paperwork and fly my sorties.

I did manage to score victories number 25 and 26 today, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I'm so focused on trying to get the others to start demonstrating some fighting spirit that my own tally doesn't quite mean as much.



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/15 01:23 AM

Hey, is anyone still producing the tally records? I haven't seen one in a while and I was just wondering.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/15 11:58 PM





Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/15 12:02 AM



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/15 02:03 AM

Ken, it looks like it is just you and I flying in the Centenary DID. I haven't heard from anybody else. I wonder what's up?
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/15 02:51 PM

Banjoman, my guess is the bloom quickly left the rose of flying the early planes for many. On the Brit side, 3+ months of flying a Morane or BE (in 1 RNAS we'll finally move to Nieuport 10s in October, RFC doesn't see anything but Moranes and BEs till May when FEs are deployed to 6 Sqdn (Ambrose's next destination for some variety, though I don't like pushers) French get Nieuport 10s in September, and until then it's Moranes. Germans get EIs in June, but only for high-ranked pilots. So it's a few months in an unarmed Aviatik B1, or a lot of months in the early group, since there's not a lot of chance for promotion when all you can attack with are cutting stares.

The Morane can be used as a combat aircraft (as we've both proven), but without a front gun like a Strutter or Brisfit, two-seaters definitely aren't a ton of fun to take into combat.

I'm still enjoying it, as much because of my "role-playing" of Ambrose and Alvin as anything else. And when they die, as they will someday, I'll be happy to bring in new pilots to get a different perspective on the war. Like my pilots, I'm here for the duration.

But I can certainly see people losing heart on their 87th bombing mission in an unarmed plane...
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/15 03:25 PM

I've been reading your adventures, good stuff!
I got wrapped up in the N10 C-1 in a non did campaign. Might drop back in when their flight dates coincide with the 1915 calendar.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/15 04:22 PM

I agree with you Ken and like you I'm in it for the duration. If I remember correctly that's why we started this whole thing so that we could experience the whole war.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/15 01:40 AM

I'm still in. Flying 2 missions a day with each of my pilots. Just not posting any reports. The scoreboard at least was showing the progress, but even this is MIA for more than a month. Can't wait to get my hands on the N10 - only one more week.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/15 02:19 AM

Fullofit, you get the N10 in a week? I have to wait until sometime in October. banghead Catknight was doing the reports but I haven't heard from him in a long time, I hope everything is alright with him.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/15 09:23 PM

Banjoman, I guess the French get them earlier. I suppose they're the original beta testers.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/15 09:37 PM

Well, that would make sense, just don't rub it in too much.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/27/15 01:03 AM

twoweeks
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/27/15 01:01 PM

.

Kuroken, Alvin’s letters home continue to be very entertaining. Great stuff.

lederhosen, love the added documents and photos and such to your reports - and Captain Mannequin of course.

carrick58, I hope Lt. There is still, well, there. I notice his reports have been absent as of late.

Banjoman, wonderful journal entries and screenshots as well. Also, congratulations on making it to Squadron Commander, but with 26 victories while flying a Morane it’s no wonder.

loftyc, hard luck on the disappearance of Sgt. Jameson. I feel your pain as I’ve had the same thing happen to me numerous times in the past. Robert’s back-up program really is the answer to this, assuming your computer doesn’t burn up completely of course.

Fullofit, glad to see you're still around. And the N10 in a week you say? Lucky dog.


Adjutant Tremblay continues to do his bit for France and has in fact reached ace status. He was given a week’s leave upon being presented l’Médaille militaire and has returned just recently from Amiens where he most certainly did not behave as a gentleman. But then, seeing as he was still “le sergent” at the time, his behavior was très à propo. His bump to the officers' ranks came when he returned to camp and luckily ahead of the reports that came in from the local authorities in Amiens. Had those arrived first it is doubtful the young pilote would have received the promotion. C'est la guerre!



Allard's last five or so sorties have all been at sunrise and they have been magnifique!



While real life continues to be very busy and has denied me the time I would like to spend posting in the forums rest assured I am still about, as are my DID pilots. Keep fighting the good fight Gents.

.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/27/15 02:31 PM

It's the absence of CatKnight that has me a little worried. Has anybody heard anything from him? By the way, nice report Lou.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/27/15 03:36 PM

Banjoman, I saw him post last week in the windows 10 thread.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/27/15 10:37 PM

BurnHard lived up to his name today when he tangled with a Morane down low and didn't realize he was above enemy trenches. It was a great Dog Fight until the troops hammered him.








RIP




Think I'll go for a current date French pilot, or an American flying for the French as my next pilot.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/15 12:08 AM

MudWasp;

You really know how to throw caution to the wind! I'm glad you are more cautious with your other DiD pilot. He has an amazing career and I would hate to see him go east.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/15 09:00 PM



Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/15 11:19 PM

Here is my new pilot;


He set a Course for Paris and then turned towards the frontlines refueling at Toul. Then he followed the lines down to their southern end and landed at Fontaine. Took a nice landmark photo to send home to uncle Pierre.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/15 11:28 PM

Kuroken you continue to write great reports. I feel I am really getting to know Alvin.

MudWasp, hope he stays alive for some time!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/29/15 01:56 AM

Journal Entry: August 28, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

We had quite the brew-up the other day in the officer's mess. It seems that Ackerman felt the need to insinuate that Vix wasn't quite as brave as he should be and wasn't attacking the Huns with the proper fighting spirit. Vix took offense and provided a chance for Ackerman to prove him wrong in the afternoon sortie. No one was surprised with what occurred during that sortie because as everyone knows Ackerman is not a brave man. As a matter of fact, Ackerman is a pompous ass and if I were in the old man's shoes I would get rid of him. I have to hand it to Vix, I believe he handled the situation admirably and hopefully we won't hear too much more out of that windbag. Speaking of Vix, he has developed quite the taste for combat, I must congratulate him on his outstanding performance of late.

I feel like Don Quixote tilting at the proverbial windmills because once more Wing has seen fit to reject the claims of my three fledglings. I sometimes wonder if the bean-counters at Wing are just flipping coins to see whether or not the claim is confirmed or not. Luckily, my fledglings do not seem to be dismayed by the antics of the pencil pushers at Wing. I think I'm more bothered by it than they are, which of course is a good thing.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/15 06:48 PM

ARGGGG!!!...spent like an hour collecting thoughts and typin, I'm a slow typer, and this web page reset, causing all my typing to go poof and disappear into yber space pitchafit
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/15 06:52 PM

Heh, I've had that happen before! Now I type anything long in word and then cut and paste it here!
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/15 07:04 PM

Short version;
Clarke's rear gunner Geoffrey showed off his skills on Sunday the 30th on two deep penetrations into enemy turf which resulted in 7 confirmed Aviatiks downed. Aces Pegoud and Zarapoff assisted on both and shot down 8 between the two of them.

Pegoud collided with an an Aviatik on the second mission of the day and died.

WOFF advanced to the next day and the newpaper read;


Bitter sweet morning as Clarke was awarded the Medaille Militaire.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/15 07:13 PM

Originally Posted By: Rick_Rawlings
Heh, I've had that happen before! Now I type anything long in word and then cut and paste it here!


Yep, that thought just went through my head before I read your comment.
I think there is a thunderstorm between my dish and the satellite in space.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/15 12:55 AM

All: First, I want to apologize for not publishing scores in a good month. Life is...well, kinda hectic lately and it's not going to let up for a bit yet. I'm happy if I can get a half hour in shooting at planes let alone reporting.

Banjoman has kindly offered to help and will be administering the form and scoreboard. If you haven't reported in awhile but you're still in, please go ahead and update and we'll get a scoreboard published.

Thanks Banjoman!
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/15 11:40 AM

Originally Posted By: Rick_Rawlings
Heh, I've had that happen before! Now I type anything long in word and then cut and paste it here!


maybe Rick's backup program can help? Or, could it work for my garage door, that I hit with the car last week...!?
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/15 12:29 PM

Originally Posted By: loftyc
Originally Posted By: Rick_Rawlings
Heh, I've had that happen before! Now I type anything long in word and then cut and paste it here!


maybe Rick's backup program can help? Or, could it work for my garage door, that I hit with the car last week...!?


I did that once, a hammer is what did the job there, if the panels aren't too far out of whack... hahaha
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/15 03:54 PM






Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/15 02:41 AM

Hey guys, I guess everybody has probably seen CatKnight's lastest post telling everybody that I'm going to start producing the weekly reports from now on. His life is getting a little hectic right now and I'm pleased to help him in this way. Anyway, if I could ask that everybody start turning in your weekly reports on Saturday then I'll the the Status Reports done on Sunday. We just got all of the permission stuff completed this evening and I'll work on getting the most current Status Report out tomorrow. Thanks and if you guys think of anything you would like me to add to the Report just let me know.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/15 04:05 AM

okey dokey yep
I sent one in for Clarke and will up date on Saturdays in the future.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/15 01:33 PM

Flying hours per pilot, maybe?
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/15 01:49 PM

.

Banjoman, awfully nice of you to lend a hand, well done Sir.

Since my French aviateur's recent promotion to Adjutant he and his gunner/obs took it upon themselves to have their bus repainted. During previous missions they had both observed how the natural linen finish on the Moranes made them “visible comme une mouche dans un verre de lait” when it came to not blending in with the local landscape. It was time to do something about this undesirable situation. After a lengthy deliberation with their lead mécanicien, which included a ‘gift’ of two bottles of burgundy and a fresh pouch of pipe tobacco, the work was contracted and completed in a very timely fashion. As an emblem for their fresh mount Allard chose the feline from a book he’d read often to his younger brother Maurice, back in the days of their golden youth: “Les Tribulations d'un chat”. It seemed quite à propos as the book dealt with the exploits of a cat that found himself in all sorts of tricky situations; situations he was always clever enough to get out of. Allard hoped such would be the case for him and his partenaire dans la guerre.
(right click on an image and open it in a new window if you wish to view it full size)








Allard and his gunner/obs on the flight line, preparing to take off for their first sortie in the new bus.



Notice how well the new colors blend in with the landscape below as compared to the natural linen.



The underside now sports a sky blue finish.



Returning home after an uneventful outing - not a single Bosche to be found in the air anywhere. Still, it was fun to kick around in the new livery.

.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/15 02:30 PM

Lou, your paint job is simply amazing. I look forward to hearing the adventures of that crafty cat.

Ken, I was thinking about adding flight hours and I also want to add the pilot's status, either wounded, active or dead, like we have in Olham's DID campaign. Thanks for the idea.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/15 02:35 PM

What a fantastic skin, Lou! Easily one of the best WOFF skins I've ever seen.

I've been keeping an eye on this thread. It's tempting, but I don't think I have the time and energy to concentrate in two DID campaigns simultaneously.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/15 06:21 PM

Damm Lou!!!!
You could sneak into a flock of Pfalzs with that skin! ready
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/15 09:04 PM

Lou, less pictures of the scenery and more of your plane.
Oh, I see ... Your plane is the scenery. Sneaky.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/15 03:28 PM

Hey everybody, here is the latest status report. I noticed on the last status report that Lederhosen was listed as having two pilots in the Intrepid Fliers group, but in the form data his German pilot is listed as flying in the Warbirds Rising group. I went ahead and moved that pilot in the report to the Warbirds Rising group, Lederhosen let me know if that was correct. I intend to spiff it up a little bit, but for right now this will do. Remember, everybody log your current status on Saturday and I'll produce these reports on Sunday.


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/15 05:40 PM

Journal Entry: September 2, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Well, the game has just changed and not for the better I might add. Tom and I were ordered to fly our usual line patrol which consists of flying up to Loos and flying south a few miles and then returning back to St. Pol. This morning was no different than the countless other times we have flown this mission. We had just arrived at our patrol sector when just like clockwork, here comes a Hun Aviatik flying along without a care in the world. I tell you, you can set your watches by the Hun, they are a punctual people. Anyway, I signal Tom and began to dive into my usual attack position. Before I get there, I hear the ack-ack-ack of machinegun fire and almost like magic three holes appear in my right wing. I turn and look at Tom to see if maybe he had shot our plane in his zeal to get at the enemy, but no, he was still just sitting there waiting. Then that ack-ack-ack again and this time I happened to be looking directly at the Aviatik and I'm thunderstruck by what I see. The observer is actually shooting at us. To be honest, I was so shocked that I instinctively put the plane in a steep diving turn and got out of there and flew straight back to St. Pol. Upon arriving, the first thing I did was warn all of the other pilots that it looks like the Huns have finally armed the Aviatik and the easy times are probably over. This changes everything, now every Aviatik we approach we must assume that it is armed. It looks like the Huns have finally grown tired of us continually shooting down their aeroplanes. Life just got a lot harder.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/15 08:45 PM

.

Damn! I knew it was too good to last. Looks like we Morane jockeys are going to catch it now.

.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/03/15 03:29 AM

The Aviatik C.I has shown up? The tide may turn yet!

Lou: Easily one of the best camo jobs I've seen. I had to squint my eyes and look really hard to find your aircraft amid the ground clutter.

Banjo: Thanks again for helping!
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/03/15 02:41 PM

.

CatKnight, (and Banjoman, Hasse, MudWasp, and Fullofit), thank you for the comments and kudos on the livery for Adjutant Tremblay’s mount – much appreciated. Allard and his gunner/obs had the opportunity to show it off in battle against an Aviatik B.1 early this morning in the skies above Marchélepot when they intercepted a lone enemy running reconnaissance along the front lines there. G/O Sous-lieutenant Joubert was spot on with his aim and in short order had shut down the engine in the hostile craft, which could do nothing at that point but glide down and land. Unfortunately for Allard and Marc the Bosche pilot was able to park his bus just inside his own lines. There would now be much doubt with HQ about the claim for this one, even with the presence of witnesses. Merde!



Allard pulls up along the enemy's port side and closes the gap.



Sous-lieutenant Joubert makes quick work of the engine in the Bosche kite, with the luxury of witnesses present in the second Morane following up behind.



Their prey drifts down to earth, sans power.



The brave French fliers watch as the B.1 manages to get back across to the Bosche side of the mud. Allard considered following to try and persuade the enemy to land elsewhere but the ground gunners were looking more menacing than he liked.



The sun was burning off the morning haze as Adjutant Tremblay and his G/O returned to camp along with their flight mates.



Enjoying a quiet sky as the descent back to Lahoussoye commences. A good outing.

.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/03/15 11:13 PM

Finally N10 C1's are here. Capitaine Achille Renard had his first flight this morning. What a difference. It almost feels unnatural to shoot at the enemy from behind, after such a long time in the Morane. After figuring out to aim below the cross-wires, shooting the BI's is easy as ... comment on dit? ... pie. Unfortunately, as Banjoman has already mentioned the CI's are here as well (and the EI's).
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/15 02:26 AM

Fullofit, you are a cruel man. You know we don't get those until October. sigh
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/15 03:01 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Fullofit, you are a cruel man. You know we don't get those until October. sigh


To quote Olham: "Muahahahaha!". scuseme
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/15 04:10 AM

Still love that livery, Lou, another masterpiece!
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/15 05:14 PM




Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/15 05:34 PM

Enjoy the N10C-1 bananadance
Reading about Alvin's adventures is always good, watch out for those Huns with Guns
Nice pic of that rear gunner getting his work done, Lou
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/15 06:54 PM

A few shots of Geoffrey in action as Clarke pilots the Morane into position.



Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/15 10:43 PM

News of the World from last month for Intrepid Fliers - April 1915:

April 1
French pilot Roland Garros shot down a German aircraft with a forward-firing machine gun bringing in the era of the dogfight.
April 3
Britain completed the construction of an anti-submarine net barrage across the Straits of Dover.
April 4
Russian forces captured the village of Cisna and reached Sztropko in the Carpathians.
April 5
The United States demanded reparation for the sinking of their merchant ship William P. Frye in January 1915.
The French army began a broad offensive from Meuse to Moselle on the Western front.
April 6
French forces attacked the Germans east of Verdun in the Battle of the Woevre.
April 8
The Turkish government commenced mass deportation and massacre of Armenians.
April 9
An assassination attempt failed on the life of the sultan of Egypt, Hussein Kamel.
April 10
French troops continued their advance between the Meuse and the Moselle.
April 11
The German battleship Kronprinz Wilhelm was interned at Newport News in south eastern Virginia.
April 12
British and Indian forces attacked Ottoman troops in Mesopotamia at the beginning of the Battle of Shaiba, southwest of Basra.
The Greek Government rejected the Allied offer of Smyrna to Greece - made to entice the Hellenic Republic to join operations at Gallipoli.
April 14
The Battle of Shaiba ended when the British successfully defended the city of Basra.
The Germans accused the French of employing poison gas at Verdun.
April 15
The Belgian town of Ostend was bombed by Allied aircraft.
April 16
Turkish forces occupied the city of Urmia in northern Persia.
The British transport ship SS Manitou was attached by the Turkish torpedo-destroyer Demir Hissar.
April 17
Heavy fighting at Hill 60 near Ypres resulted in British forces regaining possession of the strategically significant area of high ground.
The German-commanded vessel Demir Hissar was intercepted south Of the Greek island Of Chios by British destroyer HMS Minerva and forced to run aground.
April 18
Fighting continued on Hill 60 with an unsuccessful German counter-attack.
April 20
Armed Turks attacked Armenians in Van but they were repulsed. Outside the city, all Armenian owned property was destroyed and the Turks laid siege.
April 22
The Second Battle of Ypres began with the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge which marked the first time that Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front.
April 23
The British Government declared a blockade of the Cameroons.
April 24
The Battle of Julien began as a counter-attack by the Allied troops to try to regain ground lost to the Germans after the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge in the Second Battle of Ypres.
April 25
The Gallipoli Campaign started when allied troops landed on the peninsula in the Ottoman Empire.
April 26
The Treaty of London - a secret pact between the Triple Entente and Italy - was signed in London by Great Britain, France, Russia and Italy in order to win the support of Italy against its former allies in exchange for substantial gains of territory.
April 27
The British submarine E14 took part in an operation in the Sea of Marmora where she sunk the Turkish gunboat Nurel Bahr.
April 28
The first Allied advance was repelled at the First Battle of Krithia during the Gallipoli Campaign.
April 29
German Zeppelin LZ-38 bombed Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.
April 30
German forces occupied Shavli in the Baltic Provinces.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/15 10:45 PM

News of the World for Warbirds Rising - August 1915:

August 1
The Galata bridge in Constantinople harbour was destroyed by British submarines.
August 3
The Second Battle of Isonzo ended with no strategic result as both sides ran out of artillery ammunition.
Russian forces evacuated Van in Armenia.
August 4
Russian troops evacuated Warsaw but took up defensive positions on the north side of the Vistula River.
August 5
After the Russian withdrawal the Germans occupied Warsaw in Poland.
August 6
The Battle of Sari Bair (also known as the August Offensive) began - the last and unsuccessful attempt by the British to seize the Gallipoli peninsula from the Ottoman Empire.
August 7
Heavy fighting continued in the Battle of Sari Bair. British troops were supported by New Zealand and Australian troops.
August 8
The Turkish battleship Barbaros Hayreddin was sunk by the British submarine E11 in the Dardanelles.
August 9
British troops recaptured the trenches at Hooge.
August 10
A surprise Turkish counterattack from Sari Bair on Gallipoli forced the Allies to withdraw.
The German Zeppelin L12 was damaged by aircraft fire during a raid on Dover in the English Channel.
August 12
A British torpedo-carrying seaplane took off from HMS Ben-my-Chree and sank a Turkish supply ship in the Sea of Marmara.
A British advance at Suvla towards the Tekke Tepe Hills was repulsed by the Turks in the Gallipoli Campaign.
August 13
The passenger ship HMT Royal Edward was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB-14 in the Aegean Sea.
August 15
The National Register was taken in Britain.
August 16
Lowca and Harrington near Whitehaven in Cumberland were shelled by a German submarine.
August 17
The city of Kovno on the Eastern Front fell to Austro-German forces.
August 19
The German battle cruiser SMS Moltke was torpedoed by British submarine E1 in the Gulf of Riga.
August 20
British airmen destroyed a German submarine off Ostend, Belgium.
August 21
The Battle of Scimitar Hill in the Gallipoli Campaign, which ended in another strategic failure, was the final British offensive in the Dardanelles.
Italy declared war on Turkey.
August 22
Ossowietz in northern Poland was stormed by German forces.
August 23
British warships bombarded German positions at Zeebrugge and Knocke on the Belgian coast.
August 25
German occupying forces established a Polish government in Warsaw. General Hans Hartwig von Beseler was named Governor General.
August 26
German forces occupied the fort of Olita on Niemen and captured Byelostok and Brest-Litovsk in Poland.
August 27
Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff notified Secretary of State Robert Lansing that, "full satisfaction" would be given to the United States for the sinking of the ocean liner SS Arabic on 19 August.
August 29
A combined British, Anzac and Gurkha force failed to take Hill 60 at Suvla.
August 30
The British Government agreed that the Allies could guarantee eventual freedom and self-determination of Bosnia, Herzegovina, South Dalmatia, Slavonia and Croatia, provided Serbia agreed.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/15 03:29 PM

Adolwolf Becker was flying a spotter mission and got hit by Archie. His health went to 97 and soon after the engine quit. He was able to glide back to friendly territory and make a dead stick landing on a road. Lucky it was just a scratch. No hospital time.
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/15 06:06 PM

Nicely down, MFair, nothing hurt but your pride, the best way to come down!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/15 07:41 PM

Here's last week's status report. Please remember to post your updated status on Saturday so I can include it in our weekly status report on Sunday.


Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/15 07:44 PM

Thank you for doing the charts Banjoman. thumbsup Fullofit, nice touch with the new to put the war in perspective.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/15 07:47 PM

Not a problem, I'm really enjoying this DID much more than the other. My dislike for the SPAD is affecting my enjoyment of flying Abner.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/15 08:41 PM

MFair, I thought this would really show that it was a World War. Funny they didn't call it that at the time.

Banjoman, I'm with you. I prefer this slower pace as well.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/15 11:30 PM

Originally Posted By: Rick_Rawlings
Nicely down, MFair, nothing hurt but your pride, the best way to come down!


Thanks Rick, it was quite easy. There was a beautiful road right below me.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/15 06:54 PM





Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/15 03:49 PM

Clarke has been on a few long patrols down in Alsace. Recently they had a short distance patrol from Fontaine airfield that went across the frontlines due east. No enemy planes sighted, Clarke was preparing to head back to Fontaine when he heard a steam locomotive. Geoffrey his rear gunner also heard the train and tapped his shoulder and pointed down while grinning wildly. Clarke signal to other two planes that he was leaving formation and dropped down alongside the enemy train.

They weren't far from the frontlines and this train was heading deeper into enemy territory. Might be one of those smuggler's trains he had heard about, didn't matter really as it was about to become target practice for Geoffrey.




They didn't damage the train enough to stop it, but Geoffrey sure did enjoy the three passes Clarke made along side the enemy train.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/15 05:46 PM

Way to go MudWasp, anything to stop those nasty Boche. biggrin
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/15 06:42 PM

We gave them hell today on a patrol up near St Die. Clarke lead two other Moranes piloted by non HAs. He set up a patrol line between Colmar and Ensisheim and caught a flight of BIIs. His squadmates stayed in tight formation as he dove underneath the Aviatiks. Geoffrey rattled off a few bursts and then the rear gunners of his mates blasted away. Soon he heard the sound of two planes burning and headed to the ground.

He returned to the patrol and spotted another flight headed towards them. He set up position to pass directly head on and underneath their flight of three and soon spotted the visual clues that these German Aviatiks had GUNS. Fortunately this tactic worked and no Moranes were seriously damaged. One Aviatik was downed and claimed by Clarke. The claim was approved and is his first for an armed enemy aircraft.






His squadmates Flachaire and Tessier had claims confirmed too!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/15 07:54 PM

Congrats, I've only seen one Aviatik CI and it put a few holes in my wings. I've been wondering how to attack them in a Morane.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/15 08:54 PM

That ain't the best tactic as we fly exposed to their guns, although only briefly.

Best position to be in in my head is slightly below and directly in front of them as they can't fire directly forward. Trouble for us is that all the Aviatik pilot has to do is kick a rudder and side slip some to bring his forward gunner on target.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/15 09:28 PM

Top Secret bombing run early am yesterday. Target Freidrichshafen Germany, just inside the Morane's fuel range.

Intel has it a new Hun secret weapon is being developed in massive hangars there. Clarke took off at 06.00 with Flachaire and Tessier who were not armed with bombs. Their task was to provide cover in case the new armed Aviatiks were in the area. They headed out a hair south of due east from Fontaine. Two hours later they found their target.







Clarke could tell his bombs hit the massive hangar and Geoffrey rattled off his gun at it as Clarke swung clear and peaked beneath his upper wing at the damage. He was disappointed, the Germans must have hardened it against bombs this size.



He set his compass for west and arrived at Fontaine about two hours later. "We need bigger bombs" was what he told the commanding officer. "Then that target will have to wait until we have a more capable bomber aircraft." was what Clarke was told in response.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/15 09:36 PM

Cool, Clarke is getting to perform some really interesting missions. Up in St. Pol, it's always the same two missions, line patrol and deep recon. sigh
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/15 09:55 PM

That wasn't a WOFF assigned mission...I just wanted to do something different.
Can't/won't do that all the time, but it was fun to see if it could be done. Still had about 10% fuel left. Long flight to drop 4 bombs.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/15 08:19 AM

And why not... I read a book a months ago about a French painter that was sent to the airforce to paint for propogander etc.
He ended up near Verdun by long range bombing Squadron (Voison 5's). They claim to of invented massed long range bombing runs to various towns in Germany. So your Secret Mission is quite correct actually.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/15 08:59 AM

That is good to know.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/15 10:20 AM

Here's a new one.... Alfred got Promoted to 2Lt...yippy.
But I wanted to know a bit more about this sort of thing.

Seems measures had been taken before the war started, and that NCO's could become "Temporary Gentleman"...that is hold a Temporary commision for the duration of the war. Now this had been seen as a necessary evil in 1914 and that Officers from the ranks would have to replace dead ones. Thus all Temporary Gentlemen would have to take part in a very short emergancy training of one month in Sandhusrt..... Emergany training for proper Gentlemen was 4 months!!! holy crap, my basic Tarining was 6 months plus another 6 for infantry.

So perhaps, for this Campaign, The promotion from Sgt to 2Lt should force us to take a month off.

I know this could happen to Hun NCO pilots as well, but it was quite uncommen. Most NCO pilots were sent to the bombers with the scouts being almost completely reserved for Officers.NCO pilots would then have to stick it out no matter how good they were for the most part.


so I'm going to advance the date by say 2weeks travel and a months training. Then fly 1 mission per week till I catch up to the real date of this year and fly in sink with my other DID pilots.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/15 10:36 AM


Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/15 11:07 AM


Nottingham, May 1915.

„Morning Mom“
„Morning Alfed. You sit down here and I’ll get your breakfast.”
“Ta Mom”
“Morning Son. Here’s a letter in the post for you. Looks all official and such, here.”
“Hmm, it’s from London.”
“Go on then, open it. Don’t keep us in suspense.”
“To Sgt……….. “
“What’s it say then?”
Alfred looked straight into the fire place with a sort of dumbfounded expression. Both parents started to worry.
“Is it bad news then?”
“What, err no Mom. Seems I’m to be a Temporary Gentleman, whatever that means. I’m to report to Sandhurst Officers Training School by the end of this week.”
“Well what’s that mean then? How can anybody be temporarily a Gentleman. You’re either born that way or not.”
Alfred gave the letter to his mother. A small smile started to grow as Alfred thought about it.
“Good Lord! You have to buy all this then. Why it’s a small fortune. You don’t have that sort of money Alfred.”
“What you talking about Woman, give me the letter will ya.”
Alfreds Farther read through the list of things that would have to be paid for. After a deep sigh he looked at his wife.
“Well, we have a little put a side don’t we. And I know we were saving it for Alfreds future an such, but I don’t want someone saying that our Alfred can’t afford to be a Gentleman. You don’t fuss about this Alfred, if they says you’re a Gentleman then you are one.”
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/15 01:22 PM

Sounds fine to me lederhosen.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/15 10:30 PM

Good backstory lederhosen

Clarke went POOF with a WOFF mishap, so here is Dolf....

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/15 11:11 PM

MudWasp,
Saw what happened to your rig in the Albatros challenge. Too bad about all your pilots. I'd hate to lose the pilots for this challenge with 180 missions under their belts. Tough luck!
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/15 11:34 PM

I think I screwed up and backed up pilots after my WOFF went wonky. Not sure why or how WOFF gets corrupt, but it happens.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/15 11:17 PM

Cennydd Cadwallader will never enjoy squinting into those bright early morning suns, but he has to admit that there are a few moments to remember:


and it puts a softening glow to the machines:


... makes it easy to forget that the whole reason of being up there in the first place is to kill people.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/15 02:16 AM

Loftyc, just wait for the searchlights to add to the ambiance. copter
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/15 03:08 AM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
I think I screwed up and backed up pilots after my WOFF went wonky. Not sure why or how WOFF gets corrupt, but it happens.


Maybe a good idea to keep a second backup somewhere, say twice a week so if it ever happens again you only loose a couple of days. Isn't it wonderful how hindsight is 20- 20!
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/15 05:43 PM

Dolf is becoming acquainted with his squadmates and his Aviatik BII. All three models of the Aviatik are currently in use with Ernst Udet being the only C-1 equipped pilot. Unfortunately when he leads a flight he forgets our Aviatiks are slower. The best formation so far has been with Dolf leading the flight in a BII at a speed which the BIs can keep up with.

Moranes were sighted on a frontline bombing run. Fortunately they didn't engage our flight.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/15 06:44 PM

MudWasp, the survey hasn't been updated with Dolf so that's why he isn't in this week's status report.

Here you go guys this is the latest status report for last week's activity.



Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/15 07:02 PM

Thanks for posting these Banjoman. I'll make sure to update on Fridays in the future.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/15 09:41 PM

Some pics of an afternoon bombing run from Colmar to the nearest enemy airfield Fontaine. Three of us in our flight with Udet in the Aviatik CI and Beineck and Dolf in the first BIIs.


Fontaine is easy to get to by simply keeping the hills off the right wing with a rough heading of South West. On the way there Beineck's Aviatik BII caught on fire and exploded. Now we are down to four pilots with another on leave.

Dropping bombs on Fontaine



Udet's CI carries more bombs and took another 10 minutes or so to drop his bomb load. Getting home to Colmar was simply a matter of keeping the hills off the left wing and a rough heading of North east. The sun was setting and the full moon was rising as they landed.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 01:07 AM

Nice report MudWasp, it won't be long till you get a scout.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 10:12 AM

Pic says it all





Thats my own third fire this campaign. I've witnessed two others turn into meteors thus far too. With all the info
turned off these massive failures are just tooooo sudden and hard to respond too. Other engine failures you can hear before they
happen. Anyway of having ..say a smaller fire before the thing errupts????

Another 6 days off from Off
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 01:23 PM

Glad you lived!
Plane usually explodes when I get a fire.

Sight and sound we can simulate in WOFF. Not smell though and I'm guessing there would be a strong fuel odor in some of these fires.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 02:37 PM

You know, I've read a bunch of WWI memoirs and I can't remember a one of them that mentions their plane or wingmen's planes bursting into flames. I wonder if maybe the engine failure code could be tweeked a little?

In another topic, does anybody mind if I create an additional pilot to fly as a German in the Intrepid fliers group? We don't have any Germans in the Intrepid flier group.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 02:49 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
You know, I've read a bunch of WWI memoirs and I can't remember a one of them that mentions their plane or wingmen's planes bursting into flames. I wonder if maybe the engine failure code could be tweeked a little?

In another topic, does anybody mind if I create an additional pilot to fly as a German in the Intrepid fliers group? We don't have any Germans in the Intrepid flier group.


Banjoman, I'm not running this rodeo but the more the merrier I say!
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 03:22 PM

Go for it with the german pilot. Hey, i think I screwed up the alphabetical naming sequence with my pilots, should have had Clarke start with an "A" as he was my first pilot in that time period
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 03:26 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Nice report MudWasp, it won't be long till you get a scout.

heck, I'll be glad to see a plane that has a gun for my observer.
Posted By: Hauksbee

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 03:29 PM

Aviatik pilots: when you come under fire from enemy fighters, do you twist and turn and try to maneuver away from their bullet streams, or fly straight and level to give your gunners the most stable platform?
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 03:30 PM

.

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
heck, I'll be glad to see a plane that has a gun for my observer.


I imagine that would be a marked improvement at this point in the game MudWasp. Tired of being a clay pigeon?

.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 03:39 PM

So far the Morane's haven't been aggressive, only spotted three flights so far and they weren't going to cross in a manner that would bring their gunners into range or position. The BII is still unarmed, but it's more powerful engine seems to get it up the same speed as a Morane for running away purposes.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 03:42 PM

.

Running away is a viable combat tactic and one I've employed many, many times. Just do it bravely and with a certain amount of panache and no one will question you on it.

.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 03:43 PM

Originally Posted By: Hauksbee
Aviatik pilots: when you come under fire from enemy fighters, do you twist and turn and try to maneuver away from their bullet streams, or fly straight and level to give your gunners the most stable platform?


Only the CI has guns. Had a CI pilot some time ago who took out a Morane by flying head on and below into the Morane and then kicking the rudder to give the front gunner a quartering shot out of the props arc.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 03:45 PM

Originally Posted By: RAF_Louvert
.

Running away is a viable combat tactic and one I've employed many, many times. Just do it bravely and with a certain amount of panache and no one will question you on it.

.


I haven't tried ramming. I wonder if my AI squadmates do?
I get a kick out of the pilots in the Duty Room who have victories in a B-series.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 04:00 PM

Since I'm going to create a German pilot for the Intrepid Fliers group I guess I better figure out how to survive as a clay pigeon. Arthur has been shooting the Aviatiks down without any difficulties and it will be quite a different experience being on the receiving end of all that love.

MudWasp, since Clarke was supposed to be your 'A' pilot and Dolf is now your 'B' pilot why don't you just start over with a new 'A' pilot, I don't care and I imagine no one else really does either.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 04:07 PM

Yep Clarke should have been an "A" and Dolf a "B". I'd just as soon leave it be, and correctly name them going forward from here.

Next flier in the Intrepid will be a "C" as I've gone through two German pilots already, Arnold and BurnHard.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 05:49 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
You know, I've read a bunch of WWI memoirs and I can't remember a one of them that mentions their plane or wingmen's planes bursting into flames. I wonder if maybe the engine failure code could be tweeked a little?

In another topic, does anybody mind if I create an additional pilot to fly as a German in the Intrepid fliers group? We don't have any Germans in the Intrepid flier group.


Yeah, the exploding plane feature actually seems to be fairly new, at least in my limited experience. Prior to the Centenary Challenge, I flew a Laf Esc campaign from April '16 to February '18 (and was sad to find I didn't automatically transfer into an American squadron, so I had to recreate him to move on) and never saw a plane blow up. Plenty of system failures, but no consuming fires, for me or for anyone else in any flights. So something seems to have been either added or changed.

As for a second early pilot, I say go for it. Four flights a day is about my max, so I'll stick with one in each group, though I have a German and an American (who will fly for France) ready to go when Ambrose or Alvin fall. Which I choose will depend on who dies first - if Alvin, I can get into an EI squadron. If Ambrose, maybe a Nieuport squadron. Either way, no more Moranes for me. With 500 hours between the two pilots, I've had enough of that charming little plane.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 05:56 PM





Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 06:03 PM




Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/15 09:51 PM

Ken,
I'm with you. Had enough of BE2 early and the plinking of that rifle. Alfred's career is going nowhere fast. I'm planning to transfer him to RFC 6 at the end of the month to get his mitts on a forward firing machine gun. At least Achille is happy with his N10C1, he just runs out of ammo too fast.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/15 12:07 AM

Fullofit, remember it's a long haul, we have 4 years of war to fly through. You will get more action than you can handle before you know it. It won't be long when we are missing these quiet days of no activity.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/15 01:01 AM

Banjoman, I agree (Albatros Challenge). I just can't stand the frustration of finally getting a kill with the rifle and have it rejected. duckhunter
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/15 01:12 AM

I know, sometimes how WOFF handles claims doesn't make a lot of sense.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/15 01:14 AM

Say hello to Offv Ahren Auge. That flight from Koln to Bertincourt is really long, but amazingly enough I didn't get lost and I landed right where is was supposed to after almost 4 hours of flight time.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/15 01:25 AM

I keep telling myself, that if it bothers me this much I could switch to the easy claims, but I like realistic, except realistic sometimes doesn't seem realistic.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/15 01:28 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Say hello to Offv Ahren Auge.


Hello
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/15 02:11 AM

I know what you mean, I firmly believe that it all just comes down to a die roll.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/15 03:52 PM

Howdy, it's a long flight from Koln to anywhere.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/15 09:54 AM

Crap....I realy wanted this to live the whole war. Alas.

My fault realy, was to sure of myself while landing. Hit hard and nosed over...ever so slowly but enough
to break my neck I guess. Poor Mom.







Shame realy....but wait..... I hear a Boom Boom. Why it's Basil Brush, the brother of Baron Basil von Borste and he's somehow
come back to life.



Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/15 10:20 AM



Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/15 11:55 AM

Ack! RIP Alfred!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/15 12:08 PM

Lederhosen, nice historical touch with the use of the memorandum and notification of death forms.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/15 01:36 PM

lederhosen, that hurts! Very sorry to hear of Alfred's demise. Long live "the Fox".
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/15 01:45 PM

Danger lurks everywhere.

Good Luck Basil!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/15 02:42 PM

Lederhosen, that's too bad, I'm afraid you are just the beginning of a long line of wooden crosses. I can't even imagine the odds of Arthur making it all the way through the war.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/15 08:03 PM

Journal Entry: May 18, 1915
Bertincourt

I made it from Koln to Bertincourt the other day. It was a very long and monotonous flight and much to my amazement, I didn't get lost. I arrived around lunchtime and was quickly ushered into Hauptmann von Schoenebeck's office. I smartly came to attention and stood ramrod straight as I gave him my orders. He glanced at my orders and began a close scrutiny of me, which was very unnerving. I should add that I come from a middle class family and Jasta 1 is an exceptional Jasta filled with only the best that Germany has to offer, I was very concerned that I wouldn't be accepted. Well, as I stood there starting to sweat, Hauptmann von Schoenebeck began to stare intently into my eyes which only made me more nervous. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he broke the silence and stated, "I see from your papers that you come from Schwemmelsbach, what does you father do there?" "He is a grocer, Herr Hauptmann.", I answered and feared what was to come next. I didn't have long to wait, for the dreaded "I see" came next, so that was it. He looked up at me and said, "You know what Auge? I don't care what your father does, I don't really even care where you come from, all I care about is can you fly and can you follow my orders. Well, can you?" "Yes, sir." I stammered. "Good, we are a close knit group of fliers and we work as one. We don't have time for the inane social conventions that you were accustomed to back home. You will find that as long as you do your job competently, you will fit right in, understood?" he said. "Yes, sir" I answered. "Now get out of my office." he barked and I turned and left as quickly as I could. He was correct, none of the other men even asked about my history, all they wanted to know was what I've flown and how many hours did I have. I think I'm going to like it here.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 05:53 AM

Just reflecting a bit on this DID campaign thus far.

1915...few aircraft and lots of space to fly in. It's a cheery time for both sides as war flying isn't very dangerous. If you stick to your mission only then conflicts with the other side are rare indeed, allowing pilots and observers time to improve their skills. Shoots and recce must of been very good by Sep 15. A first taste of what's to come in the form of Mg's being mounted to Be's etc.. the arms race has began.

Thus far my biggest "HUN" has been the engines errupting into fireballs. For the past 5 months Alfred has whatched at least 3 members of his flight go west this way and had three fires himself too! I found myself looking at the Rev&oil indicators and listening to the engine more than looking for beastly Huns. Alas one moment of overconfidence and even the tame Be2 can become a Hun on landing. So far No.16 Sqn has had 3 crews dead due to fire, I crashed as have a few others, and some just never returned. Except for the ones lost over Hunland, due to ?????, almost all casualties have been due to accidents.....and that sounds about correct.

I can see now were the mess traditions of these very young crews started. They had plenty of time in the evenings to drink and play at the mess, after all this war aint so bad is it?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 01:37 PM

Lederhosen, very good points. I sometimes wonder if maybe the engine failures are turned up a little to high. I stated in another thread that I've read a lot of WWI memoirs and I don't remember anyone ever mentioning engines just bursting into flames.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 01:47 PM

I agree that system failures are more deadly than the AI enemy at this time.
It won't be long until things change as the forward mounted scouts arrive.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 01:55 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Lederhosen, very good points. I sometimes wonder if maybe the engine failures are turned up a little to high. I stated in another thread that I've read a lot of WWI memoirs and I don't remember anyone ever mentioning engines just bursting into flames.


I'm no WWI engine historian. I think too many failures occur, at least for my liking.
Now I can understand a engine going bad, losing power, seizing up, and dieing. We get all flamers though with our Aviatiks.
Like you mentioned, there sure are a lot of fires. Lost two Aviatiks yesterday in one mission that way. We've plenty of Aviatiks, but are down to 4 men again. We've lost 4 in about a weeks time, had 2 replacements come, and lost 2 again.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 02:10 PM

I read some where that the rotary engines had many a problem. Lots of camel missions would lose 50% or more due to dud engine forcing the pilots to return home. Plus many a new pilot didn't realy know how to adjust the fuel/air correctly when they arrived at the front..(no wonder with so few hours).

Somewhere I have Bletchy's engine failure doc from RB3d days. That was quite a good a mod.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 02:24 PM

Hey, can we deliberately blow engines by going too lean or hot?
Is that modeled into WOFF?
or are failures all just random?

Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 02:32 PM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
Hey, can we deliberately blow engines by going too lean or hot?
Is that modeled into WOFF?
or are failures all just random?



That, Sir, is a very good ?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 05:18 PM

Lederhosen, like you I've read plenty of accounts where the engine failed, but I don't think they ever mentioned fire. I just think that the incidence of fire is too frequent. Oh well, just my opinion.
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 06:39 PM

I went to see the simulation.xml file for answers and I saw these lines:

Click to reveal..
<Failure weight="1.0" masterdisable="n">
<FailureRule SystemID="engine_one" average_hrs="90" damageAmount_pct="31" dump="y"/>
<FailureRule SystemID="engine_one" average_hrs="120" damageAmount_pct="70" dump="y"/>
<FailureRule SystemID="engine_one" average_hrs="160" damageAmount_pct="5" frequency_secs="111" dump="y"/>
<FailureRule SystemID="engine_one" average_hrs="200" damageAmount_pct="5" frequency_secs="25" dump="y"/>

<FailureRule SystemID="engine_two" average_hrs="90" damageAmount_pct="31" dump="y"/>
<FailureRule SystemID="engine_two" average_hrs="120" damageAmount_pct="70" dump="y"/>
<FailureRule SystemID="engine_two" average_hrs="160" damageAmount_pct="5" frequency_secs="114" dump="y"/>
<FailureRule SystemID="engine_two" average_hrs="200" damageAmount_pct="5" frequency_secs="24" dump="y"/>

<FailureRule SystemID="coolant_reservoir" average_hrs="100" damageAmount_pct="4" frequency_secs="32" dump="y"/>
<FailureRule SystemID="coolant_reservoir" average_hrs="95" damageAmount_pct="50" dump="y"/>
<FailureRule SystemID="oil_reservoir" average_hrs="150" damageAmount_pct="5" frequency_secs="50" dump="y"/>
<FailureRule SystemID="oil_reservoir" average_hrs="95" damageAmount_pct="50" dump="y"/>
</Failure>


Short of the devs releasing an update to the failures, I think it might be worth a try to untangle these numbers and experiment a bit. Unfortunately, I don't have much free time and the only way to find out if adjusting some numbers really works would be to play over time. Since you wouldn't know right away if it's working or not like my DM MOD.

So, I'll give it a shot at explaining what I think everything means, but I could be wrong.


Click to reveal..
Each Plane's DM has an engine_one plus/minus an engine_two. So, engine_one is definitely in all planes. All planes also have an oil reservoir, but only some have a coolant reservoir. However, I doubt these are what will cause engine fires, since it's not set up that way in the DM.

So, I've narrowed it down to adjusting the values for engine_one. Here are my observations:
-System ID is obvious
-average hours and damageamount_pct are repeated with different values. I wonder if increasing the average hours would make the engines last longer or maybe lowering the damageamount_pct to have the same effect.

Note that if this is successful, then you won't get as many engine failures, but the tradeoff is that you won't see as many fires either. However, the oil and coolant can still fail as usual.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 07:05 PM

Oldhat, if anyone could figure this out it would be you. I've always thought the Devs should recruit you to help them.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/15 07:27 PM

Journal Entry: September 17, 1915
St. Pol-sur-mer

It's been a long time since I've written anything in my journal, mainly because it's been so blasted dull around here. We fly plenty of sorties, but they are all of the same type. Shooting enemy aeroplanes has even lost it's excitement, something needs to give. All of the above was true until this morning's sortie. Some wise person once said, "You should be careful what you wish for", well they were right.

This morning we were ordered to fly a line patrol down along a line from Lens to Loos. We've flown this sortie a hundred times, we could probably fly it in our sleep. We always encounter the Huns down there and sometimes we are successful in bringing down one or two. I was leading with my mates Andy Baker and Fred Bates and we had settled in for our usual patrol. In a short while, I spotted three Aviatiks approaching from the south. I signaled the flight and we dove to attack. I thought, "three's a good number, we will each get one today". What follows was probably my fault because I've always taught the other pilots that the key to successfully attacking the Aviatik is to get really close, I mean really close. I usually get Tom within 25 to 30 yards of the enemy before he attacks. I think that is why almost all of our victories are flamers because I've also instructed Tom to aim for the engine. Anyway, I'm sidling up close to my Hun and I look to the right and see Fred is as well. I look to the left just in time to see Andy's machine collide with the Hun machine. The Hun immediately went into a spin which led to his top wing collapsing. Andy's machine also started to spin, but fortunately Andy was able to recover and began limping to a friendly airfield. Once I saw that it looked like Andy would be okay, I turned my attention back to my targeted Hun. I quickly sent him spiraling to earth. Tom was also successful in bringing his Hun down. Today was my 36th victory, but at almost a cost I wasn't prepared to bear.



Of course, when Andy made it back to St Pol, the first thing he said was, "How'd you like that, mate? Think of all the ammo I saved."
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/15 12:54 PM




Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/15 12:42 AM

Hey Banjoman - Just had a Jimmy Ethelstan transfer into 6 Sqdrn with Ambrose to replace a casualty - any relation to Arthur?
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/15 01:06 AM

Kuroken; Alvin is becoming quite the ace! I'm enjoying your stories mate!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/15 03:22 AM

Ken, you can make him my older brother if you want and I'll start adding some notes about him in my journal entries. I can't believe you've actually seen and shot down and Eindecker. After that Aviatik C1 I saw I haven't seen anything else but the usual Aviatiks. Man, I'm so jealous. I'm getting tired of the same old prey, I'm ready for something new.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/15 02:44 PM

Thanks, Robert!

Banjoman, I hadn't seen any Eindeckers from that first one around the same time you saw the C1 until this week. And I have yet to see a C1, which I'm looking forward to trying (probably get Alvin shot-up - with machine guns on both sides of the observer's position, it looks like there aren't many dead zones - gotta thread that needle VERY carefully to get into firing position with a Morane...might give it a shot, but I imagine I won't have much success until the Nieuports arrive).

I'll start including Jimmy in Ambrose's letters home - hopefully his plane doesn't blow up on one of these flights.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/15 03:00 PM

Ken,Banjoman, Achille tangled with 2 E-I's in his N10 this week as well. They handed him his butt on a platter due to some accidental keyboard presses. He will spend next week in hospital. It is getting more dangerous up there.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/15 05:44 PM

Fullofit, it is...and I've decided I'm leaving C1s alone till I'm in a Nieuport.

First flight today spotted one low, rolled down behind him figuring I'd come up below him from behind...and couldn't catch him. They're faster than the Morane. Same altitude, and he slowly pulled away from me, so I finally broke off.

Second flight, saw another one, again low. This time I thought I'd swoop down fast, pass below him, and let my observer get some shots on him. Bad move. Before I was even below him, he was chewing at my plane. I broke off, and fortunately neither Alvin nor Holcombe got hit, but the plane was beat up.

So I think I'll stick to the low-hanging fruit of the B1s and the relatively low-hanging fruit of the E1s....at least for another month.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/15 06:12 PM

Originally Posted By: Kuroken
Fullofit, it is...and I've decided I'm leaving C1s alone till I'm in a Nieuport.

First flight today spotted one low, rolled down behind him figuring I'd come up below him from behind...and couldn't catch him. They're faster than the Morane. Same altitude, and he slowly pulled away from me, so I finally broke off.

Second flight, saw another one, again low. This time I thought I'd swoop down fast, pass below him, and let my observer get some shots on him. Bad move. Before I was even below him, he was chewing at my plane. I broke off, and fortunately neither Alvin nor Holcombe got hit, but the plane was beat up.

So I think I'll stick to the low-hanging fruit of the B1s and the relatively low-hanging fruit of the E1s....at least for another month.


You could try a low frontal pass!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/15 07:12 PM

Dang Ken, I don't see any of those planes. I just flew two missions and didn't see a thing.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/15 12:50 AM

Originally Posted By: Robert_Wiggins
You could try a low frontal pass!

One of the observer guns on the C1 seems like it can shoot forward pretty well...There probably is a dead zone, but with a Morane, I have to get past the C1 before my gunner opens up...with very little margin for error on either side. I still have a vivid memory of Ambrose veering just a little to the left while stalking those Pfalzs and getting a wing full of lead...

Might give it a shot next time I see one. And be ready to dive very sharply if bullets start hitting me.

Banjoman, I run with labels on to aid my aging eyes (though I will only go after German planes if they're within a mile or so of me, to keep it at least semi-realistic) - looks like Jasta 1 is running C1s pretty exclusively. Our old pal Leffers will get a nice break - you've shot him down a dozen times, Alvin at least 7, and Ambrose the same.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/15 01:13 AM

I think Leffers is waiting for a new plane more than any of us. ar15
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/15 01:21 PM

.

Adjutant Tremblay's escadrille was moved across the river to Allonville yesterday morning - a puzzling move as there seemed no purpose for it. But who knows what the generals are thinking. The new digs are actually quite nice and the setting is very pastoral. Although, it is a bit worrisome taking off and landing towards the woods as having the engine conk or overshooting the field are both about a guarantee of an empty chair at the mess table.






Upon arriving at the new aerodrome the Capitaine congratulated Allard on his twelfth victory as word had come in while they were making the move that his latest claim had been confirmed. As of this AM's mission the Adjutant's log book looks like this:



.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/15 03:33 PM

Lou, in my limited experience transfer like this signifies a new plane! Too bad WoFF does not include the N10A2, otherwise you'd be flying it now.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/15 06:25 PM

Here is the status report for last week. CatKnight, Combs, and Carrick58 I haven't received a status report from you guys in a while, I hope that doesn't mean you left us, that would be a shame because our group would miss you guys.

Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/15 01:27 PM

.

Thanks for the updated chart Banjoman, you're a good egg.

Fullofit, quite right about a move to a new drome often signifying a new mount coming. But as there are none in the stable I don't think that is the case this time. But we can hope.

.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/15 02:22 PM

Thanks Lou, I'm really enjoying the Centenary DID campaign. I know it's going to be really long but for some reason it feels more real to me than the other DID campaign, probably because I came in late in that campaign. Anyway, I can't wait till I get a new plane, I've just about milked everything out of the old Morane.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/15 02:29 PM

.

And there wasn't much there to milk in the first place.

.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/15 02:43 PM

Just think about how late those guys in RFC 3 flew that Morane, like into 1917...!
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/15 02:53 PM

.

Yes, but by then most of their flying was straight down, in flames.

.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/15 03:47 PM

When I hear about things like that, I always think those British officers should have been tried for war crimes against their own men. I really don't know how they slept at night.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/15 08:42 PM






Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/15 09:52 AM

Basil had a Brush with the H(o)un(d)s today!!







Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/15 02:02 PM

Whew, that was close. I still haven't seen any of those.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/15 03:08 AM

Me either and I fly for the Germans.

Have fun in the Fee Kuroken...Fokker hunting is a blast in that bus!

Great Picture Story lederhosen yep
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/15 11:53 AM




Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/15 01:47 PM

Lederhosen, I thought foxes preferred the dark?
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/15 03:49 PM

Oh, they love the twilight hours of dusk and dawn too.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/15 07:48 PM

Engine failures have dropped AF(A) 206 down to three pilots.
Plenty of planes to fly, but not enough pilots for the squad to operate.
Hopefully the next day or two has pilots and observers transferring in.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/15 09:17 PM

Journal Entry: May 26, 1915
Bertincourt

I've almost completed two full weeks with the Jasta and things are going better than I had hoped. While I was in pilot training I would often hear about the air war and I imagined that we would be shooting at each other every time we went aloft. I was pleased to find out that wasn't so, it's seems we have a gentleman's agreement of sorts, the French and British don't bother me and I don't bother them. When we do fly close enough to see each other we salute and fly on. The only fighting that I see on a daily basis is the hell that is the trenches. When I think that I could have been down there instead of where I am serving, I get goose bumps just thinking about it.

We did have a really tragic occurrence the other day, we were flying an artillery shoot and Oberleutnant Hilleke and Oberleutnant Schaub signaled that they were heading back to the aerodrome. We thought nothing about it and carried on with the mission. When we returned we were shocked to learn that they had both died in a freakish accident. It seems that their machine burst into flames as they were attempting to land, no one could possibly help them. I didn't know them very well, but they were both pleasant towards me and I shall miss them.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/15 09:28 PM

Journal Entry: September 23, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Wouldn't you know it, the one pilot that has historically been the most reluctant to engage the enemy is the pilot that actually shoots down the first Hun scout. I'm not jealous mind you, but the irony is killing me. I've been up everyday hoping to see one myself because, like Vix, I want to test my mettle against a pilot that can shoot back. So far, it has been a bust, nothing but the usual Aviatik B1s. I did score my 37th victory today, but it just doesn't seem to satisfy anymore. I did take a beautiful photograph of my latest victim as I was stalking him.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/15 08:50 AM

Love the weather these days.







"A" Flight landings again..... I see they are getting better at it.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/15 02:32 PM

Lederhosen, I really enjoy your reports, keep them coming.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 09:49 AM



Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 10:59 AM

thumbsup rofl
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 02:15 PM

salute
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 02:17 PM

Hey guys, I'll be out of the country from Sept. 26th to Oct. 3rd on a trip with my wife. Is it ok if I wait until Oct. 4th to produce the latest status report?
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 02:22 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Hey guys, I'll be out of the country from Sept. 26th to Oct. 3rd on a trip with my wife. Is it ok if I wait until Oct. 4th to produce the latest status report?

No! Let her go alone! You have responsibilities here! pilot

Enjoy the trip, Banjoman!
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 02:34 PM








(Actually, Alvin's had a VC for 3-4 weeks...actually 2 of them....but I figured I'd wait for him to do something worthwhile before I let him have it...and we'll just ignore that second one completely...)
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 07:53 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Hey guys, I'll be out of the country from Sept. 26th to Oct. 3rd on a trip with my wife. Is it ok if I wait until Oct. 4th to produce the latest status report?


Have fun!
I'll complete my next survey on October 3rd.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 08:06 PM

The Fokkers are on the receiving end of this Scourge. yep

Alvin, leave some Fokkers for the other pilots to shoot down. cheers
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 08:21 PM

Dadgummit, I still haven't seen a single one of them. sigh
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 08:34 PM

Try Fokker hunting in north Flanders. Marine KEK aka MFJ I has had them since September 1st.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 08:54 PM

Ken and I are posted to the same airfield, I guess it is just luck of the draw. I'm sure I'll see them soon enough. I am getting a little bored with shooting down the old Aviatik BIs.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/15 08:55 PM

I've run into them from between Bethune and Arras north - right now, as Mudwasp said, the only squadron to be fully outfitted with them in mid-late September is MFJ 1. Supposedly some other squadrons have them, but only one or two for escort duty on two-seaters - dunno, since all I've seen are the naval flyers in E1s - sometimes alone, sometimes in pairs.

They seem to be based at Nieuwmunster, about 7 miles NE of Ghistelles (a regular destination for us happy RNAS pilots), and I've often thought of going over there and kicking the hornet's nest. But I'd like to have Alvin survive to get into a N10, so I'll probably just take them as they come.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/15 01:35 AM

Banjoman, this works out perfect for me. I'm also leaving on the 26th with my wife and returning on the 4th.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/15 01:21 PM

Sgt Cadwallader has flown 14 missions now (note to self: update survey), and only seen 1 Fokker. Oddly, though, that was the only EA at all that he's seen. Based at Bailleul, he's around Wipers/Armentiiereirdieiries, or whatever it is, but there haven't been any Huns around. are the rest of you guys leaving any?

Also, now we know that the guns we've heard all last week were for the big battle down in Loos, so now we'll break through and the war will over by Christmas.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/27/15 06:54 PM

FA(A) 206 received two pilots and can now resume operations.
All Aviatik BI have been retired.
Udet our lone Aviatik CI pilot has transferred out along with all Aviatik CI aircraft.

We now only fly Aviatik BIIs and have four pilots and observers along with two spare aircraft. No aircraft in repair status.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/27/15 07:04 PM

Last I knew MFJ 1 goes from EIs to EIIIs around the end of the year.

Fokker EIIs will be the rare bird to bag. There seem to be just a few for a short period of time in a few select squads of two seaters.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/15 08:52 PM






(Sorry, Banjoman, was looking forward to having Arthur's big brother with Ambrose for a while, but it wasn't to be...)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/15 11:22 PM

That's OK because now I have a reason for Arthur to hate the Germans.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/15 10:59 AM

Finally get some time to fly..and finally the German high command has released newer aircraft.

Basil von Borster and his new Bus!







unfortunately my wingman landed first and put in for both... the cheek of it... but both were rejected..hahaha Boom Boom!
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/15 06:07 PM



Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/15 10:44 PM

Thats a good angle of attack shown in that first pic, lederhosen. Sucks that your wingman is a victory hog, but at least he fights the enemy.

Good to read of Ambrose and his action packed missions. Watch out for bad engines and green Fokkers. The green ones should give him a better fight.

Dolf flew a mission and witnessed two of the new guys go down with bad engines. One survived and should be back soon. Good supply of Aviatik BIIs, but on the edge for pilots.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/15 02:41 AM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
Good to read of Ambrose and his action packed missions. Watch out for bad engines and green Fokkers. The green ones should give him a better fight.


Actually it was Alvin's letter (which I've fixed) - had Ambrose on my mind, since he's just moved from FE to Bristol Fighter and I'm finding the switch from two-seater to scout jarring (after four months in two-seaters - actually closer to 7-8 since I was running a Strutter campaign and then a Briff campaign before the challenge started).

I am liking the Bristol Fighter, though - even with the whack gun placement. Since I have to fly to the side of the German planes to get a shot at them, I'm finding it's better to fire at the pilot area than the engine. The angle is good for that, and when I take out the pilot, down they go. Not as spectacularly as when the gunner on a Morane or FE blows up an engine, but a kill is a kill.

Hopefully when the green Fokkers get tired of Verdun and Alsace, they'll come on up to Flanders.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/15 04:16 AM

Alvin should run into some scrappier prey soon. Let me know if you bag a Fokker EII.
That Bristol is a great plane for this time despite the odd gun angle.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/15 03:29 PM

Sgt. Cadwallader read in the papers that after all the hoopla at Loos and Champagne last week, French casualties were about 200,000, british 50,000, and germans 150,000. And the line didn't move. Almost got him wondering if there was something about all this that he was missing?

But his is not to wonder why - off he went, bombed Hauberdin and back, all without seeing a single Hun.

What's all this about an "Fe" or "Bristol?" Nothing against his gunner, but maybe a new plane will brighten him up.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/15 06:24 PM

Yikes....N10C-1s are in the skies now !

Dive and run!


Oh No... more down low




The Nupe crashed and Dolf managed to land on a road. His two squadmates died. He spent 8 days in the hospital and several more waiting for replacements to bring the squad up to 3 pilots so that they could fly again.

Hope he gets a plane with a gun soon!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/15 07:48 PM

MudWasp, Niupes were available since the beginning of September. Looks like you were lucky so far. Hope you'll get to fly something that can shoot back soon. This is almost torture.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/15 08:20 PM

Dolf can fly on the 16th and might get an Aviatik CI about a week later.
Looks like Udet might rejoin the squad then too.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/15 02:51 AM

Here is the updated status report, thanks for being patient.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/15 03:17 AM

Thanks for the chart pilot
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/15 02:34 PM








(And so, that's why cousins Alvin and Ambrose never speak of each other in their letters to Alice)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/15 11:07 PM

Hey Banjoman, thanks for keeping the score. Just noticed something odd with the numbers.
Compare this one:



With the one 2 weeks later:



Ken is getting screwed out of some victories in his Ambrose career. 33 and 2 weeks later only 26 confused

And then again in his Alvin career his score is 402 and 2 weeks later 630. That's mathematically impossible.

Sorry Ken, I'm not picking on ya, just wanted to make sure you get credited for all the hard earned kills.
That's it. Bean-counting over. (Not everyone counts rivets)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/15 01:01 AM

I noticed that as well and I just assumed that Ken had entered the numbers incorrectly. I don't do any type of manipulation of the data, I just take what you guys enter and then carry it over to my spreadsheet. I guess if the latest is wrong then it will get corrected when Ken enters his data on Saturday.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/15 05:06 AM

Yeah, two weeks ago I wrote down my stats (on paper) differently than usual before entering them, and swapped Alvin and Ambrose's kills. As for the score, the big jump has to be an error - will go back to 6 Sept and re-add from there, so this weeks should be back to where it should be. I'll double check.

Sorry about the errors...and Fullofit, somebody has to count the rivets.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/15 09:13 AM

thumbsup
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/15 10:26 PM

Sgt. Cadwallader had another bombing mission on the German front line troops opposite Wipers today. Nothing unusual, until he noticed a convoy of supply vehicles just outside Wipers that, upon a clos flyby, turned out to be German. Must have been some kind of secret supply raid on our side of the lines? The nerve...!



Unfortunately, he had already dropped all his bombs, and for some reason was unable to get his observer to open fire on the enemy. Grounds for treason? After he landed, he checked on his transfer status (still pending), as he feels he can better serve his country.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/15 10:45 PM

News of the World - May Edition for Intrepid Fliers:

May 1
The Battle of Gorlice-Tarnow began when German troops broke through Russian lines in Galicia.
The American tanker Gulflight was torpedoed without warning off the Scilly Islands by the German submarine U-30.
May 2
The Turks attacked French and British forces in the First Battle of Krithia in the Dardanelles.
May 3
The Triple Alliance was denounced by Italy.
May 4
The Battle of Julien ended when British forces were withdrawn from forward positions to take up new defensive lines to the east of Ypres.
May 5
Hill 60 was captured by the Germans during the Second Battle of Ypres.
May 6
The Second Battle of Krithia began, continuing the Allied attempts to advance on the Helles battlefield during the Gallipoli Campaign.
May 7
The British ocean liner RMS Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk off the south-west coast of Ireland by the German submarine U20. 1198 citizens were killed including more than 100 US citizens - creating a diplomatic crisis between Germany and the USA.
Japan presented an ultimatum to China demanding territorial concessions.
May 8
The second British-French assault on Turkish defenses near Krithia failed and brought the Second Battle of Krithia to an end.
May 9
The short-lived Battle of Aubers Ridge began a British offensive against German forces on the Western Front. The battle was a disaster for the British army as, despite suffering heavy losses, no ground was won and no tactical advantage gained.
The city of Libau was occupied by the Germans.
May 10
The German Zeppelin LZ-38 bombed Southend in Essex.
May 11
German forces evacuated Shavli in the Baltic Provinces.
May 12
A Turkish destroyer torpedoed and sank the British battleship HMS Goliath in Morto Bay off Cape Helles at the south-westernmost tip of the Galilpoli peninsula.
May 13
South African forces captured and occupied Windhoek, the capital of German South West Africa.
May 14
The British War Council met for the final time.
Prime Minister and dictator of Portugal, General Joaquim Pimenta de Castro was overthrown by a politico-military uprising which also led to the resignation of President Manuel de Arriaga.
May 15
Jose de Castro took over as Prime Minister of Portugal after the deposition of General Joaquim Pimenta de Castro.
The British army attack in the Artois region of France in the beginning of the Battle of Festubert.
May 17
The German Zeppelin LZ-38 carried out further attacks on Dover and Ramsgate.
May 19
Russian forces captured Van in Armenia during the Battle of Van.
May 21
The Russian Expeditionary Force landed at Enzeli en route to Persia.
May 22
British troops advanced towards La Quinque Rue In the Battle of Festubert.
May 23
The Italian government ordered mobilization and declared war on Austria.
The British submarine E11 sank a gunboat and other small craft in the Sea of Marmora.
May 24
The Battle of Bellewaarde Ridge began with German artillery bombardment on British troops during the Second Battle of Ypres.
May 25
The "Shell Crisis" precipitated by a shortage of artillery shells on the front lines, resulted in the formation of a coalition government between Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and Tory leader Andrew Bonar Law.
May 26
A British naval battle squadron gathered at Malta before joining the Italian fleet in the Adriatic.
The German Zeppelin LZ-38 bombed Southend again.
May 27
First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill was demoted to Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster as he was held responsible for the unsuccessful Dardanelles and Gallipoli campaigns.
May 28
Sir Henry Bradwardine Jackson was appointed First Sea Lord of the Admiralty following Admiral Lord Fisher's surprise resignation.
May 31
The first Zeppelin raid on London took place.
British and Indian troops broke through the Turkish lines at Qurna north of Basra.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/15 10:47 PM

News of the World for Warbirds Rising - September 1915:

September 1
The German Government accepted the United States' demands for limitation of submarine activity.
September 2
On the Eastern Front German forces captured Grodno and attacked Vilna.
September 3
The Second Battle of the Isonzo ended with an Austro-Hungarian victory over Italian forces.
September 4
The British passenger ship Hesperian was torpedoed by German submarine U-20 near Fastnet off the Irish coast.
September 5
Tsar Nicholas II took personal control of Russia's armies at the military headquarters In Mogilev (Mahilyow) in Eastern Belarus.
September 6
US newspapers published secret documents reporting that Austrian Ambassador Dr Konstantin Dumba was involved in a scheme to sabotage the American munitions industry.
September 7
Russian troops began a counter-offensive on the Sereth River at Tarnopol in Galicia.
September 8
Two Zeppelins successfully attacked London, dropping bombs on the docks of the capital city.
September 9
American Secretary of State Robert Lansing requested that the Austro-Hungarian government recall its ambassador Dr Konstantin Dumba as his presence was no longer acceptable.
September 10
Four Allied warships rescued more than 4,000 Armenians from Musa Dagh in Armenia and took them to Port Said in Egypt where they remained in Allied refugee camps until the end of the war.
September 12
The three-masted Norwegian sailing ship Bien was sunk in the North Sea by German submarine U-6.
September 13
Following another Zeppelin raid on London, Admiral Sir Percy Scott was tasked by the First Lord of the Admiralty Arthur Balfour to establish the London Air Defense Area to defend England's capital city from the increasing threat of air attack.
September 15
German submarine U-6 was attacked and sunk by British submarine HMS E16 off Stavanger in Norway.
September 16
German troops captured Pinsk in Belarus on the Eastern Front.
September 18
German forces capture Vilna (now Vilnius) but suffered heavy casualties.
September 19
The Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive ended when the Russian lines collapsed and the Russian troops retreated.
September 21
The Bulgarian government ordered a partial mobilization of its forces.
Greek Premier Eleftherios Venizelos asked for a guarantee of 150,000 British and French troops as a condition of Greece's intervention in the war.
September 22
French airmen dropped bombs on the Royal Palace at Stuttgart in Germany.
September 23
The Greek Government ordered precautionary mobilization as a "measure of elementary prudence" in view of Bulgarian actions.
September 24
The French and British Governments informed the Greeks that they would be prepared to send the troops requested.
September 25
The Great Allied Offensive focused on Loos and Champagne when the British 1st Army, commanded by General Douglas Haig, attacked German positions at the start of the Battle of Loos.
September 26
General Sir Archibald James Murray was appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff replacing Sir James Wolfe-Murray who had resigned the previous day.
September 27
Greek premier Venizelos obtained the secret consent of King Constantine I to the proposed Allied expedition to Salonika.
September 28
Austrian Ambassador Dr Dumba was recalled from the United States.
The Greek Government refused the Allied offer of troops.
September 29
French troops attacked in Champagne and progressed towards Tahure on the Western Front.
September 30
Lord Derby assumed responsibility for recruiting in Britain.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/15 11:02 PM

It was an interesting week for Alfred Pennyworth. Tired of flying around armed with a rifle, he put in a request for a transfer to a unit with better equipped planes. He finally was granted his transfer at the beginning of September. Flew the BE2 for 2 days and was finally given a new mount - an FE2. What a difference a machine gun makes! He finally understood the danger of trench warfare. He shot down 3 planes in a single day. This is exactly the same number of planes he downed with the rifle equipped BE2 in 4 months! This feat earned him a promotion next day and with that a new aircraft - the shiny Bristol Scout. All in a span of 2 days.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/15 01:01 AM

It's amazing what killing the enemy will get you. biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/15 01:22 AM

Win-Win situation. salute
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/15 02:04 AM

Journal Entry: June 8, 1915
Bertincourt

Feldwebel Reinhard and Leutnant Rudolph fell today and that sight will forever be etched in my memory. We were coming back from a routine artillery spotting mission and Scwarm Eins was patrolling above us. Just as we were leaving the front, I happened to look up and saw an Archie shell burst right next to Reinhard's machine, it jerked and immediately burst into flames. I was horrified and watched in agony as he slowly wheeled over and began the long plunge to earth. I swear I could hear them scream, but I'm sure that was just my mind recoiling at the sight. They made a fine team and had served the fatherland admirably. That is two teams we've lost in a little over a month, I'm sure this war is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/15 04:56 AM

That is a sight I haven't seen in awhile.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/15 04:11 PM

Nice Screen shot BanjoMan. Have seen it a few times in flight and always an attention getter.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/15 09:59 PM

Wow. Death by flak. Is that even possible in WoFF? I've flown through many clouds of shrapnel without even a scratch. I think I was hit by one and my health was reduced by 10% but that was long time ago (it seems) in version 1.xx.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/15 10:51 PM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
Wow. Death by flak. Is that even possible in WoFF? I've flown through many clouds of shrapnel without even a scratch. I think I was hit by one and my health was reduced by 10% but that was long time ago (it seems) in version 1.xx.


You betcha! Happened to my DH2 pilot with 40 something missions. If it was not Archie, which was present, my plane just exploded for some odd reason.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/15 11:49 PM

This is the second time that I've witnessed 'death by Archie'. It seems that it happens only rarely, but when it does it can ruin your day.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/15 12:13 AM

Had one explode so close my pilot lost his hearing. Like 4-6 times.
Well, just the part concerning engine sound.

About 1/2 the time a system failure occurred within about 10 minutes.
So pick a heading and spot if it happens to your pilot.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/15 12:14 AM

You can't rule out spontaneous combustion. Happens more often than AAA.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 02:36 AM

Journal Entry: October 9, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I do believe our beloved and trusty Morane L's have about given all they can give in this nasty little war. I haven't seen hide nor hair of a Hun since September 25, but I saw one today. We were returning from an artillery shoot down near Loos and off to the west I spotted one of the new Aviatiks. I signaled the flight and we began to position ourselves to attack. The Hun wasn't having any of that and simply flew away, my poor old Morane couldn't keep up. I don't know what more we can do with these outdated machines. The old man stated on our return, 'that we should be getting new kites in less than a fortnight'. I certainly hope that is true because it's hard to fight a war when your enemy can simply run away.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 11:54 AM

Banjoman, I haven't seen BI's in the air for a while. It's all CI's now. Come to think of it I've never seen the BII's in the air. The easy pickings are over.
Has anyone seen any German HA other than Gustav Leffers so far? He seems to be the only one (and almost exclusively flying alone). What gives?
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 11:59 AM

Basil in No16 RFC has seen quite a few BII's, a few C1's and only 2 EIII'S thus far. Granted that there are few squadrons along the whole front, and that Huns fly mostly once a day may explain why so few are seen.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 12:48 PM

Lederhosen, glad that at least some of us see some variation. thumbsup
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 03:49 PM

Two Fokker EIIIs already?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 03:56 PM

Wait a minute, are the EIII's out already? I only saw some news about EII's being out and bagged EI, but no EIII's.
Lederhosen, are you flying with the Fokker Scourge add-on, or without?
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 04:22 PM

Probably a typo.

But yeah, with no Fokker Scourge add on EIIIs are out there now in squads like MFJ I .
At least that's how I remember WOFF without the Fkker Scourge add-on.

I had an Aviatik CI pilot enlisted before the Fokker Scourge came out who then reverted to BIs after the install
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 04:30 PM

MudWasp, that was my thought. Either a typo, or no add-on. When are the EIII's supposed to show up?
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 04:44 PM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
Has anyone seen any German HA other than Gustav Leffers so far? He seems to be the only one (and almost exclusively flying alone). What gives?


Ambrose has shot down Leffers 18 times (one time twice in one day, morning and afternoon flights). Alvin only 6 times. I imagine there are other HAs, in the Verdun or Marne sectors, but from Albert north, Leffers seems to be it going into October. We'll probably see others when the KEKs start deploying.

Haven't seen a BII, or any Eindeckers other than EIs yet (and not a lot of them) with Alvin. Just CIs, and with Leffers in a CI now, he's safe from Alvin at least till 1 RNAS gets into Nieuports. Then maybe he'll get to shoot Alvin down, cause right now, Alvin stays away from the CIs after a couple of bad experiences.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 04:57 PM

Yup, CI's put Alfred in hospital once already and that was in the Scout. Not so easy to kill them now. Losing wingmen left and right. They're still used to easy kills.
I expect Boelcke and Immelmann will show up along with the EIII's?
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 05:02 PM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
MudWasp, that was my thought. Either a typo, or no add-on. When are the EIII's supposed to show up?


MFJ I is all EIII in January,




Some squads like Jasta 15 don't start to get them until late March 1916.
Jasta 1 has EIVs by then for top rankers
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 05:22 PM


Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 05:31 PM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
MFJ I is all EIII in January,

I'd be happy with just a few more EIs or even some EIIs for Alvin. Those long flights from St. Pol get tedious when the only enemy planes you see are too dangerous to go after.

At least Ambrose is having fun in his Bristol Scout. Nothing to worry about for him except fire, collision, and forced landings gone wrong. It's unfortunate that I never see any Pfalz Morane copies anymore. I'd like to try the Scout against one.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 05:31 PM

I guess we're safe for now. Thanks MW. I find it a little strange not to see the Eindekkers in greater numbers. Aren't we in the middle of Fokker Scourge?
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 05:37 PM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
I guess we're safe for now. Thanks MW. I find it a little strange not to see the Eindekkers in greater numbers. Aren't we in the middle of Fokker Scourge?


MFJ I is the only all EI squad I know of at this time. Bagging an EII would be a rare bird trophy.

Just my opinion, I see no scourge at all in the Fokkers favor as far as flying WOFF is concerned.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 05:40 PM

I know what you guys mean, I'm going to get the Fokker Scourge addon just to see if that spices it up a bit.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 05:55 PM

Banjoman, the add-on doesn't increase the number of planes. It just lets you fly the earlier models, or shoot them down. So far, I've only encountered 2 EI's and no EII's - not much of a Scourge. Even when flying for the Germans, the EII type is a rare bird and appears for a short time.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 06:05 PM

Fullofit, I went ahead and got the Fokker Scourge add-on, will it take effect in an ongoing campaign?
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 07:05 PM

It will, did so in an Aviatik campaign of mine. My squad went from CIs to BIs
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 07:17 PM

What MudWasp said. It works with your current career. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to fly the N10 C1.
Congrats on the add-on. You should still get some use from it and down a few EI's / EII's before the EIII's take over. Let's see who'll bag the first EIV. winkngrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 07:28 PM

BTW, I haven't seen any Eindekkers escorting Aviatiks either. Anyone seen them together?
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 07:34 PM

That is going on and becoming more common right now, still in the early phases now. Some squads will have one or two HAs or high rankers in a Fokker now while the rest of the squad has Aviatiks.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 07:53 PM

That should be happening since June/August. Seems like the Fokkers are late to the party, or are we just missing it? I'm pretty sure we're flying exactly in the area where they're supposed to be. Not complaining - don't want my butt shot from under me by one of them, but doesn't seem accurate.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 08:12 PM

Not that many really.
I did this;


and clicked through the squads to see what WOFF was offering, by declining the enlistment option until all options were offered and it went into the next year, or was it season...?
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 08:16 PM

ok ok... a Hun monoplane then.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 08:42 PM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
Not that many really.


So, no Scourge then. nope
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/15 08:43 PM

Originally Posted By: lederhosen
ok ok... a Hun monoplane then.

Well then, that could mean it could have been a Pfalz. biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 01:21 AM

Journal Entry: October 10, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I guess patience is a virtue because today my patience has finally paid off, today I had two encounters with the vaunted new Hun machine. This morning's sortie was an artillery shoot up near Lens, while we were orbiting registering the artillery salvos, here came two of the Hun monoplanes flying along without a care in the world. I'm sure they thought the three Morane L's above them didn't pose any threat, but they were dreadfully wrong. As soon as I spotted them, I signaled the flight to attack. I don't think even as we were attacking that they considered us a serious threat, well I'm sure the Hun whose wings collapsed isn't thinking that now. I was pleased with the performance of the whole flight, we all fired at the Huns but I was fortunate enough to provide the killing burst. While all of this was going on, the other Hun fled for the safety of his aerodrome, can't say that I blame him.



This afternoon we had a line patrol up on the Lens to Loos line. Once again, as we were patrolling I spotted a single Hun monoplane approaching below and to the Southeast of us. I signaled the attack and we dove on him, he turned and ran but somehow we managed to chase him down. Tom gave him a burst and he spiraled into the ground. I think he must have either killed the pilot or wounded him.



Anyway, I go from not seeing anything since Sept 25 to having two combats in the same day with the newest Hun machine. Now, I feel like I can start paying them back for what they did to my brother Jimmy.

--------------------------------------
I don't know if the Fokker Scourge add-on had anything to do with today's action, but the skies sure seemed busier and I did see three Fokker E.Is.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 02:37 AM



Good on you, Banjoman. I guess we'll need to rename this period to Banjoman Scourge.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 03:06 AM

Hahaha, I do love the minions.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 04:15 AM

Banjoman, enjoy it. Once you burn through them, they don't get replacements that quickly, and EIs become scarce. Then it's back to CIs or empty skies. Made even worse if they cut you back to one flight a day, like Alvin's been on for the past week.

But they are fun to shoot down.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 06:45 PM

Here is the latest status report. Ken, your numbers for Alvin still look off or are those the corrected numbers.

Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 08:27 PM

Those are the corrected numbers - went back six weeks or so, saw where I'd gone off the rails and 430 somehow became 630. But these were double checked.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 08:37 PM

Thanks for putting it up. thumbsup
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 09:01 PM

Does anybody know what happened to Carrick58, CatKnight, and Combs? I haven't heard from them in a long time.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 09:16 PM

Thanks for the chart BanjoMan. I was out of town and did not update mine this week. I will take care of it next week.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 09:27 PM

Hey guys, I would like to 'spiff up' up the reports a little. Would you guys like me to include our flying hours? I'm also open to any other ideas ya'll might have.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 09:32 PM

Make it any way you wish notworthy

Adding hours is fine.
Maybe also WOFF medals too.
I wish WOFF kept track of ground objects destroyed for the bomb runs.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/15 09:50 PM

Oh, I donno. Days spent in hospital. All claims biggrin - kills that we know we should have, but weren't credited for. Stuff that's easy to grab from our pilot screen.
Thanks for taking care of it Banjoman. salute
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/12/15 12:09 AM

I'm good with whatever you want to add - hours would be fine, actual kills vs "reportable" kills (Ambrose has 86 vs 57 reportable, for example). Actually the metric I care least about is score - probably because I don't understand why an easy-peasy landing at your home field is worth a point, and putting down in a wheat field is a -1, for instance - from a pilot point of view, I feel a lot more pleased with myself when I manage to land someplace other than an aerodrome and come out of it alive without eating a fence or tree.

But if people like scoring, I'm cool with it - and sometimes I can even add correctly!

Medals I'm not sure of though, just because it's kind of wonky - I think Alvin got two DSOs and a VC within two weeks, which seems a little ahistorical...on the other hand, we are in Bizarro WWI, where a pilot has 86 kills in a little more than 4 months of 1915, 49 of them in a Morane.

Whatever you like. Whatever everybody else likes. I'm in for the duration.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/12/15 12:46 AM

You'll be filling in dozens of columns in no time rofl
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/12/15 06:57 PM



Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/15 01:41 PM




Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/15 02:34 AM

Journal Entry: October 16, 1815
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Just got back from five days of much needed leave and it's good to be back flying. When the old man told me that he was giving me five days of leave I immediately thought of going home. I hadn't been home since Jimmy died and I thought it would be good for me to spend some time with the parents. After spending almost a week home I don't know if I helped or hurt my parent's situation and that troubles me greatly. My father seems to be handling the loss of Jimmy remarkable well, I don't know if that's just good old British pluck or if he's just cut from a different bolt of cloth than my mother. Mother on the other hand, is not handling it well at all. She seemed very uncomfortable around me the whole time, it seemed as if there was a dark cloud hovering over us the entire time. I really feel for Charles who, as a typical fifteen year old, is dying to get aloft to give the Huns a good thrashing for what they did to Jimmy. I pray that this dirty little war is over before he could ever join up. I can only hope that the old saying, 'That time heals all wounds' is true for my mother's sake.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 12:50 PM

.

As always, wonderful reports and stories and letters everyone. Thank you all for sharing them here.

Sous-lieutenant Tremblay's lastest sortie was a recce of the Bosche lines just west of Villers-Carbonnel. He had never seen such a sustained bombardment before. It was in effect as he approached the lines and continued at an unbelievable intensity for the entire 20 minutes of the reconnaissance. He and his G/O actually felt pity for the poor enemy troops down in those trenches. It must have been hell.





(really, in all my time in OFF and WOFF I have never seen this kind of intensity - it was frighteningly awesome)

.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 01:33 PM

Hey Lou,
I've also noticed the magnitude of the barrages when flying above. In some places it looks like the entire front sector is on fire. It really kills the frame-rate even in 1915. I wonder how many CPU cycles are used to make this show. Anyone know if WoFF uses ballistics calculations for those barrages? I've noticed that these barrages slow down my computer more than all the planes up in the air put together. You can tell by flying away from the Front and notice the framerate increase. My reasoning is that those planes are there all the time so the frame rate should be the same for their AI calculations, but take away the barrage and the frame rate increases. Wonder if those barrages can be optimized - reduce CPU cycles? This could help with the 1918 campaigns and not need to reduce air activity to minimum.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 02:11 PM

Sounds like a good suggestion for a workshop setting scale
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 02:22 PM

Hey MW,
Probably should go to the wish list thread first. Proper channels - you know.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 03:47 PM

Yep, toss it out there as a wish list suggestion.

Hey, try Alsace in 1918 if your PC struggles with frame rates in sections that have a large ground war ongoing.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 04:52 PM

This has been asked before but nothing. Instead we get reduced air activity when I, and others perhaps, beleave the ground activity is causing this and realy, do we need it?
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 05:01 PM

Ask again and a few of us will add our approval.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 06:47 PM

Here is the latest status report, you will notice and entry listed as Unkwn, that means unknown because I didn't have that info when I created the report. Does anybody have any ideas how we can get people interested in this campaign again?

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 06:56 PM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
Yep, toss it out there as a wish list suggestion.

Hey, try Alsace in 1918 if your PC struggles with frame rates in sections that have a large ground war ongoing.


Mud Wasp,
Alsace works just fine for me. It actually runs faster in 1918 than Flanders in 1915 during an offensive. It's a quiet region, where nothing happens and with all the forests your biggest worry is where to put down your wounded bird without crashing.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 06:59 PM

.

Thanks for the updated stats Banjoman, much appreciated. I wish I had any ideas for you on how to increase interest in this campaign, but interest in general around here seems pretty low when it comes to the campaigns and such. Hell, I can't even get interest in a free custom WOFF livery.

.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 07:00 PM

Originally Posted By: lederhosen
This has been asked before but nothing. Instead we get reduced air activity when I, and others perhaps, beleave the ground activity is causing this and realy, do we need it?


Lederhosen,
I'm with you. all these troops modeled down there ... that must be a drain on CPU and to be honest I haven't seen any of them while flying - trying to fly high to avoid the ground fire. It is a great touch, but should have the option to turn it off to gain frame rate.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 07:05 PM

.

If it is something that can be changed I would definitely ask that it be a choice we can make via the workshop. I would NOT want to lose all the ground activity as it is a very large part of what makes this sim so immersive.

.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 07:20 PM

Originally Posted By: RAF_Louvert
.

If it is something that can be changed I would definitely ask that it be a choice we can make via the workshop. I would NOT want to lose all the ground activity as it is a very large part of what makes this sim so immersive.

.


Lou,
Agreed. We wouldn't want it removed, but made as an option to scale down - and only if it would help with the frame rate, otherwise what's the point? In a few years we may all have computers powerful enough to turn it all back on and even ask for more - like smoke that lingers on long after the barrage is over, small arms muzzle flashes, crew at the aerodromes, birds. The list goes on.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 07:46 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Here is the latest status report, you will notice and entry listed as Unkwn, that means unknown because I didn't have that info when I created the report. Does anybody have any ideas how we can get people interested in this campaign again?


Banjoman,
Thanks for trying to spice it up with new entries. How come there are no entries under "Days Wounded"?
I also have no idea how to make it more interesting. It all depends on the people what they are interested in. Early years are slow so people lose interest quickly. I prefer the early birds that's why I'm still flying. I probably would have been flying a career like this anyways, so to me this is convenient. Having these stats posted every week helps even more. I guess more variety of planes would help this situation immensely - more French 2-seaters anyone?
I suppose tracking your wingman's career and posting his score as well could add to the role playing factor. You're not just responsible for your career but his as well - making sure he survives as long as possible and scores kills that could be posted, maybe along with his medals and promotions. All this could be added to your score. Added bonus is that you wouldn't care that he stole your kill. biggrin
Too bad about some of them being stupid.
This obviously wouldn't work for the guys still flying bombers, but eventually everyone will get to fly a fighter and have a wingman. I think there was a challenge like this before to keep your wingman alive as long as possible.
Also, don't forget this is a loooong challenge, so people will lose interest, but maybe new people will join later on when it becomes more interesting.

EIII's 50cal
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 08:42 PM

Fullofit, the Days Wounded column is supposed to be when your pilot is wounded you can add the time he has to sit out there. I thought people would like to know how long someone was wounded, but maybe it's a bad idea.

Lou, I would love another one of your skins, but I have no idea what that thing is. biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 08:50 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Fullofit, the Days Wounded column is supposed to be when your pilot is wounded you can add the time he has to sit out there. I thought people would like to know how long someone was wounded, but maybe it's a bad idea.

Lou, I would love another one of your skins, but I have no idea what that thing is. biggrin


I see. I thought it's the total time spent in hospital for the entire career. duh
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 09:03 PM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
Originally Posted By: MudWasp
Yep, toss it out there as a wish list suggestion.

Hey, try Alsace in 1918 if your PC struggles with frame rates in sections that have a large ground war ongoing.


Mud Wasp,
Alsace works just fine for me. It actually runs faster in 1918 than Flanders in 1915 during an offensive. It's a quiet region, where nothing happens and with all the forests your biggest worry is where to put down your wounded bird without crashing.


Plenty of pretty birds to take from the air down there.
Quiet....?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/15 09:19 PM

Well...Relatively quiet.
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/15 04:00 PM




Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/15 02:30 AM

Journal Entry: October 19, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

They say that patience is a virtue; they also say that good things come to those who wait. Well, they are right. Today while we were enjoying our lunch, the adjutant came and whispered something to the CO after which he exclaimed, "Splendid", he then arose and left. Well naturally, we got up and followed him. We stepped outside just as a large number of lorries were arriving in front of the hangar area. Once the commotion had died, the CO announced to one and all, "Gentlemen, our new kites have arrived. We will be turning in our Moranes for the new Nieuports". Pandemonium ensued, we were acting like boys on Christmas morn. When we had settled down a bit, the CO explained, "Half the squadron will be fitted out with the Nieuport 11, while the rest will be given the Nieuport 10C1". He also stated, "Everyone will eventually get an 11 when they become available". He gave instructions for the kites to be rigged and ready for tomorrow's sorties. Here are a couple of photos of our new planes.





Lost in all of the hubbub was what will happen to our observers. I told Edmund and Tom that I would use all of my influence to get them into pilot training if they were interested. They both expressed that desire and I spoke with the CO and he readily agreed. They will be transferring out in a few days. It will be very lonely without my two trusty observers. If the truth be told, I know I couldn't have made it this far without either of them.

Seems like in all of the excitement regarding our new machines, nobody noticed until later, the new guy that had also arrived. I introduced myself and learned that his name is Roderick Dallas, seems like an okay chap. We'll see if he makes anything of himself.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/15 02:31 AM

Journal Entry: October 20, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I'm having difficulty putting into words what a difference flying the Nieuport is from all of my previous flying experiences. Until today, I don't think I've ever really flown. Oh technically I've flown, but this machine is as different as night is to day from all of the previous aeroplanes that I've flown. The French call this plane BeBe which means baby because of it's size, but I think a more appropriate name would Butterfly because it flits around like one. It is in every respect better than the Morane, it's faster, it climbs faster and higher, it's more agile, and finally it has a forward firing machine gun. Needless to say, I'm very pleased with my new kite. Oh by the way, we didn't see anything on our sortie, but I didn't particularly care.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/15 02:32 AM

Almost There
2Lt, 3 Rfc
Oct 20, 1915.





Just returning to the front after a leave in England.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/15 02:33 AM

Yea carrick58, we've been missing you.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/15 08:29 PM

popcorn


LOL
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/15 08:39 PM

Almost There
2Lt, Rfc
3 Sqn Flanders.


21 Oct 1915.


Posted to a combat hop for Line Bombardment, What a sitter. My how things have changed around here. My flight had a Pursuit escort. They used a ship called the N-10 for part of the way. After seeing them, I put in for a Transfer using my Naval Reserve Rank for a posting to RNAS 1.



uploadimage
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/15 11:46 AM

emmmm a small problem.

I just sent Basils stuff through and then went in again for Basil von Borste. The page after filling in the aircraft type for the Kaiser is asking me for a RFC rank and aircraft ....so I cant finish the report for von Borste.

danke.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/15 11:53 AM


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/15 01:31 PM

Lederhosen, I'll look into it tonight. Are both of your pilots named the same?
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/15 01:35 PM

Basil Brush

and Basil von Borste

it wasn't a problem before, but then the reports themselves have been changed, i.e....hours logged and number of claims (not kills).
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/15 01:38 PM

Yep, I added the other stuff, the other pilots wanted to see a little more info. As a matter of fact, if there is anything that I can add that you think would make the reports better then just let me know.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/15 09:49 PM

Lederhosen, I've fixed it but check to make sure. I may be a programmer, but obviously I'm not a perfect one. banghead
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/15 03:03 AM

Almost there
2lt, 3 Rfc



No adventures here just an Arty Spot for Hq. Routine flight.


upload a picture
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/15 05:30 PM


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/15 08:34 PM

Almost there
2lt, 3 Rfc


Oct 23, 1915.



Recon

3 Morane L,s Looking for Convoy movement none was sighted.


image post
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/15 05:10 PM

Sgt. Cadallader is dead; spontaneous engine fire. Disheartening after 20+ missions.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/15 05:18 PM

loftyc, that's too bad. I personally think the engine bursting into flames in WOFF happens too frequently.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/15 05:40 PM

It seems to occur less and less with new aircraft. I see it very rarely in the N10, or the Bristol Scout.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/15 05:46 PM

That's true.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/15 06:34 PM

Journal Entry: June 26, 1915
Bertincourt

Another week of flying in the books and not really much to show for it. I must admit that while the flying so far has been peaceful it has also become rather routine. I guess I can't complain in light of what I learned in the mess this evening. The other gentlemen were discussing what can only be described as three cold blooded killers operating up in northern Flanders. One of these killers is called Der Sensenmann, the other doesn't have a name but does fly an all gray aeroplane, and really nothing is known about the third pilot. These three Tommies have taken it upon themselves to single handedly kill every German they come upon. This is war, but these men seem to take great pleasure in killing unarmed enemies. I shudder to think what would happen to me if I met one of these killers. The great question in my mind, is why haven't our leaders armed our aeroplanes? It boggles my mind that our leaders will send unarmed men up into the air knowing there are men who will take great pleasure in killing them. I can only hope that they have good reasons for how we are fighting this air war.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/15 06:42 PM

Journal Entry: October 24, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Blast it all, I've had this wonderful new machine since the 20th and I haven't seen a blasted Hun. I'm dying to know how this kite will measure up against the new Hun monoplane and the new armed Aviatik. Oh well, tomorrow is a new day and maybe I'll get my chance then. I did have Corp. Tomlinson work his magic on my new kite and here she is in all of her glory. I never imagined that Tomlinson even knew who John Donne was and much less had read anything written by him. I really must stop prejudging the enlisted men - makes me look rather like a fool.

Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/15 08:44 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
loftyc, that's too bad. I personally think the engine bursting into flames in WOFF happens too frequently.


at least one time too often, I'd say!
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/15 08:59 PM

Basil Brush almost got himself a Hound today. Fox hunting he calls it.




Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/25/15 02:06 AM

Almost There



10 24 17.


Up on a Airfield Bombardment Mission our bombs missed. so I went low to let my gunner rake the planes on the airfield after the 2nd pass i spotted other game. A convoy of trucks easy pick-ins. On the 3 rd Low level pass ( I hit the map button by error before I could drop it) I flew into the ground. Pilot Deceased end of career. Bummer.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/25/15 02:15 AM

Carrick, sorry to hear that. Pilot error.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/25/15 03:14 AM

Dang, that's two in one day. I guess we better start getting used to pilots dying now that things are starting to heat up.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/25/15 04:13 PM

wave



The wife did me in one time. She had a honey do so I got up to help out came back and my Pilot was Destroyed.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/25/15 04:55 PM

Originally Posted By: carrick58
wave



The wife did me in one time. She had a honey do so I got up to help out came back and my Pilot was Destroyed.


I believe it's called force majeure. biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/25/15 07:06 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/26/15 12:50 AM

Journal Entry: October 25, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Finally, I didn't think I would ever get to test my new kite against the enemy and the funny thing, it wasn't even an offensive mission. Roderic and I were just ordered to fly around the area and test the new rigging adjustments that the riggers had made to our kites. We had just taken off and were climbing to gain some altitude when I spotted two of the new Aviatiks bombing just a few miles to the south of us. I signaled Roderick and we both began climbing like crazy to reach the Huns. Once again, I was amazed at the performance of our machines and how fast they can climb. In our old Moranes we would have chased them halfway back to the front before we would have reached their altitude, but in our Nieuports we reached them while they were still forming up after their bombing work. The tricky thing with the new Aviatik is the armed observer in the back. I had been pondering exactly how I would attack them ever since I saw that first about a month ago. It seems to me that the only safe avenue of attack is to attack from below and behind. It worked like a charm for the two Aviatiks that we met, but I know that two tests can't, by any stretch of the imagination, be called a conclusive test. Only time will tell, but I'm pleased with how my kite performed in its first combat.

Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/26/15 02:31 PM





(That was a scary ride - I figured when the engine blew, it was curtains for Ambrose. I'd read a few months ago that Hellshade had managed to put out an engine fire with a dive, so I thought it was worth a shot - I was high enough that I had a little breathing room in the dive, but not so high that the sustained dive would, indeed, tear off the wings. Landed at around 100 mph in a field, which was also pretty scary. Was at 50% health when I hit Q, but oddly only got 6 days in the hospital - I've had 80% health in other campaigns put me in the hospital for 10-12 days, so I guess it's random. Decided superficial second degree burns on the hands fit the time in hospital. Of course, once he's back, he's going to have to whine about the pain and tightness of the skin

Since both he and Alvin will be going on leave for a week starting next Saturday when I go on "leave" for a Florida roadtrip, he should be feeling better when he gets back - that may even be a good reason for them to give him some leave...)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/26/15 11:25 PM

Hey Carrick, shouldn't your new pilot's name have started with a 'B'?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/27/15 02:02 AM

Journal Entry: October 26, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I had another chance to try out my tactics for attacking the new Aviatik this afternoon. Roderic and I were ordered to fly a line patrol up near Lens and we arrived without incident. It wasn't long until I spotted a flight of two Aviatiks. I signaled Roderic and we both dove to attack. I led us around until we were approaching the Huns from the stern. I didn't begin to climb until I was around 200 yards from my target. This worked out rather well because I was climbing from below and could attack the Hun unmolested from either machine. In quick fashion, the Aviatik began to turn on its back and spin to Earth. Roderic attacked his Aviatik in like manner and when I checked, his target was spinning earthward as well. I know this is only the second test, but I'm beginning to think this might be the most successful tactic for attacking these Hun machines. By the way, Roderic and I make a good team, we seem to know what the other is thinking when we are flying.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/27/15 02:39 AM

popcorn


Damnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn U R Right. I will have to push him under a Bus.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/27/15 02:54 AM

Hahaha
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/27/15 05:35 PM

New Pilot:


how to use print screen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/27/15 06:55 PM

Esc 15
Savy , A.F.
Sgt, Bessieres


3 A/c Patrol of lines

Remarks: Spotted and attacked 2, 2 seat enemy machines over NML . My wing mates doubled up on one e/a and she smoked then spun out of control. I fired on the second e/a but too far to hit. Change the drum and made a second pass the bursts went to high then Empty.


adult image upload

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/28/15 01:43 AM

Journal Entry: October 27, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I'm beginning to really like Roderic, he remimds me so much of Jimmy. Today for instance, we were supposed to just fly around the area while we continue to get accustomed to our new kites, but Roderic had other ideas. While we were walking out to our machines he said, "Why don't we scoot up to the front and get accustomed to our kites there instead of flying some boring circuits around the aerodrome?", of course I agreed. We took off, and when out of sight of the aerodrome, we turned towards the front. We arrived and began flying along just enjoying the simple pleasure of flying, there didn't seem to be anybody but us up there. After we had flown back and forth for quite I while, I was beginning to grow antsy and it was then that I spotted the Hun gasbag below. I had always wanted to have a go at one those things, but I could never figure out quite how to attack them in a Morane. I looked over at Roderic, got his attention and pointed down. He looked down, got a big smile on his face and immediately knew what I was thinking. I gave him a big thumbs up and began to lose altitude so that I could attack the sausage. Our new kites are wonderful, but just like real butterflies their wings are very fragile and one doesn't just dive if one wants to live a while longer. After floating down about 2000 ft, I was finally able to begin my attack run on the balloon. Since I hadn't put a lot of thought into this attack, I just bore in with my gun blazing. After about a drum of ammo, I noticed some wispy smoke appear, which grew darker and before I knew it, it just exploded. Of course, the Huns on the ground were not pleased with our activities and were shooting everything they possessed at us. We danced away and turned towards home, laughing all the way.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/28/15 01:50 AM

Journal Entry: June 29, 1915
Bertincourt

I now have over 50 hours of flight time and I finally feel like I'm really contributing to the war effort. Hauptman von Schoenebeck just the other day was complimenting me on how far I've come in such a small amount of time. Today we had a full Jasta patrol and it was quite exciting to see all six of us in the air at the same time. I've decided to not spend any time worrying about those blood thirsty Tommies that I've heard about. If I see them I run, other than that, nothing much more I can do. Here is a photograph of Schwarm Eins during our Jasta patrol today.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/28/15 07:30 AM

my new log book

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/28/15 01:15 PM

That's really neat, did you make this yourself or did you find it on the web? Now for the most important question, can you send a blank one to me?
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/28/15 01:47 PM

I made it myself...have a blank for anybody who wants one.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/28/15 07:53 PM

Esc 15
Savy , A.F.
Sgt, Bessieres


Oct 28,1915.



Line patrol: Spotted and chased a 2 seat type ,but lost him in the clouds.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/30/15 03:49 AM

Esc 15
Savy , A.F.
Sgt, Bessieres

Oct 29, 1917.


Security Patrol;

5 a/c in 2 flights.

Remarks: No contact flew over to Vert Galand and back.


upload images free
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/30/15 04:41 AM

lederhosen, that is sweet. thumbsup
Could you pm me a way to get a blank?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/30/15 05:49 PM

Esc 15
Savy , A.F.
Sgt, Bessieres



Oct 30, 1915.



Line Patrol: The Sqn put up 5 a/c in 2 flights for patrol. No enemy contact did see 2 flights of 2 Rfc types flying back from the front BE2 I think ?


photo hosting sites



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/30/15 06:16 PM

Carrick58, things are awfully quiet in your sector. I wonder if that's the calm before the storm as they say.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/31/15 03:32 PM

yep

The $#@! hit the Fan this Patrol.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/31/15 04:01 PM

Esc 15
Savy , A.F.
Sgt, Bessieres

Oct 31, 1915.

Offensive Patrol: Houplin Aerodrome near Loos.

3 a/c Bait Flt

2 a/c Distant Cover Flt.


Remarks: The Esc 5 N-10,s were Trolling for the enemy a/c and acting as Gunnery Patrice for the Hun guns at 6000ft. As the flt made its last turn a 2 Seat type was spotted near another enemy air field. ( Harbourdin ? ) We passed the e/a wing tip to wing tip as I turned , my trailing wingmate ( Robi Gallet) cut inside and attacked , then the pursuit fell apart.


host image


imgurl


photo hosting



screenshot program

Officially, The report states that after his machine gun jammed, the pilot rammed the Enemy machine ( his 2nd Kill) in an effort to save France from the Invaders. Personally, I think, Robie had target fixation and got to close.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/31/15 04:20 PM

The war just got real for Becker.


While on a arty spotting mission, he and his wingman were attacked by 2 French scouts. Becker barely made it back over the lines with the Frenchie in hot pursuit.



Luckily his tranfer has come through and he can at least defend himself with guns now.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 03:21 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 04:24 PM

October 31
Dolf now has an Aviatik CI......a plane with GUNS ! bananadance

It was to be a routine arty spotting run to the NW near St. Die. Shortly after his flight of two had formed up and were gaining altitude...a lone Frenchman attacked the two plane formation.





Turned out to be an important ace from Esc 73. He must be important, he has 6 or 7 names!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 05:20 PM

Isn't that the truth Mudwasp. My first encounter with those scouts was not fun! Anyone know when in Dec. the EIII shows up?
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 05:24 PM

They sent Dolf down for a crippled emergency landing when he had an Aviatik BII with no guns.

Fokker EIII....late Dec for MFJI. Some Jasta get them around the new year also.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 05:27 PM

Are you looking to pilot a Fokker, MFair ?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 06:07 PM

Thought I might. I have survived my last two missions by going to the Ob. Seat and defending myself but have not got the hang of the guns yet. As I am still the lowest rank it would be a while before I am Ina scout.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 06:08 PM

Esc 15
Savy , A.F.
Sgt, Bessieres


1 Nov 1915.

Escort 1 FE2b Recon

4 N-10c,s 3 Close + 1 roaming support.


Remarks: Long Recon over the enemy side of lines pass Rail-yards . We did spot numerous dots deep on the Hun side,but the flight stayed with the Fee.


img hosting
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 07:02 PM

Mfair, just pay your dues until you get a scout. That's what I'm really enjoying about the DID Centenary, we have to make do with what they flew instead of having the best plane available.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 07:41 PM

Originally Posted By: MFair
Thought I might. I have survived my last two missions by going to the Ob. Seat and defending myself but have not got the hang of the guns yet. As I am still the lowest rank it would be a while before I am Ina scout.


I've flown some early Fokker campaigns and I feel safer in the Aviatik CI. mainly because the Fokkers are so fragile all maneuverability can be gone in a couple bullet hits. I let the AI handle the guns and try to spin/turn with hard rudder to give him a shooting lane.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 08:04 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Mfair, just pay your dues until you get a scout. That's what I'm really enjoying about the DID Centenary, we have to make do with what they flew instead of having the best plane available.


I will be paying my dues for a couple of months at least before a scout is available. As MudWasp says, might not be the "better" plane. As I have not flown 2 seaters much, I am still learning their best defensive tactics. I have had 3 encounters with the Nieuport 10 in the last 5 missions and lived so must be doing something right.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 08:41 PM

Early Fokker Campaigns became harder with the N10CI and before that the wind and an improvement in rear gunner AI. At least that is how it went for me.

I might go Jasta 15 later in the fall and fly a EI....IDK....longest I've lasted with them in an EI is 12 missions in a non-DiD campaign. They don't upgrade to an EIII until spring, think they skip the EII altogether.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 09:56 PM

Thanks for the tip MudWasp. Just flew 4 QC against 2 Niep. 10's using your tactics. Only got whacked once when one of the flew into me. Seems if you can fly defence and offence when the opportunity presents works well. Efen shot one down. Thanks again Bud!
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 10:11 PM

Glad to help cheers

They have unusual shooting lanes, helluva lot of ammo between the two guns
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 11:24 PM

I was thinking today that with my German pilot I'm just going to stay in Jasta 1 for as long as he lives. I've been wondering if they could transfer as often and as easily as WOFF allows. Anyway, that's what I'm doing, you guys can do whatever you want, that's the beauty of WOFF.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 11:32 PM

Journal Entry: July 4, 1915
Bertincourt

Today I thought I had met my end. It happened as we were coming back of an artillery shoot and as we were circling to land, I heard a loud bang and my engine was on fire. Thank God I was circling our field or I would have died today. Anyway, I've learned that when something like this happens, training kicks in. I went through the ritual of shutting off the engine and fuel and landing as fast as possible without even thinking about it. Fortunately, I was able to get us down without either one of us being seriously injured, just a little singing but it could have been worse. The worst part was about 30 minutes later when the magnitude of what just happened finally hit me, I could hardly stand because my legs suddenly gave out. Hauptman Schoenebeck has ordered no flying for either of us tomorrow, I didn't argue with him.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/15 11:50 PM

Was it running too lean?
or just a random Failure?

Glad ya Lived thumbsup
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 12:14 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
I was thinking today that with my German pilot I'm just going to stay in Jasta 1 for as long as he lives. I've been wondering if they could transfer as often and as easily as WOFF allows. Anyway, that's what I'm doing, you guys can do whatever you want, that's the beauty of WOFF.


If I stay were I am at I will be flying a EIII wether I want to or not in a few months. I will have to transfer to stay in a two seater. That is if I live that long.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 12:27 AM

If you go Fokker E series I'm full of advice from Da Skool O' Hardk Nocks
It's a TUFF path to take. A non-DiD pilot from WOFF 1.xx days.
Things are much harder now


Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 03:13 AM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
If you go Fokker E series I'm full of advice from Da Skool O' Hardk Nocks


Do tell - I'll be joining this challenge shortly in Jasta I and I know they start getting the Fokker Es soon... I've flown a few QC and they're very tricky beasties! Like yaw and pitch have a lot of control authority, but those warping wings are slooooow to make the thing roll.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 01:20 PM

It is such a poor plane that I like to secure as many advantages as possible...altitude, numbers, home turf (know where to run and find archie's help).

It is real easy to fly it with a crabbing motion and not know it, that bleeds speed and there is precious little speed to spare with the Fokker Es, so stay off the rudder as much as possible. I use a twisty stick and have to often check to make sure I'm not twisting rudder input without intending to. Recently I disabled the twist and use a gizmo on my pro throttle for rudder. Next week I'll probably go back to the old set up.

Not a whole lot of maneuvers go well with the Eindecker imho.
I mostly change direction 180 with a half barrel roll and a pull back on the stick. lose altitude but keep speed with this

Not sure of the name... a steep climb and hard rudder as running out of energy at the top, then descend full power is a good maneuver. The AI do this often. Some people call this an Immelmann, some don't. Altitude can be gained doing this, or at least not given up.

It can be turned like a falling winged seed pod with practice. Good trick when Nupes are all over you as it confuses the AI.

It is a difficult airplane to fly, have fun in QC. Watch out for Morane rear gunners! and Nupes!
Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 03:01 PM

Thanks MudWasp. I did a QC duel against a DH2 (on beginner) and over the course of a rather long duel had him fairly injured but as i was trying to finish him off I collided with him frown

I too use twist rudder and i would often only realize that i was applying full rudder when my plane would begin to stall. After a while I did start to get the hang of it - at least i could kind of control it - but it is definitely a long ways from the easy flying of the Pup or even the Camel! Feels like i'm fighting the controls a lot.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 03:31 PM

Try some QC against the E series too and watch how the AI fly. That can help, watching how the AI Aces do it.
Have you tried a DRI yet? That plane can be a handful too.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 03:37 PM

AceofPengwins, please read the beginning instructions carefully before you begin a career. We have some interesting things that you need to accomplish before you can get started. We added those to make it more of a realistic start and to increase the roleplaying aspect of this DID. One other thing, remember the first letter of your pilot's first name needs to start with an 'A' and as you go through pilots you just move through the alphabet one letter at a time. Welcome to the club and I hope you enjoy it as much as I am. Remember, you are trying to survive the whole war so no need to be a hero.
Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 06:43 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
AceofPengwins, please read the beginning instructions carefully before you begin a career. We have some interesting things that you need to accomplish before you can get started. We added those to make it more of a realistic start and to increase the roleplaying aspect of this DID. One other thing, remember the first letter of your pilot's first name needs to start with an 'A' and as you go through pilots you just move through the alphabet one letter at a time. Welcome to the club and I hope you enjoy it as much as I am. Remember, you are trying to survive the whole war so no need to be a hero.


Cool. So according to my understanding I need to create a pilot with first name of A on today's date 1915 (for the warbirds), and then QC fly him from Koln to my assigned airfield (Bertincourt in this case as I was planning on joining Jasta I which is currently flying two-seaters.) Then the next two missions i follow the specific training instructions in the post on the first page.

Does that sound right?
Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 06:46 PM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
Try some QC against the E series too and watch how the AI fly. That can help, watching how the AI Aces do it.
Have you tried a DRI yet? That plane can be a handful too.


Good idea, and I have not tried the DRI yet but I do intend to, I've always thought it was an interesting aircraft.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 07:11 PM

Originally Posted By: AceofPengwins
Originally Posted By: Banjoman
AceofPengwins, please read the beginning instructions carefully before you begin a career. We have some interesting things that you need to accomplish before you can get started. We added those to make it more of a realistic start and to increase the roleplaying aspect of this DID. One other thing, remember the first letter of your pilot's first name needs to start with an 'A' and as you go through pilots you just move through the alphabet one letter at a time. Welcome to the club and I hope you enjoy it as much as I am. Remember, you are trying to survive the whole war so no need to be a hero.


Cool. So according to my understanding I need to create a pilot with first name of A on today's date 1915 (for the warbirds), and then QC fly him from Koln to my assigned airfield (Bertincourt in this case as I was planning on joining Jasta I which is currently flying two-seaters.) Then the next two missions i follow the specific training instructions in the post on the first page.

Does that sound right?


Sounds right to me
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 07:19 PM

To: Commandant Esc 15

From Red Cross
Graves registration
Flanders, France


Nov 2, 1915.



Sir, we regret to inform you of the witnessed crash of two of your pilots. The aircraft were seen to be turning at about 3000ft on our-side of No Mans Land when they hit each other. Both of the machines Burned on the way down at least the parts left of them. 2 Bodies were recovered, we can only I.D. one of them because of a pass book on the Airman. Rank: Sgt
Unit Esc 15 Name Jean Bessisers .


image share

also a picture of a mademoiselle Enclosed.


imgur
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 08:26 PM

Thats terrible Carrick! Tell Mademoiselle Bessisers she may come and stay with me. Always thought "Elvira" was hot!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 10:06 PM

News of the World - June Edition for Intrepid Fliers:
June 1
French troops captured the trenches at Souchez, north of Arras on the Western Front.
June 2
The British Government announced a blockade of the coast of Asia Minor.
June 3
Przemysl was retaken by Austro-German forces.
San Marino declared war on Austria-Hungary.
June 4
The Third and final Battle of Krithia began at Gallipoli as the Allies attempted to push inland from their beach-heads.
June 5
The First Franco-British ministerial conference was held at Calais in order to coordinate war policy and strategy.
June 6
Zeppelin L9 bombed Hull on the east coast of England causing considerable damage.
June 7
The German airship LZ37 was destroyed in the air near Ghent in Belgium by Lieut Warneford of the Royal Naval Air Service - the first time an airship was successfully shot down by an aeroplane.
June 8
William Jennings Bryan resigned as United States Secretary of State in disagreement with President Wilson's policy towards Germany.
June 9
Italian forces captured the town of Monfalcone along the Isonzo front.
June 10
Allied forces captured Garua in the Cameroons.
June 12
German troops attacked north of Shavli and at Mosciska in Galicia.
June 13
Greek statesman Eleftherios Venizelos won in the Greek elections. His party of Venizelists won 193 out of 316 seats.
June 15
The Zeppelin L10 was involved in an unsuccessful bombing raid on the north-east coast of Britain.
June 16
British troops advanced in Bellewarde, a small hamlet north of Hooge and east of Ypres in Belgium.
June 17
The Russian evacuation of Lemberg began as Austrian forces pushed forward in Galicia.
June 18
The Second Battle of Artois ended in stalemate in the final Allied offensive of Spring 1915.
June 19
South African forces begun an advance on Otavifontein in German Southwest Africa.
June 20
The Royal Navy cruiser HMS Roxburgh was damaged by a torpedo from German U boat U-38.
June 21
British troops reached the Euphrates in Mesopotamia and reoccupied Aden.
June 22
Austro-Hungarian forces recaptured the city of Lemburg from the Russians.
June 23
The First Battle of Isonzo begun when Italian troops attacked the Austro-Hungarian army on the Italian Front.
June 24
Robert Lansing was appointed Secretary of State in the USA following the resignation of William Jennings Bryan earlier in the month.
June 25
The German press published an official statement addressing the German use of poison gas at the start of the Second Battle of Ypres two months earlier.
June 26
Montenegrian forces captured San Giovanni di Medua in Albania.
June 28
The Battle of Gully Ravine begun at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli peninsula between Indian and British troops and the Ottoman army.
June 29
A bill was introduced in Britain for the creation of a National Register.
June 30
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Lightning sank after striking mines off the Kent coast of England.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 10:12 PM

Warbirds Rising - October News:
October 2
The Greek Premier Eleftherlos Venlzelos asked the British and French to land troops at Salonika as soon as possible.
October 3
Germans recaptured part of Hohenzollern Redoubt on the Western Front.
October 4
The Entente Powers sent an ultimatum to Bulgaria.
October 5
Russia notified Bulgaria that diplomatic relations were at an end.
The political crisis in Greece continued to grow as King Constantine refused to support the policy of Venizelos who then resigned again.
October 6
Serbia was invaded by Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria.
King Constantine of Greece assured Britain that his country would remain neutral, but nonetheless Greek mobilization and Allied disembarkation at Salonika began.
October 7
Austro-Hungarian and German forces attacked across the Danube into Serbia.
October 8
The new Greek Government, with Alexandros Thrasivoulou Zaimis as the new Premier, confirmed their policy of armed neutrality.
October 9
Belgrade was captured by Austrian forces.
Wumbiagas, in the Cameroons, was captured by British forces.
October 10
The Greek Government rejected the Serbian plea for help against invasion.
October 11
Bulgarian forces began hostilities against Serbia.
October 12
Following a court-martial, British nurse Edith Cavell was executed by German firing squad for helping POW's escape from Belgium to Holland.
October 13
A sustained Zeppelin airship raid on London and the Eastern counties resulted in over 200 casualties.
French Foreign Minister Theophile Delcasse resigned and was temporarily succeeded by Rene Viviani.
October 14
Bulgaria joined the Central Powers, declaring war on Serbia and invading Macedonia.
October 15
Great Britain and Montenegro declared a state of war with Bulgaria.
The Romanian Government refused assistance for Serbia.
October 16
France declared war on Bulgaria.
Allied forces began a naval blockade of the Aegean coast of Bulgaria.
October 17
The British Government offered Cyprus to Greece in return for supporting Serbia against Bulgaria.
October 18
The Third Bartle of the Isonzo began between Italian and Austrian-Hungarian forces along the Soca River in western Slovenia.
October 19
Italy and Russia declared war on Bulgaria.
October 20
The Greek Government rejected Britain's offer of Cyprus.
October 21
Allied naval squadrons bombarded Dedeagatch in Bulgaria.
Bulgarian forces captured the City of Veles in Serbia.
October 22
Bulgarian forces captured the cities of Kumanovo and Uskub on the Southern Front.
October 23
The German armored cruiser Prinz Adalbert was sunk by the British submarine E8 in the Baltic.
October 24
La Courtine in Champagne was captured by French forces.
Venice was bombed by Austrian aircraft.
October 27
William Morris Hughes replaced Andrew Fisher as Prime Minister of Australia.
October 28
British battle cruiser HMS Argyll ran aground and was wrecked on Bell Rock off the east coast of Scotland.
General Sir Charles Munro took command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.
October 29
French Premier Rene Viviani and Minister for War Alexandre Millerand both resigned.
October 30
Aristide Briand succeeded Viviani as Prime Minister of France.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/15 10:18 PM

AceofPengwins, you are correct. Carrick58, remember your next pilot's first name needs to start with a 'C', that way it saves confusion on my part.
Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/15 12:43 AM

Finally! August Wolff had recieved his papers - he was to be posted to the front, at Bertincourt!



Shortly after take-off he crossed the Rhein, thinking brightly of the glory that awaited him in the sky.



But the 3 hour flight gave him time to think and ponder the reality that there would be other young men - French and Englishmen - up in the sky as well and intent on killing him. When he landed at Bertincourt at last, he was glad of the welcome he recieved from the other pilots - and also quite glad when the commander informed him that he was to spend a few days becoming familiar with the area before he would be ordered into battle.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/15 12:58 AM

thumbsup
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/15 01:09 AM

Welcome to Bertincourt, my German pilot is stationed there, but he's there in July. It's sort of like a Twilight Zone thing. biggrin
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/15 01:58 AM

Welcome to Bertincourt Ace. Adalwolf is stationed there also. Watch out for the Nieuports as they show up with regularity. If you do not use labels, keep a real sharp eye and run like the devil if you see one. I have had to fight them off on three occasions of late. If this keeps up, I will have a negative score as they keep me from finishing the mission and damage my plane! Good luck. Look forward to your stories. Drinks in the mess, I hear you are buying!!
Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/15 06:59 PM

Thanks everyone! I will try to be careful in the skies.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/15 09:12 PM









MFair: Elvira is Hot. I remember many terrible Old Horror movies I sat through just to catch her spots on the T.V.


image sharing
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/15 09:42 PM

Carrick58, you've done it again. rofl The first name of your new pilot needs to start with a 'C', not the last name.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/15 11:30 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Carrick58, you've done it again. rofl The first name of your new pilot needs to start with a 'C', not the last name.


He can't help it Banjoman! He has Elvira on his mind. It's enough to drive any man a little bonkers.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/15 11:43 PM

Yeah, I know. I was actually wondering the other day what happened to her, is she still alive?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 04:03 AM


screenshot windows 7
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 04:06 AM

By George, he's got it. biggrin
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 02:15 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Yeah, I know. I was actually wondering the other day what happened to her, is she still alive?


Yep, and she is still hot at 50 something. But then at my age I have not seen an ugly women since 1995.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 02:48 PM

I used to have a life size cardboard grocery store advertising prop with image her that came out every halloween. Always put it away for the year in the loft. One year my wife 'forgot' about how carboard holds up in a moist environment and stored it in the basement..... nope...Elvira went moldy and saggy
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 03:20 PM

Mfair, she is actually in her sixties and you are correct, she is still looking good.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 08:55 PM

Journal Entry: July 7, 1915
Bertincourt

Today was absolutely horrifying, we lost two machines to engine fires during this morning's sortie. When we took off it looked like the day was going to be a beautiful day for flying, but looks can be deceiving and what promised to be a great day quickly turned into a nightmare. While we were orbiting the field gaining altitude I noticed that Friedrich and Carl's machine burst into flames. I sat there horror stricken and I helplessly watched them plunge to earth like a comet. I sat there stunned until I realized that the mission must go on and I turned and led Scwarm Zwei to the front. We arrived at the designated shoot and began circling. After about 10 minutes, I looked over and waved at Andreas and Robert, it was at that moment his machine burst into flames. I will never forget that terrified look that came over Andreas' face as he was engulfed in flames. He and Robert began that long plunge that ends in oblivion. I decided to scrub the rest of the sortie and headed home. In one sortie we lost two officers from Schwarm Eins and two officers from Schwarm Zwei and by the way, there wasn't another machine in the sky. After today's events Hauptman Schoenebeck has suspended all operations until he can get to the bottom of these engine fires.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 08:57 PM

popcorn

Although she may be Saggy, she is still hot.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 09:20 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.

Nov 4, 1915.

Mission: Line Patrol

1st Sec: 4 N-10,s

T/O: 0805 hrs.

Remarks: Lost engine power in-route to target and forced landed at a Church yard. Eng fuel Line clogged


jpg images


image hosting websites
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 10:01 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Journal Entry: July 7, 1915
Bertincourt

Today was absolutely horrifying, we lost two machines to engine fires during this morning's sortie. When we took off it looked like the day was going to be a beautiful day for flying, but looks can be deceiving and what promised to be a great day quickly turned into a nightmare. While we were orbiting the field gaining altitude I noticed that Friedrich and Carl's machine burst into flames. I sat there horror stricken and I helplessly watched them plunge to earth like a comet. I sat there stunned until I realized that the mission must go on and I turned and led Scwarm Zwei to the front. We arrived at the designated shoot and began circling. After about 10 minutes, I looked over and waved at Andreas and Robert, it was at that moment his machine burst into flames. I will never forget that terrified look that came over Andreas' face as he was engulfed in flames. He and Robert began that long plunge that ends in oblivion. I decided to scrub the rest of the sortie and headed home. In one sortie we lost two officers from Schwarm Eins and two officers from Schwarm Zwei and by the way, there wasn't another machine in the sky. After today's events Hauptman Schoenebeck has suspended all operations until he can get to the bottom of these engine fires.


Banjoman, do you suspect sabotage? Look for the wooden shoe between the cylinders!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 10:18 PM

Journal Entry: November 4, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I believe that Roderic and I have successfully figured out how to attack the new Aviatiks with a minimum of risk. The trick is to approach from below and behind, it appears that even dead astern is safe from their guns. During my last four victories, I approached from below and slid into position dead astern and I received no fire from the observer. Of course, if the pilot sees you approaching and begins evasive maneuvers then you will have to rethink your options. Here are some photos of my last four victories.









One other important note, it appears the observer is still sitting in front of the pilot which makes attacking the pilot from the rear a viable strategy and one that almost certainly assures victory in the engagement.

On a sadder note, we lost Larry today. He didn't die due to either Archie or any enemy action, he died because of a bloody engine fire. I felt certain we were over these when we transitioned into the Nieuports, but apparently it is beginning again. He was a good chap and made a great wingman, I will surely miss him.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 10:20 PM

Fullofit, I suspect an undocumented feature in the code. biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 10:25 PM

Banjoman, do you think that if you look closely at the code you will find a flambé turkey recipe mixed in there?
lawncareby20mm
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/15 10:30 PM

Hahaha, maybe so or some napalm.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/15 02:21 PM

Adain Lothbrook
RFC

Adain scored his second victory today shooting down an Aviatik with his BE. He and his observer caught the Hun crossing NML about 1000' below them headed west. He dove down and under him and came up in front. His gunner gave him a good burst and he turned back east. Adain followed and the Huns engine soon quit and he landed in a field south of Monchy.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/15 03:52 PM

Way to go, Adain, that's the ticket.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/15 08:33 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.

Nov 5, 1915.


Up to the lines and back with 3 a/c in a vee formation. Everyone is nervous as we wait til meet the Hun.



images hosting
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/15 09:14 PM

Dolf has been dropped bombs on the enemy airfield of Fontaine today and 5 hit a row of hangers hard. He dove on them in a moderate dive while and dropped them all in one dive. His squadmates dilly dally around dropping one bomb per pass > He hung out until they were done and flew back to Ensisheim/Reguisheim.

Yesterday a N10 CI made an attck on him and a squadmate as they were doing recon on enemy troop movements. The Frenchman ate a few rounds from both Aviatiks and headed home.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/15 09:29 PM

MudWasp, that's what Gould Lee did and his squadmates thought he was crazy, but it worked.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/15 11:24 PM

That method works the best for me, especially with a decent wind making it very hard to level bomb while looking thru that small hole in the floor.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/06/15 06:04 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.


Nov 6, 1915.

I departed at 0650 hrs on a 2 a/c fight over to Rosnay and back. What a sitter, I didnt realize how far away the AF was located.


upload img
Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 03:20 PM

Klaus Schindler (my observer) and I took down a Neiuport today in our first expedition over the lines now that our training is complete. We were out to do some artillery spotting but there was a lone scout circling directly under our area of operations. He must have been lost and not paying attention, because we surprised him and he took off towards French territory, but Klaus fired a long burst after which he lost control and spiraled into the ground.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 03:30 PM

thumbsup Good Job flying penguin!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 04:27 PM

Way to go Penguin! I didn't know penguins had teeth. biggrin

Remember AceofPengwin to fill out the status report today. I don't know if you saw in the rule section that we log our results every Saturday and I publish the status report on Sunday. Anyway, I don't want to miss your success in my status report tomorrow.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 04:43 PM

I think I've been scoring points wrong on some missions.

Example; Bombing mission in which I and my squadmates score hits on ground targets, WOFF manager says it's a success!
My plane is not damaged and I land at home base.

score +3?
1 point for me hitting a ground target
1 point for a successful mission
1 point for landing at home.

If so I've forgotten to add points for me hitting ground targets.
Is point keeping still optional?

..................................................


I also would like a clarification on this from page 1;

Question 2: How successful was your mission?
* I confirm one or more airplanes or target balloons destroyed (1 point)

Does that mean if I witness a squadmate shoot down an enemy EA or balloon that I should claim a point?
So far that situation hasn't occurred.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 05:06 PM

Hey MudWasp,
I was also wondering what constitutes a successful bombing mission. I consider it successful if I or someone from my flight hits a target. If no one from my flight hits it it's a fail (even if the other flight hits it). I also add 1 point if I personally hit a ground target.
so just like you had it:
1 point if I hit the target
1 point for successful mission (target must be hit by anyone from my flight)
1 point for landing at home airfield.

That is until I was flying bombing missions. Hopefully I'll get to fly a plane again that carries bombs.
I was never able to get a 4 point mission: bomb a target and shoot down a plane.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 06:00 PM

I think that both of you guys are doing it correctly, at least that is how I'm doing so it must be right. biggrin Seriously, that is how I read the first page.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 06:13 PM

I'll redo some points calculations then for next week.

What about my second question from page 1 :

Question 2: How successful was your mission?
*I confirm one or more airplanes or target balloons destroyed (1 point)
* I destroyed one or more ground targets (1 point)
* The CO (WOFF manager) says we completed our mission successfully (1 point)
* The CO says we didn't complete our mission successfully (-1 point)
Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 07:15 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Way to go Penguin! I didn't know penguins had teeth. biggrin

Remember AceofPengwin to fill out the status report today. I don't know if you saw in the rule section that we log our results every Saturday and I publish the status report on Sunday. Anyway, I don't want to miss your success in my status report tomorrow.


Thanks! filled it out. I also have the same question as Mudwasp though lol.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 07:22 PM

I think it depends if you bombed the correct target, then the mission should be considered a success. If you bombed some other target of opportunity then it is a fail. Some missions require you to destroy more than one structure for the mission to be successful. I would say the mission is success no matter what the CO says, as long you or your flight hit something in the target area (as shown in the debrief screen). Just like arty spotting - there is no way to tell if the mission was a success. To me it is successful if you got to the target waypoint, loitered for the requested amount of time and returned home, or at least landed on your side of the mud.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 07:50 PM

Nice work AOP! Keep it up and stay sharp.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 08:05 PM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
I think it depends if you bombed the correct target, then the mission should be considered a success. If you bombed some other target of opportunity then it is a fail. Some missions require you to destroy more than one structure for the mission to be successful. I would say the mission is success no matter what the CO says, as long you or your flight hit something in the target area (as shown in the debrief screen). Just like arty spotting - there is no way to tell if the mission was a success. To me it is successful if you got to the target waypoint, loitered for the requested amount of time and returned home, or at least landed on your side of the mud.


Already said the mission was a success, didn't state it was the enemy airfield of Fontaine, no mistaking that target.
I get confirmation of artillery spotted with no problem.
Same for enemy troop spotting . That is fun to do in the rolling mountains. cowboy
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 08:37 PM

MW, I know WoFF will confirm successful arty spotting mission. And that's the thing. You could be doing barrel rolls instead of spotting artillery during this mission and WoFF will tell you the mission was successful. You have to use your judgment to determine if the mission was successful or not. In your case WoFF manager says mission was successful but your CO says it wasn't. What to do? Well, you apply the DiD Centenary Challenge (R) rule: if at least one target was destroyed by you or a member of your flight then the mission was successful.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 08:42 PM

MudWasp, to answer your second question, I only give myself that point if I was the one who destroyed the target, that may be harder than the rules intended but that's just how I play it. I think Fullofit is correct, just use your own judgement as to whether your mission was a success. In the long run, I don't think it really matters since the points are really for us and don't really serve any other purpose. I mean whoever wins this challenge will be the one who survives. I guess if we have more than one survive then the points might mean something, but really, what are the odds that any of us will survive?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 08:51 PM

Our computes may not even last until the end of this challenge. mycomputer
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 08:53 PM

Hahaha Fullofit, I hadn't even thought of that.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 09:01 PM

Imagine, we could all be flying using VR goggles of some kind by 1917.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 11:34 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.


Nov 7, 1915.


Patrol: I went up solo today. flew up to the lines then the enemy gunners started shooting so I flew back to the field. I had kept looking high since the Adj told me that's where the ones u don't see come from. No contact.


image upload without registration
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/15 11:37 PM

Here's someone who transferred into our Esc. today.



I'd better keep my I on this one. He looks like a pro.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/15 05:36 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.


Nov 8, 1915.


I came back alone from the 2 a/c Patrol, there was a fight. We happened on 2 Recon types near the front. Sgt Bocare followed one and I chased the other. My target a 2 seat type was in a shallow right turn towards his lines. I got under him and gave him a drum full. I Eased off the power and Reloaded. emptied another drum load into his Belly then smoke fire . No one around to see it so I guess it will be unconfirmed. My wing mate landed later with light damage and No kill.



windows print screen
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/15 07:15 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/15 08:53 PM

Thank you for your work on the chart BanjoMan!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/15 08:54 PM

Thank you for your work on the chart BanjoMan!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/15 09:05 PM

Journal Entry: November 8, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Fabio was killed today. He had been assigned as my wingman only yesterday, and I hadn't had a chance to teach him any of my tactics. He was an experienced flier with many hours logged, but in the heat of combat I can only imagine he lost his head. Anyway, here is how it all happened. I was leading Fabio and Roderic on the morning patrol up near Loos. As we were approaching Loos, I spotted a couple of the new Hun monoplane machines. Well, I had been hoping for such an opportunity because I wanted to see how our new buses would perform against the Huns best machine. I signaled the flight and we swooped down on the Huns. They must have spotted us as we were diving on them because they began evasive maneuvers. I had no difficulty staying on the tail of my Hun and it wasn't long before he was spinning towards earth. After taking care of him, I turned and soon spotted Fabio engaged with the other Hun. I can only assume that Fabio was so consumed with destroying this Hun that he lost track of his closing speed and collided with the Hun. Something must have damaged Fabio's engine because his plane burst into flames almost immediately and they both spun into the ground. We were so low that Roderic and I circled the area thinking that maybe Fabio could survive, but no, he must have been killed on impact. Damn this war, it would be one thing had Fabio been killed by enemy action, but to be killed by a simple mistake.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/15 09:09 PM

Those E1's are filling up the skies rather quickly. I feel the scourge is about to begin. BTW Gustav Leffers is now flying an E1. Payback time.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/15 04:00 AM

Hey guys, let me know what you think about the status report now.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/15 04:30 PM

Spiffy thumbsup
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/15 04:46 PM

Nice Banjoman! Thanks for the work.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/15 09:35 PM

wave

Wow thats a lot of work, thanks Banjoman.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/15 09:36 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.


Nov 10, 1915.


Up to the lines and back with a 5 a/c flight. No contact.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/15 11:12 PM

Looks good Banjoman.
Can you try a different font? For some reason I have to strain to read it. Yes, I have my glasses on. winkngrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/10/15 01:28 AM

Fullofit, that's not a problem. I'll see if I can find a font that is good for all of our old eyes. biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/10/15 01:38 AM

old_simmer
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/10/15 01:42 AM

Fullofit, is this easier for you to see. Remember to click on the image and you'll see it at it's full size.


Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/10/15 02:02 AM

Hey Banjoman,
This is great! Now I can see it just fine even without blowing it up to full size.
Thanks
salute
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/10/15 02:45 AM

That's great, I think I'll leave it like this for a while and see if people like it. I can always change it if people what it to look different.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/15 02:19 PM






p.s. Banjoman the score card looks great by the way
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/15 02:44 PM

Think there is a bullet in every part of that Aviatik!
Was it one huge eruption of groundfire, or did they strike a few different times?
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/15 05:30 PM

we got to low and I beleave its friendly fire trying also to shoot down the N10
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/15 09:51 PM

wave yep

I HAVE HAD THAT HAPPEN
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/15 09:56 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.

11/11/1915.


Solo Patrol up to the lines, Got into it with a 2 seat type. I made my pass firing off 1 drum as I turned he nosed over into a cloud and was gone. No Kill No claim.


photo uploader
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/15 12:38 AM

Journal Entry: November 11, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

As they say these days, “Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words.” and that's just what I'm going to do.



My wingman and I working together as a team brought down two Aviatiks at the same time.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/15 06:41 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.



Nov 12, 1915.


A nasty little fight with the Huns today. I was flying as wing-man when my flight leader Bocare attacked a 2 a/c enemy flight. He led us right up their tail pipe. I thought this is no good then his plane started to smoke and I last saw him going down near our lines. I renewed the attack ending up damaging a 2 seat type and taking 24 bullet holes in my kite . Running out of ammo I returned to the Field.


upload pictures


image url upload
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/15 06:52 PM

Carrick58, since we're allies let me share some tactics that Arthur uses and seem to work quite well. It appears that since the observer sits in front of the pilot he is restricted in firing dead astern. Since that's the case, Arthur has had great success in approaching from below and behind and attacking from either that position or directly behind. You do need to be careful though, if you slide too much out of that small window then you open yourself up for retaliation. One other thing, when breaking off you must be very careful how you disengage because the observer can fire to either side. From one ally to another, I hope these pointers help in your quest to rid your beloved country of the hated Hun.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/15 04:43 AM

wave

Thanks for the tips, Banjoman
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/15 01:43 PM

Dolf Reinhardt has been busy down in Alsace running recon sorties. On one such mission they were tasked with spotting enemy troop movements. Dolf found the enemy troops on the move deep in the hills and let Ernst Fromm, his gunner, get in some target practice.


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/15 02:57 PM

MudWasp, do you get credit for ground kills when you attack those trucks? That's one thing I've never done in WOFF.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/15 03:52 PM

He didn't take any out. I think taking one out would count.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/15 05:44 PM

popcorn

Mudwasp: They look like Ants.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/15 06:05 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.




Nov 13, 1915.


I led 5 a/c up for Patrol of the lines this dawn. No contact with zee Bosche.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/15 05:29 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.


Nov 14, 1915.


We put zee Bosche down today. A section of three a/c went up to the Peronne area and didn't see anything. I led a 2 a/c section up to our eastern side of the lines and engaged 2 Recon 2 seat machines. I can confrim my flight leader Housseman,s Kill as it smoked a great deal as it headed down. I closed on mine ( remembering what a fellow aviator told me about staying low and behind) I started firing at 100 meters and banged on my second drum at 50 The last drum was nose up and stalling as I fired and saw him spin out of control. Leveling out I saw the e/a spin into the ground.


image url upload


upload a gif
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/15 05:40 PM

Way to go Carrick. Looks like Banjoman's bum-rush tactic works well.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/15 06:04 PM

Now you got the hang of it!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/15 03:02 AM

Oh, it works really well. The problem that I'm tackling now is how to disengage without getting shot to pieces. So far, the only thing that works right now is flying straight ahead but diving. If you turn at all the observer can blast you.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/15 04:14 AM

banghead


U R to disengage ? Just when I think I got it there is another worry.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/15 06:36 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.


Nov 15, 1915.

I took a section of three in a Vee formation up to the lines on Patrol. More than the usual ground fire in our area Otherwise, no contact.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/15 08:59 PM

Gentlemen,
Just wanted to take a poll of all pilots flying for the Entente if during your fights anyone has seen any German HA pilots other than Gustav Leffers. Between the 2 careers I am flying in 1915 I am still to see anyone else than him. Let me know if you're using any Ace Redux mods or not.
Thanks salute
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/15 09:43 PM

I've only seen Leffers, but I am using one of the Ace Redux mods so I probably wouldn't be the best one to ask.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/15 09:47 PM

Thanks Banjoman,
Is Leffers actually on your mod list? Is there any way to check that?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/15 09:52 PM

If you set the mod to 50, let's say, then how it works is the sim will only use the top 50 aces from the list for that country. If I remember correctly, the stock files that the sim provides are in descending order by top ace to the last ace and the name of the ace is included in that file, so you should be able to see which aces are being included with your mod. A lot of words to just say, Yes you can.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/15 10:11 PM

Here's the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/15 10:19 PM

Banjoman,
So what number do you use to limit the HA's in your mod if I wanted to check if Leffers should be there or not?
Thanks for the score report BTW.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/15 03:11 AM

Deacon211, I'm a little confused by your Pilot entry. FFA 18 isn't flying Fokker E.Is and it is an army unit, so how do you have a Naval ranking? Anyway, I think you might want to take another look at your entry in the status report.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/15 03:53 AM

Fullofit, it looks like I've forgotten what mods I'm using for the the Aces Redux. It turns out that I modified the British and French to have only 100 HAs but I left the Germans alone. If I remember correctly, since I was initially flying a Brit, I didn't want to have many British HAs in my squadron, but I did want to have all of the Germans. Since I'm now flying a German I can see that my thinking was a little short-sighted. Anyway, Leffers is Ace180 in the German list.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/15 07:08 AM

Status report won't load for me.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/15 03:05 PM

MudWasp, I don't know if I can help you, all I do is click on the image and it pulls it up.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/15 03:50 PM

The other older charts all load fine... dizzy
Hopefully it load next week for me

Edit...now it shows up hahaha dizzy
Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/15 08:00 PM

Hope to get back into the skies soon! I installed a new CPU and motherboard and didn't realize that my new motherboard didn't have a connection for my (very old) dvd drive, so i was unable to reinstall WOFF frown. The new drive arrives today so i should be up and running.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/15 09:58 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Fullofit, it looks like I've forgotten what mods I'm using for the the Aces Redux. It turns out that I modified the British and French to have only 100 HAs but I left the Germans alone. If I remember correctly, since I was initially flying a Brit, I didn't want to have many British HAs in my squadron, but I did want to have all of the Germans. Since I'm now flying a German I can see that my thinking was a little short-sighted. Anyway, Leffers is Ace180 in the German list.


Thanks Banjoman.
Anyone else seen any German HA's other than Leffers?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/17/15 02:06 AM

Journal Entry: July 19, 1915
Bertincourt

I've finally made it, I think that because after our morning's mission I was promoted to Leutnant. Hauptman Schoenebeck made the annoucement at lunch which created quite a stir. Apparently, I am now responsible for everyone's drinks this evening in the mess. This is what I've been working for, but I'm also concerned about the increased responsibility. After the hubbub had died down, Hauptman Schoenebeck stated, "I'm very proud of you Auge, I had my reservations at first but you have blossomed into a fine pilot and a fine officer." Needless to say, after that fine endorsement I will have no hesitation is providing the refreshments for this evenings festivities.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/17/15 05:35 AM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.

Nov 16, 1915.


No Flights due to Weather
Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/17/15 11:17 PM

August Wolff, FFA 32
Bertincourt, 17 Nov 1915

Weather is too bad to fly, but there was some paint sitting around the airfield so i added something to my plane to make it more 'mine'. I took my inspiration from the penguin, which also cannot fly today...

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/17/15 11:18 PM

And the legend is born. biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/18/15 05:11 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.


Nov 18, 1915.


No flights due to weather
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/20/15 07:15 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.

Nov 20, 1915.




I got to up today, just to the lines and back as a wing-man. No contact.



image url
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/20/15 08:54 PM







Posted By: AceofPengwins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/21/15 03:32 AM

Sounds like Alvin is having quite the time at this war!

Nov 20,

Dismal flight today. It's the first time in a week we've been able to go up at all, but it still rained for the entire hour and a half of our flight. We were spotting for artillery, but Klaus said he had a devil of a time seeing anything through the heavy clouds and rain. We stayed high over the front and didn't see any other airplanes - if they have any sense they're still on the ground. All three of our Aviatiks landed safely.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/21/15 08:45 PM

Journal Entry: November 21, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Whoever said that northern Flanders is a beautiful place has never been here in late November. If the past week is any indication of what we have to look forward to, weather wise, then this will be a dismal place to spend a winter. In spite of the constant rain, I was able to fly a number of missions so the week wasn't a total loss. It is my ambition, quest if you will, to build a working set of tactics that will enable our pilots to successfully engage the enemy's machines whenever they might chance upon them. I believe that I have achieved that in regards to the Aviatik, so this week I've turned my attention to the Fokker monoplane. It is my intention to seek out this aeroplane and engage it to learn it's strengths and weaknesses. This week I had the good fortune to successfully engage four of the Fokker monoplanes, and even though the pencil pushers back at Wing saw fit to only confirm one of them, I still learned a great deal. So far, it appears that our Nieuports have the advantage in speed, climbing ability, maneuverability, and robustness. In all four engagements, I was never at a disadvantage unless the enemy dove. In diving, the monoplane does have the advantage because it doesn't have the tendency to shed a wing, but even then, if the Nieuport pilot is attentive then he can turn that disadvantage into his advantage. In regards to robustness, it is becoming more apparent to me that the Fokker is very sensitive to any damage to it's tail planes. In fact, in two of my engagements I'm sure that I didn't hit the enemies tail planes with more than a half a dozen bullets and yet the enemy lost control and crashed. I will continue my research for a few more engagements and then I'll present my findings to the rest of the squadron.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/15 02:47 AM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.

Nov 21, 1915


The Esc put up a 3 a/c Vee formation patroling the lines. No contact.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/15 06:17 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.


Nov 22, 1915.

A rather odd occurrence today. I supported my wing leader in a standard attack on 2 seat Recon types. Lt Verdines took heavy damage and pull off. I fired at long range all my ammo saw one swing to the left the other continued straight for Hunland. After seeing 8 holes in my a/c the Adj said I got the Kill The P.B.I. spotted an a/c falling and exploding at the time and place of the engagement
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/15 07:59 PM

Here is the latest status report. AceofPengwin, I didn't have a current entry for you, please remember to enter your data on Saturday so I can get you into my snazzy report. biggrin

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/15 10:22 PM

yep Spiffy Report.
Thanks Banjoman !
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/15 11:20 PM

Thanks, I wish I could get more people interested in this DID campaign. It's actually very interesting, at least to me, trying to figure out how to successfully engage the enemy with these early planes.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/15 11:41 PM

And with only a handful of bullets!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/23/15 01:00 AM

thumbsup


Good report Thanks
Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/23/15 09:29 PM




Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/24/15 03:46 AM

popcorn

I like this version of the DiD campaign. U get to play with all the early aircraft. If u use the more realistic mods, the old a/c are a handful. Just getting hits are shoot and pray. Knocking an aircraft down = a well done.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/24/15 04:46 AM

I agree, I'm having to figure out how to actually attack the enemy and when I've succeeded I feel like I've accomplished something. I enjoy Abner in the other DID, but the planes are all so powerful it doesn't quite seem the same.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/24/15 10:28 AM

Basil has been buisy the last few days. He moved to No.6 at Abeele and has been doing some free flying with his new Fe2a grid.
Seems No.6 are not just doing shoots and such, but actually hunting the Hun. Basil has also been put forward to be a Temporary Gentleman(fox) and will be leaving for England early december for 4 weeks....good luck Basil.



Posted By: Kuroken

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/24/15 02:59 PM

Originally Posted By: carrick58

I like this version of the DiD campaign. U get to play with all the early aircraft. If u use the more realistic mods, the old a/c are a handful. Just getting hits are shoot and pray. Knocking an aircraft down = a well done.


Agreed - but I do have to say Bristol Scout vs. Aviatik B1 = Turkey Shoot. And if you run into a lot of B1s, as I did last week, the good amount of ammo helps.

The N11 is another story - very limited ammo with C1s and E1s that shoot back. Whether I'm successful in the engagement or not, I never come back with a lot of ammo. Though I did have a nice 5 minute duel with Leffers in an E1 - lot of maneuvering, not much shooting till the end - he got some bullets into me early, then we danced for a good while - when he broke off, I came up behind him, one burst, he rolled left and went down. Of course, we were down to 500 or so feet, so down wasn't far...
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/24/15 07:20 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.



Nov 24, 1915.


I flew as wing-man to my old wing-mate Sgt Bocare, He was forced down a few days back and spent time with the Arty people then 3 day in Paris, up to the lines and back. No enemy contact.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/25/15 11:25 AM

Today was Basil the Hun's turn to fly, quite eventfull realy.






Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/25/15 01:39 PM

Hahaha. the odor of fish & chips rofl
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/25/15 10:39 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.



Nov 25, 1917. I flew as wing man in a flight of three N-10 around our bases. No contact
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/26/15 10:38 AM




Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/26/15 07:19 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.

Nov 26,1915.

Patrol: 3 N10,s
Area: Just befor NML our-side of lines.
E/A : 2 Recon types
Alt: 2000 Meters

Results: 2 E/a shot down
3 N-10 Damaged with 1 Pilot Wnd.


Pilot Statement: We attacked in formation Bucquet Leading. I can Confrim his kill. The Recon machine smoked then started down in a nose dive. Bocare attacked the other a/c then pulled off. I took a few hits as I closed, banged on another drum and fired then under him at 50 meters fire my last drum. The e/a staring smoking and lost power as it glided towards Hun land.


uploading images


upload image online

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/27/15 06:21 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.


Nov 27, 1915.


I flew up to the lines and back with Guyenmer today as his wing-man. He is a fail looking fellow but his flying is all precision.
No enemy contact.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/28/15 12:13 PM

Dolf managed to down a Nupe that was attacking a german army camp near the frontlines.
Well, Fritz did the shooting, Dolf just put him in position for the bursts.




The advantage of two guns when one jams



forgot to add that he put in for a transfer to FA(A) 296b and hopes to be piloting a Pfalz EIII soon.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/15 06:42 PM

popcorn

Good show
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/15 06:48 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.



Nov 29, 1915.


I led the dawn patrol up to the lines all two of us ! Most of the other seven machines are down for maint. or Repair.


upload gambar

No Contact
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/15 07:37 PM

Here is the latest status report. Congratulations to Lederhosen on the promotion of both Basils.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/15 09:05 PM

Journal Entry: November 29, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

It has been a while since I've reported anything in my journal, I guess I've been just too busy or it has just slipped my mind. In any case, I have quite a bit to report today. I'm beginning to wonder who is the more implacable enemy, the Hun or the bespectacled, bureaucratic pencil pushers of Wing headquarters. Here is a perfect example of what I mean: Just the other day, Roderic and I were ordered to fly a routine line patrol just east of Nieuwpoort. We engaged two Fokker monoplanes and became separated in the clouds. I quickly vanquished my opponent and filed a claim form without any witnesses. Later in the day, Roderic and I were ordered to fly a defensive patrol over a friendly aerodrome that was nearby. Before we arrived he developed engine trouble and had to return to St. Pol, I continued on with the mission. It wasn't long before three Aviatiks arrived to bomb said aerodrome. I successfully engaged them and downed an Aviatik and also filled a claim form with no witnesses. The next morning, Conner, Roderic, and I were ordered to fly a line patrol east of Nieuwpoort and we encountered two Aviatiks within sight of our aerodrome. I promptly shot an Aviatik down and Conner got the other one. We then continued with our mission. Which claims were confirmed? You would be correct in assuming the claims that had multiple witnesses and within sight of our aerodrome, but you would be wrong, both of my claims with no witnesses were accepted and my claim and Conner's claim with multiple witnesses was rejected. I wish Wing just understood what I'm trying to accomplish with my wingmates. I don't really mind my claims being rejected, but it can be quite discouraging to the chaps who are working so hard when their efforts are continually rejected. We will ultimately defeat the Hun and I suppose the bureaucrats in the end, one can only hope.

First unwitnessed victory


Second unwitnessed victory


Multiple witnesses
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/15 09:35 PM

Hey Banjoman,
Thanks for the chart.
I share your pain in regards to the claims. Later in the war, with all the planes flying around, it is hard to figure out who shot who, where and when. But in 1915, where there is only your flight and the enemy in front of you, there is no way in hell my wingmen didn't notice me shooting down that solitary enemy. Oh well.
BTW, if you have your wingman and an HA in your flight, who do you usually trust more to put down as your witness?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/30/15 04:07 AM

Fullofit, in the case you mentioned above I usually use my wingman, it seems that he sticks closer to you than the HA will. I really wish we could act as witnesses for our wingmen. I'm starting to role-play Arthur as being more concerned with his wingmates success as a opposed to his own. If I can get the other pilots to score victories then the squadron gets better and anyway that's what a real person would do.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/15 12:59 AM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.

Nov 30, 1915.



Solo Patrol today, I had no enemy contact.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/15 01:47 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
I really wish we could act as witnesses for our wingmen.

Already on the wishlist biggrin

On another note, yet another practical joke from my wingman's mechanic. It took him half the night but he finally was able to dig that hole at the end of the airfield, fill it with water and cover it with turf. Worked like a charm.



I don't know if you can see it, but the gunner in the Fee is trying really hard to stifle the laughter by covering his mouth with his hand.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/15 03:50 AM

Haha, did that happen to you or somebody else? I've been really fortunate that I haven't had anything really weird happen yet.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/15 10:23 AM

This is my wingman, who landed just ahead of me. No "J" key was harmed in making of this picture.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/15 02:41 PM

Fullofit, how do you like the Fee? In 1915 the Fee could be a real game changer.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/15 04:46 PM

Seems like the Fee would be a top plane to me too at this date in the war. Leave some Hun for the other players!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/15 10:58 PM

I'm actually flying the Bristol. Picture was taken from my cockpit. The Fee was our escort - it's a mixed squadron. I flew Fee for one day when I transferred to RFC 6. Shot down a few Aviatiks, was promoted and moved to Scouts. In 1915 it is an excellent "fighter" when no one else can shoot at you. No more "aiming" your rear gunner by flying in front of the enemy. You can still do that, but why bother?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/02/15 11:48 PM

Here's another set of News of the World for July 1915 - Intrepid Fliers:
July 1
The Battle of Otavi was fought between South African and German forces in German South
West Africa. The final battle of the South-West Africa Campaign ended with a decisive South African victory.
July 2
The British government formed the Ministry of Munitions and passed the Munitions of War Act which required compulsory arbitration of labour disputes and banned strikes and lockouts.
July 3
The Germans continued their advance into Poland along the Eastern Front.
July 5
Fierce fighting continued between French and German troops at Souchez, Arras and on the Meuse.
July 6
British and French ministers held the first Allied war conference at Calais.
July 7
The First Battle of Isonzo ended with a victory for the Austro-Hungarians.
The Italian armoured cruiser Amalfi was torpedoed and sunk in the Adriatic by the Austro-Hungarian submarine U-26.
July 9
German troops in South-West Africa surrendered to General Botha's South African forces at Tsumeb, 370 km north of Windhoek.
July 11
The German cruiser SMS Konigsberg was destroyed and sunk in the Rufiji river in German East Africa by British river monitors.
July 12
The German Government announced its intention to take control of the coal industry.
July 13
A new Austro-German offensive began on the Eastern Front.
July 14
The Canadian Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden attended his first meeting of the British Cabinet.
July 15
The National Registration Act became law in Great Britain.
July 16
The Battle of Krasnostav began.
July 17
Bulgaria signed a secret alliance with Germany, Austria and Turkey.
July 18
Following the conclusion of the First Battle of Isonzo earlier in the month, the Second Battle of Isonzo began on the Italian Front with heavier artillery support against the Austro-Hungarian army.
July 20
The Battle of La Linge began between French and German forces near the Vosges mountains of Alsace.
July 21
The Russian town of Ivangorod was invaded by Austro-German forces.
July 22
British forces captured Bukoba on Victoria Nyanza in German East Africa.
July 23
Austrian warships bombarded Ortona and the Tremiti Islands in the Adriatic Sea.
July 24
Rozan and Pultulsk in North Poland were captured by German forces.
July 25
The American steamer Leelanaw was torpedoed off the Scottish coast.
July 26
Italian troops landed on and occupied Pelagosa Island in the middle of the Adriatic.
July 28
Germans forces crossed the Vistula between Warsaw and Ivangorod.
July 29
The East Persia Cordon was established in order to protect British interests and prevent enemy infiltration from Persia into Afghanistan.
July 30
German troops used flame throwers for the first time against the British lines at Hooge In Belgium.
The Pope sent an appeal for peace to belligerent Governments.
July 31
The Battle of Strelcze was fought on the Eastern Front.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/02/15 11:51 PM

November 1915 News for Warbirds Rising:
November 2
British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith declared Serbian independence to be an essential object of the war.
November 3
The first meeting of the newly constituted British War Committee was held.
The Third Battle of the Isonzo ended in a victory for Austro-Hungarian forces.
November 4
Lord Kitchener set sail for Galilpoli with the objective of gaining firsthand knowledge of the situation.
General Sir Charles Munro was given command of the British Salonika Force. Sir William Birdwood took command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Galilpoli.
November 5
Bulgarian forces captured Nish in Serbia following 3 days of fighting.
Kitchener left London on a visit to the Near East.
November 6
The French offensive against the invading German army, the Second Battle of Champagne, ended in a stalemate.
November 7
The German cruiser SMS Undine was sunk by the British submarine E19 in the Baltic.
November 8
The Italian passenger steamer SS Ancona was sunk by an Austrian submarine off the coast of Tunisia, while sailing under the Austrian flag.
November 10
The Fourth battle of the Isonzo began as Austrian forces continued to resist the Italian bid to cross the River Isonzo.
November 11
Prime Minister Herbert Asquith announced the composition of a new British War Cabinet; Winston Churchill resigned from the Government.
November 14
The North African Senussi order began hostilities against the British when they attacked an Egyptian post at Sollum.
November 15
Representatives of the Central Powers left Teheran as Russian forces advanced.
November 16
Bulgarian forces captured the Babuna Pass and Prilep in southern Serbia.
November 17
An Anglo-French conference was held in Paris to discuss aid to Serbia and the situation at Gallipoll.
British steam ship SS Anglia, which had been requisitioned for use as a hospital ship, hit a mine and sank in the English Channel.
November 18
In Britain new restrictions were imposed on the opening hours of London's clubs.
November 20
King Constantine of Greece and his Government assured lord Kitchener that Greece would never attack Allied troops.
November 22
The Battle of Ctesiphon began as Turkish troops halted the British advance on Baghdad.
November 23
The British Western Frontier Force began military operations against the Senussi.
The Allied Powers sent a Note to the Greek Government demanding non-interference with Allied troops and guaranteeing the eventual restoration of occupied Greek territory.
November 24
The Greek Government accepted the Allied demands of the previous day.
Field Marshal von der Goltz took command of Turkish forces in Mesopotamia.
November 25
The Battle of Ctesiphon ended with a strategic victory for the Ottoman Empire when the British retreated to the city of Kut-al-Amara.
November 29
Afonso Augusto da Costa succeeded Jose de Castro as Portuguese Prime Minister.
November 30
The Pact of London was formally signed by Great Britain, France, Russia, Japan and Italy: each country declared it would not make separate peace.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/15 04:22 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.



Dec 3, 1915.



Dawn Patrol : 6 machines up and back. No enemy contact.


windows 7 print screen
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/15 05:12 PM

Carrick58, things sure are quiet down where you are. Up in northern Flanders I see enemy planes on most missions. Be thankful, you will probably live longer working down there than I will up here.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/15 07:08 PM

Dolf's transfer came through and he has a new mount, a Pfalz EIII






Lone Wolf mission



He encountered a lone Nupe near the frontlines. The Nupe put up a good fight until it's engine took some hits and it crashed into a wooded hill line. "No Witness" on the claim form, I wonder if it will be confirmed.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/15 07:28 PM

MudWasp, the Pfalz E.III is just like the Morane and can be quite dangerous if used properly. I'm sure you will have great success in that airplane. As far as your claim goes, I don't have any luck with claims when I do have witnesses. banghead
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/15 10:41 PM

The Pflaz A1 is the Morane copy with the rear gunner. The EIII has a forward gun instead of a rear gunner.





That claim was confirmed!
Dolf has been promoted to Lt.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/15 04:10 AM

Thanks for the info., I didn't know that. I bet it still handles like the Morane.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/15 04:24 AM

Yep, handles about the same. Little less stick work to fly straight and level...maybe
Decent matchup with the N10C1
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/15 04:10 PM

The Pfalz E3 can dive a lot faster and can handle more G-Forces than the N10... but anyway, you should never go Bersek on the Steering or apply too hefty G-Forces. The Wing won't break as early as those of the N10 - but it WILL break sooner or later...
Climbing is superior, also.
Blip regularly - and listen. This Way, your Ears can compensate the blind Areas of the Plane.
Try to keep the Enemy below you. Climb first, attack later. You don't want the Enemy, where you can't see him. This is relatively easy, because most N10-Pilots dive early and stay low, once, they are there.
Stay directly above your Prey in tight Circles, and then dive in tight Circles without Power (just keep Ignition on long enough to prevent the Engine from stopping). You shouldn't have any Problems to stay behind him, for you can fly much slower than him without stalling.
Chicken Race: Steer down. You have a huge "Antenna" on top of your Plane, that is litterally indestructible. If he hits it, he will be spliced in two - and you even get a Kill for that biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/15 07:19 PM

Nietzsche, you should join us in the Centenary DID we are having a good time flying these old planes. It's a lot of fun first learning to fly the plane and then learning the tactics of actually fighting with the old planes.
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/15 08:08 PM

You are right: These Long-Term-Campaigns sound like a lot of Fun thumbsup
I was a bit intimidated by the long Set of Rules, first, but I think I'll get that managed ;-)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/15 08:16 PM

We sure would love to have you in the group. To be quite honest, I really prefer my 1915 British character over my 1917 DID character because I'm having to try and figure out the tactics just like they had to do. It just seems to me that in the later war the planes are so good you can be a lot more aggressive, but in 1915 you really have to feel your way along. It's a very fine line that you are tiptoeing along in 1915.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/15 09:14 PM

Sgt, Chevalier de Orleans
Esc 3 The Storks
Breuil-le-Sec
Marne, France.



Dec 4, 1915.



2 A/c Patrol: My flight leader spotted a Recon type machine on the enemy side of the lines we gave chase. We followed and fired as we went in between clouds. It was during the second set of clouds that we lost him so RTB. I had only 10 rds of 303 caliber left. My wing leader had suffered light damage.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/05/15 11:29 AM

It takes bullet damage way better than the Fokker E series. Have to remember the top mounted sword slash move...thanks Nietzsche

Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/05/15 03:14 PM

Ouch. That'll need a hell lot of Scotch-Tape... eek
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/05/15 11:54 PM

popcorn


How did ya keep the old Bus up ?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/06/15 12:37 AM

Journal Entry: December 5, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

The last two days have been very productive in both helping me to hone my tactics and in destroying the hated Hun. I must say, that my wingmate Connor Milne has really taken my tactics to heart and is becoming quite the skilled scout pilot. In spite of the bloody bureaucrats at Wing, he has tallied 9 victories and looks to continue scoring. My last two sorties will serve as a perfect example of what I'm trying to accomplish with my flight. Yesterday's sortie was typical for us, we were ordered to fly a defensive patrol over a neighboring aerodrome. We were orbiting over the aerodrome watching the sunrise when here came two Aviatiks, I signaled Conner and we began our attack. I immediately noticed that Conner began his attack just as I had instructed him and in no time his opponent was spinning earthward. After I was certain he was okay, I began to attack my opponent and I quickly had him also spinning earthward.



You might notice from the photo how close I am to the enemy, well, I've discovered in my experiences that the closer you are to your opponent the better the opportunity for success. Our opponents both crashed within a mile of Coodekerque aerodrome so they were quickly confirmed.

This morning's sortie was a line patrol up near Niewpoort with Roderic. We were flying along enjoying the sunrise, when off to our west here came two Aviatiks returning from some kind of mischief. We began our attack and just like clockwork we had two more Aviatiks spinning to earth. Roderic is well versed in my tactics since he and I developed them together so it makes us a very efficient team. It's always gruesome when you get a flamer, but I feel pretty certain that because of how I attack the Aviatiks that I killed the pilot before the aeroplane burst into flames, at least I hope so.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/06/15 06:12 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/06/15 07:03 PM

duh

My pilot had a Mid-Air today. 4 A/C PATROL on a Deep penetration raid. Top Cover knocked down a Recon type ( Burned)
Then Sgt De Orleans chased and fired into a second recon type Crash in a Mid air collision making him Deceased. Target Fixation !


upload a gif

KIA Stats: Missions 26 Time: 31.42 Kills 3 confirmed 4 Claimed. 1 Medal.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/06/15 08:10 PM

well, at least it wan't one of your own that crashed into you. Still a bit frustrating
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/06/15 08:39 PM

That sucks, you've had a string of bad luck, maybe with your 'D' pilot things will turn around.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/06/15 09:55 PM

It happens....
Arg, forgot about my weekly report...SATURDAYS....
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/07/15 04:24 AM

Journal Entry: August 8, 1915
Bertincourt

I reached quite a milestone today at least that is what Hauptmann Schoenebeck said. Today I broke the 100 hour mark in my log book. It was so momentous that Hauptmann Schoenebeck has actually given me a 48 hour pass to Douai. I have no idea what I'll do there, but I have two whole days to find something interesting. Anyway, time to turn in because I start my little adventure in the morning.
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/07/15 06:11 PM

ahem... excuse my sillynes, but, if I want to start in Warbird-Mode now, do I start at June, 1st or at the current "Date-Equal" Dec. 7th?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/07/15 06:30 PM

You would start on today's date, Dec. 7th. Remember, you need to fly from the starting airfield in whichever country you choose to their airplane depot. If I'm confusing you, just read the rules everything you need is in there. Finally, welcome to the party I think you'll enjoy it.
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/07/15 06:44 PM

...yeah, the "Transfer-Flight" is also the Reason, why no Americans are available. The Transfer Route New York-Fontaine sure explains, why no american Fighter appeared on the Scene before 1918 LOL
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/07/15 07:20 PM

Well, that and they're neutral. rofl
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/08/15 12:12 PM

Gentlemen, I hereby produce before you:

Offizierstellvertreter Albert Appelkorn from Nordhausen - Home of the famous "Nordhaueser Doppelkorn".



Storyline will follow soon...
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/08/15 01:42 PM

Welcome to the grinder Nietzsche!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/08/15 02:46 PM

Welcome and if I've forgotten to mention it, please submit your weekly status on Saturday so I can build the report on Sunday. There is a link on the first page of the thread.
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/08/15 03:20 PM

Thanks smile
Okay, I will do that. I will take on Mission #2 this Evening and try to get familiar with the Area, there. The good Thing: A lot of Airfields... pretty rare in that Era. Let's see if that is helping...
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/15 03:20 PM



Okay, Albert Appelkorn has finished his Training and earned his first Point in a "Take some Pics of the Front Mission".

I have one Question: A Point for the Mission is only then granted, when the Mission-Debrief explicitly describes it as a Success, or says "Well done" or something like that, right? When the Summary just says: "Took off, been there, flew back and landed." that's not enough.
So, I counted only one Point for Landing @ Home.

I'm not yet listed in the Surveillance-Link, so I'll enter my Data as soon as I'm in.


...found this funny Scene in J-Mode:

Domesticated Sheep can become very tame indeed ;-)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/15 03:56 PM

Nietzsche, that's how I'm calculating the points. I don't think you need to worry about being too careful in how you calculate the points, I think most people just view the points as a kind of barometer on how they are doing. At least in my mind, the winner of this campaign will be the pilot who survives.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/15 04:10 PM

Those sheep best be careful or they could wind up as ground meat.
Has anyone ever had their plane make contact with an animal? Is it like running into a fence?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/15 04:13 PM

I'm with Banjoman, points mean nothing really. I find the hours flown more impressive than the points.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/15 04:15 PM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
Those sheep best be careful or they could wind up as ground meat.
Has anyone ever had their plane make contact with an animal? Is it like running into a fence?


Don't know about that, but I tried to use some horses as target practice. Didn't work out as I expected. No explosions, not even smoke.
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/15 04:23 PM

What?!? Horses do not explode? ...that's disappointing deadhorse
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/15 04:43 PM

Another item for the wishlist.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/13/15 02:40 AM

I remembered to fill out a survey this week even though I dozed off after dinner. biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/13/15 09:48 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/15 01:51 AM

Journal Entry: August 15, 1915
Bertincourt

I'm sorry that I've been so remiss in writing journal entries; it defeats the whole purpose of keeping a journal if one doesn't write entries every so often. I would wager that the reason for the lack of journal entries would be caused by the lack of anything noteworthy happening in the last couple of weeks. I won't say that it is dull, because it's not possible for flying to be dull, but it is very routine. We get up, fly our daily sortie, come back to a delicious lunch and dinner and then spend the afternoons and evenings either resting, playing cards, listening to music or reading. I guess it is a rather lovely way to fight a war. I do have a sneaking suspicion that these halcyon days aren't going to last much longer. Just the other day, we heard a rumor of a new type of aeroplane that the High command will be releasing to certain units for testing. It's all very hush hush and we didn't hear of any details. I fear these relaxing, peaceful days where our only concern is what's for dinner won't be lasting too much longer.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/15 02:11 AM

Journal Entry: December 13, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Have you ever fussed and worried over a cocoa-nut and as soon as you finally reach the prize, your friend comes along and eats it before you can. Well, I had something similar happen to me today. Roderic and I were sent to fly a line patrol near Niewpoort. We had just arrived when we spotted a lone Aviatik flying along without a care in the world. That poor Hun saw us at the same time and quickly turned for home, but we are quicker and he couldn't get away. I swooped in and gave him a good burst after which he began belching smoke, but my Lewis jammed so I had to turn away. It was at that point that Roderic pulled up and quickly shot down my Aviatik. I had done all of the work and I wasn't very happy. When we returned, he just smiled and said, "What, I didn't think you wanted it." What could I do but laugh and together we walked to the RO's hut together.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/15 02:54 AM

Yup, my wingman does it all the time. It's not so bad now when the enemy is armed. I let them have the first go. They swoop down shoot each other up and limp back home. That's when I step in an sweep whatever's left over. Usually by then the rear gunner is knocked out and the plane on its last leg.
It was a totally different story with BI's - pretty much a "race" to get there first and try to shoot the poor #%&*$# down before the rest gets its turn.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/15 10:57 AM

.

Greetings folks. I was able to get back to some flying in this campaign, now that I have the majority of my mapping project under my belt. It was very enjoyable catching up on everyone's pilots here and thank you all for the wonderful reports and such. However, what was not so wonderful was the engine trouble my pilot, Allard Tremblay, suffered in his first mission back. He and his gunner/obs were forced to land 10 kilometers behind the lines where they were immediately set upon by Boche troops and captured. They are now guests of the Kaiser for the next six months - six months! So, I now have a question. Would it be allowable to move Sous-lieutenant Tremblay to the "War Birds Rising" group in February when he makes good his escape? Elsewise I will be waiting a very long time for his return in this campaign. Thanks for your consideration on this point.

Allard and his G/O sitting in their now-useless mount moments before their imminent capture.



.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/15 11:53 AM

sounds fine to me
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/15 02:50 PM

I'm certainly ok with that. I do have a question for you Lou, would it be possible for you to work your medal magic in this campaign? It might be too late and I'm sure it's a lot of work, but it is one of the best parts of the other DID campaign and it's the only regret I have with this campaign.
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/15 03:13 PM

Well, I'll start with Berthold Brecht, then LOL
...too sad, I hadn't got the Camera running.
On his 2nd "real" Mission, we were over the Lines, taking some Photos of the Mud below us, cruising along at 12hundred rpm in our two Aviatiks, when I noticed a Doubledecker far away and below us, who was heading in our Direction.
I turned Home at full Throttle, my Squadmate followed, but somehow he did not fly as fast as me.
The Problem:
This one Doubledecker brought his Friends, so there were 3 N-10 Single Seaters in Pursuit... and my Teammate had an unarmed Avi B.
Well, none of these Planes are particulary fast, so I had a long Time thinking about the Options at Hand...
Be egoistic and leave these two poor Guys as easy Prey, while my Gunner and I return comfortably? Or turn around and risk a Fight, allowing my Teammates to escape in the Meantime? (Player's Comment: I trained hunting down multiple Ns with an Avi C quite thoroughly in CQ. 2 Nupes are nothing more than Cannon Fodder for an Avi with a good Gunner. 3 is a somewhat different Situation...)
My Gunner never fired one Shot before, so I had no Idea, if he would just pump a lot of Holes into the Sky (or worse, our own Plane), or if he would rock the House.
Below us - on our Side - no Balloon or Ground Support of any Kind, so, no Sense in forcing them down into Ground Fire (Player's Comment: I've got the AA / Groundfire-Settings in Workshop @ Rambo4 / Terminator3)

All in all, it would be a totally silly Idea, to turn around and save my Teammates from certain Death... so, guess what I did biggrin
To make a long Stroy short:
After almost half an Hour (!) of circling around and hoping for my Gunner to place some lucky Hits, one of the Nupes went Kamikaze on me charge
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/15 04:12 PM

That's too funny, I'm not laughing at you, but with you. biggrin


Hey, go ahead and post the info for your first pilot so that I can add him to our dead pilots roll. He should at least get honored in some way.
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/15 04:38 PM

Okay, I filled in all the Blanks... sorry for not remembering the Name of my Aerodrome (I wrote "Marne"). I know exactly, where it is... the first one after the Bend of the River, right in the Middle of the two Bridges... but that doesn't really help, here biggrin
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/15 12:42 AM

.

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
I'm certainly ok with that. I do have a question for you Lou, would it be possible for you to work your medal magic in this campaign? It might be too late and I'm sure it's a lot of work, but it is one of the best parts of the other DID campaign and it's the only regret I have with this campaign.


Thanks Banjoman for giving the thumbs-up on my DID pilot's move. To the medals, I'd be willing to do that when time allows. I would ask though for a rundown on who is actually still active in the campaign so that I can focus on proper awards for those pilots.

.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/15 08:28 PM

reading



Mine is dead and gone. I will start over again maybe after X mas.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/15 09:42 PM

What happened? jawdrop
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/20/15 09:43 PM

Here's the latest status report.

Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/23/15 04:36 PM

.

Thank you for the updated stats Banjoman, much appreciated. So, if a few medals were to be presented in this campaign would you be able to add them to the chart?

.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/23/15 06:11 PM

Yep, I sure could. The chart is still evolving, so if you have any ideas on how to make it spiffier I would sure like to hear them.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/24/15 08:06 PM

reading

Banjoman: He had a Mid-Air with his Target 2 seat Recon plane.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/24/15 08:40 PM

I'm still flying. Had much going on in the real world, a windows loading issue with my rig, and a new Grandson born on the first day of winter.

Dolf went out for a flight a few days ago. His wingman is back from leave so now there are two Pfalz EIIIs in the air to protect the rest of the squad which is flying Aviatik BIIs and CIs. Think I'll take Dolf out for a flight now after advancing some time to current date. Seems like those BIIs ought to phased out now.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/26/15 07:18 PM

Journal Entry: December 26, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I haven't flown for 10 days and it's been great. I returned from a five day leave on the 21st and it's rained ever since. It has rained nonstop for the last five days and St. Pol is a morass. It will probably take a week for everything to dry out. This is beautiful country in spite of the rain, but when it does rain, it isn't fit for man or beast.

My five day leave couldn't have come at a better time, I went home and was able to celebrate Christmas with my family. It was a lovely time of just relaxing with my family, eating good food, and generally just lazing around. Of course, everyone wants to know about the war and I tried to relate only the humorous and positive happenings, no sense in burdening everyone with the reality of what is really going on. I found the common man's reaction to both of my VCs to be rather humorous as well, I hadn't realized that I was now royalty. I'm enjoying this respite, but I understand that it won't be long until the killing begins again and I'll be called back to do what apparently I do rather well, shoot down Huns.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/27/15 02:19 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/27/15 02:40 PM

Thanks Banjoman
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/29/15 05:07 PM

Okay, my new Guy is Berthold Bruchlandung. Nomen est Omen, his very first Transfer Flight from Cologne to the Front ended with a major Engine Malfunction in the Proximity of St. Quentin. The 2nd did not even start, because WOFF spawned the Planes below Ground (all Crafts written off, all Pilots okay).
Nevertheless, I absolved the Training Flights in an Avi C... and now I am allowed to "use up" Berthold's old E1 for the following Misions :-)
Enlistment in the DID-Board will follow soon...
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/29/15 05:13 PM

Haha, I don't know who has worse luck, you or Carrick.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/29/15 05:47 PM

Thanks for the Chet Banjoman.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/30/15 12:46 AM

Today my squad was renamed from MS57 to N57. With that came the new emblem:



I decided to add it to my otherwise plain plane. Hopefully it doesn't look too much like a bull's eye.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/30/15 01:23 AM

That looks good. The French had such cool markings for their Escadrilles.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/30/15 01:38 AM

Agreed. I especially like their Egyptian motives.
Storks ... not so much.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/30/15 02:14 AM

Dec. 29, 1915

Seems the new emblem on Achille Renard's mount is a magnet for Eindekkers. He and his wingman were on a routine escort mission when 2 E.III's came sniffing around. Achille's wingman took care of his pretty quickly, while Achille himself was toying with his prey, savoring it, letting him think he can run away (not really - he could barely get behind the Fokker and aim properly until they run out of altitude.)



Even then he barely escaped from crashing into the trees, but finally he got a lucky burst. The Fokker started burning and crashed into the ground. It happened so quickly there was no time to take a picture.



Achille looked around for his wingman, but couldn't locate him. He assumed he already went home, but noticed a few dots above the nearby Douai aerodrome. He contemplated going there and taking a few shots at the unsuspecting Huns concentrating on landing. He didn't have much ammo left - he didn't have much ammo to begin with. Then he noticed that the dots weren't really circling the 'drome. It was another dogfight and most likely this is where he would find his wingman. Achille pointed his plane towards Douai. It didn't take long to get there, as his wingman was already in full retreat flying to the closest friendly field, followed closely by a German. The enemy pilot was concentrating so intently on catching up to Achille's wingman that he totally missed another Nieuport fly right behind him and empty the rest of his ammo into his back. He started smoking and went down in slow circles. Achille and his wingman made it back home safely.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 04:56 PM

Nice little dust up Fullofit!

To anyone who cares to chime in. Is scoring optional? Adelwolf has been promoted but I have completely lost track of his score. Surviving is my score but will try to reconstruct it if mandatory.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 05:06 PM

Scoring isn't mandatory and I've wondered if I should just drop it. I think when we started we wanted some way to measure how well everyone was doing in relation to each other. If the rest of the group wants me to eliminate the score from the Status Reports I'll do that or we can keep going as is and you can just pickup where you left off.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 05:12 PM

Thanks Banjoman, I will be flying this campaign more now that Adalwolf has more than engine fires and Archie to worry about. Lots of fun!

Happy New Years!
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 05:26 PM

ahhhhh...all those report forms I've filled in!

either way...just staying alive seems to count the most. But then we already have Olhams DID. If we only had online play.
Perhaps a different way of score keeping is needed. As it is I fill out my homemade logbook after each flight or things get messy come wedensday.

Maybe:

Missions flown = 1pt
Hours flown = 1pt per full hour
Claims total = 1pt (wether confirmed or not)
victories conf. = 2pts (as per the rule 1 claim for every 3 victories in a single mission)

Promotion = 10pts per level.

n.b. perhaps a new rule...when you make Captain (or what ever in other nations) then you have to transfer to be a flight commander some where else.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 05:42 PM

Originally Posted By: lederhosen
ahhhhh...all those report forms I've filled in!

either way...just staying alive seems to count the most. But then we already have Olhams DID. If we only had online play.
Perhaps a different way of score keeping is needed. As it is I fill out my homemade logbook after each flight or things get messy come wedensday.

Maybe:

Missions flown = 1pt
Hours flown = 1pt per full hour
Claims total = 1pt (wether confirmed or not)
victories conf. = 2pts (as per the rule 1 claim for every 3 victories in a single mission)

Promotion = 10pts per level.

n.b. perhaps a new rule...when you make Captain (or what ever in other nations) then you have to transfer to be a flight commander some where else.


Nice idea. Sure would make scoring easy.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 06:07 PM

Lederhosen, I like your scoring idea. There aren't many of us flying this campaign so I say that we switch over to your scoring from now on. As far as the transfer idea goes, that is what I'm going to do anyway as soon as another RNAS unit gets created.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 06:31 PM

lederhosen, That score system looks way easier! I was often scratching my head on whether the mission was a success with the current system.

So Banjoman, do we switch to the new system today when we send in scores/fill out report forms?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 07:04 PM

Everybody start using Lederhosen's scoring system today when you fill out your reports.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 09:18 PM

Adalwolf Becker has been promoted to Lt.! He just brought down his first plane. Waiting confirmation.


Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 11:00 PM

August News of the World for Intrepid Fliers:
August 1
The Galata bridge in Constantinople harbour was destroyed by British submarines.
August 3
The Second Battle of Isonzo ended with no strategic result as both sides ran out of artillery ammunition.
Russian forces evacuated Van in Armenia.
August 4
Russian troops evacuated Warsaw but took up defensive positions on the north side of the Vistula River.
August 5
After the Russian withdrawal the Germans occupied Warsaw in Poland.
August 6
The Battle of Sari Bair (also known as the August Offensive) began - the last and unsuccessful attempt by the British to seize the Gallipoli peninsula from the Ottoman Empire.
August 7
Heavy fighting continued in the Battle of Sari Bair. British troops were supported by New Zealand and Australian troops.
August 8
The Turkish battleship Barbaros Hayreddin was sunk by the British submarine E11 in the Dardanelles.
August 9
British troops recaptured the trenches at Hooge.
August 10
A surprise Turkish counterattack from Sari Bair on Gallipoli forced the Allies to withdraw.
The German Zeppelin L12 was damaged by aircraft fire during a raid on Dover in the English Channel.
August 12
A British torpedo-carrying seaplane took off from HMS Ben-my-Chree and sank a Turkish supply ship in the Sea of Marmara.
A British advance at Suvla towards the Tekke Tepe Hills was repulsed by the Turks in the Gallipoli Campaign.
August 13
The passenger ship HMT Royal Edward was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB-14 in the Aegean Sea.
August 15
The National Register was taken in Britain.
August 16
Lowca and Harrington near Whitehaven in Cumberland were shelled by a German submarine.
August 17
The city of Kovno on the Eastern Front fell to Austro-German forces.
August 19
The German battle cruiser SMS Moltke was torpedoed by British submarine E1 in the Gulf of Riga.
August 20
British airmen destroyed a German submarine off Ostend, Belgium.
August 21
The Battle of Scimitar Hill in the Gallipoli Campaign, which ended in another strategic failure, was the final British offensive in the Dardanelles.
Italy declared war on Turkey.
August 22
Ossowietz in northern Poland was stormed by German forces.
August 23
British warships bombarded German positions at Zeebrugge and Knocke on the Belgian coast.
August 25
German occupying forces established a Polish government in Warsaw. General Hans Hartwig von Beseler was named Governor General.
August 26
German forces occupied the fort of Olita on Niemen and captured Byelostok and Brest-Litovsk in Poland.
August 27
Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff notified Secretary of State Robert Lansing that, "full satisfaction" would be given to the United States for the sinking of the ocean liner SS Arabic on 19 August.
August 29
A combined British, Anzac and Gurkha force failed to take Hill 60 at Suvla.
August 30
The British Government agreed that the Allies could guarantee eventual freedom and self-determination of Bosnia, Herzegovina, South Dalmatia, Slavonia and Croatia, provided Serbia agreed.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/16 11:02 PM

Warbird Rising News for December:
December 1
Italy announced her adherence to the Pact of London.
December 2
Bulgarian forces captured Monastir in Serbia.
December 3
Following the retreat from their defeat at Ctesiphon in November, British forces reached Kut al Amara.
December 4
The American anti-war peace expedition of Henry Ford set sail for Europe on the Oscar II.
December 5
The French submarine Fresnel was sunk by Austrian destroyers off the coast of northern Albania.
December 6
The Allied War Council held a military conference in Paris.
December 7
The Siege of Kut began when the Ottoman Army besieged the British-Indian garrison in the town of Kut al Amara in Mesopotamia.
President Woodrow Wilson delivered a war message to Congress denouncing anti-American plotters.
December 8
British forces at Anzac Cove and Suvla in Gallipoli were ordered to evacuate.
In Flanders Fields was published in Punch magazine. It was written by Canadian medical officer John McRae after presiding over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier earlier in the year.
December 10
German attaches Captain Boy-Ed and Captain Papen were recalled from the USA by their Government.
December 11
General and politician Yuan Shikai accepted the title of Emperor of China.
December 12
Greece conceded Allied demands regarding Salonika.
December 13
The Affair of the Wadi Senab concluded two days of action fought in Egypt's western desert between the Senussi and British and Indian forces.
December 14
Hamadan in western Persia was occupied by Russian troops.
December 15
Field Marshal Sir John French resigned as Commander-in-Chief of British forces on the Western Front and was replaced by Sir Douglas Haig.
December 17
German light cruiser SMS Bremen sunk in the Baltic after striking a Russian naval mine.
December 18
US President Woodrow Wilson married Edith Galt at her home in Washington.
December 19
The Allies started the preliminary evacuation of Gallipoli.
December 20
The evacuation of 83,000 troops from Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove in Gallipoli was completed.
December 21
The Japanese passenger steamer Yasaka Maru was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat near Port
Said in the Mediterranean Sea.
December 23
British naval operations began on Lake Tanganyika.
December 24
The French passenger steamer Ville De La Ciotat was torpedoed in the Mediterranean Sea by German submarine U-34.
December 26
The British government entered into a treaty with Ibn Sa'ud, the Emir of Nejd, accepting protectorate status and agreeing to make war against Ibn Rashid, who was being supported by the Turks.
December 28
British and Indian forces at Cape Helles were ordered to evacuate Gallipoli.
December 29
Draft rules were approved for the Inter-Allied War Council.
December 30
P&O passenger liner SS Persia was torpedoed and sunk without warning by German U-Boat commander Max Valentiner.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/16 12:24 AM

Thanks for the news reel Fullofit. It's always educational to see what's happening at the time.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/16 01:56 AM

Lederhosen, I just used your scoring system and we are definitely using it, it was so much easier. Thanks for the great idea.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/16 02:57 AM

Originally Posted By: MFair
Thanks for the news reel Fullofit. It's always educational to see what's happening at the time.


My pleasure MFair. Yet another way to learn something new.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/16 09:14 AM

Originally Posted By: MFair
Thanks for the news reel Fullofit. It's always educational to see what's happening at the time.




true...I didn't know the Huns torpedoed the Japanese in the Med...or any where realy. Funny how things change later
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/16 09:41 PM

Here is the latest status report. Mudwasp, could you please re-enter your data for the last week, somehow it was corrupted and I don't have it, Thanks.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/04/16 04:27 AM

ArGGGG!!!!
Higher math AGAIN!.....? rofl ....ok...
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/05/16 02:58 AM

Here's the latest status report with MudWasp's up to date information.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/05/16 03:45 PM

Thanks !
No Clue why that first report came up corrupt.

Hey, is there anyway to update the scoring rules on the first page?
If not I'll just try to remember they are posted on page 104.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/05/16 06:56 PM

I can certainly give it a try. I'll give it a go when I get home tonight from work.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/16 12:02 AM

Or we could just forget the "score" column altogether. Just keep the info that's easy to grab from the pilot screen.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/16 02:11 AM

MudWasp, I can't edit the first screen. Fullofit, I would be happy to eliminate the scoring if that's what everybody else wants.

I can't figure our how to create a poll, so here is an informal one. Vote Yes to keep scoring or No to eliminate scoring and I'll just go with the majority. I'll run this informal poll till Sunday. If nobody votes, then I'll just do what I want. biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/16 05:10 PM

Journal Entry: September 8, 1915
Bertincourt

Yesterday may very well have changed the course of my flying career. We were ordered to fly a simple artillery shoot, but the main difference this time was we were escorted to the target and back by a couple of the new Fokker Eindekkers. We have been hearing many rumors concerning these new aeroplanes, but to actually see one in the air was another thing altogether. The best analogy I can think of is, we were the sheep and they were the sheepdogs. I've decided that I want to be a sheepdog, so naturally I started pestering Hauptman von Schoenebeck as to when we will get these machines. He laughed and reminded me that patience is a virtue and good things come to those who wait. Ach, he sounds like my mother. If waiting is required then waiting is what I'll do, but I will have one of those machines.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/16 05:25 PM

Journal Entry: January 6, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I'm beginning to really dislike Northern Flanders, if it isn't raining non-stop, it is snowing non-stop. It has snowed for the last six days, but yesterday we threw caution to the wind and completed a mission. Once aloft, I realized quickly that we should have just scrubbed the whole affair and returned to our warm mess. I did speak to the 'Old Man' about starting a squadron library because eventually one gets rather tired of cards, playing the piano, or drinking. He gave me the go ahead and I've started searching the local villages for any reading material. The one interesting aspect of yesterday's sortie was that it was an escort mission. This was the first we had flown and I fear that we will be called to fly many more. The actual flying isn't any more dangerous that our regular sorties, but it was very tedious and it's been my experience that tedium has killed many a pilot. I must think of ways to keep our pilots alert and attentive when we are flying these sorties. I've included a photograph of our charges yesterday and you can see for yourself that we should have stayed home. Naturally, we didn't see anyone else in the air and I would bet the BE2c drivers didn't see anything on the ground either. Oh well, at least it got us out of our huts.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/16 01:59 AM

Banjoman, all this patience could be for nothing if you get shot down. It's better to do the shooting than being shot at. I would bother Hauptman von Schoenebeck some more if I were you. On the other hand ... don't be too hasty. I bullet hole in those Fokkers and you're going down.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/16 03:04 AM

I know what you mean, I'm trying to play both of my pilots as historically accurate as I can and from my reading transfers didn't happen all that often. So, my German pilot will probably stay in Jasta 1 until he promotes to Hauptman and then get his own Jasta.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/16 03:07 PM

I'm going to vote PRESENT, just like a high ranking politician, on the scoring issue.

Those Fokker E series would be my last choice as far as survive ability is concerned. That said, I think about transferring to Jasta 15 now and then until I fly my non-DiD Jasta 15 pilot from this time frame and realize how vulnerable and out classed those kites are.

One bullet to a wing can send an E series into a death spiral
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/16 03:16 PM

That's true, but Ahren wouldn't know any of that, all he knows is his Aviatik flys like a cow and the Fokker Eindekker flits around like a butterfly.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/16 03:32 PM

Too bad he doesn't know the Aviatik CI is a sturdy, deadly, killing machine in the right hands...

Those EIVs are very deadly to their pilots due to engine failures. I had to turn off "random engine failures" with my non-DiD Jasta 15 pilot during that time period. WOFF's new Fokker DII was a welcome ride after the Fokker EIV phase!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/16 03:41 PM

I think he will get a C.1 before he ever sees a single seater scout. I've been very good at not peeking with him, so I don't know when he gets a new airplane or what airplane it will be. It's been hard, but it has made it more fun for me.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/16 04:24 PM

Well, I would have voted to end the scoring if I would have been here but I was late. Whatever you want to do is fine with me Banjoman.

Adalwolfe was thinking of transfering to a scout squadron but all this talk of bad EIII's has me concerned! If the transfer comes through I might be like Stachle. "I would rather prove myself here."
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/16 05:06 PM

MFair, it's a challenge to last long in a squad flying the Fokker E series....

Right now my squad has Aviatiks and two Pfalz EIIIs. Think Fokker EIs come in later to replace the Pfalz EIIIs, and then Rolands replace them, and then more Rolands come in replacing the Aviatiks.
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/09/16 02:16 PM

Sorry for being a bit sloppy with the Reports, Dec/Jan are always hectic months, here... but that does not count for Berthold Bruchlandung, my new Character.

After living up to his Name in the Avi C, Rudi Berthold handed over his old Fokker E1 to him, after Rudi's brand new E3 arrived. Bert took a few Spins with the E1, where nothing really happened, just to find out, that the Decision was met for the Squad to go back to the Avis again.
He did not fly a lot since then because of the abysmal Weather.
Currently, he thinks about transferring to the Fa 62...

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/09/16 04:22 PM

Since myself and two other people voted to remove the scoring from the status report, I'm going to say that the motion passes. Therefore, the scoring field has now been made a non-required field. I'm going to leave it in because we might want to use it again.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/10/16 06:30 PM

Bad weather for flying in Alsace, but much has been going on with Dolf's squad. Three pilots of great promise have transferred in and they have been given Fokker EIIs. Dolf and his wingman Edgar are the only pilots flying the Pfalz EIII.

There are six observers in the squad, currently only one 2 seater Aviatik CI, and no pilot is assigned to fly it.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/10/16 08:59 PM

Here is the latest status report. Make sure everybody welcomes the new guy to our group, HarryHibbs, I'm sure I speak for everybody when I say that we are glad to have you in our Centenary DID campaign.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/10/16 09:55 PM

Journal Entry: January 10, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

We lost Conner today. I am stunned beyond words and I'm having a hard time comprehending the magnitude of our loss. Conner was my wingman and my friend. He and I worked together as a team for a long time. He knew what I wanted without my asking and also was there guarding my back. He had worked so hard and had actually raised his score from four when he started as my wingman to his final tally of ten. I think the hardest thing to bear in his passing is the utter senselessness of his death. Edward, Conner, and myself were attacking a pair of Aviatiks. Edward had already driven the other off and I had severely wounded the second and when Conner moved in to apply the coup de grace, he must have misjudged the distance and collided with the Hun. They both went down in flames; it was hopeless.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/10/16 10:02 PM

wave HarryHibbs

Banjoman, all my best WOFF wingmen died in that scenario.
Was he "getting up there" in victories?
I had one wingman make it to 14.
WOFF calls the player an ACE at 15.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/10/16 11:14 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Here is the latest status report. Make sure everybody welcomes the new guy to our group, HarryHibbs, I'm sure I speak for everybody when I say that we are glad to have you in our Centenary DID campaign.




Banjoman, all, thank you for the warm welcome! Let's see how long I last in a BE2C! smile Good to be involved at last.

H
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/10/16 11:20 PM

Glad to see you in this campaign Harry! Good luck.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/11/16 01:28 AM

Harry, welcome to the fray.

MadWasp, lost a wingman who actually was promoted all the way to Captain, 15 victories, 6 medals. Can't ask for more. As far as I remember he finished the same way. He was tough enough to survive the crash but perished in the hospital. Infection I suppose.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/11/16 02:43 AM

I didn't mention that Conner made it all the way to Squadron Commander and received 3 medals.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/11/16 03:18 AM

That does hurt even more. Good men are hard to find.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/11/16 12:14 PM

Well since there is no scoring then I'll set priorty to my Hun Career in Olham's DID Camapign. I'll continue the 2 careers but not stick to the time line anymore. This give me more freedom to fly when I want to.

sry
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/11/16 02:47 PM

Do you want me to restart the scoring? I removed it because I didn't think anybody really cared, but if it was important to you then I can just include it again and make it mandatory.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/11/16 02:56 PM

Wow Fullofit, that is a wingman for the record books.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/11/16 03:57 PM

don't change because of me. I was beginning to find that too many DID pilots were getting in the way for me.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/11/16 04:05 PM

OK, just hate to lose one of the regulars.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/12/16 12:12 AM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
Wow Fullofit, that is a wingman for the record books.


MudWasp, I was following his career closed than my own. And then a boneheaded move like that...
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/12/16 02:34 AM

Dolf had a wild mission. He led his wingman Edgar in a Pfalz EIII amd two Hotshots in Fokker EIIs from Colmar down to the friendly airfield of Habsheim for patrol. They found five N10C-1s down low drawing flak and a wild DF was on. Dolf wound up downing three Nupes and thought he saved Edgar, who landed at Habsheim before the DF was over, but Edgar must have bled out.
Dolf is now the only Pfalz EIII pilot until a replacement wingman arrives.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/14/16 09:35 PM

Sergeant Arthur Much
RFC 5
Abeele
14th January 1916

Flight over from Eastchurch the other day was fine until the engine packed up about three miles short of my new airfield at Abeele. Managed to put her down on a road and the chaps came to tow her in.

Finished up my training with a few circles of the field and a quick trip up to the front and back. Started proper missions yesterday with a reccy patrol. Nice and quiet. Not today though. Another reccy mission. Encountered two Eindeckers over the lines. Caught a few bullets but Sgt. Clinton and his obs, Roland managed to knock one of them down and the other fellow gave up and went home. Clinton and Roland both wounded but had the victory confirmed. Good show!

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/14/16 10:01 PM

Welcome to the fray, HarryH
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/14/16 10:12 PM

+1 thumbsup
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/15/16 12:07 AM

Good on you Harry!

Adalwolf Becker's victory was not confirmed even though we fought for 10 min. over our trenches and the Niep. sat down intact and burned near our folks. Nex time we must have witnesses!

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/16/16 05:41 PM

Journal Entry: September 18, 1915
Bertincourt

I experienced my first combat yesterday, it was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Hauptman Goller, my observer, and I were ordered to fly an artillery spotting mission up near Arras for our morning sortie. We arrived without incident and Goller got to work. As we were flying our pattern I noticed an aeroplane approaching from the northeast, but I wasn't too concerned because the enemy had always behaved themselves. I kept my attention divided between Goller and the oncoming machine because I still hadn't identified it yet. It wasn't long before I realized it was a Bristol Scout, but I still wasn't concerned because the Scouts we had encountered before never paid any attention to us, so we carried on. When the tommy had gotten about 800 to 900 meters away, I noticed the enemy make an abrupt turn in our direction. I notified Goller to prepare himself because it looked like this tommy was up to no good. I put our bus into an easy left turn which afforded Goller a clear field of fire towards the enemy and he started banging away. I soon discovered that the enemy couldn't get into an advantageous position if I kept us in this bank. It was at that moment that I made a crucial mistake, I then decided to roll into a right turn and thereby shorten the range for Goller. Somehow, my change in direction had confused Goller but not the enemy because I had mistakenly placed myself right where he could fire. A hail of bullets slammed into our plane before I could correct my mistake which resulted in many holes in my wings and unknown to me at the time, my fuel tank as well. I immediately rolled back to the left which put Goller back into a firing position and he began firing again. He fired a particularly long burst after which the enemy's engine burst into flames. I sat there stunned and covered in sweat, the coughing of my engine woke me to the reality of my situation. I turned for home and set her down in a field. It was only we were on the ground did we both realize that we had both been wounded, a slight graze to my upper arm and a graze to Goller's thigh. We sat there each in his own thoughts until Goller said, "We did it, I thought we were goners, but we won." and with that we started laughing and congratulating each other. Aerial combat is a strange mistress, she scares you at first but then she intoxicates you with her zest for life.

Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/16/16 11:43 PM

Banjoman, is this your A pilot? How long has it taken you to see combat action since entering the war?

I had a pretty good career going in a Bristol scout. No match for EIIIs but I was able to pick off a few Aviatiks like yours before getting too close one time. Nice report, and congrats!

H
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 12:17 AM

Banjoman, that was a very nice report, especially the description of the pilot and observers emotional ups and downs. Well done Sir!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 01:17 AM

HarryH, this is my 'A' pilot in the Intrepid Fliers group. He has flown 106 missions all but two of them in Aviatik B.1s. His first sortie in a C.1 we didn't see anything and then his second was his first taste of combat. Robert, thanks for the encouragement. You guys write such good reports and someday I hope to as well.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 03:17 PM

Banjoman, nice job! Great story.

Adalwolf Becker has transferred down the road a bit to a scout squadron Flying the EIII. On his last mission in an Aviatik, he and his observer were attacked 4 different times by Nieuport scouts. I landed back at base with a machine that looked like Swiss cheese but both of us were untouched. We will see how he does as a scout pilot.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 04:02 PM

.

Just had a very enjoyable cup of coffee as I caught up here, many thanks gents for sharing your ongoing sagas. Glad to see you have joined the battle Harry, best of luck to Arthur. Banjoman, thank you again for keeping the chart current. Not much to report on Sous-lieutenant Tremblay other than to say he has been plotting and planning on how he might escape his captors and make his way back to the friendly side of the mud. Time will tell if he manages the trick.

.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 06:57 PM

Hi Lou,
I think watching this may help your pilot escape while avoiding some of the pitfalls.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 07:06 PM

Fullofit, that was one of the funniest, most original movies I've seen in a long time.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 07:25 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 07:42 PM

Hey Banjoman,
When I hear of escaping the prison camp for some reason this movie comes to mind first, before The Great Escape.
Do you think we should add "captured" under pilot status column and instead of "days wounded" just have the heading of "duration" so it works for the wounded and captured pilots?

Thanks for keeping the scoreboard alive.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 08:31 PM

Fullofit, great idea and I'll make the change. Keep those ideas coming.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 09:15 PM

wave

Quade has a new hobby when the weather permits



hosting image
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 09:18 PM

Well, we could also add "grounded" due to weather or insufficient planes/pilots. We could also have a flag for 1 week if someone transfers to another unit. This way we can notice easily if something significant happened to other player's pilot.

It would make the scoreboard huge (and probably make it too difficult), but it would be cool to see small nationality flags, the image of the plane they're currently flying and the emblem of the unit, rank symbols. (Maybe even a red cross for pilots in hospital, prison bars for the captured - just little icons)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 09:20 PM

Originally Posted By: carrick58
wave

Quade has a new hobby when the weather permits


Carrick,
Is his last name Franklin by any chance?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/16 10:18 PM

Fullofit, those are all good ideas and I've wanted to do the same. I like the idea of a waiting time for the transfer to come through.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/20/16 11:26 AM

Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/20/16 12:15 PM

You just can't beat those early morning rising sun shots.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/20/16 02:56 PM

Lederhosen, how do you like the Fee?
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/20/16 06:42 PM

I love emm. You cant give the order to attack (for some reason) but if your leading the boys will go in with ya. Just gota be aware of the Aviatik CI's rear gunner though. And Fokker fodder....is the other way round.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/16 01:36 PM

Basil von Borste is back up again.




Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/16 02:43 PM

Adalwolf Becker
Jan. 19 and 20, 1916

I had my 1st mission in an EIII on the 19th. I lead a 3 plane flight to protect our observation balloon. Nearing the patrol area, we spotted 2 FE's. We had height and position advantage so I dove in like an idiot and got a burst of fire sent my was. I quickly realized my error and dove away. Once back on trail, my flight had one smoking and the other turning away. Coming up behind the smoking machine looking for a kill my engine sputtered! Fuel lines hit! I made a dead stick landing on our side of the lines. Our flight claimed 1 machine with mine damaged.

On the 20th we escorted 3 Aviatik's to bomb an airbase. All went well and no contact.

This war is heating up for Adalwolf!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/16 03:33 PM

MFair, it's heating up for everybody. I think the days of the low hanging fruit are over.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/16 04:28 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
MFair, it's heating up for everybody. I think the days of the low hanging fruit are over.


That is a great way to describe it Banjoman. The cadre of "A" pilots will soon give way me thinks.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/16 06:43 PM

I hope Arthur survives, I have great plans for him. I expect Ahren won't make it because I find the German planes harder to fly and fight.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/16 12:04 AM

Sergeant Arthur Much. RFC5. Abeele. 21st January 1916

Up early, what ho! Topping breakfast then off on a reccy patrol near Ypres. Bally well lost in the dark and lost our flight but pushed on regardless. Jolly fine skies. Dashed pretty! Had to buck up my ideas and take a good look around to see what Bosch was up to. Saw thousands of troops marching through Polygon Wood. toward the lines, and and a good number of supply trucks, too. Must be readying for a big push!

No sooner had I spotted our chaps arriving late to the party than I hear that infernal mosquito sound. Unmistakable, one of those infernal monoplanes of theirs. Spiller starts popping off his gun and I throw the old bird into a steep dive. Blasted Bosch puts a fair number of holes in our tail plane, but we get away with it. Landed on railway track well on our side of the lines. Waved goodbye to the Bosch blighter and flagged a lift home. Jolly adventures, what!?





Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/16 12:06 AM

...at least, I assume those brown lines are ranks of soldiers...? Bit hard to tell at 6000ft

H
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/16 04:14 AM

That's what it looks like to me. Nice report.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/16 09:07 AM




Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/16 03:05 PM

Harry and lederhosen, you boys be careful!

Adawolf Becker was flight leader with Berthold and von Althaus on a balloon busting mission near Cappy. Beautiful day. Crossing the lines we could see from the shelling our boys were taking why they wanted this balloon down. I dove in and had the balloon smoking. My flight finished it off.



Climbing up we reformed and headed home. Von Althaus was lagging behind a bit. Before crossing back over the lines I spotted 2 FE's headed southwest below us. I dove for the attack and Berthold followed. Not making the mistake I made the other day I positioned my machine away from the observer.



With a few well placed bursts, he exploded in flames!



Berthold and I landed back at the airfield and learned von Althaus had been wounded by machine gun fire during the balloon attack. I filed my claim.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/16 06:55 PM

Yep, dead astern is a safe place to be on a Fee.
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/23/16 03:15 PM

Grmpf!
...another one for the Dustbin. Especially sad, because the Just-for-Fun-Character "Friedrich Freiflug", whom I started playing by the DiD Centenary Rules also, to fill out the Bad Weather Waiting Time of my current Pilot "Berthold Bruchlandung", has already got the Blue Max spartasign
...and Berthold's Carreer just began to get interesting: He has already had some Flying Time in the Fokker E1, but his first Kill actually was made after that by a female Spy at the Guns of his Avi C on a Secret Agent Mission (Blechley's Mission Mod is just Super-cool copter ). She shot a French Ace, piloting a Nupe 10 in a fierce Dogfight.
The End, some Missions later, was not very sectacular, but very permanent LOL
I was in the Avi C again, roundabout 15 Meters behind another Nupe 10, whom my Gunner had already shot a lot of Holes into. We were on our Side at Treetop-Height, in a tight Curve at very low Speed, climbing, the Wind was very bumpy...
Well, we were too low, too slow, the Curve was too tight and the Wind was too bumpy. It is hard to make an Avi stall, but it is possible, apparently ;-)
Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/23/16 03:28 PM

BTW, can we change the first Post to display the new Points-System?
That was 1pt for each real Mission, 1pt per completed flying Hour, right?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/23/16 03:49 PM

I can't change the first page since it was started by Catknight. He doesn't appear to be participating anymore so I guess I could try and reach out to him and see if he will change it for us.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/23/16 05:31 PM

Journal Entry: January 23, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Today was an interesting day, we had our first official Balloon busting sortie. I've often wondered why we haven't been assigned more of these since the gasbags play such an integral part in the ground operations of the enemy. No matter, Roderic and I have done this before so we were accustomed to what was involved. After a quick spot of hot tea and toast, we made our way out to our buses. What greeted us there was quite a shock, the riggers were affixing these newfangled rocket contraptions to our outer struts. Needless to say, this vexed us greatly and we voiced our concerns to the Old man. He told us this was the new French weapon for destroying balloons developed by a French officer by the name of Le Prieur. We expressed our doubts about the efficacy of such a weapon; He blustered on about our need to be accepting of change and what not. Nothing to be done about it really, so off we flew. We arrived at our the targeted gasbag without incident and began our attack. As we both surmised, the rockets did nothing but make a lot of smoke and noise. We both managed to destroy the balloon but only after filling it with many of our bullets. Instead of these ridiculous rockets, we need some kind of incendiary bullet that would burn after being fired.



Posted By: Nietzsche

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/23/16 06:08 PM

Cool Pics, Banjo thumbsup
Interesting Fact on the Rockets, I did'nt know that. I always wondered, what the French meant with "Prieur"...
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/23/16 07:34 PM

Nietzsche, historically they weren't used until Verdun so WOFF gives them to us quite a bit earlier than they really were available. The trick I found out in my research was to attack lengthwise and you greatly improve your odds of success. I will try that next time.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/23/16 08:34 PM

Nice pics Banjoman and good history lesson.

Arthur completed his 10th flight, an uneventful reccy mission over the lines, south of Armetieres. As before, plenty of troops marching into the war zone from the east.

Arthur has heard a rumor about a new fighter squadron that is readying for action back in Blighty, and coming over to La France next month. He thinks he may be lucky enough to get a spot, flying the new DH2, so he's put in an application to join. We shall see if he's successful.....

H
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/23/16 08:37 PM

The problem with these rockets is that they really are harmless. I remember one mission where I hit it with a full salvo and my two wingmen also hit it with their rockets right after me. Didn't do much damage, except some brown smoke(???). Had to finish it off with guns.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/23/16 11:53 PM

Adalwolf Becker has had some exciting missions. Tasked to protect a balloon he was damaged in fight with some Nieuports and barely made a landed in a field. His next mission he got another FE and it has been confirmed. On his last Dawn Patrol of enemy lines his flight of 3 were attacked by 2 Nieuports and he managed to send one down.



Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/16 03:10 AM

Originally Posted By: Nietzsche
BTW, can we change the first Post to display the new Points-System?
That was 1pt for each real Mission, 1pt per completed flying Hour, right?


hehehe...I remembered that it was on page 104 and you posted it. Felt good to not forget for a change...lol.

Maybe:

Missions flown = 1pt
Hours flown = 1pt per full hour
Claims total = 1pt (wether confirmed or not)
victories conf. = 2pts (as per the rule 1 claim for every 3 victories in a single mission)

Promotion = 10pts per level.

n.b. perhaps a new rule...when you make Captain (or what ever in other nations) then you have to transfer to be a flight commander some where else.

.........

I forgot to fill in points. lol
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/16 03:16 AM

Dolf has been busy down in Alsace with scramble missions and airfield defense missions. Took down a few Nupes and was promoted to ObLt and twice awarded stunning bling.

I'll try and put more effort into my reports this week. I moved my WOFF rig to a small room and took it offline.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/16 10:14 AM

Hi everybody:

I'm sorry I haven't been following the thread. Life. attack

Per the last few pages, it looks like lederhosen's scoring system became official, so I've modified the front page accordingly. Did anything else change while I was gone? If so, I can clean up the intro.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/16 08:13 PM

CatKnight, I don't think anything else has changed and thanks for making that change.

Here is the latest status report. I know that in some historical squadrons they used a chalkboard to keep track of the pilots, so I've modified the report to look like a chalkboard and used a font that looks to me like handwriting with a piece of chalk. Hope everybody enjoys the new look.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/16 08:28 PM

Looks Good!
If you tallied my score for me, then I say Thank You salute

Hey, my squad actually has a different name at this time of the war. Maybe I should report it as FFA 9b instead of FA(A) 296b?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/16 08:36 PM

By all means do, if you want that part to be accurate.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/16 08:38 PM

Dolf just transfered from Colmar to Ensisheim/Reguisheim, all went well with no EA. The next day came and news came that Eduard Bohme, one of the squads leading HAs, died!

Apparently he decided to familiarize himself with our new airfield and crashed while taking off.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/16 08:51 PM

Love the new board Banjoman. thumbsup
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 12:30 AM

Excellent idea Banjoman. Thanks for doing this.
So, is the score automatic now?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 02:51 AM

Yeah, since about half the guys were inputting their scores I just decided to include them again. I went ahead and calculated the scores for everybody and will continue to do so if you don't want to do it yourself.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 03:07 AM

Banjoman,
I assume you are doing this in Excel or some other spreadsheet. There should be an easy way to calculate the score automatically, so that you don't have to waste your time (especially now that the scoring's been simplified).
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 03:16 AM

The new scoreboard is awesome, Banjoman. Thanks for doing the scoring, too!

H
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 03:22 AM

Right again Fullofit, I just didn't have the time to script out the formula. biggrin
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 06:10 AM

January 23-24, 1916
Auchel Aerodrome


What a dismal little place.

Auchel seems to me like the place that time forgot: The field looks like it was cleared before the war if there was ever a farm on our little hill at all. At least the staff does make an effort to keep it clear as weather permits. You cannot blame the worker for not wanting to go out in the winter, but when the alternative is the trench you would expect a little more effort. Hmph.

'The place that time forgot.' Every single one of our 'craft, barring an Avro trainer that apparently lives here for courier runs, is a monoplane: Morane-Saulniers to be precise. Everyone knows the monoplane is a dead end technology and the future belongs to two- or perhaps someday even three-wingers. Even the French in their Nieuports know this.

Nonetheless it will not do to remind my new partners of their inferiority on day 1, so I make the proper noises when meeting with Lieutenant Norton. Norton is a pleasant fellow, pleased as anything to have a 'real' Baskerville on his squad. Apparently he follows football and knows full well the team my father sponsors, the 'Hounds', went 18-5 in last year's rounds before most of our fielders joined the fighting. Good man, Norton. He should do nicely.

There are nine of us pilots in all, nine observers-gunners of course, and I'm told some thirty or forty staffers. Of the pilots, three are commoners - sergeants. That does not satisfy me of course but I am assured that their flying skills make up for their lack of pedigree. We shall see.

----

Morning patrol then, and Lieutenant Norton asks me to lead a flight consisting of myself and my new wingmate, Second Lieutenant O'Keefe. O'Keefe is an Irishman, poor thing, but at least he controls his accent most of the time. Norton feels that giving the two of us are own mission will give us a chance to learn each other's ways. Not really, though it did make me somewhat aware of the Morane's sad qualities.

For example, my entire rear is blocked by a solid beef of a man named Richardson. Lieutenant Richardson and I get along well enough though he has a tendency to prate and go on about his home life that could quickly grow old. Today, as I struggle with an underpowered aircraft and crawl towards the front, I welcome the background noise: He doesn't seem to need me to respond, just to be an audience.

Our mission today: Athles railyard. O'Keefe and I each have four 20 pounder Hale bombs. Needless to say my experience in dropping bombs from several thousand feet is zero, and despite our suggested instructions I think I shall have to get quite close to have any chance at all. There is a third flier, a Sergeant Foster, on the same mission as ours but following a different flight path. So long as he doesn't get in the way.

Though tedious, slow and filled with Richardson's prattle, our advance to Athles is smooth. We begin dropping low towards the rail, but before I can get too far my gunner uncocks his gun. His prattle stops mid-sentence: "Eindecker!"

I can't see a thing behind me and begin to turn, but Richardson starts shrieking like a banshee. "Hold still! I need to aim!" Well then. For the next minute or two he trades shots with the Kraut and then shouts "He's done!"

Time for the railyard again. I can see it falling off to my right and look just in time to see O'Keefe's bombs fall short. I bank in at about 2,000 feet - no altimeter on a Morane of course - and aim for what I expect to be the main buildings. There's a satisfying explosion behind me, but less than a minute Richardson reports: "Missed!"

Nothing for it. I signal that we head home and turn for the front. We're steadily climbing as I don't want to deal with German fire over the lines. Richardson's gone quiet on me, a sign I will soon learn means trouble. "What's amiss?"

"I think O'Keefe is buying it."

"Eh?" Sure enough, over my lower left wing I saw O'Keefe appear but more or less perpendicular to my flight path. Then another plane appeared after him. At first I thought it might have been one of the Nieuports sent to escort us, but no...this had the characteristic single wing of a failed design. Eindecker.

"Hold on!" I called and banked sharply (for a Morane) towards the fight, hoping to at least distract the Kraut. By the time I finished my turn though they were gone, both quite gone - whether I simply missed them, or they camoflauged into the ground clutter ... Richardson couldn't find them either, so after a minute or so I turned for home.

As it turns out, O'Keefe beat his Eindecker and landed at an aerodrome closer to the front for repairs, shaken but quite well. Even Sergeant Foster bagged one though a bullet tore his shoulder in the process. Richardson filed a report for our own Hun, then in a bit of legerdemain that is apparently more common than you'd think the three of us wound up backing each other's claims.

I do not think I will ever love the Morane, but it was a fine enough first day.



Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 08:36 AM

Grr. I just realized I gave Brent the wrong rank. I'll fix that.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 12:10 PM

just when I was thinking "this Squad is getting rather stale" FA4b finally got a new Bus to ride in. Plus a new promation to go with it!!.









The down side is going after rear firing 2 seaters now...as I found out very quickly.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 02:25 PM

I love the Pfalz EIII
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 03:21 PM

CatKnight, the Morane can be quite the killer if handled properly. The observer has a great field of fire and that makes up for a lot of its shortcomings.

It's good to see you back in the fray.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 04:38 PM

Mudwasp and Lederhosen, how is the visibility in the Pfalz? Does it fly any better than the Fokker EIII? I know it cannot be any worse but I do like the view in the Fokker.

Welcome back CatKnight. It seems the Centinary Challenge is heating up. Personally, I love these so much I have not flown anything but for over a year.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/16 05:16 PM

well looking up is a pain because of the wing. I think it flys better than the EIII.

However, the rotary engine is just as brittle as the Fokker. One hit and the fight is over.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/16 04:14 PM

MFair, I pick the Pfalz EIII over the Fokker EIII, or any of the Fokker E series.

Pros;
faster in level flight,
faster 'no damage' dive speed too
more ammo than the early Es,
better maneuverability,
it wants to climb, the Fokkers can struggle to gain altitude,
takes wing hits better...just my opinion...but a single bullet to the wing has NOT put me in a death spiral,

Cons;
Lack of visibility from the upper wing
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/16 09:35 PM

Sgt Arthur Much, Abeele RFC-5, 26th January 1916

Ruddy Hun! Bombing mission today, to hit a railyard just north of Lens. I lead the flight with Wilbert along to help. We arrive without incident, I drop my eggs, complete and utter miss, but Wilbert's load does the trick! I see two or three buildings on fire, good show! We make the turn for home. A mile short of the lines I hear that infernal buzzing noise. I look back and see three Eindeckers closing on us. As I put our kite into a shallow dive to try to pick up speed I hear an almighty hullaballoo behind us. Looking back I see one Eindecker in flames and another craft in a similar state. Unfortunately I no longer see Wilbert and assume the hun must have collided with him. No time to dwell on it. Two more of the blighters are after me. I make it to the lines and head straight for one of our balloons. My observer rattles off a few shots but then our pursuers decide that enough is enough and they leave us in peace. Poor Wilbert. Nothing for it but to carry on.

(sorry for the lack of screen caps!)

H
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/16 09:58 PM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
MFair, I pick the Pfalz EIII over the Fokker EIII, or any of the Fokker E series.


I don't know, that second gun on EIV comes in pretty handy. In fact, I've noticed recently that it is no longer this easy to shoot down EIII's, nor do I lose so much control after getting hit. Maybe the Devs tweaked it with the latest patch, or maybe it's just me. wacky
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/16 01:50 AM

That second gun on the EIV is sweet, but that second row of pistons doubles the "ramdom" engine failures in my experiences.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/16 02:06 AM

Thanks for the tips folks. I am in the EIII so will have to make a living at it until June. Let's hope I live that long.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/16 02:30 AM

Don't get suckered into turn fighting a Nupe and you'll do fine, MFair
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/16 02:35 PM

Salute

I actualy got the wind up today. here I was thinking the Pfalz EIII is the cats meow, then I got my Butt handed back to me.

FFA4b was to do a show bombing some airfield Isilsomething (that just shows how serious I took this one). I was top cover for 3 Aviatiks. Coool I think. Off we go and go over at 2400m. A Be2 here, a Be2 there....no big deal. Flakfuer a bit hot in some places. Then we reach target, no one home, and the boys start bunging the bombs...ONE at a time!! This is going to take forever I'm thinking, and 16km over the front....not good.

And so it had to happen, two N10's thought they would come home to land when they spotted us. So it's power on and off they go climbing for us. Hmmmmm, not to bad, it's going to take a while to get up to us. So I just circle and wait...and wait....and wait. Finally the Aviatiks decide to turn for home. The N10's are still lower but I can almost see the pilots faces by now.

1st idea...stay above the Aviatiks and let them shoot the N10's to bits. But what the...haaaay! they turn back to have another run at the airfield. Now the N10's are just below us and any real advantage I had is gone. So I pick one out and plan to zoom and boom him. Well this bus aint to good at it as I find out. Now I'm co-alt with one N10 and the other is almost there too.

Now comes the shock....I don't turn as well as the N10 after all, plus all this turning is costing me altitude...yikes! I look around for the others but they are quite far away form us and a lot higher...so no help from them, poo.

I can't get on the tail of this one N10 but out of desparation a send off a burst in his general direction and it works...he pulls away from me but his friend is now on my 6!! turn turn turn, this is getting me nowhere. They cant shoot at me and I cant shoot either, but I'm miles from home. I like this pilot and I dont want to loose him. And this is now when I start getting the wind up, and felt a little panic building up inside of me. I knew this was a God awfull sh...y mess I'm in and I can also see that I'm loosing the battle. I've ran out of ideas. Diving wont help they will just catch up. They climb better and turn a little better tooo. Crap

Then one makes a mistake... he stalls his bus, so he was flying over the limit as well. Down he goes but the other is still after me. I try the squirt trick again and he pulls out of the turn letting me make a dash for home. I know it wont take long for them pick up my scent again...especially as my pants are brown by now, leaving plenty of scent to follow!. Things look good at first and I get my hopes up for about 30sec, then I see they are faster than my bus. I cant run, I'm going to have to duke it out.

So I turn sharply to the right and fly straight in headfirst with my MG blazing. This seems to of worked and the rear most N10 runs for home. Turn fight with the other one again, left, right.....He almost has me....and then he breaks off. I can't beleave my eyes..its true and I'm not going to ask him whats wrong either!

Whew..I make it back, and just as I turn my engine off, the others arrive to land.
That was the worst fight I've had to date, and what a wake up call it was too.

danke
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/16 02:53 PM

Great story, that was probably just a small taste of what those guys really went through.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/16 04:01 PM

Yep, great story lederhosen! I like the Pfalz over the Fokker as well, but you definitely don't want to understand the baddies.

Last night I flew what I expected to be a relaxing Airco DH.2 vs. two Fokker Eindeckers before bed. Better, one of the E.IIIs decided he just wasn't feeling it today and went home.

Immelman or Boelcke flew the other one. He chased me up and down the front for 10 or 15 minutes before simply... leaving. Not quite what I had in mind!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/16 06:31 PM

Journal Entry: January 27, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

The last two days have been maddening, I can only assume that the brass hats don't think we are dying quick enough to satisfy them. We were sent yesterday to attack the Hun aerodrome at Ghistelles, which we had never done before, so off we charged like the gallant knights of the sky that we are. We returned only to be told by someone sitting behind a desk that our performance wasn't quite up to 'snuff' for them. So, this morning we are ordered to attack once again. I am reminded of Henry V and his stirring, "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead." That is my favorite of Shakespeare's works and here I am about to relive it, interesting how life works like that. Anyway, we took off with the same task and just like yesterday our efforts were apparently not up to some brass hats idea of how an aerodrome should be attacked. Fortunately, we were told that we would not have to attack it a third time tomorrow. If we are going to start being ordered to attack ground targets then they must allow us time to develop the proper tactics. I could tell right from the start that we weren't going to be effective. We can't just fly around and take pot shots at things on the ground, that will work. We must develop some plan of attack that will maximize the strengths of our machines. I love a good problem, something for me to ponder over during the evening hours. On another topic, today Flight A finally joined the fray. I've been wondering when they were going to join this lovely little war. I've included a photograph of them actually engaging the enemy.





------------------------------------------------------------
You can actually see shell casings in the first screenshot. I've never seen that before in WOFF.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/16 06:49 PM

Journal Entry: September 30, 1915
Bertincourt

The skies around Bertincourt have become extremely dangerous for those of us poor souls flying Aviatiks. The hated French have deployed a brand new aeroplane made by Nieuport that is causing us much heartache. Just yesterday, we lost Stegman and Seidel. I watched the whole thing and there wasn't a thing I could do to help. I had tears of impotent rage streaming down my face as I watched my comrades plunge to their deaths. I am determined to get into a scout somehow. I spoke to Hauptman von Schoenebeck about my concerns and once again he told me to calm down and be patient. I know he won't approve a transfer so I must bide my time. I can't believe that one of the best Jastas in the luftstreitkräfte doesn't have the newest machines. I need to stop whining, my duty is here and here is where I will perform it. I've included a photograph of our escort engaging one of these Nieuports.

Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/16 08:34 PM

thumbsup casings and report
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/30/16 05:03 PM

Journal Entry: October 2, 1915
Bertincourt

We lost Braun and Behl today. I don't understand why Hauptman von Schoenebeck would send one of us out alone. He ordered Schwarm Eins and Zwei to bomb a French aerodrome today and sent one aeroplane in Eins and three in Zwei. Why wouldn't he send two and two? Once again, I sat and watched as Braun and Behl were overwhelmed by two French Nieuports and there was nothing we could do about it. What makes this situation so bad, is we have no way of knowing if our blood and sweat are achieving anything. On a side note, I was promoted today. What should have been a joyous occasion was tarnished by the death of two more comrades.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/30/16 07:36 PM

Dolf has had a busy week down in Alsace with the FFA 9b. Another Pfalz EIII pilot and a Fokker EII pilot transferred into the squad. Lt. Paul and the five Hauptmann sit around and admire the lone Aviatik CI, but none will fly it, it just sits there awaiting a pilot.

Several airfield defense missions flown, along with a scramble and a lone wolf. Dolf was ambushed by two Nupe10s on the lone wolf mission near Colmar and managed to down both of them, but no one believed him at the claims office. He had 3 claims confirmed by his squadmates on three separate airfield defense missions.
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/31/16 02:31 AM

SGT. Brent Baskerville
RFC-3, Morane Saulnier
January 30, 1916


I have never been so insulted in all my life! I don't think I even want to go back up with these braggarts and fools!

I've had a total of three flights and thought I did tolerably well. In the second match on the 25th instant we attacked the airfield at Haubourdin: 3 of us led by Lieutenant Norton. Our Moranes flew over the lines at well - I'm not really sure how high as the French builders do not believe in altimeters - but low enough to clearly see the workers below us trying to push gear and an unlucky two-seater out of harm's way. I made sure to swing behind Lt. Norton as I dropped my bombs this time, but Norton guessed wrong as well so all four of our bombs missed.

One day off and on the 27th instant we were off to spot for artillery NE of Loos on a brilliant day.


Fortunately the Krauts did not choose to contest us, so we arrived home.

That afternoon, while sitting with my mates in the officers lounge, we heard the low drone of engines followed by screams and shouts: The Germans launched a counter-raid! Bombs fell across the field. The only tent to take a hit was, of course, mine.

That wasn't the insult. You can't hate them for doing their jobs.

No, the insult came when Lt. Norton took me aside, explained there was an irregularity with my paperwork, and taken that with the German raid perhaps it was better if I messed and supped with the inferior officers for the time being. With sergeants for Christ's sake!

There are three sergeants plus myself, and I was greeted with mostly indifference and a complete lack of interest in my family's pedigree. Only Sergeant Foster was civil, and that because he was part of the attack where we all earned kills on the 24th. Apparently on that scale we are tied for second, trailing only 2nd Lieutenant O'Keefe with three.

Wonderful. I'm equal in skill to a sergeant.

I will have to begin plotting my escape - and my revenge - from these infernal men.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/31/16 03:11 PM

Here is the latest status report. By the way, if you don't want to calculate your score that's fine, I now have a formula that will do it for me.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/31/16 07:24 PM

Here are the September News of the World for Intrepid Fliers:

September 1
The German Government accepted the United States' demands for limitation of submarine activity.
September 2
On the Eastern Front German forces captured Grodno and attacked Vilna.
September 3
The Second Battle of the Isonzo ended with an Austro-Hungarian victory over Italian forces.
September 4
The British passenger ship Hesperian was torpedoed by German submarine U-20 near Fastnet off the Irish coast.
September 5
Tsar Nicholas II took personal control of Russia's armies at the military headquarters In Mogilev (Mahilyow) in Eastern Belarus.
September 6
US newspapers published secret documents reporting that Austrian Ambassador Dr Konstantin Dumba was involved in a scheme to sabotage the American munitions industry.
September 7
Russian troops began a counter-offensive on the Sereth River at Tarnopol in Galicia.
September 8
Two Zeppelins successfully attacked London, dropping bombs on the docks of the capital city.
September 9
American Secretary of State Robert Lansing requested that the Austro-Hungarian government recall its ambassador Dr Konstantin Dumba as his presence was no longer acceptable.
September 10
Four Allied warships rescued more than 4,000 Armenians from Musa Dagh in Armenia and took them to Port Said in Egypt where they remained in Allied refugee camps until the end of the war.
September 12
The three-masted Norwegian sailing ship Bien was sunk in the North Sea by German submarine U-6.
September 13
Following another Zeppelin raid on London, Admiral Sir Percy Scott was tasked by the First Lord of the Admiralty Arthur Balfour to establish the London Air Defense Area to defend England's capital city from the increasing threat of air attack.
September 15
German submarine U-6 was attacked and sunk by British submarine HMS E16 off Stavanger in Norway.
September 16
German troops captured Pinsk in Belarus on the Eastern Front.
September 18
German forces capture Vilna (now Vilnius) but suffered heavy casualties.
September 19
The Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive ended when the Russian lines collapsed and the Russian troops retreated.
September 21
The Bulgarian government ordered a partial mobilization of its forces.
Greek Premier Eleftherios Venizelos asked for a guarantee of 150,000 British and French troops as a condition of Greece's intervention in the war.
September 22
French airmen dropped bombs on the Royal Palace at Stuttgart in Germany.
September 23
The Greek Government ordered precautionary mobilization as a "measure of elementary prudence" in view of Bulgarian actions.
September 24
The French and British Governments informed the Greeks that they would be prepared to send the troops requested.
September 25
The Great Allied Offensive focused on Loos and Champagne when the British 1st Army, commanded by General Douglas Haig, attacked German positions at the start of the Battle of Loos.
September 26
General Sir Archibald James Murray was appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff replacing Sir James Wolfe-Murray who had resigned the previous day.
September 27
Greek premier Venizelos obtained the secret consent of King Constantine I to the proposed Allied expedition to Salonika.
September 28
Austrian Ambassador Dr Dumba was recalled from the United States.
The Greek Government refused the Allied offer of troops.
September 29
French troops attacked in Champagne and progressed towards Tahure on the Western Front.
September 30
Lord Derby assumed responsibility for recruiting in Britain.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/31/16 07:26 PM

January News of the World for Warbirds Rising:

January 1
Under the command of Canadian General Charles Macpherson Dobell, British forces captured Yaunde in the Cameroons.
January 2
The P&O British cargo ship SS Geelong sank in the Mediterranean Sea following a collision with a British steamer. She was on a voyage from Sydney via Port Said to Gibraltar and London with a general cargo which included tea and lead.
January 4
A relief force started out from Ali Al-Gharbi to save the besieged defenders of Ku-al­Amara.
January 6
The Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad began along the banks of the Tigris River between the Anglo­Indian Tigris Corps and the Ottoman Sixth Army.
January 5
An Inter-Allied Conference was held in Rome.
January 7
British forces captured the forward Turkish positions at Sheikh Sa'ad.
January 8
Under the command of Lieutenant General Sir Fenton John Aylmer the Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad ended - the first in a series of assaults by the Tigris Corps to attempt to break through the Ottoman lines to relieve the besieged garrison at Kut-al-Amara.
January 9
The Allied evacuation of Helles marked the end of the Gallipoli Campaign which resulted in an Allied defeat and an overwhelming victory for the Ottoman Empire.
January 10
General Sir Archibald Murray succeeded Sir Charles Munro as Commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.
January 11
Corfu was occupied by Allied troops.
Russian forces began an offensive into Armenia.
January 12
An Armistice was drawn up between Montenegro and Austria.
January 13
The Battle of Wadi took place. The conflict was an unsuccessful attempt by Lieutenant General Sir Fenton John Aylmer to relieve beleaguered forces under siege by the Ottoman Army at Kut-al­Amara.
January 14
Lieutenant General Sir Percy lake was appointed as Commander-in-Chief in Mesopotamia, replacing Sir John Nixon.
January 16
French General Maurice-Paul­Emmanuel Sarrail assumed command of all Allied forces in Salonika.
January 17
Montenegro surrendered to the Central Powers.
January 20
The Armistice between Montenegro and Austria ceased as negotiations broke down.
January 21
As part of the attempt to relieve Kut al Amara, a British assault against Turkish positions was launched at the Battle of Hanna and was once again repulsed.
January 23
Austro-Hungarian forces captured Scutari on the Southern Front.
British forces attacked Senussi tribesmen at Halazin near the Mediterranean seaport of Mersa Matruh.
January 24
German officer Reinhard Scheer was promoted to Admiral and given control of the High Seas Fleet.
January 25
The personal envoy of US President Wilson, Edward House, met with German officials in Berlin on a mission for peace.
January 26
A communique was sent from Sir Charles Townshend to the Kut Garrison in order to boost the flagging morale of his garrison troops.
January 27
The Military Service Act 1916 was passed by the British Parliament to introduce conscription. The law required that all unmarried men and widowers 18-41 years of age without dependents should make themselves available for national service.
January 28
Louis Dembitz Brandeis was controversially nominated by PreSident Wilson to become a member of the US Supreme Court.
January 29
Paris was bombed by German Zeppelins.
January 31
East Anglia and the Midlands were bombed in a raid by several German airships.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/31/16 10:38 PM

I'll let you tally the score, Thanks!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/01/16 03:22 AM

Journal Entry: January 31, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

By all rights, I should be lying dead in a smoldering heap right now, but yet I live. Today, I finally met an adversary that by all accounts should have been victorious and had he not made one fatal mistake, he would have been. Ronald, Roderic, and I were ordered to fly an escort mission for a lone BE.2c that was tasked with an artillery shoot. We had just reached the front when a pair of Fokkers dove out of the clouds making a play for the old BE. We dove and placed ourselves between the Huns and our charge and that was enough to convince one of the Huns to turn and scurry home. Turning and running for home is blood in the water for me and the lads, so naturally, we gave chase. The other Fokker turned to chase us, but he was far enough behind so that he no longer was a threat. Eventually, I caught the first Hun and gave him a burst, which sent him into a spin. I went into a wide turn so that I could watch the first Fokker, but in doing so I enabled the second to close the distance and I was forced to change my attention from the first to the second. I made the almost fatal mistake of assuming this Hun would fall as quickly as the ones before. This pilot was made of sterner stuff and twice he managed to get onto my tail, but I flitted out of the way just in time. At one point in our duel, we were circling each other in a tight circle with my enemy just opposite of me, I looked at him and noticed that he was staring back at me. At that moment, it became a test of wills, who would break this dance first. We both knew that who broke first would probably not survive this encounter. We twisted and twisted until the strain was almost more than I could bear, it was at that moment he made his fatal error. He broke for home and in retrospect, I should have let him go, but my blood was up and I turned and gave chase. I caught him and gave him a good burst after which his engine burst into flames. It saddened me greatly to see such a valiant foe die in that manner. I only hope that when my time comes, it comes quickly.



Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/01/16 04:00 PM

Nice tale, Banjoman. Your fight reminded me a little of Hawker's duel with von Richthofen.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/01/16 04:40 PM

Thanks, I actually felt bad about finishing him off.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/01/16 07:46 PM

Hope He is confirmed and is an HA !

Dolf also had a scare today. He was patrolling the front lines with three EIIs and wound up in a scrap with four N10s. The trouble came when the DF descended to mountain top level. He happened to be over enemy lines and the army guys let him have it, they were actually shooting down on him as he chased the last Nupe home.

Fortunately he wasn't wounded and his engine wasn't hit, but he had to fly home with the stick jammed all the way to the left. Landing was abit spooky, but he made it down and filed a claim as did two of the EII pilots. One lucky Nupe might have made it home
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/01/16 08:34 PM

He was, and it turned out to be my good buddy Gustav Leffers. I've shot him down about a dozen times and by now we are on a first name basis. There was one spooky thing, I saw this crawling out of the burning wreckage.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/16 02:49 AM

Journal Entry: October 6, 1915
Bertincourt

Today's sortie was an unmitigated disaster from the very beginning and I am fortunate to being writing this report. We had the pleasure of having an escort of a lone Fokker, so I felt that we would manage to complete our mission without interference from those damned French and their Nieuports. We had just arrived at our patrol sector when two Nieuports arrived which sent our escort scurrying for home. I was completely shocked at the cowardice of the man and sent some choice phrases his way as he fled the scene. I signaled Koehler and notified Hans to get ready. While I was watching the French approach, a brilliant idea came to me. When they were almost in range, I quickly turned toward them as if I were attacking them. My sudden move threw both Frenchmen into confusion which actually allowed Hans to fire a couple of bursts into the Nieuport that dove under us. Hans must have hit him hard because he immediately disengaged and headed home. After dealing with the first Frenchman, I quickly surveyed the sky and saw the other one was chasing Koehler. I was shouting "Turn" as loud as I could, but to no avail. In no time, Koehler's machine burst into flames and they plunged earthward. The Frenchman turned towards me wanting seconds, but he wasn't expecting an enemy so aggressive. I immediately turned towards him which once again confused him and that gave Hans the opportunity to start firing. From that point one, I was the one chasing him and eventually Hans hit his engine. He was able to pull away and crash landed just on the enemy's side of the lines. I filed a claim, but I don't have much hope in it being confirmed because Hauptman von Schoenebeck was about a kilometer away.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/16 04:31 PM

rofl I know a few French Aces like that.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/06/16 05:42 PM

Sgt. Arthur Much, RFC18, February 5th 1916.

Jolly happy to be out of that beastly BE2C. Not a bad old kite to fly, but it seems like a flame to a moth, so to speak, attracting those beastly single-wingers that the Bosch keeps flitting about in up there.

Well, I'm in new digs now with a jolly fine new craft. This DH2 thingy has a wonderful forward view, and I have my own gun, too! I'd better learn how to shoot the bally thing I suppose. I'll potter around locally for a bit while I get used to her, then off to the front to extract a spot of revenge on those little brown buzzing mosquitoes!

H
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/16 02:49 AM

Oh Man, The DH2 is deadly at this time of the war!
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/16 05:49 AM

SGT. Brent Baskerville
RFC-3, Morane-Saulnier
February 6, 1916



Lieutenant Norton took me aside today and complimented my bombing skills. I should be grateful, and certainly I enjoy recognition as well as the next bloke, but has that brought me back to my rightful place in the officer's mess? Of course not.

I hounded the adjutant, who was of no help whatsoever, but at least he did intercede with the Lieutenant who let me take 24 hours on February 3 to drive to the nearest command and plead my case.

Drive? Only commoners drive. So I asked Sergeant Foster to accompany me and he agreed. Once in Loos he went off to find a maypole party or something while I spoke with a Captain Hart.

Hart said all the right words of course, apologizing for the irregularity of my commission, promising to look into how it was defaced with the words 'Bugger the King', agreed the allegation that I wrote that words was ridiculous, and so forth. I asked him at least for a note to show Norton to let him know this was all rubbish and he demurred. "We must not go against the system," the loaf said.

Sigh.

I did get a number of flights in this week - all bombing, mostly harassing the front line troops. Usually Norton led himself. I certainly can't fault his bravery (though perhaps his sense) as he seemed to take pleasure in flying low over the lines to get a good look at everyone. Especially artillery duels.



I have said Norton complimented my aim. It's improving steadily. On the 4th instant I dropped my two 20 pounders on a hangar at I believe Haubourdin and my observer, Richardson, said I inflicted shocking damage. Earlier today I helped pummel a railyard into submission.



Naturally this has stirred the Germans out of their beds. In those same two flights Fokker eindeckers showed up to challenge us. Fortunately both times we were escorted by Frogs flying their Nieuport 10s. Beautiful aircraft. It seems both times all but one of the Eindeckers would be lured into a duel, and I watched one unfold below me: Two of them versus our two Nieuports engagine in spins and turns that would probably snap the Parasol in two. Brave warriors, these French, and I'm sure they would have cleared up any paperwork about my commission long since.

Still, that would leave one chasing us vainly. A few shots from Richardson or another would send them packing. That is how Lt. Norton earned his first kill.



I have cried about my fate, with some justification I might add, but other than this startling irregularity about my rank Norton is quite the civil bloke. For example, once I just could not bear the tedium of our slow, spiraling landing platform and had some fun. He didn't say a word.



Still, I hope this war ends soon, or failing that I am allowed to transfer out. Perhaps another squadron will remember my rank. Perhaps another squadron will give me a chance to earn some glory. No one cares how many hangars you destroy. Other planes are another matter, and I would like to shoot down a few more Eindeckers before this is through.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/16 03:06 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/16 03:07 PM

Fellow pilots, at the beginning of each month it is my intention to post the report of our fallen comrades.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/16 04:09 PM

Excellent. I was wondering what happened to that section last time.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/09/16 04:09 PM

Journal Entry: October 12, 1915
Bertincourt

Those naval pilots with their Fokkers are rank cowards and I'll say as much if I should ever meet one. Today Manfred and I were to fly an artillery shoot and were told we could expect an escort from the naval unit to the north of us. We were told to expect three of the new Fokkers, so we felt sure we would be able to perform our mission without interruption. As it turned out, we were both right and wrong. We had just arrived when I spotted two Nieuports sneaking along below us attempting to get behind us for an attack. I turned and fully expected to see the Fokkers diving to engage, but instead they turned as one and ran for home. Hans and I just shook our heads and prepared for the enemies attack, but much to our surprise the French instead turned and began to chase our fleeing comrades. The cowardly naval pilots had inadvertently drawn the enemy away and we were able to complete our mission unmolested. I can only guess that the French must have assumed that the machines fleeing would be the easier prey. Anyway, we made it back to our aerodrome safely and I can honestly say that I don't really care what happened to those cowards.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/09/16 09:49 PM

At least they're consistent. When I encounter Eindeckers, usually one runs while the other one turns to fight. Go figure.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/10/16 03:03 PM

HarryH, good luck with the DH2. It is one of my favorites. Nice stories gents. Thanks for the update Banjoman! Still digging the new chalk board!

Adalwolf Becker had a rough day. One a line patrol with 2 other flight mates they ran into some RE's. Coming up below and behind one, thinking he was safe he had his butt handed to him. The savvy pilot pulled up and to the left and his observer did the rest. In the hospital for 3 weeks!





Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/11/16 06:04 PM

I think I'll be creating another DID pilot here, if there's still room for more. smile

I'll have to read the instructions carefully and decide which period I'll be joining.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/11/16 06:22 PM

I was thinking of starting an Intrepid pilot.
Had one before, but screwed up the naming by not splitting the two time periods into their own alphabetical order system. So what letter should I start with IF I create a pilot for the earlier time period?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/11/16 06:23 PM

Jump right in Hasse, the water is warm. biggrin There is plenty of room for another pilot and we would be glad to have you. You have two choices, you can start a pilot in the earlier group which still is in 1915 or in the later group which currently is in February 1916. I have a pilot in both groups and I'm really enjoying the slower pace. One interesting aspect of this DID that I've really enjoyed is the fact that you have to really learn your plane since they are all so weak and under-powered. There aren't really any super planes yet.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/11/16 06:24 PM

Why not just start him with 'A' and we'll just act like it never happened. biggrin
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/11/16 06:37 PM

OK....that is easy enough for me to handle.

MFair....you and those two sweaters!!!!!!
Hope you get a pretty Nurse!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/11/16 07:31 PM

Originally Posted By: MudWasp
OK....that is easy enough for me to handle.

MFair....you and those two sweaters!!!!!!
Hope you get a pretty Nurse!


Yep. I hate those things. I am really enjoying the EIII. Once you learn its habits, mostly bad, its a fun plane to fly. Like Banjoman says. You really have to learn it. Good to see you making another pilot.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/16 03:00 PM

I want to fly the really old crates for a change, so I've decided to join the Intrepid Fliers group in October 1915. I still haven't decided my pilot's nationality, but hopefully I'll be having a stroke of inspiration soon. smile

I have a question about the rules: are points awarded for the first three training missions?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/16 04:13 PM

Yes, as long they show up in your logbook then you will get points for them.

Edit: We could use some more Germans in the Intrepid group, if that interests you.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/16 04:18 PM

I'm trying to decide between a French and German pilot. smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/16 06:48 PM

French would also be good since we only have one in the Intrepid group.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/16 07:18 PM

I have decided on a German pilot. It wasn't an easy choice, but I feel the most comfortable with the Huns, because I know their military and aviation history in the Great War much better than any other nation. I almost picked a French pilot though! Maybe next time. It's a long war, after all. smile

Another question regarding the rules: is it *absolutely* necessary to start in the NCO ranks? I wouldn't want all of my pilots to follow the same relatively uncommon route of climbing from the lowest grades up to a company/battalion officer. So I was thinking about starting as a Leutnant. As you know, this is allowed in the other DID campaign.

If that's not possible, I'll just do it by the book. smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/16 08:27 PM

I don't want to be a killjoy, but do you mind starting at the lower rank. I think it models nicely that this is a long war and your pilot is just starting out. One other benefit, is you won't automatically get the nicer planes and that has been fun simulating that as well. In all honesty, we should have started even lower because I can tell you that since I've maxed out the rank with my Warbirds pilot, there isn't anything to look forward to as far as promotions are concerned. Anyway, I hope you don't mind that too much.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/16 09:23 PM

No, I don't mind it too much. smile

However, in real life, most pilots were officers to begin with. Some *did* start from the other ranks and managed to make considerable progress, mostly because casualties suffered during the war made the air forces look for suitable people in circles that wouldn't even have been considered in normal times (early 20th century world wasn't very egalitarian or democratic), but it wasn't nearly as common as it is in these flight sims. My thinking of starting as a Leutnant reflected this historical background.

In WOFF, promotion rate seems to depend on how many kills you can get. My experience is that two-seater pilots with few kills get promoted considerably slower than fighter pilots with plenty of victories. So in this campaign, I intend to keep flying two-seaters as long as my pilot lasts.

Anyway, I'll be joining the campaign tomorrow! smile
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/16 09:27 PM

Sgt. Arthur Much, RFC 18. February 12th 1916.

Long, long defensive patrol today. Yet again, no sign of the Bosch, except for a pair of two seaters over the lines west of Bapaume, and they were too bloody high above us to be worth the chase. Boring, boring, boring!





Dramatic skies over Flanders, February stormclouds gathering
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/13/16 12:01 AM

Thought I'm fighting Immelmann until second green Fokker showed up.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/13/16 10:08 AM

Salute

well thats one down and one to go.





yes. Bazz bought it this morning. Silly thing war.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/13/16 01:11 PM

Meet Offizier-Stellvertreter August Ege from Stuttgart, Kingdom of Württemberg, the newest pilot of Feldflieger-Abteilung 71:



Ege is a native of Württemberg and comes from a lower middle class family living in Stuttgart. He became interested in all things mechanical already at a young age, and through his father secured a job at the automobile factory of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft in his home city, working and studying there to become a mechanic. Like countless other young German men, Ege joined the army to perform his compulsory military service. Ege discovered that the army way of life suited him, and thanks to his skills as a mechanic, he secured himself a position as a non-commissioned officer in the Kraftfahrtruppen (Motor Vehicle Troops), a brand new technical formation of the German army, which otherwise still relied almost completely on horse transport, like all the other European armies.

When the war broke out in August 1914 and the peacetime formations of the German army were mobilized into proper armies (Armee), Ege, now an experienced professional NCO, was sent to Etappen-Kraftwagen-Park 5 (Army Motor Vehicle Park 5) under the headquarters (AOK, Armee-Oberkommando) of 5. Armee. This army, under the command of General Wilhelm von Preußen, the Crown Prince of Prussia, participated in the German attack in the West from the very first days of the war and fought fierce battles against French forces in the Verdun sector.

Ege and his comrades were terribly busy in those bloody weeks of late summer and autumn of 1914. The army didn't have enough motor vehicles available, and the ones that they had were soon breaking down under the constant strain of almost round-the-clock use in difficult wartime conditions. After the first four or five weeks of warfare, over half of the army's motor vehicles were out of action due to mechanical failures. Factories were not making enough replacement parts and new vehicles, and in late 1914, the first fuel shortages also occurred.



As the weeks went by and the war showed no signs of being over anytime soon, Ege became more and more frustrated in his work at the Motor Vehicle Park. He became acquainted with some men serving in Flugzeug-Park 5 (5th Army Aircraft Park) who sparked in Ege an interest in military aviation. He had been fascinated by airplanes since first hearing about them many years ago, but until now automobiles had been his main interest. However, with the war in the West turning into a muddy struggle in the trenches and the motor vehicle troops being thus reduced to an even lesser role than before, a frustrated Ege was soon writing his first application for a transfer into pilot training.

It took some time before his superiors accepted Ege's application. They were reluctant to let a capable mechanic out of their hands, but Ege made a good case and finally his transfer to the Fliegertruppen (Flying Troops) of the German army was accepted in the spring of 1915.

The next stop in Ege's military career was the flying school (Fliegerschule) of the Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke (DFW) at Leipzig-Lindenthal. Ege spent several months there learning the basic skills of a military pilot, flying different types of two-seaters, mostly DFW types, as befitted the factory's own flying school. He was a good student (though not the best in his class) and was promoted to the warrant officer rank of Offizier-Stellvertreter when he finally graduated as a pilot in October 1915.


A DFW B.I trainer.

Things were looking pretty good for August Ege as he started with his brand new Aviatik C.I two-seater on his transfer flight to his new unit, Feldflieger-Abteilung 71, which was based at Frescaty in the Verdun sector, under AOK 5, his old command...
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/13/16 03:17 PM

Welcome aboard Hasse, it's going to be really nice reading your well written stories. Lederhosen, I'm sorry to see Basil finally met his match. At this time the Fee is a formidable plane, you must have been outnumbered.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/13/16 03:25 PM

wave Hi August

RIP Basil salute
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/13/16 10:04 PM

wave For Basil

https://youtu.be/rY0WxgSXdEE
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/16 12:45 PM

The Diary of August Ege.

16.X.15 Frescaty - Metz. Evening.

What a day! I was ordered to get a new Aviatik C.I from the factory at Freiburg, then fetch a passenger (an important staff officer that needed to get to Metz ASAP) and fly to Frescaty field, my new home with FFA 71. I was on the move at 5 AM and boarded the Aviatik, which was still smelling of fresh paint, having been cleared for use only yesterday. It was exciting to get a chance to fly a brand new airplane (and it was about to get even more exciting very soon...)!

The staff officer (a Hauptmann Berger - he didn't say much, but I got the impression that he's an intelligence officer) joined me at the field and soon we were up in the air, heading towards Metz. The weather was partly cloudy and pretty good for this time of year, with no strong winds or anything.

Everything went well for about an hour. I was avoiding the front and approaching Metz on a circuitous route from the east. I stayed slightly below 2000 metres to avoid the clouds and get a better view of the terrain. I could already see Metz in the distance when suddenly the engine began to lose power. I noticed the oil pressure was going down quickly, and soon the engine stopped altogether. So there I was with the important staff officer, my Aviatik turned into a heavy glider!

It was quiet with the engine now off, and I explained our predicament to Hauptmann Berger. There was no choice but to bring the machine down as quickly as possible and hope for the best. There was a suitable field on the eastern side of Metz and we glided towards it. The Aviatik touched down, bounced a couple of times and then ended up on its nose into a muddy ditch next to a wooden fence. We were both scared as hell, but the gods of war looked favourably on us, and we weren't hurt.

I helped Berger out of the Aviatik and we moved away from the wreck just in case it would catch fire. It didn't. Our accident had been observed by the Metz garrison, and soon a whole battalion (or so it seemed!) of soldiers was surrounding the crash site, with more arriving by horse and automobiles.

FFA 71 was informed of my crash, and they sent lorries to fetch me and the wrecked Aviatik. Hauptmann Berger had already left to Metz by one of the automobiles. He shook my hand as he departed, though I don't think my piloting skills left a very positive impression on him!

I received a friendly welcome at Frescaty, even though I felt (and feel!) like a complete idiot for managing to wreck a brand new airplane on my very first mission as a military pilot! It happens a lot, they told me. Maybe so, but it doesn't make my embarrassment any easier to bear.

Tomorrow I'll be flying my first mission from Frescaty. It will only be an orientation flight around Metz - they don't take new pilots straight to the lion's den! I don't have confidence in the Aviatik after today's troubles; hopefully things will go smoothly tomorrow.

***

What an interesting first mission for Ege! In real life, I started from Köln as per rules of the DID campaign. But for role-playing purposes, I wrote about Ege flying from Freiburg, since Aviatik had a factory there and I couldn't come up with a good reason for why he should have been at Köln (Cologne).

Everything else happened as described. smile
Posted By: OldHat

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/16 01:12 PM

Originally Posted By: Hasse

In WOFF, promotion rate seems to depend on how many kills you can get.


I was thinking of doing a simple tweak to a file to make the player's bullets do only half or quarter of the original damage while enemies stay at normal damage. Kinda like hardcore or survival difficulty in games.

This tweak and my limited head movement MOD would make scoring victories a bit more challenging, but not impossible. Thus forcing the player to use survival instincts over shooting an enemy down and reflect more realistic numbers and promotion rate.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/16 05:13 PM

Good story, Hasse. Sorry about the plane!

Condolences on Basil, Lederhosen sigh

Sgt. Arthur Much, February 14th 1916.

We spent an hour poodling about in empty skies this morning. Finally, just as we get back to our home field, we find that three ruddy Eindeckers are paying a visit. We show up and off they jolly well toddle! We could have just stayed home and had a cuppa while we waited for them!

Not terribly happy to discover that our dear old DH2s weren't even able to keep up with them, as they ran for home. Rather disconcerting.



The Eindecker makes its getaway

H
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/16 08:08 PM

Hasse, welcome to the early years where engine failures are a bigger threat than the enemy. Here is the latest status report. You can see that this past week was quite bloody for our campaign since we had three pilots go west and one wounded. I guess this is just a sign of things to come.

Posted By: Olham

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/16 08:45 PM

I am thinking of joining the party, as a French pilot in the "Warbirds" group.
But I could not find any two-seater units in February 1916.
The bomber-recce units don't start before 1917, and the fighter units have
mostly the Nieuport 10.C, which is a single-seater in WOFF.

Any tips?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/16 08:51 PM

Well, this is a new one for me! I have never flown home defense before so have never expected to see search lights in northern Flanders. On Adain Lothbrocks last mission before daylight I spotted a white line off to the north. at first I thought something was wrong with my computer before I thought "searchlight?" Swinging over to investigate, there it was a big as all outdoors. Another WOFF 1st for me.



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/16 09:28 PM

Olham, I don't mind if you start that way, just a hole in WOFF. Just do all of your training flights in your N10 and then jump right in.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/16 09:40 PM

Journal Entry: February 14, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

What a glorious day for B Flight. Ronald, Roderic, and I were tasked with a line patrol up near Poperinghe and as we were turning for home I spotted a flight of Huns approaching us from the south. I signaled the flight and as I watched them approach I was shocked to learn that it was a flight of four Aviatiks. We have never seen more than two in a flight and the thought of facing eight machine guns was a little disconcerting. At first I was going to let them pass, but I surmised that the Huns thought that if they grouped such a large flight we would hesitate to attack them. That settled the deal and I gave the signal to attack. I quickly culled one from the herd and sent him plunging earthward and much to my surprise and joy, the lads finished off the other three. When we landed and made our report, the Old man at first didn't believe us, but he came around after we each shared our report. Now we wait for the bean counters. I wonder if we are witnessing a change in the Hun's tactics, they must do something because we are bleeding them dry.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/16 09:45 PM

Olham, there's a bunch of outfits flying Nieuport 12's at the lowest rank in February 1916. Try ESC 23, 26, 37 or 68. That is if you want to fly the 2-seaters.
Posted By: Olham

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/16 09:45 PM

Alright, thank you, Banjoman!
Posted By: SebToombs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/16 03:38 PM

Dear sirs,

May I join the fun, Ive been playing woff for a year or so and love it.... I've been reading this thread for a while and it looks great fun .... Am I allowed in and have the rules changed at all?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/16 04:06 PM

Seb, We would love to have you join in! We need more bodies for the grinder. I do not think the rules have changed lately so what is posted should be correct. Warbirds Rising is heating up, Intrepid Flyers only have a few more months before it starts getting really dangerous. Since Lou is out I will let you know. New guys buy the drinks! beercheers
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/16 04:09 PM

Seb, of course you are allowed in. Just go to the first page of the thread and thoroughly read the rules and then dive right in.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/16 04:25 PM

Welcome Seb. Start shootin'!
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/16 05:12 PM

wave Seb !
Posted By: SebToombs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/16 05:14 PM

Thanks Chaps, so..... if i go "Warbirds" its todays date minus 100 years if i go "Intrepid" its (looking at chart) 18th October 1915,

I think Ill go "Warbirds" with todays date minus 100 years "Keep It Simple Stupid", rings in my ears!

Thanks for having me on board Im off to enlist and train!

Yours

Seb Toombs
Posted By: SebToombs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/16 05:29 PM

Or ... Actually one of each!

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/16 08:46 PM

Looks good, I'm also flying a pilot in each time frame.

Edit: Just remember to enter your data on Saturday so I can get you into the status reports on Sunday.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/16/16 03:37 PM

So nobody is shocked, Google has gone and changed the looks of our reporting form, still works the same, just looks different.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/16/16 10:42 PM

I must be blind as a bat. I have not noticed anything new.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/17/16 06:30 PM

Journal Entry: October 20, 1915
Bertincourt

Why do they send us escorts when they just run away? Today, Manfred and I were ordered to bomb the enemy trenches up near Arras. We were told we could expect an escort from the Naval unit and since I'm a reasonable man, I decided to give them another chance. We met our escort and proceeded on to the front, but before we arrived two of the hated Nieuports made an appearance. As soon as our escort saw the Nieuports, he turned and ran leaving us on our own once again. I signaled to Manfred and told Hans to prepare because the enemy was quickly diving to attack. I began turning towards the nearest enemy, but not before the sounds of bullets hitting our machine could be heard. I maintained my turn and Hans started firing, he must have hit the Frenchman because he dove away. The second Frenchman was just now getting into position when I put him squarely in Hans' sights. Hans is an efficient and steady observer and in no time I saw that he had hit the enemy's engine. This Frenchman also now turned away to disengage, but now my blood was up and I gave chase. Soon, the Nieuport was in range and Hans gave him a good burst after which his engine burst into flames. I collected Manfred and we turned for home. As we were approaching our field, I saw that schweinehund from the navy had the audacity to land at our field. After we rolled to a stop, I had to restrain Hans from physically attacking the naval man. It wasn't for any noble reason, just Hans would have gotten into a lot of trouble and the coward wasn't worth it.

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/17/16 06:43 PM

Good stuff! smile

For some reason, the escorts in WOFF tend to behave in an extremely cowardly way. I've had it happen in most, if not all, two-seater pilot careers. That was one of the most important reasons why I transferred Albrecht Niemann to a fighter unit in the other DID. It just became too difficult to stay alive in 1917 when the escorts failed us all the time.

The rating and disposition of the escorting squadron doesn't seem to matter much. I've seen the same behaviour from aggressive elite formations and from completely mediocre squadrons. It's something of a mystery!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/17/16 06:44 PM

Banjoman, when they run like that they want you to follow! yep
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/17/16 06:49 PM

Shoot, I wouldn't run. The Aviatik C.1 is a tough old bird. I'm finding that when attacked if you act in an aggressive manner the AI really gets confused and then your observer can really punish them.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/17/16 06:53 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Shoot, I wouldn't run. The Aviatik C.1 is a tough old bird. I'm finding that when attacked if you act in an aggressive manner the AI really gets confused and then your observer can really punish them.


It's a surprisingly tough bird! I've shot down (or rather my observer did) a Sopwith Tripe in the other DID. Especially this early in the war, those two guns of the observer are nothing to laugh at.
Posted By: SebToombs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/18/16 05:00 PM

Dear Barmy,
07:15 Saturday 21 October 1916

I've got an hour before this mornings show thought I'd drop my dearest brother in the trenches a line. I'm sitting here slurping my second cup of tea after devouring a boiled egg, toast and marge.



It's nearly been a week since I touched down for the first time in my new home for the foreseeable. St-Pol Sur-Mer isn't a bad airfield, once you get used to it being almost completely surrounded by huge French oaks, got a few branches caught in the wheels on one early approach. The other are chaps friendly and my batman "Toad" is a thoroughly decent sort. The bar in the evening is quite a riot, and in our off times the country side is pleasant enough, though the noise from the front is constant and sounds as if it's in the next field. My flight leader 'Dallas' is a steady chap, good pilot, doesn't take many risks and knows his way around. It turns out October is good time to see northern France, the trees ( apart from the Bally ones around the airfield are beautiful shades of yellow and red) and the weather good. A few of the chaps took me into Dunkirk a couple of days ago, I always knew the ladies liked a sailor but a sailor and airman! All the pretty girls are queuing up for a kiss!



I've seen the Hun just once - I was in my BE2 and spotted another two seater, too far away to do anything. Almost felt like waving when I saw the shiny white machine, but don't think that's the done thing.




Yesterday, the most amazing thing happened; the BE2s were taken and given to RFC 12 while we were given 12 Nieuport 10s and a couple of Nieuport 11s. Redford Mulock, known as "Red", 'A's flight leader and Dallas bagged the 11s - affectionately called "Babes", due to their slightly smaller size. For the rest of us, our kites, the 10, are ex-two seaters, with the observer's seat covered up and a Lewis slung over the wing. Bought from the French; it's so fresh from the French I can still see their inside out roundel on the wing! It is hoped, by those in the know, that they may help us against the new German single seater scouts I've heard about but not seen. I was allowed to paint a lucky charm sort of thing on the port side of my 10, the Padre's taken to calling me Saint Angus as I didn't feel like drinking the first night I arrived, (there was a bit of a binge on when I landed), so I've painted a 'Stickman Saint' on the side, I'm hoping he'll bring me luck! I've flown the 10 twice so far, sadly not made it 'Sausage Side' yet - which is a shame as I can't wait to have a smack at the Hun.



Not one of us was sorry to see the back of the BE2s - though it looks light we'll be escorting them from time to time. One bright spark came up with this amusing ditty; it's a take on the 23rd Psalm - it may even have been penned by the squadron Padre - who is a super down to earth chap called " Caldwell". It's called The Pilot’s Psalm , and it goes:

The B.E.2 is my bus;
therefore shall I want.
He maketh me to come down in green pastures.
He leadeth me where I wish not to go.
He maketh me to be sick;
he leadeth me astray on all cross-country flights.
Yea, though I fly o’er No-man-’s Land where mine enemies would compass me about,
I fear much evil, for thou art with me; thy joystick and thy prop discomfort me.
Thou prepareth a crash for me in the presence of mine enemies;
thy R.A.F. annointeth my hair with oil, thy tank leaketh badly.
Surely to goodness thou shalt not follow me all the days of my life,
else I shall dwell in the House of Colney Hatch for ever.

(Quoted from "No Parachute, Arthur Gould Lee" p.54)




Take Care Ole Brother of Mine, hope all is well in the Guards, you P.B.I

ANGUS

12:30 hrs Ps Barmy! I went up this morning just got back - an escort early morning show, with RFC 12 of all people, Dallas leading myself and Cox. Cox and I share a basher with two other fellows. About 20 minutes into our recon/patrol, just as we hit the Hun lines, Dallas gave the 'washout' signal and headed back. Cox, my wingman, and myself continued with the BE2s, perhaps because we remember, ourselves, what it was like just a few days ago, all alone over the lines in those flying coffins.



As we were heading home we spotted a lone, single wing Fokker, flying NE from our side of the lines about 400 ft below us, the BE2s were in no danger so we dived down on him. Blipping my engine (a great trick thought to me by Dallas which means sort of turning off my engine) I dived down and banked, came right down in his tail before he even knew we were there, my kite was creaking like nobody's business, I thought the whole thing might end up just a bag of match sticks. At about 90 yards I let him have it, my rounds seemed to go everywhere but in him. I heard a few strike, then he just plummeted and flipped-over. He went turtle, span and plummeted at great speed.



Honestly Barmy, I've never felt so powerful, all of France under me. The front like a huge brown ribbon trailing around me and my first Hun spinning to death. I put myself if a slow bank to follow him with my eyes as he went down spinning helplessly.



I noticed Cox following him down, I was concerned with what he was doing. "Had he been hit?" I asked myself, I looked around hoping there wasn't a second Fokker, but I was alone, couldn't even see the BE2s, the sky was empty. Looking down I saw the Fokker still spinning and Cox still following, when all of a sudden, in a split second, about 500 ft up the bally Fokker starts to straighten up and and then starts to pull up! I'm now about 2500 ft above him - too high to get down quickly with out wrecking my kite. I see Cox pile him with lead as the Fokker starts to climb wildly, outpacing Cox. I'm getting closer all the time, blipping my engine 'till I think it will explode, I noticed his prop was stationary, at about 150 yards I give him a three second squirt from the Lewis, by which point I've overshot him.



I bank around again - which seems to take forever - and he's gone.... I search again with my eyes and there below in the mud of no-man's land, I see a crater, wreckage and smoke, with Cox triumphantly flying through it about 25 yrds above the mire. I outpaced Cox home; I think he took some damage in his pursuit of the Hun down. We both landed safely. I'm hoping Cox and I will have half a kill each.

It's not until I write 'kill', that I realise that's what we've done; not sure how I feel about that ... Still us or him, right Barmy? Best not dwell ....

PPS 14:45 Barmey! Rotten luck!! Cox awarded the kill, and awarded the MC for his efforts. It seems I pretty well missed with every bullet! Putting it in the post now - I'll do my best to keep you up to date! TTFN
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/18/16 05:10 PM

Sounds like you've been properly introduced to the Centenary DID.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/18/16 05:12 PM

Superb stuff, Seb! smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/18/16 05:30 PM

Journal Entry: February 18, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Blimey, Roderic is a dashing sort. This morning we were ordered to fly a line patrol up near Ypres, which we did and saw nothing. On our return flight home, I spotted four Aviatiks about 5,000 feet above us dropping their eggs on some poor defenseless supply dump. I signaled Roderic and pointed upward, he looked up, got this huge smile on his face and began to climb. I'm thinking they outnumber us 2 to 1, what could possibly go wrong, but I follow because he's my mate. Fortunately for us, the Aviatiks were still spread out from their bombing when we finally reached them so that I could separate one from the others. A couple of bursts and down he goes. I look over to see that Roderic is just finishing his up as well. He then slides over to the next one and begins to attack him. Against my better judgement, I follow suit and begin to attack the last one. This Hun is made of sterner stuff and he fills my engine with bullets before I can even attack. I immediately break off my attack and turn for home, which thankfully, is only about 4 miles away. Roderic broke off his attack when he saw me turn for home with a smoking engine. As we were walking to the R.O. office, he says, "Awful bad luck, we should have bagged all four of them." I just smile and shake my head, he will probably be the death of me.

Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/19/16 11:15 PM

Seb, what a great debut! Nice!

H
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/16 10:57 AM

The Diary of August Ege.

23.X.1915. Frescaty - Metz.

I was off to a rough start with the crash of my Aviatik, but since then everything has been going really well. I've flown two orientation flights in the Metz region with the Staffelführer, Hauptmann Manfred Stelzer (he's an Alter Adler*) and my observer, Oberleutnant Andreas Balthazar. The flights were successful and I had no trouble with navigating or handling the Aviatik. Even the landings went quite smoothly! I think I've made a good impression on my new comrades here. I feel like they've already accepted me as a member of their fellowship of aviators! I greatly enjoyed flying back in the Fliegerschule, but somehow the real thing over here on the front feels even more exciting.

I was worried about engine troubles after the crash, so I've been getting to know my mechanics and together we've pulled apart a couple of Mercedes engines and then assembled them again. They're not so different from automobile engines, which I know like the backs of my hands. My mechanical training is turning out to be very useful here (as I had hoped it would be) and being in good terms with the men responsible for your machine's well-being can never be a bad thing!

We've also had time to visit the city of Metz itself. It's a beautiful old city, though being so close to the front, it's now full of soldiers and all kinds of military activity. The civilians seem to be well adapted to the situation though. Our field is a big one and even has hangars for Zeppelins! I wonder how it would feel to fly one of those monsters! But to be honest, I think I prefer airplanes. The thought of having so much highly flammable gas hanging over you inside a thinly shielded tube is rather unnerving!


A Zeppelin hangar at Frescaty.

* Literally "Old Eagle", the honorary name used of the 817 pioneers of German aviation who became pilots before the Great War. Many of them served as flight instructors during the war, and several were high-ranking officers in the German air force.




Posted By: SebToombs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/16 03:51 PM

Hi Guys,

I'm just filling out my score card for my first week. I'm unsure whether bomb hits count for anything at all?





Cheers chaps
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/16 04:04 PM

They did in the old scoring system, but not now. All we are tracking now is hours, kills, claims, and missions. You don't need to enter a score, I have a formula that calculates it for the status report.
Posted By: SebToombs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/16 04:07 PM

Thank You Banjoman!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/16 06:14 PM

Journal Entry: October 23, 1915
Bertincourt

I saved Wolfgang's life today. For the life of me, I can't understand why we still have a comrade flying and old Aviatik B.I. It is as if poor Wolfgang is the sacrificial lamb, well, not on my watch he isn't. When we transferred over to the C.Is and he didn't, I knew something like today was bound to happen, and I've been dreading it ever since. The entire Jasta was turned out to fly an artillery shoot around Guillemont. We had just started registering the fire, when two of those cursed frogs in their cursed Nieuports arrived. I was leading Schwarm Zwei and Hauptmann von Schoenebeck was leading Schwarm Eins. We were about 2.5 kms from Eins when the French began to attack. I noticed that one of the Frenchmen separated and began to stalk Wolfgang. I immediately gave my old bus full throttle and turned to assist Wolfgang. I knew I couldn't rescue both of them, but since Wolfgang was defenseless I obviously had to help him. The Frenchman must have decreased his speed considerably because while he was stalking Wolfgang I was able to close the range quickly. He obviously was not paying attention because I was able to approach from below and behind him without being noticed. When Hans was satisfied that we were close enough, he gave that frog a good burst. A puff of smoke appeared from the frog's engine and he quickly dove away, with his tail between his legs scampering for home. I pulled up next to Wolfgang and waved and received a huge smile and a wave in return. While all of this was taking place, Hauptmann von Schoenebeck had successfully dealt with his Nieuport and sent him packing as well. We finished our work and returned home. Upon landing, Wolfgang clasped my hand and would not let go while he just repeated over and over, "I was dead, but you saved me." I reminded him that as his comrade I would always have his back as he would have mine. Just another day in this cursed war.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/16 06:23 PM

A great read, Banjoman!

FFA 71 also has a couple of old Aviatiks. Fortunately we haven't had any combat encounters yet. I'm pretty confident with the Aviatik C.I (has two guns and everything), but the B types are already as old as the mountains.

The Metz area is a great to place to fly! Very easy to navigate using Lou's maps, thanks to all the obvious landmarks there in the Verdun sector. Even a completely hopeless navigator like me can't lose his way there.
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/16 06:26 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
They did in the old scoring system, but not now. All we are tracking now is hours, kills, claims, and missions. You don't need to enter a score, I have a formula that calculates it for the status report.


...and I thank you again for making it so easy salute
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/16 01:04 PM

I didn't bother entering info for Ed Edwards. His worthless piece-of-s**t observer fired maybe three bullets in the several minutes that the E3 fired lots more at them. Ed's only, albeit very short-lived, satisfaction was knowing that the piece-of-s**t observer died first when the BE2 finally made a hole in the ground.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/16 01:38 PM

Lofty, I know what you mean. The observers sometimes freeze. OBD programmed it to simulate fear? That actually could be interesting if you get a green observer, but shouldn't happen to an experienced one. On several occasions I presented my tail to the enemy for my gunner to have a clear shot, which he never took. When I realized he wouldn't shoot I had to start banking the bus and avoid enemy fire. I still got shot to pieces, but was at least able to put it down without crashing, thanks to the latest patch. Another glitch I've noticed is when you go to the gunner's position and then return to pilot's seat, the gunner AI will not take over - he will not shoot or even track the enemy. Anybody know if there is a command to turn the gunner's AI back on?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/16 07:31 PM

No I do not. I also feel your pain for observers, sometimes you get one that starts banging away at anything and then you get one that does nothing. My frustrations with the Aviatik C.I is that the observer will be firing the right gun but when the enemy is now on the left he won't switch to the left gun. In one engagement, I had to continue to circle to the right because he wouldn't switch guns.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/16 07:32 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/16 09:13 PM

Journal Entry: October 24, 1915
Bertincourt

Hauptmann von Schoenebeck is dead. I lost my mentor, my leader, and my friend today all because of those schweinehund naval pilots. The Hauptmann and I were ordered to fly another artillery shoot down near Peronne and this time we would have an escort of three Fokkers. I felt certain that with three of them present they would finally behave as men, I was wrong once again. Two Nieuports appeared as we were flying to our job and the three Fokkers turned as one and fled. One of the Frogs focused on me and the other engaged the Hauptmann. I put our old crate through her paces and eventually I was able to place Hans in a position where he could successfully engage the Frog. After a few bursts, the Nieuport dove away and I saw it crash in No Man's Land. I frantically searched the sky for any sign of the Hauptmann, but it was to no avail. I returned home and reported on my engagement. We anxiously awaited any news in the Hauptmann's office, finally, we received a call from Ballonzug 65 informing us that they witnessed an Aviatik engaging a Nieuport and that the Aviatik was seen plunging to earth. They recovered the two bodies and Hauptmann von Schoenebeck had been shot in the head, so thankfully he felt no pain. As if the day could not get any bleaker, I received a call from Major Friedel, our Flieger Battaillon Kommandeur, informing me that I am to take command of Fliegerabteilung 32 until such time as he can choose a permanent Kommandeur. This has always been my greatest fear, but I can't let the men see any weakness. I will perform my duties to the best of my abilities and I will make Fliegerabteilung 32 the best unit in the Luftstreitkräfte.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/23/16 03:46 PM

Journal Entry: October 26, 1915
Bertincourt

We buried Viktor and Paul today. They were ordered to fly an artillery shoot up near Arras and they never came back. Finally, after calling all of the Ballonzugs in the area I found out what had happened. It seems they were set upon by a pair of Nieuports and fought bravely, but what could they do against two of them. Their bodies were burned horribly and I didn't let the other men view them, what would be the point? I wonder if those Nieuports were the same that attacked us while we were doing our job? Manfred, Wolfgang, and I were ordered to take photographs of the lines in the Guillemont area. We had an escort but we don't pay attention to them anymore since they never perform their duties. Anyway, I saw two Nieuports approaching from the east and signaled the flight to prepare themselves. I assume the escort ran because I never saw him again. On came the Nieuports, I noticed one had singled out Wolfgang and the other was making a play for Manfred. I turned and pursued the frog attacking Wolfgang and I managed to close the range sufficiently for Hans to fire a couple of telling bursts. Almost immediately the Nieuport flipped over and started spinning towards the earth. I watched the frog suspecting a ploy, but he spun all the way in, Hans must have hit the pilot. I turned and saw that the second Nieuport was at that moment diving for home. After we had reformed, Manfred gave me the dud machine signal and turned for home, while Wolfgang and I completed our job. Upon arriving at our aerodrome, I noticed that Manfred had crashed upon landing but he and August were fine. I now get to write to Viktor and Paul's families and say what, that they died gloriously for the Fatherland, or maybe they died like sheep at the hands of wolves. No, I can't speak the truth, better to speak of the glories of war and the Fatherland. I desperately need a leave. By the way, my claim for today was rejected.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/23/16 04:32 PM

Great stories Banjoman. It seems the war is getting real!
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/23/16 09:36 PM

Sgt Arthur Much, RFC 16. February 23rd 1916.

Well, we had a bit of a dust up with some Hun 2-seaters today! Really quite ridiculous that we were even chasing them in the first place, if you ask me. We practically landed on their airfield in the process! Well, of course I get all gung-ho and end up rather too close to one of the blighters. His observer fills my old bird with holes and I'm lucky to be able to limp back over the lines and put down. Not so for poor old Stevenson. He bought it I'm afraid. Posthumous credit for one aircraft awarded him. Fat lot of good that'll do him now.

I'm actually sick of this place and I'm not comfortable in this damned Airco thingy. I feel like I'm wide open to getting shot in the bonce! I've put in a transfer request to join my old pal Bertie over in RFC 1. Says he flies a Parasol or some such thing. I thought that was an umbrella! Rum business when you have to start flying about in umbrellas! Oh well, we shall see what's what when we get there. I suspect I'll have to wait a few days for the transfer to come through, but Bertie assures me they are in dire need of some new pilots over there. Not entirely sure that's good news. Oh well, tally ho!



Closing in on an Avaiatik...about to get riddled!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/23/16 10:33 PM

Sorry to hear you don't like the DH.2, it's one of my favorites. It's a very nimble plane with great visibility.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/16 05:50 PM

Thanks, Banjoman. I suspect it's my lack of flying skills that's the problem, and not the DH2 wink
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/16 06:16 PM

Harry, give the old girl a chance. She is my choice flying for the Brits at this time in the war. She does take some getting used to.
Posted By: SebToombs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/16 06:43 PM

It Is with great sadness I report the death of Archie Toombz of Kasta 2 while on patrol over enemy front lines.... shot down by unknown pilot of RNAS 1 flying a Nuieport 10, both pilot and observer were killed.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/16 06:56 PM

Bad business there Seb! Sorry about your 1st pilot. Crank up your "B" pilot and let her rip.
Posted By: SebToombs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/16 07:00 PM

Thanks Mfair, condolences gratefully received! The Toombz is Dead, Long live the "Von Toombz"

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/16 07:42 PM

Seb, just a quick tip in fighting in the Aviatik C.I. I'm having good success when I turn into the attacking Nieuports. I think it confuses the AI and it will sometimes allow you to get on their tails and it that position the C.I can be very deadly.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/16 08:38 PM

Good luck with the Aviatik, Seb!
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/16 08:39 PM

Originally Posted By: MFair
Harry, give the old girl a chance. She is my choice flying for the Brits at this time in the war. She does take some getting used to.


Thanks for the encouragement, MFair. Already submitted the transfer request, so no turning back now. I'll give the DH2 another go at some stage.

H
Posted By: SebToombs

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/16 02:21 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Seb, just a quick tip in fighting in the Aviatik C.I. I'm having good success when I turn into the attacking Nieuports. I think it confuses the AI and it will sometimes allow you to get on their tails and it that position the C.I can be very deadly.


Banjoman and HarryH I'm grateful of the tip, and the encouragement. Sadly I lost my 'B', too in an Aviatik 3 Missions in to Nui and my 'c' 2nd mission to ground fire while bombing!! If I hope to survive I'm going to have go very cautious and high! I'm having a lot of fun though with my intrepid flyer though Nui 10c1.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/16 02:32 PM

Seb, be sure to enter the info for your 'B' and 'C' pilots because I have a chart for the lost pilots that I display once a month.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/16 03:04 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/16 09:20 PM

Heads up everybody, apparently WOFF doesn't handle the 1916 leap year correctly so the game will skip the 29th and we will all get tomorrow off from flying.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/16 10:07 PM

Long weekend!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/16 04:33 PM

Journal Entry: November 2, 1915
Bertincourt

Today I finally got to fly one of those cursed Nieuports that have been harassing us constantly. Manfred and I were given a artillery spotting job up near Arras and we had just reached our operating altitude, when along came a lone Nieuport to attack us. I signaled to Manfred and we attacked him instead, which threw him into confusion. The sheep aren't supposed to attack the wolf, but these sheep do. The poor Frenchman was being shot at from all directions and eventually he dove for home. As we reformed for our job, I noticed that he put down about 5 miles from our aerodrome. I marked the spot on our map and we continued with our work. As soon as we returned, Manfred and I jumped into the squadron car and raced over to view our kill. When we arrived there was a small group of the local garrison guarding the Nieuport and the wounded pilot. We pushed through the crowd and found the Feldwebel and informed him that we would be taking possession of the aeroplane. We had no trouble with him, he seemed relieved to have this burden removed. We spoke to the pilot, who had a nasty wound in his leg, and told him that we had vanquished him today and the war for him was over. Manfred, who always carries Schnapps, gave him something to drink for the pain and our conversation soon turned to flying. Manfred's French is better than mine, so he naturally led the conversation. He asked a few questions regarding the Nieuport which of course, the Frenchman wouldn't answer. After awhile, the transport that the Feldwebel had arranged for the wounded pilot arrived, and we said our goodbyes. As soon as the Frenchman left, Manfred turned to me and said, "You know comrade, since I was the one that shot him down I should have the first go with that Nieuport." I smiled and said, "You are right, but you are forgetting one thing." He said, "What's that?" I said, "I am your commanding officer and therefore I get to fly it first." Sometimes being the CO really does have its benefits. He smiled and went to the front of the aeroplane to prepare for my takeoff. The engine started at once and after a few minutes of warming the engine I was off. I have never experienced an aeroplane taking off like this Nieuport, it seemed to literally leap up into the air. This aeroplane is so light on the controls and skittish that I was floundering around for a few minutes, but eventually I became accustomed to how she handled. What joy, this aeroplane soars like a bird and flits around like a butterfly. I was stunting all the way back to our aerodrome. It lands like it regrets leaving the air, our Aviatiks land like they are thankful to be back on the ground. When I landed, I told all of the pilots that they would each get a chance to fly the Nieuport and then I would arrange transportation back to headquarters.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/16 11:48 PM

Banjoman, you scoundrel, pulling rank like that! Great story.

Adalwolf Becker has had a great 2 days. While escorting some 2 seaters over the lines for recon, he turned his head just in time to see a Frenchie parked squarely on his tail! But, he prevailed in the end. Today he and 2 others were patrolling the lines when he spotted 2 FE's below sneaking across the lines. Too bad for one of them. He was then promoted to Oberluetnant.





Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/16 12:20 AM

And so it ends for Sgt Arthur Much. Battling strong winds in the rather under-powered and flimsy Moraine Parasol, he became extremely disoriented in cloud and plowed straight into another Parasol. One big bang (which literally made me jump out of my seat!), and one fiery spiral to earth....

Not sure yet, but my B pilot may have to be French. As Banjoman so delightfully described, the Nupes are wonderful to fly wink

H
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/16 01:42 AM

Journal Entry: March 1, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Just got back from five days of glorious leave. One of the benefits of being stationed in St. Pol is we are so close to jolly old England that we can pop over when we have a spot of leave. I spent three lovely days with my family just eating, sleeping, and reading. It is so peaceful at home that I can forget this bloody war altogether. I did learn something interesting while I was home, I learned that my cousin Tom is now a flying sergeant with the 24th somewhere south of me. Aunt Edith said that he is flying DH.2s and that I should contact him. I don't think my aunt realizes just how big France is or how the military works. I did tell her that I would be sending him a letter. I wonder if good ole Tom went into flying because of me? I haven't seen that rascal in almost two years.

Ronald, Roderic, and I flew this morning's line patrol and of course Ronald claimed the Aviatik that I was softening up, so it seems nothing has changed while I was gone. I do enjoy a good leave for resting and recuperating, but I sure am glad to be back with the chaps.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/16 11:39 PM

Sgt. Frank Furter (yes, I'm up to "f" now) is not sure what to make of his observer, lt. Rowley. When the Fokkers caught up, Rowley fixed his aim on one - literally. He would not change, even as Furter was nearly colliding with another Fokker who was on a flightmate's tail. Then he finally did, but we also caught some lead, in the fuel tank, and in Rowley. Furter glided down and landed nicely outside of Arras, somehow sensing that Rowley was only 71% of his normal self, but at the debriefing later, he was informed that Rowley was in fact mortally wounded. Well, imagine his surprise when Rowley was in his seat, ready to go the next morning. Note to self: got to get me some of those drugs......
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/16 03:26 AM

End of the month already? Time for the news.

Intrepid Fliers - October News of the World:

October 2
The Greek Premier Eleftherlos Venlzelos asked the British and French to land troops at Salonika as soon as possible.
October 3
Germans recaptured part of Hohenzollern Redoubt on the Western Front.
October 4
The Entente Powers sent an ultimatum to Bulgaria.
October 5
Russia notified Bulgaria that diplomatic relations were at an end.
The political crisis in Greece continued to grow as King Constantine refused to support the policy of Venizelos who then resigned again.
October 6
Serbia was invaded by Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria.
King Constantine of Greece assured Britain that his country would remain neutral, but nonetheless Greek mobilization and Allied disembarkation at Salonika began.
October 7
Austro-Hungarian and German forces attacked across the Danube into Serbia.
October 8
The new Greek Government, with Alexandros Thrasivoulou Zaimis as the new Premier, confirmed their policy of armed neutrality.
October 9
Belgrade was captured by Austrian forces.
Wumbiagas, in the Cameroons, was captured by British forces.
October 10
The Greek Government rejected the Serbian plea for help against invasion.
October 11
Bulgarian forces began hostilities against Serbia.
October 12
Following a court-martial, British nurse Edith Cavell was executed by German firing squad for helping POW's escape from Belgium to Holland.
October 13
A sustained Zeppelin airship raid on London and the Eastern counties resulted in over 200 casualties.
French Foreign Minister Theophile Delcasse resigned and was temporarily succeeded by Rene Viviani.
October 14
Bulgaria joined the Central Powers, declaring war on Serbia and invading Macedonia.
October 15
Great Britain and Montenegro declared a state of war with Bulgaria.
The Romanian Government refused assistance for Serbia.
October 16
France declared war on Bulgaria.
Allied forces began a naval blockade of the Aegean coast of Bulgaria.
October 17
The British Government offered Cyprus to Greece in return for supporting Serbia against Bulgaria.
October 18
The Third Bartle of the Isonzo began between Italian and Austrian-Hungarian forces along the Soca River in western Slovenia.
October 19
Italy and Russia declared war on Bulgaria.
October 20
The Greek Government rejected Britain's offer of Cyprus.
October 21
Allied naval squadrons bombarded Dedeagatch in Bulgaria.
Bulgarian forces captured the City of Veles in Serbia.
October 22
Bulgarian forces captured the cities of Kumanovo and Uskub on the Southern Front.
October 23
The German armored cruiser Prinz Adalbert was sunk by the British submarine E8 in the Baltic.
October 24
La Courtine in Champagne was captured by French forces.
Venice was bombed by Austrian aircraft.
October 27
William Morris Hughes replaced Andrew Fisher as Prime Minister of Australia.
October 28
British battle cruiser HMS Argyll ran aground and was wrecked on Bell Rock off the east coast of Scotland.
General Sir Charles Munro took command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.
October 29
French Premier Rene Viviani and Minister for War Alexandre Millerand both resigned.
October 30
Aristide Briand succeeded Viviani as Prime Minister of France.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/16 03:31 AM

Warbirds Rising news for February:

February 1
The Norwegian Government prohibited all foreign submarines from using their territorial waters.
February 2
Boris Vladimirovich Sturmer replaced Ivan Longinovich Goremykin as Prime Minister of Russia.
February 8
British Government requested naval assistance from Japan.
The French armored cruiser Admiral Charner was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat near Beirut.
February 9
A Combined British-Belgian naval force sank the German gunboat Hedwig von Wissmann during the Battle for Lake Tanganyika.
February 10
The Military Service Act became operational in Britain.
The German Government advised the United States that all defensively armed merchant ships would be considered as belligerents from 1 March onwards.
February 11
The light cruiser HMS Arethusa struck a mine and sank off Felixstowe on the east coast of Britain.
February 12
Russian forces began an attack on the Turkish city of Erzurum during the Erzurum Offensive.
February 14
The Allied powers issued a guarantee of eventual independence and indemnification of Belgium.
February 15
An agreement was reached between the British Government and Bakhtiati chieftains for cooperation in protection of Persian oilfields.
February 16
After days of fighting in deep snow and intense cold, Russian forces captured Erzurum from the Ottoman Army.
The War Office took over responsibility for the air defense of London and the rest of Britain from the Admiralty.
February 17
The last German forces left southern Cameroons for internment in Spanish territory.
February 18
The final remaining German post in Mora surrendered to British and French troops in the West African Campaign in Cameroon.
February 19
Brigadier General Tighe was succeeded by Lieutenant General Jan Smuts in command of British forces in East Africa.
February 21
The longest battle of the war, the Battle of Verdun, began with a German offensive on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France.
February 22
French troops counterattacked at Verdun. The Germans captured Haumont Wood but the French held Brabant on the Meuse.
February 23
The Portuguese Government seized German steamers in the River Tagus.
February 24
Germans breached the French line at Verdun but were unable to gain an advantage.
February 25
German forces captured the key French position at Fort Douamont on the approaches to Verdun.
February 26
The British Western Frontier Force defeated the Senussi in action at Agagiya in western Egypt.
February 27
Austrian forces captured Durazzo from Italian troops.
February 28
The nucleus of a long-range British bomber squadron was formed to attack German industrial centers.
February 29
Converted ocean liner SS Alcantara was sunk in action against German armed merchant cruiser SMS Greif in North Sea.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/16 11:58 AM

Thanks for the news, Fullofit! And thank you for all your reports, everybody. I've enjoyed reading them. It's just as fun as the DID flying itself! I've learned to like these DID campaigns so much that I don't even fly my other pilots much anymore. They just don't feel the same. smile

The Diary of August Ege.

6.XI.1915 Metz-Frescaty.


I have now become fully accustomed to the life of a military aviator here at Frescaty. Compared to Kraftwagen-Park 5, we have a smaller but very tightly knit community here. There are six pilots and six observers and about a company's worth of ground personnel making sure that all our flying operations go as smoothly as possible.

I have befriended my observer, Oberleutnant Andreas Balthazar. He's a Prussian, but quite unlike you'd think those people are, if you were to believe all the gossip and popular stories about them. Balthazar is a very friendly chap and we get along splendidly. He seems to be greatly amused by my Schwäbisch accent; if he thinks we Stuttgarters speak in a funny way, he should travel to the small country villages of Württemberg to listen how people pronounce German there! The Fliegertruppen bring together men from all over the Reich, so it's easier to meet people from different regions than in most other branches of service.

We have been flying a lot of reconnaissance missions to the Verdun Salient recently. The French have big forts there and our commanders seems to be quite interested in the layout of their defenses. One could almost suspect that something big is planned to take place here soon, but then it's always hard to say what exactly the great warlords are thinking. We just do as we're told and learn the details later, provided that there is anything to learn!



Fort Douaumont before the heavy bombardments of the Battle of Verdun.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/16 03:06 PM

Hasse, I'm with you, I don't fly any other campaigns other than my three DID pilots. Just like you, when I try it I just don't seem to care about them.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/16 07:57 PM

Sgt. Bastien Salmet, N-26, St-Pol-sur-Mer. March 5th 1916.

Bastien liked his Nieuport 12. It climbed well. He thought to himself that the Nieuport 10 scouts must climb even quicker, with only a single person. He had is observer, Lt. Raymond Blanchon, along for the ride. Three times they'd been up, simply touring the fields behind the lines, getting to know the surroundings. They were the only 2-seater crew, currently. The rest of the squadron were scouts. Bastien wondered how he could find a way into scouts. Could he find a way to be promoted, he thought to himself? Or would he have to transfer eventually. Time would tell. First order of business was to stay alive!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/16 09:47 PM

Journal Entry: November 7, 1915
Bertincourt

We lost Wolfgang the other day and I feel like I'm responsible. Poor Wolfgang had been flying the old Aviatik B.I and I was doing my best to keep him out of any action. I sent him up north where we hadn't encountered any Nieuports and he never returned, it was as if he just disappeared. I contacted all of the ballonzugs in that area and no one had seen anything. I feel that I failed as his commander and friend. Manfred took me to task when he could see how distraught I was at the loss of Wolfgang. He reminded me that I'm the commander first and foremost, everything else is to be subordinated to that duty. Finally, he told me that if I couldn't learn to separate my feelings from my professional duty then I would surely go mad and not be useful for anything and not only cost me my life but probably others as well. It was bitter medicine to take, but I know he speaks the truth and I thanked him for being bold enough to do so.

We received three new pilots yesterday and just as Hauptmann von Schoenebeck had done with me I reminded them that I didn't care a pfennig about who they were or what they had done before the war, I only cared could they fly and fight. Finally, I informed them that in FFA 32, we are comrades in the air and comrades on the ground and they should strive to remember that always. I'm amazed at the zealousness of these new pilots, they are so full of pisse und essig. I can only imagine that I was once as they are, though it seems a lifetime ago.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/06/16 02:34 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/06/16 02:35 PM

Here is the latest listing of those valiant men that have gone West.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/16 11:15 AM

Well since I have no other pilots, and as the other 2 are waiting thier turn, I thought I'd fill in the time between with another one. Introducing "Stout Binger".








So far its been relativly easy. Two Huns forced down already.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/16 04:57 PM

Journal Entry: November 8, 1915
Bertincourt

Received another telephone call from Major Friedel today informing me that I am the new permanent commander of FFA 32. He stated that since I am doing a fine job it didn't make any sense to upset the routine of the unit. He also informed me that naturally I will be promoted to Hauptmann to fit my new responsibilities. I have grown accustomed to the duties of a commander so I was pleased with his news. Manfred was very pleased with the news and announced that a binge would be in order for this evening.

Part of my duties as commander has been to try an instill an aggressive spirit in the men and today my efforts were rewarded. I had ordered the Jasta to perform a recon up near Arras and I was leading Schwarm Zwei and Manfred was leading Schwarm Eins. Manfred was almost a kilometer ahead of us when I spotted a single Nieuport dive out of the clouds above and attack them. The Nieuport dove through the formation and continued down and then turned for home which told me that he had been damaged and was disengaging. The Jasta continued on and upon arriving at the specified location both schwarms began to orbit the location while taking photographs. It wasn't long until two Nieuports arrived and turned to engage Schwarm Zwei. I turned into their attack and August began to engage one of the Nieuports. After a few bursts, August must have hit the fuel tank because the Nieuport suddenly burst into flames and slowly rolled over and spun to Earth. I am always horrified and sickened by a flamer, I don't think I will ever get used to seeing that. I now turned my attention to the rest of the schwarm and saw the second Nieuport diving away to disengage. When we landed everyone was thrilled with of our victories over the hated Nieuports. I used this as another opportunity to teach my men that although we are flying cumbersome two seaters, we aren't defenseless and we can fight back. On a side note, our victory was unconfirmed but it doesn't matter because August and I know that we scored that victory. All in all, it was a good day.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/16 12:25 AM

Way to go Ledehosen - should try the earlier period and have pilot in each.
Banjoman, congrats on promotion.

Unfortunately Alfred Pennyworth has bought the farm. Wounded by the blasted CI gunner, while on fire. Died in hospital.
His place will be taken by Sergeant Bruce Wayne.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/16 05:03 PM

Journal Entry: March 8, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Today was a shambles of a sortie. Roderic and I were ordered to escort two Quirks down to the line west of Lille for a bit of photography. Everything went according to plan until we arrived at the front and the Quirks began taking their photographs. I really dislike escorting Quirks because they are dreadfully slow which makes it incredibly difficult for us to maintain our position. Because of their slowness, we have to weave back and forth and sometimes climb and dive just to fly slow enough to stay with them. It was during one of those maneuvers that two Huns dropped down out of the clouds onto the Quirks. I spotted them, but we were out of position and before we could get there they had sent one of the Quirks spiraling down. I engaged the Hun the who had just shot down the Quirk. He was still watching his victim and didn't see me pull up below and behind him. One short burst into his engine and he immediately burst into flames and began his own death spiral. I lost sight of Roderic but upon landing he reported that he was able to save the second Quirk and down the second Hun and thereby saving something from the mess.



Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/09/16 02:11 PM

Bahhhhh....holy crap, my last pilot out for 9 days.


Nice deep recce with tons of flying time. We get over the Railhead and I'm counting trucks. All of a sudden little holes are appearing all over the place....yikes 2 Fokkers at about 30yrds. My gunlayer just froze and peed his pants. No time for thinking its just split and run. We make over the lines but I've strained the bus too much and now the sod is gaining on us. Sopt a sausage section and land next to it and its lovely MG's.

Yeahhh, I'm saved. Give him what for lads!! Err....oh oh.





How he missed us God only knows.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/09/16 08:02 PM

Journal Entry: November 10, 1915
Bertincourt

When I landed today I was greeted by Maj. Friedel, a number of lorries, and two new pilots. Maj. Friedel introduced me to Leutnant von Althaus and Vizefeldwebel Gustav Leffers and then asked if we could speak in my office. After pulling off my flying clothes, he informed me that the lorries held four of the new Fokker monoplanes. He then went on to tell me that the two new pilots are to be added to our roster and each one assigned a Fokker. Naturally, I protested that I didn't know these men and there were men already in FFA 32 that were more deserving. He waved off my comments like he was trying to shoo and fly and carried on as if I had not said anything. I was then informed that these two men had been training exclusively on the Fokker and to not worry they will fit right in to your unit. What could I do, I saluted and said "Yes, sir!" After he left, I called both men into my office to learn more about each one of them. I let them know that this was highly irregular and that I expected them to pull their weight and that they wouldn't be receiving any special treatment. Actually, both men were very embarrassed about the whole situation and made sure I understood that it was entirely Maj. Friedel's idea. Finally, I told them that we are first and foremost, comrades in the air and comrades on the ground, that I expected them to do their duty and obey my orders. Later that afternoon, I took one of the Fokkers up to get the feel of her. Sadly, she was nothing like the Nieuport, heavy on the controls with a tendency to drop a wing if you aren't paying attention. We shall see how she performs in combat.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/10/16 07:58 PM

Sergent Bastien Salmet, N 26, St-Pol-Sur_Mer. March 10th 1916.

A taste of action at last! Sgt. Salmet was awoken from his daydream, while circling the airfield of Droglandt, their assigned patrol area, by a quick rattle of his observer's guns. He immediately put the machine into a left turn, trying to get a sight of their assailant. There it was, an Eindecker, lurking. Salmet kept turning toward it and soon realized that it seemed a little reticent to engage. What was it doing here anyhow, thought Salmet, at the same time deciding to try to get closer to it and give his observer a chance to loose off some more rounds, which he did. No return fire. In fact, the Eindecker turned east. Salmet gave chase, caught up with it over the town of Poperinge and his observer let it have a few more rounds before they lost it in cloud.

Salmet decided to put down at Abeele and call it a day. First action of the war for him, and he was worn out and exhilarated, all at the same time!

n.b. thanks to Banjoman for encouraging a more offensive attitude with 2-seaters! The Eindecker might even have gone down, as the post mission report congratulated us on bringing down some E/A, and I was the only plane in the air from our squadron at the time. I didn't see it go down though, so I didn't claim it. We did score eight hits on it, according to the debrief screen.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/10/16 09:58 PM

HarryH, good report. The AI in WOFF does seem to get confused if you act aggressive and that will give you a brief window of opportunity.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/16 12:16 AM

Ofzr Achim Viedler, Bosta 6, Ghistelles. November 10 1915

The Kommandant welcomed Viedler into his office and held out a silver goblet, cushioned in its presentation case.

"Congratulations Herr Viedler. Not a bad start to your career with Bosta 6! Your claim from yesterday was confirmed! One less BE2 in the sky is a good thing, for sure. Keep up the good work!"

Achim could barely disguise the smile as he walked into his tent and showed the trophy to his beobachter.

"This is as much yours as it is mine, Georg" he beamed. "Let's make it the first of many victories to come!"


.... the Aviatik C1 is a sturdy craft, and with the gunner up front, it's great for chasing and shooting at hapless foes!


Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/16 10:49 PM

Sergent Bastien Salmet, N 26, St-Pol-Sur_Mer. March 11th 1916.

"Well we definitely got this one!" exclaimed Bastien to his observer. "Good shooting Roy!".

Same kind of mission as yesterday, behind the lines patrol down to our field at St Omer. Same scenario as yesterday, a lone Eindecker appears out of nowhere, looking for trouble. Same maneuver - turn sharp left, get him into my observer's gun sights for him to blast away. This time though, the Hun plane quickly goes into a wild spin and heads earthwards. We follow down and confirm the location of the crash. Let's see if we get the victory. No witnesses, but I'm guessing they saw it go down from St-Omer airfield.

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/16 12:50 PM

The Diary of August Ege.

13.XI.1915
Frescaty-Metz

This has been a sad week for the Abteilung. Yesterday, I was returning from yet another photo recon mission to Verdun with Balthazar as my observer and Leutnant Fritz Engel flying another Aviatik with Leutnant Karl Deutschmann as the observer. The mission was uneventful and we saw nobody, either friendly or enemy airplanes.

I landed back at Frescaty and was climbing out of my cockpit when Balthazar said that he thought Engel was coming down much too fast. I turned around and saw Engel's plane approaching the field opposite the Zeppelin hangar. Balthazar was right - Engel's speed was too high. The Aviatik touched the field roughly, bounced up and then came down again even more roughly. Engel tried to make corrections, but it was too late and the plane turned on its nose, the propeller splintered with a loud crash and then the Aviatik was sliding on the field upside down, quickly coming to a halt near our hangars.

Cursing loudly, we left our cockpits and ran towards Engel's plane, hoping to help the men away from the wreck before it caught fire. Some mechanics were also coming, but I reached the plane first with Balthazar. What we saw was very shocking. Deutschmann had been thrown out of the cockpit and his head had been smashed between the upper wing and the field. He was wearing a helmet, but I don't think anything could have saved him from such a blow; his head was completely crushed and there was blood and brains splattered everywhere. The fuselage of the Aviatik was lying a bit on its side and we could see Engel huddled down in the cockpit. Seeing there was nothing we could do to help poor Deutschmann, we went to pull Engel out of the wreck. Miraculously, he appeared to have suffered no serious injuries, just a battered nose and a split lip.

Stretchers were brought and Engel was carried to the mess building. The mechanics stayed to make sure that the wrecked Aviatik would not suddenly caught fire. We were quite shocked by the accident, and had to drink some brandy to steel ourselves. However, our shock was nothing compared to Engel's. The poor man seemed to suffer a nervous breakdown after he realized what had happened to his friend Deutschmann. He was quite beside himself and couldn't stop crying. As nothing seemed to help, Hauptmann Stelzer finally had to sent him by car to the Festungslazarett at Metz. I hope they can aid him there. I can only imagine how he must be feeling! As terrible as it is, the crash was his fault. He came down much too fast.

I can't get Deutschmann's broken face out of my thoughts. Poor man! At least he must have died so quickly that he didn't have time to feel anything.

This war feels so real now.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/16 03:02 PM

Hasse, that's one of the things I'm really liking about the early war years, your losses are caused by routine stuff and that makes them more tragic. Anyway, it makes for really good story telling.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/16 05:49 PM

Yes, I agree. In fact I haven't had any combat in this DID campaign so far. I've spotted some French planes a couple of times, but they haven't bothered me and I haven't bothered them. It's very different from the other DID campaign!

This early war flying is more relaxed and nicely balances the madness of the last year of the war, or that's how it feels to me. smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/16 06:16 PM

Here is the latest status report. Condolences for Fullofit, we lost one of our shooting stars this past week.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/16 07:30 PM

Journal Entry: March 13, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I feel like I've lost my right arm. Ronald, my dear friend and wingman was killed today during an engagement with four Aviatiks. The deadly trio of Roderic, Ronald and myself were patrolling down near Loos when I spotted a large flight of Aviatiks flying along over our side of the lines. I signaled my two mates and they naturally turned toward the Aviatiks and began to climb. It wasn't long before we began to engage the Huns and after a couple of bursts I had one of them turning for home. As I swung around to begin another attack run, Roderic quickly closed and applied the coup-de-grace to my Aviatik. Somehow, in the engagement I lost track of Ronald but since we were over our lines I thought maybe he had turned for home. Roderic sent the last Aviatik plunging and we ourselves turned for home. It wasn't until we landed that Roderic gave me the full story on what happened to Ronald. It seems that Ronald had accounted for two of the Aviatiks himself, but as he was dispatching the second, he began to spin towards the ground right after the Aviatik. I can only surmise that the observer right before his own death must have hit Ronald and brought him down with him. I should have known this would eventually happen, everyone that I've grown close to or developed any type of teamwork with has died. Ronald, I will miss your quick wit, ready laugh at a stupid joke, and your amazing flying skills. Ronald had scored 15 victories himself and the squadron won't ever be the same without you. Rest well my good friend and wingman.


Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/16 08:34 PM

Good stories Gents. This is a bad week for me. Adalwolf Becker just had a mid air collision with a Nieuport. This one was totally my stupidity. If I read the rules correctly, I do not have to go through training for my next pilot if I do not want to. Is this correct?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/16 08:51 PM

That's correct.

Edit: Just make sure you log his death so I can get him into the Roll of Honor.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/16 09:09 PM

Banjoman, just got internet today so he is updated along with my other dead DID pilot. cuss2
Posted By: MudWasp

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/16 11:45 PM

RIP Alfred! salute

Thanks for keeping up the board Banjoman wave
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/14/16 01:13 AM

MudWasp, it's my pleasure to do so. This way I can keep up with everybody's pilots.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/14/16 01:34 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Condolences for Fullofit, we lost one of our shooting stars this past week.


Thanks Banjoman (and MudWasp). I still think he was shot in the back by his wingman trying to steal the kill.

Here's his replacement:



Back to flying the BE2c. driving
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/14/16 01:45 AM

Hey, that's the same picture as Arthur. I wonder if they were separated at birth? biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/14/16 01:58 AM

Umm, could be a clerical error. exitstageleft
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/16 12:33 AM

Condolences on the loss of Adalwolf, MFair, and to Hasse and Banjoman for losing their colleagues. Great writing from a rough weekend!
H
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/16 12:35 AM

Oh, and condolences on Alfred also, Fullofit - sorry, I missed his demise!
H
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/16 12:46 AM

Sergent Bastien Salmet, N 26, St-Pol-Sur_Mer. March 14th 1916.

"I tell you, Roy. I*'m getting tired of all these lone missions! We seem to run into the Hun every time up, with no one around to help us. Always these damn Fokker machines. Two of them together today, so good shooting old chap, for driving them off!"

Just then, Capt. Destain walked into the mess.

"Ah, Salmet. Glad I caught you. Congratulations to you both on your first confirmed victory. The news came through this morning. Keep it up and we might have to put you in a scout, Salmet!"

Salmet saluted smartly. "Yes sir, thank you sir!"

Once the Captain had left the room, Bastien turned to his observer. "If that happens, I may need some shooting lessons from you!". Roy chuckled and poured them both another glass of vin rouge.



A determined Hun gets some hits on the N12, but Roy's return fire eventually drives him off
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/16 04:42 PM

Journal Entry: November 16, 1915
Bertincourt

Flying was washed out for today and it looks like for tomorrow as well, so I decided it would be a good time to get caught up on my journal. We received the Eindeckers last week and for the most part we haven't seen any enemy aeroplanes. It is almost as if the enemy knows we have new machines and are avoiding us. I know that is foolish, but how else do you explain the empty skies. Anyway, that changed yesterday when Vizefeldwebel Leffers and I flew a line patrol over near Bapaume. We arrived at the line and as usual the skies were devoid of any aeroplanes and so I began our patrol. We had almost completed our patrol when I spotted two small dots approaching from the west. I signaled Leffers and we turned toward the dots to discover who they might be. I was hoping that they would be a couple of Nieuports since we were flying in their area of operations, but as we drew closer I recognized them as British Moranes. A quick scan of the skies assured me that we were the only aeroplanes in the area and so I signaled the attack. Leffers dove after his opponent and I dove after mine and in no time I found myself on the Morane’s tail. The observer in a Morane has a very large field of fire and it seemed as long as I maintained my position just below his tail I was safe. I fired a burst which didn’t seem to have any apparent effect. I fired another and I knew that I had hit him with that burst, but still no effect. I fired one final burst and this time I knew that I had him because his engine began to burn furiously. I turned away and began to look for Leffers, who I saw was heading for home. I followed and upon landing he reported that he and the Tommy had traded numerous shots with Leffer’s engine getting the worst of the exchange. We piled into the Jasta car and made the short drive to Bapaume to view the wreckage. We were able to salvage the observer’s machine gun and now it is hanging in our mess, the rest of the Morane was completely destroyed.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/16 10:14 AM

Hauptmann von Borste got his own Squad at last. He has also been picked out for combat trials with a new Hun secret weapon!!




Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/16 02:08 PM

Wow, I didn't know Rolands made an appearance this early. Lederhosen, you always have all of the fun.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/16 05:06 PM

Sergent Bastien Salmet, N 26, St-Pol-Sur_Mer. March 17th 1916.


"Well I'm sorry Roy, but this is au revoir I'm afraid. I'm being moved down south to fly with N13. Same kind of role, but possibly a chance of moving up to scouts at some point, which doesn't look likely to happen here anytime soon. Keep battling those Hun mon amis. Good little scrap we had today with those two Eindeckers, eh? Better warn your next pilot that these fellows seem to have woken up to our little game. Now that they hunt in pairs it's harder to turn the tables and bring them down. Well, good luck, Roy!"

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/16 11:34 AM

The Diary of August Ege.

20.XI.1915. Frescaty-Metz.

Rain, sleet, snow and strong winds have made it practically impossible to fly more than two missions this week, so we've had lots of time to polish our machines and refine our tactics, and of course kill time in the cafés and restaurants of beautiful Metz! This is a privilege the men in the trenches don't have. I admit it makes me feel a bit guilty to have such a nice time (if not luxurious) while there's a war going on, but that is the nature of our service in the Fliegertruppen.

Leutnant Engel came back from the Festungslazarett Metz yesterday. He seems to have recovered from the accident and the loss of Deutschmann well enough to be able to fly again, but it's obvious that he's no longer the same man he used to be before the tragic crash. I hope he will get over it, but it must be easier said than done. Hauptmann Stelzer told us to keep an eye on Engel and see how he manages things - if it seems like he's not ready to fly combat missions yet, Stelzer intends to send him on a leave of recovery. We can't afford to have people here who are unable to give their best to the war effort. The harsh laws of war!

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/16 11:38 AM

Very cool screenshots and exciting reports! The first Roland C.IIs did come into service in late 1915/early 1916, and were pretty good machines for their time, being able to outrun most opponents and having a very sturdy construction. However, the Roland had a nasty spin and landing accidents were common, thanks to terrible downward visibility from the cockpit.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/16 04:01 PM

Journal Entry: November 20, 1915
Bertincourt

The rain and sleet finally stopped today and so Ernst, Gustav and I flew up to the front to have a look around. I took us above the clouds and we started patrolling on a line from Miraumont southwards to Guillemont. We had the skies all to ourselves and it was thrilling to be soaring up above the clouds in the sunshine. We had just reached Guillemont and turned north when I spotted two black specks north of us heading towards Bapaume from the west. I signaled the others and we began to stalk our prey. As we got closer, the specks materialized into our hated foe, Nieuports. Once we had the sun at our backs, we dove to engage. The Nieuports saw us at the last minute and one dove away while the other turned to engage. Gustav continued diving after the fleeing Nieuport while Ernst and I stayed and engaged the second. While I was recovering from my dive, the Nieuport flashed past in front of me and I fired a snapshot burst just to let him know I was serious. Immediately after I fired, the Nieuport dropped a wing and fell into a spin. I continued my turn while watching the Nieuport thinking to myself he is trying to fool me. Imagine my surprise when the Nieuport continued until it augured into the ground. Ernst and I reformed and it wasn't long before Gustav rejoined us as well, then we headed home. Upon landing, Ernst and I were dumbfounded as to what could have happened to that Nieuport. I had the armorer check my ammunition and was told that I had fired 11 rounds, I can only suppose that I hit the pilot. Anyway, that was my fifth kill and I must have told and retold the story of today's engagement a dozen times at tonight's dinner.

______________________________________________________________________

Here is a screenshot of our after action status. You can see that I actually only hit with one bullet. I don't think I've ever done this before in WOFF.

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/16 05:53 PM

Ha! That's pretty awesome! You imitating René Fonck? He was famous for bringing down enemy planes with only a few shots. smile
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/16 06:45 PM

Banjoman, only my wingmen are this good and only when they get to steal my victory. I would love to see your wingman's virtual face when you did that. jawdrop
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 01:37 AM

Today was Achille Renard's last mission in Flanders region. The entire Escadrille is transferring to Verdun tomorrow and they are finally getting the N 11's. For today, they've decided to say good-bye to the local Hun. They found one nearby, a brave chap. Stayed behind against overwhelming odds while his comrade turned tail. It was probably not the send off he had in mind.


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 04:05 AM

I've noticed that as well, I almost always encounter two Fokkers and one will run and the other stay. I guess it's just one of WOFF's eccentricities.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 09:14 AM

Cool screenshots!

As a two-seater pilot, the worst behaviour from fighters is their regular tendency to abandon the formation they're supposed to escort. I find that this happens almost always.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 11:44 AM

Thanks Hasse, as a scout this is usually not the behavior of the enemy's escorts. They pretty much will attack us (at least one of them), while the 2-seaters run away.
Banjoman, I've noticed this tactic as well and take advantage of it, if we are higher than them. I will ignore the brave one that faced us and go for the coward. By the time the brave pilot catches up to us we're usually done with the coward and can have a proper dogfight.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 01:29 PM

Fullofit, that's what I do as well. Hasse, that was my experience as well when I was flying the Aviatik, our escort always ran.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 02:01 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 04:39 PM

So today is the big day for Achille - Transfer to Verdun.



181 miles! mostly through enemy airspace. They topped off their petrol tanks and took off. Thankfully they did not encounter any enemies on the way. That would have been a disaster. They've reached their new aerodrome of Lemmes with only 5% of fuel left.



Every single one of the pilots had problems with landing, since the forest is so close to the field. They all took at least 3 attempts to land, but eventually they all were able to find the right spot for touch down without running into the forest at the end of the field. Tomorrow, after some rest, they will all get familiar with their new mounts, the N11's.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 06:32 PM

Wow, I can't believe WOFF had you fly that far over enemy territory. I think you will love the N11, it is so responsive. I don't know if this is historical or not, but in the N11 I have never felt at a disadvantage to the Fokker. As a matter of fact, I think in the N11 you have a significant advantage.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 06:53 PM

Yikes! What a flight over enemy territory! In real life, they'd never have done that for a mere transfer flight! eek2

The superiority of the Nupe 11 over the Eindecker is perfectly historical. The Eindecker really wasn't much of a fighter at all. The only advantage it had was its synchronized MG, which no Entente airplane had in those days. But the Eindecker was meant to attack clumsy Entente two-seaters, not fight against the deadly Nupes.

In fact, the French air force quickly achieved air superiority over the Verdun battlefields. The Germans weren't wiped out or anything, but their air ops were seriously restricted by the large numbers of better French airplanes, especially Nupes, operating in the Verdun sector. The same happened at the Somme. It wasn't until the formation of Jastas and the arrival of Halbys and Albs in the fall of 1916 that the situation in the air became favourable for Germany again. This period lasted until the summer of 1917.

But that's still so far in the future that it's better not to talk about it! biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 07:43 PM

I know, I don't even like to think about the future. While I was flying Arthur today I was thinking about how I can't wait to get my Sopwith Triplane and that's when it hit me, that won't be until sometime in December and that's real December.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/16 10:29 PM

I didn't mind the N10 I was flying, I just wish it had a little bit more ammo. With my technique of spray and pray it doesn't last long. Hopefully N11 will have a few more bullets. And N16 should be just around the corner ready
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/16 02:08 AM

I wouldn't get my hopes up, if I remember correctly the N11 only has 194 rounds and they go fast.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/16 07:28 AM

Fullofit, the N. 16 is actually worse than the N.11. It was a failed experiment with a more powerful and heavier engine that resulted in rather poor flight characteristics. It's still better than the Eindecker though!

The Nupe 17, on the other hand, is a killer machine when it comes into service in the summer of 1916. smile
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/16 09:25 AM

Banjoman, I'll take it. 194 is still better than 141.
Hasse, N16 may not be great, but boost in speed will be welcomed, especially with the Rolands ready to roll out. And since my outfit is the first one to get the N17's this shouldn't be too painful.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/16 11:29 PM

So now that everyone has got their shiny new N11, some decided to make them even better looking. Here are some of the HA planes Achille is flying with:




And in the morning they were all woken up by strange noises coming from the road. They all came to look and this is what they were greeted by.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/23/16 03:05 PM

Journal Entry: November 24, 1915
Bertincourt

I feel the men are finally coming together as a team and today's sortie only proves it to be true. Ernst, Gustav and I escorted Leutnant Mau on a artillery shoot up to a position west of Lens. The enemy was out and about in force but nothing came close enough to threaten Mau and so I ignored them and continued our mission. After about an hour had passed Mau signaled that he had completed his work and was heading home. Since there were so many enemy aeroplanes in the area, I decided to stay a little while longer in the hopes that we could gobble up some fat two seaters. It wasn't long until two lumbering BE2cs came flying along heading back home after completing their work. I signaled the others and we turned to start stalking them. I can only assume that the Tommies were tired because they never saw us stalking them and that was their fatal mistake. The skies above the front are not that different than the savannahs of Africa, it's eat or be eaten, and one must always be vigilant. Anyway, I signaled Ernst to take the right one and I took the left and Gustav covered both of us just in case someone was stalking us. By the time the Tommies were aware of our presence they were already plunging earthward. We turned for home and upon landing I congratulated Ernst and Gustav for a job well done. At dinner, I stressed the importance of continually scanning the sky for enemies and had today's enemy done that, then they would be enjoying their dinner right now just as we are.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/16 11:57 AM

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/16 02:09 PM

Lederhosen, you are quite the artist, I like your new skin.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/26/16 12:15 PM

Good reports and nice screenshots, everybody! I agree - lederhosen makes some great-looking skins. smile

The Diary of August Ege.

27.XI.1915. Frescaty-Metz.


Weather's been better this week, with a couple of almost sunny days! Consequently, the Abteilung has been flying very actively. As usual, most of our flights take us to the Verdun salient - either its central area with the big forts, or one of its flanks. There's no doubt that something big is being planned to take place here in the near future. As it gets dark quite early now, we have plenty of time to discuss things in the evenings. Everybody agrees that all these preparations can mean only one thing - a new offensive operation!

Verdun seems like the obvious target. Generals dislike big bulges in the lines, and Verdun fits that definition perfectly. The day before yesterday I was at a supply depot at Metz and had the opportunity to talk with some of my old friends from Kraftwagen-Park 5. They've been busy hauling men and materials to the rear areas of 5. Armee. Apparently they are building new roads, railways and dugouts there, and are using Russian prisoners of war (plenty of them available!) as laborers.

I suppose I shouldn't even be writing these things in my diary, but everybody here seems to know that something's afoot, so what's the harm? Something has gone terribly wrong if the enemy manages to acquire my diary!

But it makes me wonder - if everybody here seems to know about the preparations, then what about the enemy?


A comfortable dugout.

***

This DID campaign has been very relaxing so far compared to the crazy fighting of 1918 in the other DID! I'm greatly enjoying this change of pace. smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/26/16 01:55 PM

Hasse, I agree, but don't get complacent because it will change before you know it.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/26/16 06:57 PM





Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/26/16 07:00 PM

Yeah, I'm sure it will change for the worse as soon as the first Nupe 11s appear in the Verdun sector! But I still have a couple of easy months left.

It's funny, but I feel more confident flying the Aviatik C.I against Nupes than if I had an Eindecker! I learned some decent defensive tactics in the other DID when my pilot was still in a two-seater squadron. The Aviatik has two guns and it isn't much less manoeuverable than the Eindecker, so I'm not too worried.

But at this point, an engine failure behind enemy lines is what troubles me the most!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/26/16 07:44 PM

You are correct, the Aviatik C.I can handle the N.11 fairly well. I found that if I acted aggressively when they attacked that it confused their attack and gave me a good chance of going on the offensive. Remember, you can also fire forward to some extent and that really messes with their heads. smile2
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/26/16 07:51 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
You are correct, the Aviatik C.I can handle the N.11 fairly well. I found that if I acted aggressively when they attacked that it confused their attack and gave me a good chance of going on the offensive. Remember, you can also fire forward to some extent and that really messes with their heads. smile2


Yeah, it does! My intrepid pilot had a scrap with two N10s the other day and nearly bagged his second victory. I do get a little upset with my gunner though, when he fixates on the one that's further away. Also, he tends to forget about his second gun!

H
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/16 02:29 PM

Here is the latest status report. HarryH, there is a little confusion in your report, last week you were French and this week you're British. Which is it? I went ahead and left if like last weeks, but I'll fix it for next weeks when you let me know which is which.

Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/16 11:53 PM

Ah, pardon Monsieur, Bastien est Francais!!

Harry
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/28/16 11:18 PM

Weather cleared up for Bastien, finally. However, when I loaded today's mission I had that old bug come back to haunt me, where your aircraft fails to appear on the field! I've seen other people say it's something to do with some airfields being below sea level or something, so your machines sometimes start underground! My TrackIR didn't initialize, either. Sigh. Guess I'll try again tomorrow.

H
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/16 12:15 AM

I know that's frustrating because it has happened to me.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/16 11:47 AM

.

Banjoman, we discussed several months ago the possibility of my "Intrepid Fliers" pilot, Allard Tremblay, coming back from his capture in the "Warbirds Rising" group so that I would not have to wait yet another four months. Is this still a possibility because if so he can begin flying again. I'm not sure how you would handle this in terms of showing when he actually began his career, but I imagine you have a way.

Let me know, and thanks again for running this to-do, it is much appreciated.

.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/16 02:04 PM

Of course that would be fine, just start flying again. Don't worry about when he began, the dates really just represent when that particular group started.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/16 03:41 PM

Monsieur Tremblay, the time traveller! smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/16 03:57 PM

Journal Entry: March 29, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I think if the Huns don't get me then the monotony of our daily lives will. Don't misunderstand, I still love flying, not war flying mind you, but soaring amongst the clouds on a fine spring day flying. Anyway, we arise in the morning and fly the same missions that we flew the day before and now the Huns have gone scarce. When we do see a Hun he almost always turns and flees. I assume it is because he knows that our machines are superior and it would be a losing proposition to stay and engage us. I fear this situation will not last forever. Roderic and I did have something interesting happen today while we were flying a DOP over Ghistelles. Normally, Archie would throw up a few desultory rounds in our direction when we would fly over one of their gasbags, but today he seemed quite intent on destroying us. As a matter of fact, we both had to dive and jink around to avoid being hit. I wonder if this is a sign of things to come or maybe Archie was just having a bad day.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/16 04:00 PM







Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/01/16 03:53 PM

Journal Entry: December 3, 1915
Bertincourt

The men have been having an ongoing discussion concerning which is better, to shoot down the enemy’s observation craft or their scouts. There are two definite camps in this discussion and both groups make very persuasive arguments for their position. One group argues that without the observation craft the enemy’s army is blinded and therefore that would give our army a noticeable advantage and might even be the deciding factor that would lead us to victory. The other argues that by first eliminating the scouts then you can eliminate the observation machines at your leisure and thereby achieving the same goals. Needless to say, our dinners have been very lively and entertaining. Ultimately, their debate is moot because all we have seen are blasted Nieuports. I had hoped that when we received the new Fokkers we could wreak some havoc on the enemy’s two seater machines, but that has not happened. Usually, when we do encounter an observation craft it turns and flees before we can even engage and so we are left with dueling with Nieuports. It is only fitting then that yesterday I scored my eighth victory against a Nieuport and today we fought an inconclusive engagement against a pair of Nieuports. We will continue to perform our duties but I sure would enjoy meeting some fat juicy BE.2cs at some point.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/01/16 09:51 PM

Achille Renard has finally met Boelcke.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/01/16 09:55 PM

November news for Intrepid Fliers :

November 2
British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith declared Serbian independence to be an essential object of the war.
November 3
The first meeting of the newly constituted British War Committee was held.
The Third Battle of the Isonzo ended in a victory for Austro-Hungarian forces.
November 4
Lord Kitchener set sail for Galilpoli with the objective of gaining firsthand knowledge of the situation.
General Sir Charles Munro was given command of the British Salonika Force. Sir William Birdwood took command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Galilpoli.
November 5
Bulgarian forces captured Nish in Serbia following 3 days of fighting.
Kitchener left London on a visit to the Near East.
November 6
The French offensive against the invading German army, the Second Battle of Champagne, ended in a stalemate.
November 7
The German cruiser SMS Undine was sunk by the British submarine E19 in the Baltic.
November 8
The Italian passenger steamer SS Ancona was sunk by an Austrian submarine off the coast of Tunisia, while sailing under the Austrian flag.
November 10
The Fourth battle of the Isonzo began as Austrian forces continued to resist the Italian bid to cross the River Isonzo.
November 11
Prime Minister Herbert Asquith announced the composition of a new British War Cabinet; Winston Churchill resigned from the Government.
November 14
The North African Senussi order began hostilities against the British when they attacked an Egyptian post at Sollum.
November 15
Representatives of the Central Powers left Teheran as Russian forces advanced.
November 16
Bulgarian forces captured the Babuna Pass and Prilep in southern Serbia.
November 17
An Anglo-French conference was held in Paris to discuss aid to Serbia and the situation at Gallipoll.
British steam ship SS Anglia, which had been requisitioned for use as a hospital ship, hit a mine and sank in the English Channel.
November 18
In Britain new restrictions were imposed on the opening hours of London's clubs.
November 20
King Constantine of Greece and his Government assured lord Kitchener that Greece would never attack Allied troops.
November 22
The Battle of Ctesiphon began as Turkish troops halted the British advance on Baghdad.
November 23
The British Western Frontier Force began military operations against the Senussi.
The Allied Powers sent a Note to the Greek Government demanding non-interference with Allied troops and guaranteeing the eventual restoration of occupied Greek territory.
November 24
The Greek Government accepted the Allied demands of the previous day.
Field Marshal von der Goltz took command of Turkish forces in Mesopotamia.
November 25
The Battle of Ctesiphon ended with a strategic victory for the Ottoman Empire when the British retreated to the city of Kut-al-Amara.
November 29
Afonso Augusto da Costa succeeded Jose de Castro as Portuguese Prime Minister.
November 30
The Pact of London was formally signed by Great Britain, France, Russia, Japan and Italy: each country declared it would not make separate peace.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/01/16 09:59 PM

March news for Warbirds Rising:

March 1
Germany began an extended submarine campaign using a strategy of trying to lure the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet into U-boat traps.
March 2
Russian forces captured Bitlis from the Turks in Armenia.
March 4
The German raider SMS Moewe returned to a heroes welcome in Bremen, Germany following a series of successful attacks on British ships in the Atlantic.
March 5
A combined British-South African Colonial force began an offensive towards Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa.
March 7
Newton Diehl Baker was appointed US Secretary of State.
March 8
Another British attempt to relieve the besieged force at Kut-al-Amara was defeated on the Dujaila Redoubt.
March 9
The Fifth Battle of the Isonzo began when the Italians launched another offensive on the Isonzo River.
The German Government declared war on Portugal over the seizure of German ships in Lisbon.
March 10
British forces captured Taveta in East Africa.
March 11
The Battle for Latema Nek began in the Latema-Reata between Germany and British-South African forces in British East Africa.
March 12
The action at Latema Nek ended with an Allied victory.
An Allied conference at Chantilly discussed the forthcoming summer offensive on the Somme.
March 13
New Moshi in East Africa was occupied by British forces.
March 14
British forces reoccupied Sollum on the Egyptian coast.
March 15
Austria-Hungary followed Germany and declared war on Portugal.
March 16
General Pierre Auguste Roques succeeded Joseph Gallieni as French Minister of War.
At the Battle of Verdun the Germans successive attacks on Vaux were repulsed.
March 18
The Lake Naroch Offensive began when Russian forces attacked the Germans at Lake Naroch on the Eastern Front.
March 20 French politician Baron Denys Cochin was appointed Under-Secretary of State for foreign policy matters responsible for dealing with the blockade of Germany.
March 21
German forces retreated from the Kilimanjaro area after they were defeated at Nahe.
March 22
Yuan Shikal formally abandoned monarchism and relinquished the throne of China.
March 24
The passenger ship SS Sussex was torpedoed by a German U-boat in the English Channel.
March 26
Russian forces continued the attack at Lake Naroch without success.
March 27
Russian commanders suspended their offensive at Lake Naroch.
March 28
An Inter-Allied conference in Paris resulted in a declaration of unity on military, economic and diplomatic affairs between Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Russia and Serbia .
March 29
General Alexei Andreyevich Polivanov resigned as Russian War Minister and was succeeded by General Dmitry Savelich Shuvaev.
March 30
The Russian hospital ship Portugal was sunk by a torpedo from the German submarine U-33 in the Black Sea.
March 31
A German airship raid targeted the East coast of England; the Zeppelin was subsequently shot down by gunfire in the Thames Estuary.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/03/16 02:03 PM

Here's the latest status report.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/07/16 12:51 AM

Journal Entry: December 8, 1915
Bertincourt

Just received a telephone call from Maj. Friedel informing me that I'm to receive the PLM in a weeks time. I'm actually speechless, I know that I scored my tenth victory the other day but I wouldn't say that I've been performing my duties at an exceptional level. He told me to keep this to ourselves and he would announce it to the men in a couple of days. One thing that bothers me about this recognition, is how my tenth victory occurred. Manfred, Gustav, and I were up at the line flying our usual line patrol when I spot a single Nieuport flying along below us without a care in the world. I signal the others and dove down and swooped up behind him. I gave him a burst, he bursts into flames and down he went. I don't think he ever even saw us. I teach my men that the front is a nasty vicious place and it will devour them without a moment's notice if they aren't always vigilant. Aerial victories like this still make me a little uncomfortable but I'm sure this war will eventually beat that sensibility out of me. Anyway, can you imagine a grocer's boy getting the PLM.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/07/16 03:21 PM

Journal Entry: April 7, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

This has been a strange season for me and my squadron. It has been almost a month since we've last had an engagement with any Huns. As a matter of fact, on most sorties we don't even see any Huns. The lads and I are beginning to wonder if maybe the brass hats have called the bloody war off and just forgot to tells us poor sods. I can't say that I'm not enjoying the peace and quiet, but it is rather odd to fly up to the front and not see anything. One rumor floating around the mess is that the Huns are preparing for some major push and are conserving their strength. Others say rubbish, the sky is a big place and it's easy to get lost in and that's why we haven't seen anything. Whatever the reason, I'm sure this interlude will end eventually and it won't be pleasant when it does.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/16 01:16 AM

Today Achille saw Rolands for the first time. To be more precise: the Rolands saw Achille first. Unlike the Aviatiks, they did not turn tail and run, but to his surprise, turned towards him and began attacking in his own backyard. How rude!




These guys aren't pushovers. They can turn with the best of them. It took a while and help from his wingman, but the Roland was finally taken down. Achille is not looking forward to the next encounter with this new bird. Boys in the lab coats better hurry up and come up with better planes to tackle this new menace.

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/16 05:17 PM

Terrific reports and screenshots!

The Roland C.II in WOFF behaves like a deadly two-seat fighter. This behaviour is comparable to the Sopwith Strutters on the Entente side. As far as I know, it's not exactly historically accurate for either of those two planes to fly like that. They were not fighters.

August Ege is alive and well, but I've been much too busy with real life stuff to continue his career.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/16 06:19 PM

Hasse, that's ok, just jump back in when you have the time.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/16 11:19 PM

Originally Posted By: Hasse
The Roland C.II in WOFF behaves like a deadly two-seat fighter. This behaviour is comparable to the Sopwith Strutters on the Entente side. As far as I know, it's not exactly historically accurate for either of those two planes to fly like that. They were not fighters.


Hasse, agreed. Their performance in WOFF seems much more ... legendary than in RL.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/16 01:28 AM

I would agree with both of you about both of those planes. I've seen the Strutters chasing Albatri all over the sky and I know that didn't happen.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/16 06:15 AM

well I'd like to disagree there. The strutter was the first Alli plane that could fire through its airscrew. Yes it was a bomber/Recce aircraft but when deployed for the battle of Arras they were also given escort and patrol dutys as well. However, just because it was a sopwith didn't mean it fkew like a Pup...infact if the engine konked out it flew like a brick..... the Roland too.

In WOFF I could never figure out why the Rolands...when in one flight of all Rolands....can act as fighters, but other aircraft like the Fe2b don't.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/16 02:03 PM

Here is the latest status report. Lederhosen, you forgot to tell me how long you've been captured.




Here is the latest Honor Roll of the Dead.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/11/16 05:38 AM

errr did I press a wrong button???

Basil v Borste is wounded till the 17th.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/16 02:31 PM

Some how Binger's name was mentioned in the papers after he had shot down Hun #5 the other day.
He was asked to carry the flag so to say.


Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/16 01:12 AM

Capitaine Renard decided to take a closer look at one of the enemy machines.




He decided that waving to the pilot would only get him a handful of bullets in return. He decided to return the favor.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/16 02:22 AM

Achille Renard is enjoying himself in the air:

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/16 06:24 PM

The Nupes really own the air in 1916! Well, at least until the Albatros appears. smile

August Ege has continued his career in FFA 71. Christmas 1915 is approaching and things have been quite peaceful in the Verdun sector, as usual. But something's afoot, and it may well be the calm before the storm...



These early morning missions in the autumn provide opportunities for some nice screenshots! Gotta love the improved lighting effects in WOFF. smile
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/16 10:20 PM

Originally Posted By: Hasse
The Nupes really own the air in 1916! Well, at least until the Albatros appears. smile

Hasse, let's not underestimate the Halbs before the Albs get here.
Great pic, BTW. Can't wait for the new batch of sun and clouds shots when WOFF 3 arrives.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/16 03:35 PM

Here's the latest status report. I apologize for the delay but I was out of town and I just got to it.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/16 09:07 PM

Thanks Banjoman. Thought we lost you.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/16 09:40 PM

Nope, I'm not that easy to get rid of, think bad penny. biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/16 11:56 PM

Bruce Wayne could not fly even once this week. The weather is still terrible. One more week and 1916 will be here.

Achille Renard did not fare much better with poor weather in April. He managed to fly only 3 days out of the entire week, but it did not stop him from scoring a confirmed kill.

Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/23/16 01:01 AM

Banjoman, all. So sorry, haven't had any time to fly in weeks. Just getting back to it now but my pilots have gone terribly stale, so I'm going to kick off afresh I think. Do I have to start in 2-seaters?

H
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/23/16 03:30 AM

All you need to do is fly from the depot to your airfield and then fly your training flights.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/23/16 03:08 PM

Ok thanks!
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/16 02:52 PM

.

Well folks, after many months of captivity Allard Tremblay was able to make good his escape and return to the friendly side of the mud. After some much-needed R&R he was assigned to Escadrille 67 and promoted to Lieutenant. He is loving the Nieuport 11 and is making some good friends at Brocourt-en-Verdun, one of which is Jean Navarre. Allard's most recent mission was his 100th and in celebration he had his mount done up in the livery of his old Morane.



By the way, Verdun is lovely in the spring, too bad the war is making such a mess of rather large swatches of the local countryside.

.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/16 07:46 PM

Yea! It's great to see Allard back in the saddle. The Centenary DID needs your wonderful writing.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/16 08:18 PM

Here's the latest status report. We had a lot of activity this past week, so guys keep it up. I really enjoy seeing how everyone is progressing. If you haven't flown in a while it's not too late to join us, we would love to have you.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/16 11:30 PM

Hey Lou, I like the subtle camo modification on your N11.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/16 11:32 PM

Achille Renard is having more fun with the poor Aviatiks:

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/25/16 12:08 PM

Welcome back Lou! I hope Monsieur Tremblay enjoyed the turnips while in German captivity. Oh, and the skin is still looking great, even though it's on another crate. smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/16 03:30 PM

Journal Entry: December 28, 1915
Bertincourt

It looks like the rain and snow have finally stopped. Gustav and I flew up to the front to see what was happening and we had the skies to ourselves. Even Archie obliged us and didn't pester us during our pleasant flight along the front. I'm sure if the weather holds then this pause in the war will end all to quickly.

We had a very enjoyable Christmas celebration featuring all of the delicacies that we each love so much. I don't know where Hans found the goose and the other treats but he certainly outdid himself with our Christmas feast. Even though we had a joyous celebration it was still rather subdued because Christmas has a way of focusing one's mind on thoughts of home and loved ones. I don't know how the men found out that yesterday was my birthday, but they had Hans bake me a small cake and they surprised me with it after dinner last night. As if the cake wasn't enough then the men gave me a fine Waterman fountain pen. I have no idea where the men found a Waterman, but I was deeply touched by their generosity. I am amazed at what a tight knit group of men we have become, and I am reminded daily what a honor it is to lead them.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/27/16 03:29 PM

Journal Entry: April 27, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Today we escorted the lads from RNAS 5 down to the Loos area for a photo recon job. RNAS 5 is flying the new Sopwith Strutter and it is a real pleasure to escort. The Sopwith seems to be as fast as our Nieuports and according to the pilots it is much more maneuverable that the old Quirks. It's armed fore and aft with machine guns and should be more than capable of defeating anything the Huns have in the air at the moment. As a matter of fact, we encountered a flight of Fokkers and as soon as they recognized the Strutter they turned and fled. Between the Fee and the Strutter escorting jobs are becoming bearable.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/16 11:48 PM

Today Capitaine Achille Renard led a balloon busting mission. After destroying the sausage his flight jumped a pair of Eindeckers. After some time and an exchange of fire he was able to bag one.



When it was all over the rest of his flight was already on their way home. He was on his own and damaged. Before reaching friendly lines he was attacked by a returning flight of Fokkers. He was low on ammo, but still able to fight. The turn fight started and it's then when it happened. His lower wings weakened by the bullets from the previous battle gave way and Achille plummeted down towards the ground. The fight started at low altitude so there wasn't far to go.



He survived the impact and was taken to the hospital but died the next day. R.I.P. Achille.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/16 01:59 AM

Fullofit, we've lost an Eagle today. I've been following his exploits and I've been getting nervous because he was such an aggressive pilot. frown
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/16 09:42 AM

Banjoman, he had it easy. All those unarmed planes in the early stages. Biggest worry was his own engine failing. Times have changed.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/16 02:41 PM

Fullofit, sorry to hear of your demise. Somehow reminded me of "On a wing and a pray." Look forward to your next adventure.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/16 03:00 PM

Another ace falls! Better luck with your next pilot.

Excellent screenshots, by the way. smile
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/16 06:49 PM


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/16 07:02 PM

Lederhosen, Arthur still hasn't seen a Roland. I keep looking for them but I guess they are still pretty sparse. Anyway, it looks like you are really enjoying your Roland.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/16 09:21 PM

well, as Rittmeister I may well have the only one on the front. I havn't seen any others either, plus I can't change loadout yet. So maybe it has to do with the rank.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/16 09:25 PM

Thanks Gentlemen. War continues. Introducing Sergent Bernard Sorelle.



Back to flying the N10's.

Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/16 11:50 AM

having survived longer than it takes to write about, meet




yes, that's 'G,' as in "Goddammit, here goes another one"
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/16 01:16 PM

At least we'll keep Banjoman busy with the updates. cool
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/16 02:24 PM

Lofty, my branch of the Griffins actually come from Georgia, maybe we're related. biggrin
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/16 02:48 PM

August Ege spent the Christmas of 1915 on leave at his home in Stuttgart and is now back in action:



I'll try to write a proper diary entry soon. Real life always manages to interfere when I attempt it!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/16 03:40 PM

Hasse, your stories are so good they are worth the wait.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/16 05:53 PM

Thanks Banjoman! I greatly enjoy reading about the adventures of your pilots too. smile

Latest chapter in the life and times of August Ege:

The Diary of August Ege.

Samstag, 1.I.1916. Metz-Frescaty.

Happy New Year! Hopefully, this will be the decisive year of this seemingly never-ending war. I returned from Stuttgart on the evening of the 28th and was welcomed by our small and merry group of bandits here. Nothing much had happened while I was away; the weather had been lousy and the eight unlucky pilots and observers forced to stay here had spent most of their time playing cards and consuming whatever extra food and drink they had been provided with for the holidays. I hear the cafés of Metz still haven't recovered from their excursions! Oh, this terrible war!

This was my first war-time Christmas spent at home. Back in 1914 I didn't get any leave. Father and mother were doing well (considering the circumstances) and as usual, my twin sisters were extremely curious about any affairs I might be having with the ladies they believe must be after me everywhere I go, since I'm now wearing the coveted military pilot's badge. I told them that we're actually trying to fight a war here and that any such affairs will have to wait for better days to come, but it's quite impossible to convince those two young ladies.

The city itself was full of military men, as befits these times of strife. It was very different from the summer days of 1914, when everybody was saying welcome to the war. People are still enthusiastic, and everybody believes in the final victory, but it can't be denied that things are somewhat more serious now. Nobody expects the war to be over anytime soon, which tends to dampen the mood of the people a lot. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed the few days I was allowed to spend with my family.

On the way back to Metz in a train full of troops I encountered an old friend from my Kraftfahrtruppen days - Feldwebel Max Maier, or actually Offizier-Stellvertreter Maier, as he's now known! The powers that be have been promoting a lot of us old regular army NCOs to that rank recently. With luck, some of us may even become officers - and if I may say, would do a far better job at it than some of the stiff-necked morons produced by the war academies!

Max told me in a quiet voice that he'd noticed the very same thing as we at Frescaty - something's definitely afoot in the Verdun sector. He's still serving at Kraftwagen-Park 5 and said they've been really busy at hauling all kinds of equipment to the 5. Armee sector and that the number of Russian POWs working behind the lines seems only to have increased in the last couple of weeks.

It can only mean one thing - a new offensive. Once again, I can't help but wonder - if it's so obvious to many of us here, then how can the Frenchmen also not know about it?





Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/16 01:25 PM

Here's the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/16 10:17 PM

December news of the World for Intrepid Fliers:

December 1
Italy announced her adherence to the Pact of London.
December 2
Bulgarian forces captured Monastir in Serbia.
December 3
Following the retreat from their defeat at Ctesiphon in November, British forces reached Kut al Amara.
December 4
The American anti-war peace expedition of Henry Ford set sail for Europe on the Oscar II.
December 5
The French submarine Fresnel was sunk by Austrian destroyers off the coast of northern Albania.
December 6
The Allied War Council held a military conference in Paris.
December 7
The Siege of Kut began when the Ottoman Army besieged the British-Indian garrison in the town of Kut al Amara in Mesopotamia.
President Woodrow Wilson delivered a war message to Congress denouncing anti-American plotters.
December 8
British forces at Anzac Cove and Suvla in Gallipoli were ordered to evacuate.
In Flanders Fields was published in Punch magazine. It was written by Canadian medical officer John McRae after presiding over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier earlier in the year.
December 10
German attaches Captain Boy-Ed and Captain Papen were recalled from the USA by their Government.
December 11
General and politician Yuan Shikai accepted the title of Emperor of China.
December 12
Greece conceded Allied demands regarding Salonika.
December 13
The Affair of the Wadi Senab concluded two days of action fought in Egypt's western desert between the Senussi and British and Indian forces.
December 14
Hamadan in western Persia was occupied by Russian troops.
December 15
Field Marshal Sir John French resigned as Commander-in-Chief of British forces on the Western Front and was replaced by Sir Douglas Haig.
December 17
German light cruiser SMS Bremen sunk in the Baltic after striking a Russian naval mine.
December 18
US President Woodrow Wilson married Edith Galt at her home in Washington.
December 19
The Allies started the preliminary evacuation of Gallipoli.
December 20
The evacuation of 83,000 troops from Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove in Gallipoli was completed.
December 21
The Japanese passenger steamer Yasaka Maru was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat near Port
Said in the Mediterranean Sea.
December 23
British naval operations began on Lake Tanganyika.
December 24
The French passenger steamer Ville De La Ciotat was torpedoed in the Mediterranean Sea by German submarine U-34.
December 26
The British government entered into a treaty with Ibn Sa'ud, the Emir of Nejd, accepting protectorate status and agreeing to make war against Ibn Rashid, who was being supported by the Turks.
December 28
British and Indian forces at Cape Helles were ordered to evacuate Gallipoli.
December 29
Draft rules were approved for the Inter-Allied War Council.
December 30
P&O passenger liner SS Persia was torpedoed and sunk without warning by German U-Boat commander Max Valentiner.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/16 10:19 PM

April news of the World for Warbirds Rising:

April 1
British forces on the River Tigris renewed their attempts to break Turkish lines and relieve the besieged garrison at Kut-al-Amara.
April 2
More than 100 men and boys were killed by an explosion at the Explosives Loading Company munitions factory at Faversham in Kent when a store of TNT and ammonium nitrate blew up.
April 3
The Greek Government refused to allow an overland route for Serbian troops from Corfu to Salonika.
April 4
Russian General Aleksei Brusilov replaced General Nikolay Iudovich Ivanov in command of the Southern Front.
April 5
In the final Allied attempt to relieve Kut, British forces attacked Falahiya. After an initial success, the Turks held the garrison.
German forces captured Haucourt at Verdun.
April 6
German troops pushed forward towards Bethincourt and Hill 265 at the Battle of Verdun.
April 7
Russian forces renewed their offensive at Lake Naroch, with limited success.
April 8
French forces evacuated Bethincourt at Verdun.
April 9
German forces launched a coordinated attack on both sides of the Meuse and captured part of Le Mort Homme, consisting of Hill 256 and Hill 295, northwest of Verdun.
April 10
In Paris, the International Olympic Committee confirmed that the Games would not be held until the War was over.
April 11
Portuguese troops occupied Kionga in German East Africa.
April 14
Aircraft of Royal Naval Air Service flew from Mudros and attacked Constantinople and Adrianople.
April 15
The Serbian Army landed at Salonika from Corfu.
April 16
German forces bombarded Hill 304 at the Battle of Verdun.
April 17
British forces in German East Africa launched an attack on Kondoa Irangi.
April 18
Russian forces captured Trebizond on the Black Sea from Turkey without opposition.
US President Wilson threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Germany if submarine attacks on passenger ships are not stopped.
April 19
British forces captured Kondoa Irangi in German East Africa.
Field Marshal von der Goltz was assassinated by an Albanian officer in Asia Minor.
April 20
Russian troops from the Far East arrived at Marseilles to fight in France.
April 21
Irish revolutionary Roger Casement landed at Tralee Bay in County Kerry in Ireland from a German submarine and was arrested by British authorities.
April 22
The final attack by British troops on Sanna-i-Yat was repulsed during the Siege of Kut.
April 24
The Easter Rising began when Irish Republicans staged an armed insurrection against British rule with the aim of establishing an independent Ireland.
The river steamer HMS Julnar was sunk during a final attempt to provide supplies to the besieged troops at Kut-al-Amara.
April 25
A German naval squadron bombarded Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth on the east coast of Britain.
April 26
An agreement was signed in Berlin for the repatriation of sick and wounded British and German POWs to Switzerland.
The British gunboat Helga bombarded the city of Dublin from the River Liffey and destroyed Liberty Hall.
April 27
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Wimborne proclaimed martial law in Ireland.
April 29
After nearly five months General Charles Townshend surrendered the garrison at Kut-al-Amara to the Turks.
April 30
The Lake Naroch Offensive ended with a German victory when the Russian attack petered out.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/16 08:08 PM

Journal Entry: January 8, 1916
Bertincourt

I don't think it is ever going to stop snowing. It has been snowing since December 21 with just a few pauses here and there. We have managed to fly just three times since it started and it seems there is no end in sight. Of course, the bright side to this bad weather is we are all safe and sound and we were able to celebrate both Christmas and New Years without being disturbed by wartime activities. There are, of course, only so many books and card games that one can play and nerves are beginning to fray. Hopefully, the weather breaks soon and we can resume our normal duties or I will be forced to design more physical activities for the men such as snowball fights.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/16 01:59 PM

Here is the latest status report.



And here is the latest Honor Roll of our lost comrades.

Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/16 06:40 PM

Thanks Banjoman. I have a new pilot in Warbirds Rising. You can scrub Bastien from your next chart and I'll upload the new guy's stats this week sometime. No flying in either campaign because of weather, until at least the 10th for me!

H
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/16 07:16 PM

Will do, thanks for the heads up.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/15/16 01:27 PM

Here's the latest status report.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/17/16 03:11 PM

Journal Entry: May 17, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I can't believe it finally stopped raining. It has rained nonstop since May 5th and I was beginning to wonder if it would ever stop. The problem with Northern Flanders is when it rains for an extended period of time the whole countryside turns into a huge morass. I can't even begin to imagine what life in the trenches is like right now. I was very skeptical that we could even take off from our sodden field, but nothing was stopping the lads from getting into the air today. We flew a line patrol down near Ypres and flew an escort this afternoon. We didn't see a blasted thing and that was certainly alright by me, I was just so glad to be in the air and feel the sun on my face. Hopefully, the weather has broken and we can get back to our jobs of war flying.
Posted By: Deacon211

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/19/16 12:00 AM

No kidding! It rained For. Ev. Er.

Gustav sat around a week twiddling his thumbs in the rain and got shot down on his second flight out. Being in an EIII in May 1916 is just an unhealthy profession. Other than completely avoiding combat, if I get bounced, there is no place to run. If I can get or keep a little altitude, I can stay above the Nieuports. But otherwise, not so much.

Fokker Scourge my eye!
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/16 01:43 AM

Finally getting back into the Centenary Challenge! I've scrubbed both my previous pilots. Only doing the Warbirds rising for the time being....

Flt Sub Lt. Cecil Pargate, RNAS-4



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/16 01:54 AM

HarryH, glad to have you back and I love your journal. I'm so tempted to steal it and use it for both of my Centenary pilots. winkngrin
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/16 05:44 AM

Thanks Banjoman, good to be back. Please do use it if you'd like to!

H
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/16 07:39 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/16 08:35 PM

Thanks Banjoman for the status report. Do you think it would be helpful to mark the pilots that have not updated their status for, say a month, as inactive (on leave)?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/16 09:04 PM

I could do that. What I have done in the past is save the pilots of people who have gone 'inactive' off in another spreadsheet and if they return then I can just re-add them.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/16 09:28 PM

Banjoman, I'm afraid if you take them off, the board may look kinda empty, but then again why keep the board full of ghosts? Your choice.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/16 10:03 PM

Good point, and if they are on the list and see themselves as 'Inactive' maybe that will spur them on to rejoining us and resuming their careers.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/16 10:30 PM

thumbsup
Thanks again for doing the housekeeping.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/16 12:38 PM

Salute

err bad news realy. I'm culling off my two pilots as I don't have the time anymore for so many online things these days.
I've also lost interest with the two as Olhams DID is now nearing its end and is pretty demanding in 1918.

pls dont take this personaly.. I just cant commit anymore.

danke
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/16 01:54 PM

Lederhosen, not a problem. I'm sorry to see you go since things are finally starting to heat up over here in the Centenary DID but I completely understand. I think I can speak for the group when I say that we will certainly miss your humor.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/16 03:39 PM

I'll try to continue August Ege's adventures in the weekend. I've been very busy with real life stuff (including health problems) and so haven't had time to fly much.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/16 09:21 PM

Hasse, I've missed your reports and will enjoy seeing you back in the air. Very best wishes for a quick recovery from your health troubles. And thanks for the kind words on Jack's 100 hours. It's sobering to think it is barely a fraction of what you have done!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/16 03:25 PM

Journal Entry: January 28, 1916
Bertincourt

Finally, the scoring drought is over. It has been almost a month since I have last had any success in the air but yesterday I was most fortunate. Manfred and I met Guynemer and his wingman over Cambrai on a routine patrol. On my initial pass I must have scored a few hits on Guynemer because he abruptly turned and dove away leaving his wingman to deal with me. Manfred dashed off after Guynemer with no hope of catching him but he tried nonetheless. After sizing up my opponent, I quickly realized that this poor Frenchman should have run when he had the chance. He had the height advantage but never pressed his advantage and when he did finally choose to run it was just straight away. If he had either chosen to climb away or dive away I would have never caught him, but he chose the one maneuver that allowed me to close the distance. After a couple of bursts, the poor souls engine burst into flames. I am pleased with my success but there are times when how we score our victories leaves one feeling slightly dirty.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/16 03:59 PM

Journal Entry: May 27, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

The old adage, "Be careful what you wish for...", was once again proven true today for me. It has been raining off and on for at least a month and when we do get to fly we never see anything. I suppose the Huns are as waterlogged as we are and can't get off the ground. So, imagine my surprise when I spotted a flight of three Aviatiks with a straggler about a mile and half back from the flight. I immediately gave the signal to pursue, which of course was totally unnecessary and away we went. By the time we had closed the distance on the straggler he had managed to rejoin his flight, but we pressed the attack anyway. As I was closing the distance, one of the Hun observers must have cut one of my control lines because I immediately flipped over and started spinning. I fell about a thousand feet before I was able to regain control of my machine by applying full left rudder and full left aileron. If I relaxed either of those controls I dropped my right wing and started to spin again. Fortunately, for me I could see Droglandt aerodrome was just about two miles away and so that is where I headed. I was finally approaching the field to land, after what seemed like an eternity, when I noticed that I was side slipping horribly toward the trees lining the field. I applied power which allowed me to clear the trees, but now I was coming in too fast. I killed my engine and just let her drop onto the field. I cracked my landing gear which caused my right wing to dip into the earth which changed my direction of travel and before I knew what had happened I smashed into the side of a hangar. As I sat there dazed and confused about what just happened, I was quickly surrounded by onlookers who pulled me from the wreckage. The most amazing thing of my wreck was that I had nary a scratch, but my bus was a complete write-off. Both Edward and Roderic had seen where I had crashed and they landed not long after. Afterward, Edward told me that he had bagged two and Roderic had bagged one of the Aviatiks, so in spite of my adventure the patrol was quite the success.

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/16 10:43 AM

Good thing they make those hangars sturdy! biggrin

August Ege is back:



Things are going become much more exciting in the Verdun front pretty soon...
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/16 01:46 PM

Here's the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/16 12:22 AM

Intrepid Fliers News of the World for January:

January 1
Under the command of Canadian General Charles Macpherson Dobell, British forces captured Yaunde in the Cameroons.
January 2
The P&O British cargo ship SS Geelong sank in the Mediterranean Sea following a collision with a British steamer. She was on a voyage from Sydney via Port Said to Gibraltar and London with a general cargo which included tea and lead.
January 4
A relief force started out from Ali Al-Gharbi to save the besieged defenders of Ku-al­Amara.
January 6
The Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad began along the banks of the Tigris River between the Anglo­Indian Tigris Corps and the Ottoman Sixth Army.
January 5
An Inter-Allied Conference was held in Rome.
January 7
British forces captured the forward Turkish positions at Sheikh Sa'ad.
January 8
Under the command of Lieutenant General Sir Fenton John Aylmer the Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad ended - the first in a series of assaults by the Tigris Corps to attempt to break through the Ottoman lines to relieve the besieged garrison at Kut-al-Amara.
January 9
The Allied evacuation of Helles marked the end of the Gallipoli Campaign which resulted in an Allied defeat and an overwhelming victory for the Ottoman Empire.
January 10
General Sir Archibald Murray succeeded Sir Charles Munro as Commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.
January 11
Corfu was occupied by Allied troops.
Russian forces began an offensive into Armenia.
January 12
An Armistice was drawn up between Montenegro and Austria.
January 13
The Battle of Wadi took place. The conflict was an unsuccessful attempt by Lieutenant General Sir Fenton John Aylmer to relieve beleaguered forces under siege by the Ottoman Army at Kut-al­Amara.
January 14
Lieutenant General Sir Percy lake was appointed as Commander-in-Chief in Mesopotamia, replacing Sir John Nixon.
January 16
French General Maurice-Paul­Emmanuel Sarrail assumed command of all Allied forces in Salonika.
January 17
Montenegro surrendered to the Central Powers.
January 20
The Armistice between Montenegro and Austria ceased as negotiations broke down.
January 21
As part of the attempt to relieve Kut al Amara, a British assault against Turkish positions was launched at the Battle of Hanna and was once again repulsed.
January 23
Austro-Hungarian forces captured Scutari on the Southern Front.
British forces attacked Senussi tribesmen at Halazin near the Mediterranean seaport of Mersa Matruh.
January 24
German officer Reinhard Scheer was promoted to Admiral and given control of the High Seas Fleet.
January 25
The personal envoy of US President Wilson, Edward House, met with German officials in Berlin on a mission for peace.
January 26
A communique was sent from Sir Charles Townshend to the Kut Garrison in order to boost the flagging morale of his garrison troops.
January 27
The Military Service Act 1916 was passed by the British Parliament to introduce conscription. The law required that all unmarried men and widowers 18-41 years of age without dependents should make themselves available for national service.
January 28
Louis Dembitz Brandeis was controversially nominated by President Wilson to become a member of the US Supreme Court.
January 29
Paris was bombed by German Zeppelins.
January 31
East Anglia and the Midlands were bombed in a raid by several German airships.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/16 12:23 AM

Warbirds Rising News of the World for May:

May 1
The leaders of the rebellion in Ireland surrendered to British forces.
Reichstag member Karl Liebknecht was arrested following a pacifist demonstration.
May 3
Patrick Pearse and two other Irish rebel leaders were executed by a British firing squad.
German forces began an artillery bombardment of Hill 304, northwest of Verdun.
May 4
The German Government pledged to the United States that they would not attack merchant ships without warning.
May 5
The German airship LZ85 was downed by British guns at Salonika.
German forces gained a foothold on Hill 304 at Verdun.
May 7 The verdict of the Court Martial was communicated to Irish rebel, Sean Heuston, that he had been sentenced to death and was to be shot at dawn the following morning.
May 8
White Star steamship SS Cymric was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 in the Atlantic Ocean.
May 9
The British and French Governments concluded the Sykes-Picot agreement regarding the eventual partition of Asia Minor. The agreement took its name from its negotiators, Sir Mark Sykes of Britain and Francois Georges-Picot of France.
May 10
Lord Wimborne resigned as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.
May 11
A German attack west of Vaux Pond was repulsed during the Battle of Verdun.
May 12
Irish republican and socialist leader James Connolly was executed by a British firing squad because of his role in the Easter Rising.
May 14
An Austrian offensive against Italy began with an artillery barrage in the province of Trentino.
May 15
In northern Mesopotamia Russian forces occupied Rowanduz.
The Allies began a blockade of the Hejaz coast to assist the Arab revolt under Sharif Hussein bin Ali, Emir of Mecca.
May 16
The House of Commons passed an extension to the Military Service Act bringing married men into the scope for conscription.
Austrian forces captured the Italian trenches at Soglio d'AspiO.
May 17
Earl Curzon of Kedlesron was appointed as President of the Air Board in Great Britain.
May 18
Austrian forces captured Zugna Torta and Unz from Italy.
May 19
The Austrian offensive stalled in the Trentino when Italian troops held Monte Pasubio but the Italians then retreated from Monte Toraro and Monte Campolon.
May 20
German forces attacked Le Mort Homme and captured the summit of Hill 295 at Verdun.
May 21
Adolf Tortilowicz von Batocki-Friebe was appointed president of the newly created German food control board.
May 22
French forces launched an assault and gained a foothold in Fort Douaumont at Verdun.
May 23
British troops occupied the capital city of El Fasher in Darfur.
May 25
The Second Military Service Bill became law in Great Britain.
May 26
German and Bulgarian forces occupied Fort Rupel on the Greek border with Macedonia.
May 27
US President Wilson proposed a "universal association of nations" to settle future disputes.
May 28
German forces bombarded the British line between La Bassee Canal and Arras on the Western Front.
May 29
The first Despatch of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief of the British Armies in France and Flanders, was printed in the London Gazette. It covered the fighting at the Bluff, St Eloi and other actions of early 1916.
May 31
The Battle of Jutland began between Britain's Grand Fleet and Germany's Hochseeflotte in the North Sea.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/16 01:45 PM

Here's the latest status report.

Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/16 02:39 PM

Banjoman;

That was quite the experience crashing into the hangar and not having a scratch! Wonder of Wonders! Must be an angel on your shoulder.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/16 07:11 PM

Right you are, I've been very fortunate with Arthur. Right now I think the reason is the British have the edge in aircraft and until the Albatri show up I think my chances are pretty good. When I'm facing an Albatros in a N11 then I'm not liking my chances.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/16 02:54 PM

Banjoman, is there a 1916 calendar for Intrepid Flyers? If I were to lose my 1918 DiD pilot, I'd want to have a go.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/16 04:20 PM

Raine, just sent you a PM.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/16 05:00 PM

Raine, this is a fun campaign to fly. My pilot is just about to become involved in the battle of Verdun. I picked his Abteilung with that offensive in mind!

For a DID pilot coming from the crazy days of 1918, flying in early 1916 is very different. The danger is there, but your chances of survival feel a lot better than in the final months of the war. When I fly missions as August Ege, I don't feel nearly as stressed as in the other DID with Albrecht Niemann! smile
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/07/16 11:54 AM

Finally found some time to write about August too.

To be honest, I enjoy flying his missions more than Albrecht's. I don't have that same feeling of the Grim Reaper watching my every move behind my back! biggrin

***

The Diary of August Ege.

Dienstag, 8.II.1916. Metz-Frescaty (FFA 71).


Early this morning, the pilots and observers of the Abteilung were ordered by Hauptmann Stelzer to assemble in the briefing room. Stelzer doesn’t like circling around issues and in his usual manner went straight to the point: the big push that everybody has been expecting here in the Verdun sector will commence on February 12th! Naturally, this is all top secret stuff and if one of us happens to go down behind enemy lines, he must say nothing about it to his captors. I still can’t believe that all our preparations could have gone unnoticed by the French; earlier this week we saw some really heavy artillery pieces being transported by rail near Metz. They try to do most of the transportation work in the cover of darkness at night, but it isn’t easy to hide weapons like the Langer Max railway guns!

We’ve been photographing the Verdun area like madmen for several weeks now. Soon we will find out whether our pictures have been of use to the artillery! As usual, I find waiting for big things to start happening hard to bear. I just wish we could start tomorrow and be done with the whole business as soon as possible. Alas, patience has never been my greatest strength!

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/16 01:59 AM

Journal Entry: February 8, 1916
Bertincourt

Finally, Major Gundel has seen the wisdom of my suggestion to rid us of our Aviatiks and convert us to a purely hunting group. Yesterday, we accepted delivery of three Fokker E.IIIs for the rest of the men and two Fokker E.IVs for Manfred and myself. I am rather excited at the prospect of the E.IV, it has more power and two machine guns. Lately, I have noticed that our E.IIIs are not quite as dominant as when we first started flying them. I am hoping the E.IV reverses that trend. I was sorry to see our observers go but I'm convinced we can serve the Fatherland better by focusing on the destruction of enemy aeroplanes.

Imagine my chagrin when during this morning's mission I managed to destroy my brand new machine. Manfred and I flew up to the front for a line patrol in our new E.Ivs. It was a beautiful morning and the sector seemed unusually quiet. It wasn't long until I spotted two Nieuports flying along just to the south of us. I signaled Manfred and he was game, so I turned in their direction. They were game as well and I saw them turn towards us. We jockeyed for position for a few minutes and then I dove into them. We swirled around with no one able to gain an advantage until my opponent was able to climb above me and flip over into a steep slashing dive. I managed to jink out of the way but not quick enough to avoid all of his burst which went into my right plane. My bus immediately pitched over into a spin and I forgot all about my opponent as I tried to regain control of my machine. I had the control stick jammed to the left and the rudder jammed full left which brought me out of the spin about a hundred meters above the ground. I had no time to pick a landing spot and I set her down in the first clearing I saw. The landing was rough and she turned turtle as I was coming to a stop. Fortunately for me, the only thing hurt was my pride and then that Frenchman had the gall to fly over and make a rude gesture in my direction. Manfred had seen where I crashed so when he landed he sent a lorry to pick me up and gather the wreckage of my new machine. The men enjoyed my discomfort and I received my fair share of good natured ribbing which I fully deserved.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/11/16 12:20 PM



Taking off from Frescaty for a dawn recon. Notice the Zeppelin hangar.



Reconnaissance over Fort Vaux near Verdun, 11 February 1916. The original start date for Operation Gericht (German offensive at Verdun) was February 12th, but poor weather forced them to postpone the attack until February 21st.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/11/16 09:23 PM

Banjoman, I've never flown the Fokker E.IV in campaign mode - I did only a quick test in free flight. How does it handle? Is it too heavy and clumsy?

February 1916 is just about the last month the Eindeckers have for hunting enemy two-seaters in relative peace. Soon the DH.2 and Nupe 11 make their appearance - and then I'll rather be flying my sturdy Aviatik with two guns than the obsolete Eindecker!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/11/16 09:41 PM

Originally Posted By: Hasse
Banjoman, I've never flown the Fokker E.IV in campaign mode - I did only a quick test in free flight. How does it handle? Is it too heavy and clumsy?

February 1916 is just about the last month the Eindeckers have for hunting enemy two-seaters in relative peace. Soon the DH.2 and Nupe 11 make their appearance - and then I'll rather be flying my sturdy Aviatik with two guns than the obsolete Eindecker!


Hasse, but ... E.IV has 2 guns just like the Aviatik, only better biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/11/16 09:57 PM

Hasse, you are correct. The only advantage that I've noticed in the E.IV is the twin guns. I thought the more powerful engine would make a difference but I haven't noticed it. I can't believe the Eindekkers were as crappy in real life as they seem to be in WOFF.
Posted By: Stache

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/16 02:18 AM

New Warbirds Rising Pilot - Axel Muntz - Completed transfer flight from Koln to Mars La Tour (Verdun)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/16 04:04 AM

Welcome Stache, it's good to have a new comrade join us over here in the Centenary DID. Remember to entry your weekly data on Saturdays and then I can include you in the weekly status report. I'm going to add you right now to the status form.

Edit: In case you don't know where the status form is located it is in the Further Missions section on the first page of this thread.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/16 01:46 PM

Here is the latest status report.



I can't remember if I posted the latest Honor Roll report, so here it is as well.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/16/16 12:05 AM

Journal Entry: February 16, 1916
Bertincourt

Yesterday, we flew our first full KEK sortie and it was a disaster. I led Manfred, Georg and Edgar on a line patrol in the Bapaume area while Josef flew above us as a lookout for trouble. As we began our patrol I noticed a pair of Nieuports lurking about way off in the distance and decided to ignore them because they were so far from our patrol area. We continued with the patrol and it wasn't long until Edgar spotted a pair of Quirks ambling along towards us. It was obvious that they hadn't seen the danger yet and we were able to successfully attack them out of the sun. In spite of our surprise, they still managed to pepper us thoroughly and even lightly wounded Georg in the process. Eventually, the inevitable happened with me downing one of the Quirks and Georg the other. Afterwards, I fired the flare signalling the return to base and we landed without incident. It was then that I realized my horrible mistake, I had lost track of Josef in the excitement of our engagement. It wasn't until I called the local BalIon zug that I found out what happened to Josef. It seems that while we were engaged with the Quirks the Nieuports snuck in and overwhelmed Josef. Yesterday reminded me that as Kommandeur I am not allowed to make mistakes, my mistakes cost men their lives. I will miss Leutnant Mau, he had a wonderful tenor voice and the mess shall suffer because of his absence.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/16 04:43 PM

Hey guys, I've had a death in the family so I won't be able to get the report out until sometime next week. I hope everybody is ok with that.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/16 08:48 PM

Hi Banjoman,
Sorry for your loss. Worry not. Take care of the family business.
Posted By: HarryH

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/16 06:32 AM

Hi Banjoman, condolences re your news. Take care and see you soon.

H
Posted By: Stache

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/16 07:03 PM

Banjoman, my condolences as well.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/16 03:19 AM

Here's the latest status report. Thanks for everyone's condolences and thanks for everyone's patience, it is appreciated.

Posted By: Stache

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/16 01:20 AM

Axel has had an inauspicious beginning to his career.
Grounded by weather most of the first week.
Finally gets a short flight in to become familiar with the area.

His third mission was to expand his familiarization and check out the front.
Well, Axel overstayed his welcome, was not paying close enough attention and got jumped by some N11's.
One of them scored some good hits, wounding both Axel, his gunner and their fuel tank.
After some furious escape attempts, diving for the ground, he finally found himself alone and running low on fuel.
Coming up a bit short of friendly territory, he crashed and was captured.
After spending a few days in a Hospital both Axel and his gunner managed to escape and made it back home.

Going to have to wait until July 1st for Axel to fly again.

So started a new pilot


Atwood is doing much better but needs to learn how to turn his FE2b in a fight without stalling...
He was bummed that his first kill was not confirmed, even though it was a flamer.
But somehow his observer turned up dead upon landing - must have had a heart attack.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/16 03:09 AM

Journal Entry: June 25, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Well, it finally happened. The day I've been dreading since I was promoted to Squadron Commander. The old man just informed me that I'm to take command of RNAS 3. They've just been formed and are needing an experienced commander to mold them into an effective fighting squadron. I'm both nervous and excited at the same time. On one hand, I'm responsible for the lives of these men and now my mistakes have real consequences and on the other hand, I can now fully implement my ideas on successful scout tactics that I've been honing for the last six months. We shall see what the future holds as I begin my new command.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/16 09:40 AM

Banjoman, congrats on making it to the top! (No pun intended). Don't take it personally when your flight seems reluctant to follow your orders to attack. It's been my experience lately that it takes some drastic measure, like being fired upon by the enemy, before the flight decides to engage. Until then, you will be the only one attacking, no matter how many times you give the command. Or am I the only one being ignored by the rest of the squadron?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/16 01:18 PM

Fullofit, I know what you mean. Next time it happens to you turn on the Activity Label and you will see that they are probably still in Transit mode. I don't know why that happens but it has happened to me more than once.

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

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/16 11:02 AM

The Diary of August Ege.

FFA 71. Metz - Frescaty.

Dienstag, 29.II.1916, 1930 Uhr.

This week has been one of the busiest of my whole life! Only the first few weeks of the war can be compared to what we've experienced here in the Verdun sector ever since the offensive was finally launched on February 21st. At the Etappen-Kraftwagen-Park 5, we were terribly busy dealing with all kinds of mechanical problems and breakdowns that our lorries had to endure in the first month of the war. Now my work as a pilot is very different, though just as busy.

The start of the operation was delayed for a whole week because of awful weather conditions. The constant wind, snow and sleet also prevented most of our flight operations. We were quite frustrated by this bad luck, but finally in the morning of the 21st at 0715 hours, a massive artillery bombardment was opened against the French positions around Verdun. It was quite something! I've never witnessed such a terrible storm of steel. Hundreds of our guns poured their deadly shells into the Verdun salient for no less than ten hours!

Our Abteilung has been flying in support of the heavy artillery batteries of 5. Armee almost without pause for nine days now. Every day our Aviatiks spend hours registering the hits of the big guns and directing their fire where it's needed the most. This constant flying is exhausting for our men, but it's even harder for our machines. As I'm writing this, two of our Aviatiks are temporarily out of action for lack of engine spare parts. In spite of these troubles, we're all in good spirits and hopeful of finally seeing a real penetration - maybe a complete breakthrough - of the front here.

Tomorrow we'll be flying in support of III. Korps near Ornes, which they captured on February 25th. Now they are pushing towards the big fortress at Douaumont and need all the support they can get!

Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/16 02:09 PM

George griffin is dead. single bullet from an Aviatik gunner.



I don't know if I'm more frustrated or depressed, but either way, I don't feel like coming up with yet another pilot name right now. Carry on, boys!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/16 03:46 PM

Sorry to hear that Loftyc, we'll keep your seat warm when you want to rejoin us.
Posted By: loftyc

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/16 11:31 AM

Originally Posted By: Hasse
Raine, this is a fun campaign to fly. My pilot is just about to become involved in the battle of Verdun. I picked his Abteilung with that offensive in mind!



I was looking forward to flying during the Somme. Not to be....
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/16 01:19 PM

You still can, but with just another guy.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/16 02:28 PM

Here are February News of the World for Intrepid Fliers:

February 1
The Norwegian Government prohibited all foreign submarines from using their territorial waters.
February 2
Boris Vladimirovich Sturmer replaced Ivan Longinovich Goremykin as Prime Minister of Russia.
February 8
British Government requested naval assistance from Japan.
The French armoured cruiser Admiral Charner was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat near Beirut.
February 9
A Combined British-Belgian naval force sank the German gunboat Hedwig von Wissmann during the Battle for Lake Tanganyika.
February 10
The Military Service Act became operational in Britain.
The German Government advised the United States that all defensively armed merchant ships would be considered as belligerents from 1 March onwards.
February 11
The light cruiser HMS Arethusa struck a mine and sank off Felixstowe on the east coast of Britain.
February 12
Russian forces began an attack on the Turkish city of Erzurum during the Erzurum Offensive.
February 14
The Allied powers issued a guarantee of eventual independence and indemnification of Belgium.
February 15
An agreement was reached between the British Government and Bakhtiati chieftains for cooperation in protection of Persian oilfields.
February 16
After days of fighting in deep snow and intense cold, Russian forces captured Erzurum from the Ottoman Army.
The War Office took over responsibility for the air defense of London and the rest of Britain from the Admiralty.
February 17
The last German forces left southern Cameroons for internment in Spanish territory.
February 18
The final remaining German post in Mora surrendered to British and French troops in the West African Campaign in Cameroon.
February 19
Brigadier General Tighe was succeeded by Lieutenant General Jan Smuts in command of British forces in East Africa.
February 21
The longest battle of the war, the Battle of Verdun, began with a German offensive on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France.
February 22
French troops counterattacked at Verdun. The Germans captured Haumont Wood but the French held Brabant on the Meuse.
February 23
The Portuguese Government seized German steamers in the River Tagus.
February 24
Germans breached the French line at Verdun but were unable to gain an advantage.
February 25
German forces captured the key French position at Fort Douamont on the approaches to Verdun.
February 26
The British Western Frontier Force defeated the Senussi in action at Agagiya in western Egypt.
February 27
Austrian forces captured Durazzo from Italian troops.
February 28
The nucleus of a long-range British bomber squadron was formed to attack German industrial centers.
February 29
Converted ocean liner SS Alcantara was sunk in action against German armed merchant cruiser SMS Greif in North Sea.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/16 02:32 PM

News of the World for month of June - Warbirds Rising:

June 1
The only large-scale naval engagement of the war, the Battle of Jutland ended with a tactically inconclusive result. While the Royal Navy suffered more losses, the battle effectively ended any threat from the German High Seas Fleet, and British dominance of the North Sea was maintained.
June 2
The Battle of Mount Sorrel took place at Ypres when German forces attempted to capture the high ground around Ypres.
German forces stormed Fort Vaux in the Battle of Verdun.
June 3
The National Defense Act authorised a five-year expansion of the US Army.
The Allied Commander in Thessaloniki ordered all Greek officials out of the town, effectively imposing martial law.
June 4
The Russian Brusilov Offensive began on the Eastern Front.
June 5
TE Lawrence helped the Emir of Mecca in the Arab revolt against Turkish rule in Hejaz.
HMS Hampshire struck a mine off the Orkneys and sank with the loss of nearly all the crew, and Great Britain's war minister, Lord Kitchener.
June 6
The Arab attack on Medina was repulsed by the Turkish garrison.
President Yuan Shikai of China died and was succeeded by Li Yuanhong.
June 7
French troops at Fort Vaux surrendered to the Germans.
June 8
Voluntary enlistment in Britain was replaced by compulsion when the Second Compulsory Service Act came into operation.
British forces occupied Bismarckburg and Belgian troops occupied Usumbura in German East Africa.
June 9
Arab forces captured the city of Jeddah in Arabia.
German forces attacked Kondoa lrangi in German East Africa.
June 10
The New Zealand Government passed the Compulsory Service Bill.
June 11
The Battle of the Strypa began during the Brusilov Offensive.
June 12
Zaleszczyki in Galicia was taken by Russian forces.
June 13
The Battle of Mount Sorrel ended when British and Canadian troops secured the line near Ypres.
June 14
French politician Etienne Clementel presided over the Allied Economic Conference in Paris.
June 15
Paolo Boselli was appointed Italian Prime Minister, following the collapse of the Salandra Government.
June 16
Italian forces began a counter-offensive against Austrian troops in the Trentino.
June 17
French defenders repulsed German attacks on Le Mort Homme at Verdun.
June 18
German flying ace and pioneer Max Immelmann was shot down and killed during aerial combat with a British squadron.
June 19
British and South African troops marched into Handeni in German East Africa.
June 21
The Entente Governments sent a Note to King Constantine demanding Greek demobilisation and a change of Government.
June 22
Alexandros Zaimis replaced Stephanos Skouloudis as Prime Minister of Greece.
June 23
German forces attacked and captured Fort Thiaumont at Verdun.
June 24
Massive preparatory bombardment to destroy German defences began at the Somme.
June 26
The trial of Roger Casement for high treason began.
June 27
The Emir of Mecca issued his Proclamation of Independence from Turkey.
June 28
The Italian cavalry reached Pedescala, north-east of Asiago on the Southern Front.
June 29
Roger Casement was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death.
June 30
The Battle of the Strypa ended.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/16 02:45 PM

Captain Bruce Wayne is doing well although DH2 is an atrocious machine and if it's not in a straight flight, it spins. It is now March and the weather is ... just as bad as the DH2 itself.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/16 02:52 PM

Joy of joys! Lieutenant Bernard Sorelle has now been given the N16 to fly. He and his wingman are the only ones to fly these crates while everyone else, including the lowest rank pilots fly the N17.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/16 02:43 PM

Fullofit, I'm confused. I just looked in WOFF and N57 and as of July 2 only the top two ranks are flying the N.16. The lowest rank is still flying the N.11. Did you just have a typo or am I missing something? I want to make sure that I have the correct planes in the survey form.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/16 03:12 PM

Journal Entry: July 2, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

I really could not be happier with how my transition to command has worked out. At first, it was rather embarrassing to be constantly asked about my two VCs and my numerous aerial victories. It did not bother me though, I realize that every new and inexperienced pilot needs someone to admire and emulate. As a matter of fact, I believe that is one of the most important responsibilities of a commander, to provide a role model for the men. The fact that I do not deserve their adulation is beside the point.

When I arrived I learned that unlike my previous squadron, RNAS-3 is still a mixed squadron with a small amount of Sopwith Strutters still flying recon/bombing missions. The remainder of our aeroplanes are a mix of Nieuport 10s and 11s. I inquired of the Wing Commander on how long he saw us flying as a mixed squadron and he said we should be completely converted to a scout squadron by August. With that in mind, I decided to try something a little different in regards to the Strutters. I assigned the Strutters to myself and the three other most experienced pilots. This caused much grumbling and grousing, but after I explained the reasoning behind my decision I think the men involved came around to my point of view. In the end, it does not really matter because I am after all, the commander. It occurred to me that for the most part in mixed squadrons the more inexperienced pilots get assigned to the slower two-seaters. What if we changed that and placed the best pilots in the two-seaters? Would that not cause confusion among the enemy pilots? Indeed, so far it has done exactly that. We have flown 8 missions and have had 3 engagements with the enemy. Of those three engagements we have either destroyed the enemy or driven them off damaged. Of course, I should add that the Strutter is a marvelous plane and is quite rugged and maneuverable.

Yesterday, our push at the Somme began. We have not heard anything as to how it is proceeding. I sincerely hope that this is the one push that does the trick and opens up the stalemate.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/16 03:25 PM

Wait until you get your third VC! Then it becomes even more awkward! biggrin

Unfortunately the awards system in WOFF could use some improvements. In the other DID, it's great when Lou is acting as the official Gong Fairy. smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/16 03:48 PM

Journal Entry: March 4, 1916
Bertincourt

The news we keep hearing from Verdun is good and our men are continuing to advance. Could this be the one push that finally leads to victory? That thought is all my men talk about at the dinner table. They are giddy with the thought of possible victory and I don't blame them at all, for I feel the same.

I sometimes feel that our leaders are completely disconnected from reality, today's sortie is a perfect example of what I mean. We awoke to a very heavy snowstorm and the men were fully expecting a day off, but around 8:30 my telephone rings and I was ordered to send the full KEK down around Peronne to protect some supply depot. I informed the general that we were experiencing heavy snowfall and visibility was down to yards. He said the weather was fine where he was and after much yelling on his part he hung up. I informed the men, and there was much grumbling but to their credit they obeyed my orders because they know that I would never order something as foolish as this mission. We took off and amazingly enough we all made it airborne without mishap. We climbed and headed off towards Peronne. The Fokkers are wonderful machines for visibility but they are probably the most uncomfortable machines for the pilot. We sit above that wing and are exposed to all of the elements. I cannot speak for the others, but I was miserable. I was frozen to the bone and my goggles were getting covered by snow and so I was constantly having to wipe them clear. After what seemed like an eternity, we arrived at the supply depot and began our patrol. I knew that this was a waste of time and we would not see a thing, but orders are orders. To my utter amazement, I see two Nieuports emerging from the snow and clouds just to the north of us. I signal the others and we pounce. I believe the Frenchmen were just as surprised as we were and we managed to get the jump on them. One immediately turned for home, and the other I was able to down after a brief skirmish. Feeling that we had done more than enough, I ordered the flight home. Landing was tricky, but everyone managed to get down safely. I don't know about the others, but it took me almost an hour to start feeling warm again. The puzzling thing about today's action is what were those Frenchmen doing out on a day like today? They were the only machines we saw during our entire sortie. It just goes to show that maybe their leaders are as much out of touch with reality as ours.



Posted By: Stache

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/16 08:29 PM

Atwood Litchfield, Izel Les Hameaux in Flanders - RIP July 1, 1916.

After a rough start, with some atrocious weather since arriving in Flanders, Atwood was starting to find his place.
Action with the Hun's had been extremely spotty what with heavy clouds and rain.
Finally the weather started to clear for a bit and Atwood started to show what he was made of.

It was a fine clear day when he started his afternoon mission, leading a flight of three other aircraft.
Atwood was starting to pick up the flow of things and we had started giving him command of more flights.

This was to be a long flight, patrolling deep behind enemy lines.
There was some enemy sighted while patrolling, but they stayed for away and Atwood elected not so give chase with his inexperienced flight.
Just after returning into friendly territory a lone plane was sighted and Atwood gave the signal to engage.
As the flight got closer, it became apparent that it was an Aviatik.
Pressing on, Atwood's gunner scored some excellent hits causing the enemy to erupt into flames as his wings came off.

Unfortunately it was a pyrrhic victory for Atwood as the enemy gunner had scored a mortal hit on Atwood.
Still Atwood managed to land his plane, at a nearby airfield before succumbing to his injuries, thereby saving the life of his observer.



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/16 10:15 PM

Stache, Atwood didn't sell his life cheaply and that's all we can ask of our DID pilots. Hasse, I'm in complete agreement about the awards system in WOFF. I hate to even mention what awards my DID pilots have earned. Lou offered to do that for us in the Centenary DID but I just thought it would be too much trouble since we've gone so far. If you don't think that is true, I could ask him if he is still interested in doing that.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 01:00 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Fullofit, I'm confused. I just looked in WOFF and N57 and as of July 2 only the top two ranks are flying the N.16. The lowest rank is still flying the N.11. Did you just have a typo or am I missing something? I want to make sure that I have the correct planes in the survey form.


Hey Banjoman, no typo. Bernard Sorelle is a Lieutenant, hence the switch to the N16.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 01:02 AM

Originally Posted By: Stache
Atwood Litchfield, Izel Les Hameaux in Flanders - RIP July 1, 1916.



Stache, Alfred Pennyworth - my previous pilot bought it the same way - a lucky final shot from a burning Aviatik. What a way to go.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 03:05 AM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
He and his wingman are the only ones to fly these crates while everyone else, including the lowest rank pilots fly the N17.


This is what confused me. You wrote N17, but I think you meant N11.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 08:33 AM

If the lower ranks are flying the Nupe 17 and you have been burdened with the N.16, you need to get yourself demoted ASAP! The Nupe 17 is perhaps the best of the Nupes, overall, while the N.16 was a failed experiment with a bigger engine using the N.11 fuselage. smile

IMO, the N.16 is barely flyable.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 11:49 AM

Historically N17 was available to Esc. N 57 since May (according to Wikipedia), which is modeled correctly in WoFF. Unfortunately it is only available to the HA's even the lowest ranks. The rest of us mortals will probably get it when it shows up incorrectly on the pilot recruitment screen, sometimes in October? Oh well.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 01:46 PM

Ok sorry, I was going by what was in WOFF.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 01:48 PM

Here is the latest status report.



Here is the latest Roll Call of Honor.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 07:38 PM

wave

I say, posted to two Sqn as a replacement pilot

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 08:41 PM

Yea! Glad to have you back.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 10:04 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Ok sorry, I was going by what was in WOFF.

No worries Banjoman. Glad you're checking these things. Thanks for the latest stats!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/16 10:07 PM

Alright! Carrick's back!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/04/16 02:33 PM

reading

Thanks guys, I am hoping for better luck then I had in the DiD campaign. thumbsup
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/04/16 05:00 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt,
2 Rfc Sqn.

4 July 1916.


Went out to look at my assigned Kite. What a Beaut, She can do 70 mph level and a little over 100 mph in a dive. My flight school teachers said that the Be2's are War Winners no Hun a/c can touch it.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/16 02:33 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt,
2 Rfc Sqn.

July 5, 1916.




No flights due to weather.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/16 09:09 PM

Hello fellows. I'm somewhat late joining as I've been active in the other campaign (where my pilot is out for three weeks), but meet Sgt Alfred Keers, my "Intrepid Flyer."




And here is Alfred's first journal entry.

5 March 1916, Pevensey Bay. Cold, snow and frost.

Today is the end of the first part of my journey. I should have started this journal at the beginning, but I simply didn’t think of it. The beginning was at home in Seaham Harbour, where I was halfway through my apprenticeship as an engine fitter at the Seaham Harbour Dock Company when the war broke out. The work consisted mainly of keeping four antiquated locomotives in running order. When the war started, I didn’t rush to enlist as the priority seemed to be infantry and I hadn’t learned a trade only to spend my days digging holes and living in them.

In January 1915 the call went out for people with mechanical skills I made application for the Flying Corps. They wanted to know about my experience with internal combustion engines, and as there are not likely to be many steam-driven aircraft in this war, I left off talking about my civilian work and stressed my experience tinkering with motor-cycles. It did the trick, and I found myself posted to the shops at the Royal Aircraft Park at Farnborough.

By the autumn I had managed to bother my way into about a dozen hours as a passenger in Farmans and BEs. One particular officer, a Captain named Gooding, vouched for me when the door opened for the training of NCOs. I was accepted (mainly because I wasn’t as skilled as most of the other mechanics) and trained at Farnborough, Gosport, and Netheravon.

Thus on the cold morning of 5 March 1915, as Flight Sergeant Alfred Keers, I mounted a brand new FE2b along with a Lieut. Alice, my orders for France in one pocket and a Michelin road map of the Pas de Calais in the other, bound for a place called Clairmarais and No 20 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. This was only the second time I’d flown an FE. With its massive 120 hp Beardmore behind me, the machine was simple to keep in the air compared to the Farmans I was used to. A small brass plate told me the machine was built by G&J Weir of Cathcart.

We took off and set course for Southampton, passing just to the west of Stonehenge. We picked up the line of the River Test and followed it until the coast was in sight, then turned due east. There was a chance of making it the whole way without landing, but it would be close. I needed to give myself the option of putting down at Dover to refuel.


Leaving Netheravon


The non-stop option disappeared suddenly just east of Eastbourne, when the Beardmore gave off a metallic bang and shut down. Lieut. Alice’s worried face looked back at me and I shrugged. A road ran parallel to the coast straight ahead. It was a simple matter to put down.


Putting down on the coast road

We waited until dark for a tender to arrive from Dover. The lads were taking no chances, for they’d brought a complete new engine. We worked in a field with the FE pegged down against a stiff wind blowing hard off the Channel, our only illumination from the headlights of the Crossley. The officer thought that perhaps we should avoid showing so much light because of Zeppelins, and we could get rooms in Eastbourne, perhaps. We ignored the toff and got the engine installed and turning over by three in the morning.

I was chilled to the bone. We left a guard for the aircraft and drove to Pevensey Bay, where the local police gave us tea and sandwiches and put us up in their gaol cells. The lieutenant insisted on sleeping in the tender and missed out.

6 March 1918

At seven this morning the wind died down and we were off. It was a short hop to Dover, but we’d just enough in the tank after the engine change to make it. An hour later we were climbing over the ancient harbour towards the sunrise and the war. Land was out of sight for only about twenty minutes. There was heavy cloud at 7000 feet, and it came as a surprise to see the unmistakeable shape of Cape Gris Nez off to our right side. I turned east towards Calais and then southwest to Saint Omer. As we approached our new station I leaned out the engine until it stalled. Mr. Alice turned and I motioned for him to tighten his lap belt. He raised a thumb impatiently. I put the Fee into a long full-throttle dive towards the aerodrome at Clairmarais and waited until I was 800 feet above the hangars before pulling the control stick back into my stomach. The Fee looped perfectly, as I had once been told it would. The overall effect was quite dramatic, although Mr Alice spoiled it by flailing his arms about wildly and threatening to have me shot once we touched down.


Making a first impression

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/16 09:23 PM

Ha ha! Cleaning latrines for you Raine for that stunt. You'll love the Fee in combat just be patient with your gunner. He's a little slow. Welcome to the slow combat.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/16 09:31 PM

Welcome, Raine! As always, a well-written story! Looking forward to more. smile

Compared to the summer of 1918 that we have going in the other DID, things are still a bit quieter in this period of the air war. But it can still be quite deadly, as proven by the casualties suffered by our people here.

My pilot has been lucky and has not encountered any real French scouts yet. That will probably change soon though, as the Battle of Verdun progresses and the French begin to concentrate more serious air power in the sector...
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/16 09:53 PM

Yea, Raine has joined us. Now with the two story telling giants(Raine and Hasse) we are in for some literary treats.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/16 09:34 AM

The Diary of August Ege.

FFA 71. Frescaty-Metz.

Mitterwoch, 8.III.16, 8.00 Uhr nachmittags.


The push at Verdun shows no signs of ending and we're flying like madmen in support of the ground troops, weather permitting. It's been snowing a lot in the past few days, making artillery cooperation missions more than a little challenging. We have to go much lower than usual - only a few hundred meters - to see anything through the snow that the strong winds keep throwing at our faces. This is of course quite dangerous, as it exposes us to all kinds of fire coming from the French positions, but fortunately there have been no casualties among our men yet. The French air service's response to our actions has been quite limited so far. I've only spotted a few Nieuport two-seaters with my observer, Oberleutnant Balthazar, and they've left us in peace to pursue our objectives. We don't mind that and have returned the favour!

Things are very different on the ground. It seems like this battle is turning into one of the bloodiest in the whole war; maybe even the bloodiest? Obviously we don't know any casualty figures here at FFA 71, as it's all very top secret stuff. But our chief mechanic Görlitz returned from Metz last night (he was getting treatment for his bronchitis there) and told us that the hospitals in the city are absolutely full of wounded and sick infantrymen, with more being transported there all the time by lorries and trains. Görlitz is an old professional NCO like me and he's definitely not wet behind the ears anymore; yet he seemed quite shocked by all he had witnessed at the Kriegslazarett.

We can only hope that such sufferings and sacrifices by our men will not be in vain. The fall of Fort Douaumont on February 25th must have been a serious blow to the French - it certainly lifted everybody's spirits this side of the front!






Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/16 02:28 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt,
2 Rfc Sqn.

6 July 1916.

B Flight's 3 BE 2's took off into a soggy looking sky to do a Recon of the Front Lines. My machine got up to 4500 ft then the Engine Packed up and became U/S. Nosing over , I put her down on a road.

Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/16 04:19 AM

Thanks for the warm welcome, fellows. And Hasse, great to see you working your historical magic in this campaign. Can I ask what is your first language? I understood you to be Finnish, and if English isn't your first language you are right up there with Joseph Conrad as a literary hero!

The continuing journal of Flight-Sergeant Alfred Keers, RFC

My introduction to 20 Squadron began as I dismounted at Clairmarais. A visibly wobbly Lieut Alice cursed at me, saying that I should be court-martialled and shot for doing “twirly things” in a Fee and that he had been ordered never to try such nonsense and he was certain that if officers received such an order, NCO pilots certainly would have received it too. I honestly hadn’t realised until then that he was a pilot too.

I was rescued by the arrival of the disciplinary sergeant-major, and imposing man named Goddard who made up in volume what he lacked in height. He was also something of a seer, for he claimed intimate knowledge of my parentage, my education, my romantic inclinations, and my future. He then ordered me to retrieve my cap from my kit and follow him to the CO’s office.

I was marched into the office, fortunately with cap on and at the quick time. I’d rather expected to be doing the hatless dance at double-quick time. The CO eyed me as though I were a stray dog found digging in a graveyard.

“My name is Major Wilson,” he began, “and you are the bloody fool who looped an FE at low altitude. How did you know you could pull it off, Sergeant?”

“It seemed possible, sir,” I replied weakly.

“Sergeant-Major, this man has just agreed to be duty sergeant until the end of the month.”

“Right, sir,” Sergeant-Major Goddard said. “But I think I should mention that Mr. Alice, the other new pilot, wants him charged, sir.”

“And I want him as duty sergeant. That will be all, Sergeant-Major.” Sergeant-Major Goddard snapped off a proper guardsman’s salute, turned about, and marched out. The CO motioned for me to close the door.

“Good to see you have grit, Sergeant,” he said. “Now, show me your papers.”

I gave him my travel papers, but there was a problem. Apparently we were to ferry the Fee to 20 Squadron, but Mr Alice and I were posted only to the pilot’s pool. The CO said I would be staying here until he sorted it out with HQ. In the meantime I was to get settled in and do some familiarization flying.

I took a Fee up the next day for some circuits of the surrounding countryside. The front seat was occupied by a lieutenant named Whieldon. He made it clear that if I tried looping he would turn the Lewis gun on me, mid-air or not. The morning went well until it was time to put the machine down at Clairmarais. I stalled it five feet off the ground and damaged the right lower plane.

That same afternoon, 8 March, I joined a flight of three other Fees heading 20 miles east to Bailleul, a town near the front lines. They patrolled over the lines, but I was under orders to stay on our side, so I flew south 20 more miles, then back again to rendezvous with the returning patrol. The squadron’s senior observer, Captain Dawson, pointed out the sights. He brought with him a small slate and some chalk and held it up to tell me what was going on.

The ground below shocked me. The green fields had given way to a morass of earthworks and trenches mottled with shell craters, in each of which lay a disc of icy water. Grey-yellow eruptions danced in some areas – artillery concentrations. In the far distance off to the east, several sausage-like balloons were silhouetted in the morning sunlight. Captain Dawson held up the slate: “Turn east.”

We crossed over our trenches and within a minute a loud bark startled me. Dawson pointed off to the left and below. A greasy black ball of smoke hung in the air. The Germans were firing at us! Two more balls appeared to our right, one close enough to rattle the aircraft. Dawson signalled to head west. We landed thirty minutes later, and the mechanics pointed out a tear in the vertical fin where a piece of shrapnel had passed through.

As Duty NCO, my secondary job was to be a general dogsbody. I inspected latrines and mess tents, compiled a roster for sick parade, ran errands for the sergeants-major and the duty officer, checked the guard, and wrote a number of tedious reports about stores and equipment for the Recording Officer. I accompanied the Duty Officer on his tours as well. And all this was in addition to my duties as a flight sergeant. I was relieved of my Duty NCO work only when flying or attending lectures or on parade.

Worst of all, I couldn’t sleep in my own tent. I was required to remain on call throughout the night, and therefore bedded down on a cot in the guard tent. No that wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was that I could have a drink in the Sergeants and Warrant Officers’ Mess only after I finished my last checks and closed the other ranks’ mess, and once I was allowed a drink I couldn’t get tight.

It could be a long war...


"Captain Dawson held up the slate: 'Turn east.'”

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/16 12:03 PM

Originally Posted By: Raine
Thanks for the warm welcome, fellows. And Hasse, great to see you working your historical magic in this campaign. Can I ask what is your first language? I understood you to be Finnish, and if English isn't your first language you are right up there with Joseph Conrad as a literary hero!


Finnish is my first language. I also speak English relatively well, and German and Swedish adequately enough to get by. My French is absolutely outrageous though, with pronunciation worse than Mr. Churchill's, and I also know the Russian alphabet. That was thought to be useful in case World War III ever broke out. biggrin

Thanks for the compliments, and what a fine new entry in Flight Sgt. Keers's journal. He really seems like a fellow who knows how to get in trouble. biggrin
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/16 12:58 PM

Hasse, "Relatively well"??? Certainly you mean "Better than 98.5% of native English-speakers (99.5% on the North American side of the pond")!

I love learning languages but am not fluent in any of them. I have passable German (with a Swiss accent because that's where I studied), but I've lost much of my vocabulary. I have a broad knowledge of French, but my reading and writing are better than my speaking and listening since I've never had to live in the language. My business partner is from Quebec and says that all I need is a French girlfriend for a few months, but my wife isn't interested in my developing more language skills.

My wife's family is Italian, so I have enough spoken Italian that they can't talk about me while I'm in the room. I also slept through a Spanish class or two, so I have enough to order drinks. Oh, and I too learned the Russian alphabet. When I was a kid back in the 60s, I used to cycle down to the harbour in Halifax and trade with the sailors on the Russian grain ships. They were allowed only ten dollars when in port and spent it all the first day, so I did a roaring trade in cash for strong cigarettes, vodka, and Soviet propaganda posters and pins. It helped me stay popular at school.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/16 02:19 PM

Hasse, I had to laugh at your posting. You complain that you don't speak your fifth language well, most Americans can hardly speak one language well, much less a second one. I stand amazed at your linguistic prowess. clapping
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/16 10:18 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt,
2 Rfc Sqn.


July 7, 1916.


Another rain soaked flight up to the Lines for Recon. I could hardly see the other a/c let alone the lines in the dark heavy clouds. The winds kicked up on the way back. I say, not a tidy flight at all. Posted my request for Scout machines.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/16 01:58 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt,
2 Rfc Sqn.

July 8,1916.


Off on a Arty Spot. No E/a but did spot some FE,s flying by the lines.

Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/16 04:36 PM

Alfred Keers is settling in at No 20 Squadron, but whether he will be required to return to the pilot's pool is up in the air.

10 March 1916
20 Sqn RFC, Clairmarais, France

As I write this, I am sitting in the anteroom of the senior NCOs’ mess, which is in fact one end of a long tent erected over a wooden frame, a space curtained off from our dining area which is itself curtained off from a cooking area (if what they do there can be called cooking). There is a cast-iron stove in the centre of this area, and all the chairs are pulled up around it as it is only a few degrees above frost outside.

Clairmarais aerodrome is a long field with woods wrapping around its southern edge and surround all about with wetlands. It will be a fine place to shoot ducks and geese come spring and if we’re allowed. We are only a few miles from St-Omer, the headquarters of the RFC and the location of the aircraft park and the pilots’ pool, to which I may be transferred any day if Major Wilson proves unable to hold onto me. Lieut Alice, the fellow I flew over from England, has already been approved to remain with the squadron, but then he’s an officer.

There is only one other NCO pilot here, a fellow named Jeffrey Anderlo. He has been over since mid-February. We share a tent but I rarely see him as I am still Duty Sergeant until the end of the month. I get an awful teasing about it. Anderlo keeps to himself. Actually, it’s a bit tough being an NCO pilot. Everyone else in the mess is a mechanic or driver or in some other occupation. The fellows look up to the officers, some of them at least, but I have the impression they look at sergeant-pilots as pretenders. Each pilot has a maintenance crew and the ones attached to sergeant-pilots take it badly. I’ve begun working alongside my fitters and riggers and helping out in the sheds. I ask everything I can about the Beardmore and other things technical. The ack emmas are beginning to come around. The biggest difference is that Sergeant-Major Ellery, the technical sergeant-major, is making time to talk with me. The disciplinary boss, Sergeant-Major Gooding, still looks at me like something he found on the sole of his shoe.

I have been getting used to war flying, and am fortunate to be paired with Captain Dawson, our senior observer. Yesterday morning we did a “close offensive patrol” to the Ypres area and then south, but saw nothing. In the afternoon we were back up, only this time we travelled over the lines towards Menen. Again I met “Archie,” as anti-aircraft fire is called here. But this time I had a new and frankly terrifying experience. We had turned north from Menen towards Staden, then west towards our side of the lines when Capt Dawson suddenly swung his Lewis onto the left mount and I saw Captain Paget Graves, our flight commander, climb hard to the left. I followed him and Captain Dawson began to fire our forward Lewis gun. Then something swept past overhead. I saw a monoplane with black crosses – a Fokker.

There were three in all, I am told, but I saw only that one. The flight commander fired a flare to signal a washout and we dived west through some light clouds. The Germans (or “Huns” as I have learned to call them) did not follow us.

Today I was up twice again. In the morning we were down near Arras. We saw nothing but the engine quit suddenly and we had to put the machine down. Capt Dawson turned about and gave me a broad grin as if to say “over to you.” He then lay on the floor, there being no seat in the observer’s pulpit on a Fee. I didn’t see him again until we bounced to a stop in a frozen field of stubble. We found some nearby soldiers to stand guard. The officer then brought me to a café for coffee and brandy. Decent sort, he seems.


"I didn’t see him again until we bounced to a stop in a frozen field of stubble."

This afternoon we headed over four-strong for a “distant offensive patrol.” This jaunt took us fifteen miles into Hunland. After about an hour we turned for home and the flight commander, Capt Alvin, signalled that EA (enemy aircraft) were in sight. It took me a minute to see them, as I had to loosen my strap and lift myself to look back past the throbbing engine. There were six specks a mile or two east of us and heading directly for us. I couldn’t make them out, but they seemed to be gaining on us and I assumed they were Fokkers. Thankfully the good captain wasn’t out to win glory and he gave us the washout signal. From then on it was like a point-to-point race, every man for himself, throttles full open, vaulting clouds and racing for home. As we approached the lines, the Huns turned back.


"From then on it was like a point-to-point race, every man for himself, throttles full open, vaulting clouds and racing for home."

I returned to letters from home. Father and Mother well. Rosetta has gone off to war work at the old marine engine works in Hartlepool, now a shell factory. Mother wants her to stay with Aunt Florrie, but the factory has a nearby hotel booked as a hostel for the female workers. Now Mother frets that the Germans will come back to shell the city again as they did in 1914. Eliza is done with school and is in service with a good house. Father is holding court in the local, boast about how the family has gone from pitmen to pilots in two generations. The things war does!


"Rosetta has gone off to war work at the old marine engine works in Hartlepool"


Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/09/16 01:44 PM

A wonderful report!

It's not quite the same as flying an SE.5a in 1918, is it? smile
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/09/16 04:12 PM

In early 1916, it still seems like the great adventure. In 1918 you feel like you have been sitting in the cinema a half hour too long, the ending is obvious, but the bloody director still won't show you the final scene.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/09/16 04:23 PM

reading

Not only that ! U R afraid to go for more popcorn or use the Rest room , because U will miss the ending.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/09/16 04:28 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt,
2 Rfc Sqn.

July 9, 1918.



Assigned to Bombardment Flight of a Hun Aerodrome. Bit of a mess, I dropped to early and too high. The bombs fell short maybe 1/2 mile. The flight's bombs fell all over the general area.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/16 05:37 AM

Beau Brummel
Sgt,
2 Rfc Sqn.

10 July 1916.

Hq requested a Do-Over so the C.O. sent 2 a/c Escorted by 5 Bristol Scouts. Got a few good hits, but did work up a Tizzy by doing the same target over again. After landing, The X.O. handed me my transfer papers. The Mess Truck will be giving me a ride over to 32 Sqn to fly Scouts.



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/16 01:45 PM

Here is the latest status report. Carrick58, I didn't have your information so you aren't included in this status report. Remember on Saturdays to enter your info for that week and it will get included in the status reports. You can find the link to the form on the first page of this thread.

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/16 01:55 PM

Thanks again for maintaining our records, Banjoman! smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/16 06:01 PM

You're welcome, as crazy as it sounds I enjoy making the report and keeping track of the stats. I guess it's one way I can keep track of everyone's progress.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/16 06:14 PM

.

Banjoman, thanks for the updated chart Sir. Allard Tremblay has managed a few sorties as of late but I neglected to send in a current form, I will try to remember for next week.

Raine, good to see you over here Sir. Wonderful first entries for Alfred.

loftyc, sorry to learn of the loss of George.

Fullofit, thanks for the continuing News of the World, always interesting.

Banjoman, Stache, Hasse, carrick, Fullofit, and anyone I may have missed, thank you for the continuing reports and screenshots - most enjoyable, Gents.


After Allard's promotion to Capitaine he'd been mulling over an entirely new livery for his kite, something more flamboyant and less camouflaged. He finally landed on the new design and had it applied to his N16 yesterday and tried it out on this morning's mission. Here is a shot showing his new mount parked outside the hanger.



A bit flasher than his old N11.

.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/16 06:28 PM

Lou, good to see you report in. With all the new aviateurs/fliegeren we can liven up this challenge. 1916 is a great alternative to the 1918 frantic dog eat dog fighting. Great skin, worthy of a Felixtowe.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/16 09:02 PM

Lou, that is a great skin. I really love the whole pig motif. Now that I look closer I don't think that is a pig, either way it looks really good.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/16 09:36 PM

.

Thanks Fullofit and Banjoman, glad you like it. And Banjoman, the personal emblem is actually a cat. To be more precise, it is the cat from the 1908 book, "Les Tribulations d'un chat" by Benjamin Rabier.



.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/16 01:21 AM

That's cool and since it's from a real book it makes you skin even more plausible.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/16 12:37 PM

What a nice-looking skin for Allard's Nupe!

It's really quite fortunate that he's not serving in the RFC. Those stuffy British red tabs would never allow a pilot to take such liberties with his airplane's colour scheme! biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/16 02:42 PM

Hasse, it is interesting that the British were so uptight about that sort of thing. I've always wondered why they were so restrictive on the painting of their airplanes.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/16 04:06 PM

reading

Lack of Paint ? rofl
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/16 04:17 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt, 32 Sqn
Rfc.


July 11,1916.

Bit of a Scrap this time out. The Sqn put up 10 machines in two flights and we both got to mix it up with the Huns. The cover flight had no claims but did have 1 DH2 missing. I flew in B flight as wingman and got off 2 drums while chasing 4 Fokkers. Hits ? Make no mistake I saw my flight leader get one ( motor stopped ) and my element lead flamed one on the deck. 2 claims none lost. 1 DH 2 was damaged.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/12/16 06:43 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt, 32 Sqn
Rfc.
Jul 12, 1916.


Airfield Security Patrol

Alt: 8,500
A/C: 4 DH 2,s

Remarks: No Contact with E/a.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/16 02:44 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt, 32 Sqn
Rfc.


13 July 1916.



Went up as a wing-man on a 6 a/c Show the Flag flight down to Reincort Aerodrome. I dont see what these kinda of flights prove. Maybe to keep the enemy Ground gunners Awake !


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/16 03:16 PM

Journal Entry: July 13, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Apparently, my idea has been working excellently. As a matter of fact, I've compiled the results since I started this experiment and sent them up to Wing for their perusal. We started June 22nd and since that time the four of us flying the Strutters have accounted for seven Huns without a single loss to ourselves. Obviously, for my idea to work you need experienced aggressive pilots and you need a machine that is quite formidable. Fortunately for us, we have that machine in the Sopwith Strutter. My idea would never work in a unit flying the Quirks, but it could possibly work with the Fees. The other requirement is you need a mixed squadron, doesn't make much difference if everybody is flying the same machine. Until our squadron composition changes, we will continue flying with the most experienced pilots in the Strutters since this has proven to be so successful.

I have heard rumors from Wing that we will be changing over to a pure scouting squadron in the coming weeks, but when asked about a time frame, none was given. Since these are rumors, I decided to say nothing to the men since rumors do nothing but disturb a well operating machine. We shall see if anything comes of them in the future.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/16 03:47 PM

Journal Entry: March 15, 1916
Bertincourt

It looks like winter is finally loosening it's grip and warmer weather is just around the corner. I arrived in Bertincourt after most of the flowers had bloomed and so I'm really looking forward to the beauty of spring in this area of France. Everything seems to reawaken after winter's long sleep, even my men seem to be re-energized for the coming work.

It appears that our attack in Verdun will not be the breakthrough that we needed to end this war. We are still making progress, but it seems like the steam is running out. I have not shared any of this information with the men mainly because it was given to me in confidence by a friend. Furthermore, what good would it do the men? No, I will keep this to myself and maybe I will be proven wrong.

We had a very interesting sortie yesterday. The Tommies have gotten it into their heads that attacking our aerodromes will somehow win the war for them. Instead, what it really does is just waste fuel for them and annoy us since they never cause any real damage. Anyway, we had received word from the lines that a couple of Tommies were sneaking over to attack one of our aerodromes. I took off with Helmut and Jakob and soon I spotted them approaching Pronville. I signaled the attack and down we went. I singled out the leader and quickly gave him a good burst. I saw that I had hit him by the debris but I had to pull away to avoid a collision. As I circled back, I saw that the enemy was slowly descending flying lazy circles in the sky. I watched as he just slowly descended to ultimately crash into some trees. Helmut and Jakob arrived a few minutes later and we headed home. At dinner we were discussing the day's engagement and we decided that I must have either killed or severely wounded the pilot and the aeroplane literally flew itself until it crashed. Can you imagine the horror the observer experienced when he knew that he could not control the aeroplane as it descended? Our discussion then turned to why are there not dual controls in two-seater aeroplanes. Manfred argued that ultimately HQ does not care what happens to us and more than likely it is just a cost issue. That started quite the argument which finally ended when Jakob started playing the piano. I cannot help by wonder if there is some truth to what Manfred said and if so what does that mean for each of us.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/16 08:05 PM

Lou, great to see you here. Love the livery. Very French. Proper British pilot wouldn't be seen dead in that thing. Like a flying boudoir, old boy.

Banjoman, I'm enjoying Abner's adventures in the other DiD thread, and greatly appreciate the welcome here.

Carrick, I'm jealous of your DH2.

Alfred Keers got in a bit of a scrape last time up...

Ground mist on 11 March gave us an extra two hours of kip time, although the coming and going of the guard was a constant disturbance. I chafed at my seemingly permanent role of Duty NCO.

Shortly after 8 o’clock, Captain Paget Graves led a formation of five Fees to the lines near Armentieres. From there we were to fly south over the area where last week we set off some huge underground mines. Our tunneling troops are fighting a war under the trenches while we are fighting a war over them!

We climbed steadily as we headed east into blinding sunshine. The clouds were patchy and we made our way through them without difficulty, emerging onto the glowing white desert of the upper sky. Only a few minutes later I noticed movement off to my left. It took a while to confirm that I’d seen something, but then a glint of silver betrayed the small formation – three Hun two-seaters about a mile and a half off to the north and heading west, slightly above us.

I dashed forward and signalled to the flight commander, pointing in the direction of the Huns. He waved vaguely and I understood that I was to lead the way, so I put the Fee about and began climbing towards the north. The German aircraft had turned for home and I set course to cut off their retreat. I was about 500 yards from the enemy aircraft when I realised to my horror that our machine was the only one in the attack. Captain Paget Graves and the others had continued west. There was nothing for it now but to continue the attack.

As Captain Dawson (my observer) and I approached, the rear right Hun began firing. The gunner occupied the rear position in what I believe was an Aviatik type. I dodged under his tail as Dawson began returning fire. As soon as Dawson’s rounds started to hit home on the right-hand Hun, the rear left-hand Hun’s rounds could be heard snapping past. Two holes appeared in the upper plane. I dipped under the rear left Hun and Dawson emptied the rest of his drum into it without apparent result.

Just then a deep burning pain shot up from my left leg. I’d been hit by the right-hand Hun. There was blood and my heavy coat was torn, but it didn’t seem serious. Everything moved as it ought to. We gave up the hunt and turned west, landing at a friendly field outside Bailleul. No 1 Squadron was there and I trundled directly up to a hangar where there were a number of pilots. Captain Dawson and one of the Morane pilots helped me down and into a tender. There was a dressing station operated by the Field Ambulance just a couple of miles east of the field. A RAMC doctor saw me fairly quickly and cleaned up the wound, which was little more than a furrow across the top of the left thigh.

“Just a bit of a scratch is all,” he said while puffing on his pipe. “Mind you, another inch or two higher and you’d have been the last of your line.” It made me reconsider chasing two-seaters all alone.

Stitched up, I flew us back to Clairmarais, but when I landed I was told I’d be off flying duty for five days. Then Major Wilson tore me up for bumf for “gallivanting off after Huns like a bloody terrier after a ferret” instead of maintaining formation. I tried to explain my misunderstanding of Captain Paget Graves’s signal, but it was carefully explained that my stupidity did not constitute a compelling excuse.

“I’ll not have you wandering around my aerodrome with your thumb up your arse for five days, Sergeant. Report to the pilots’ pool in St-Omer this afternoon. I’ve been fighting to keep you here, but I’m beginning to question whether it’s worth the effort. See the squadron office after lunch for your papers.”

That afternoon I sat forlornly in the back of the tender with my kit and two ack emma lance corporals who were off to retrieve parts. They reminded me that at least I’d be done with orderly NCO duties. They were right. Life always gives you something good, even in the worst times.

I reported as instructed to Lieutenant W.F.C. Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, the OC Depot, who tore a strip off me for not having reported directly to the pool on my arrival in France. I explained that my orders did not instruct me to do so, but apparently I didn’t know what I was talking about. Then I explained that I was medically grounded for four more days and the good lieutenant started to get excited all over again. It seemed that I had that effect on officers. He asked what was wrong with me and whether I thought I could fly. I responded not much and yes, probably. He liked that answer.

“Fine, then. Follow me.” Mr Patrick led me out to the field. No 1 Aircraft Depot was a crowded spot and incredibly busy. Noises of engines running up, grinders grinding, and hammers pounding echoed across the narrow field, mixing with the blipping gurgle of Le Rhône rotaries from the Moranes and the deep rumbling of Beardmores and the dull thump from the oleo suspension of Fee undercarts as they dropped onto hard ground. “Take that BE2 up as much as you want. Get some hours in while we figure out where you’re going. But first, let me take you over to the Sergeants’ mess and get you a place to call home."

This was far better than being Duty NCO.


"I dipped under the rear left Hun and Dawson emptied the rest of his drum into it without apparent result."

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/14/16 03:54 PM

popcorn

Raine: Thanks, If the pilot survives for a while, I will paint the little Scout.

Banjoman: Are U flying on both sides ? If so, will U end up fighting yourself ? sigh
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/14/16 04:05 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt, 32 Sqn
Rfc, Flanders


14 July 1916.


The best laid plans ect. The Idea was to hit a enemy Rail-yard and Troll for enemy a/c at the same time by dropping Flares to attract them from neighboring Aerodromes. The problems encountered on the raid: Supply only had 1 Flare, Our cover flight of 3 machines lost us in the clouds before the target, No e/a came up, and the Route took us over enemy Archie near balloons at less the 2000ft. Results: Failure little damage to Rail-yard and 1 DH-2 lost ( POW ? ) seen to go down near the target.


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/14/16 05:07 PM

Carrick, I am flying two pilots one a Brit and the other an German, but they are separated by 6 months time. Maybe they could meet in a Twilight Zone episode? biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/16 05:07 AM

yep

I wonder if U could do both sides on the same date ? thumbsup
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/16 05:11 AM

Beau Brummel
Sgt, 32 Sqn
Rfc.
July 15, 1916.

Another Sitter of a Security Patrol deep in our lines. Alt 11,435 ft. speed 55-65 mph. No e/a but all kinds of Friendly planes headed for the Hun side of NML.






( Flew mission early due to commitments on Friday )
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/16/16 10:54 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt, 32 Sqn
Rfc.


July 16, 1916.

Escort today. No Show so Mission cancelled.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/17/16 12:42 PM

Here is the latest report. Carrick, if you want in the report I need some data. Deacon, in the last status report you had Ingvar flying with the Marine KEK and then this time he was still a Flugmiester but you had him with Jasta 1, I'm going to assume that was a simple data entry mistake.


Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/18/16 11:40 PM

Sgt Alfred Keers is back in action!

20 March 1916

The time at Depot passed quickly. There were several other sergeant-pilots and we had a jolly little fraternity for a few days. Each day or two, one or the other would be posted out. It seemed like all of them were bound for Corps cooperation squadrons. I’d flown the BE long enough to pity them. It was a wonderful machine for sport and comfort, but nothing I’d want to face a Hun in. The gun had practically no field of fire and the thing handled like a tramp steamer.

My wound was little more than a scrape and healed quickly. On the evening of 17 March 1916, I was summoned to see the OC Depot, Lieut Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick.

“It seems that Major Wilson wants you back,” he said with a wry smile. “Must be a dud lot over at No 20.”

“Aye, sir,” I replied. “The gentleman knows quality when he sees it, I’m thinking.” Patrick laughed and cautioned me to take care of myself. I was to gather up my kit and wait for transport outside the mess after I’d had lunch.

The Crossley dropped me off back at Clairmarais and, much as I’d begun a week or two before, Sergeant-Major Goddard marched me before the CO. The major eyed me up and down like a sheep with the mange, sighed, and commented that it seemed I was “official now.” He told me that I would be assigned to pilot Lt Whieldon’s machine.

“May I resume my duty NCO task after tea, sir?” I asked.

“That won’t be necessary, Sergeant. I have found a new man for that duty.” I smiled. Either I was redeemed or someone else had blotted his copybook far worse than I did when I looped a Fee on arrival at the squadron. I went over to claim my billet. Sergeant Andarto and I still shared a tent. Tonight would be my first time sleeping there, as until now I’d kipped in the guardhouse as Duty NCO.

I wandered out to the sheds and met the ack emmas. There was a hearty and genuine welcome back, and I was secretly please to learn that the chief rigger, Sergeant Dooly, was the new Duty NCO, having come back from leave mildly drunk enough to get caught peeing in the RO’s rose bushes. The new machine was in fine shape, and my gunner Lieut Whieldon was considered a fine and fair man.

The next two days, 18 and 19 March, were uneventful. We patrolled south towards Arras both mornings without seeing a sign of the enemy.

On the morning of 20 March 1916, three machines, led by Second Lieut McNaughton headed back to Arras. We crossed the lines around eight o’clock flying into the burning sunlight above a cloud layer. Over Monchy we turned north and doddered along at 8000 feet, crossing over Vimy where the Huns were well bedded in. Our guns were laying down some morning hate on the poor Fritzes.

Suddenly Mr Whieldon stood up and grasped the staunchion that supported the rear-firing Lewis. He rattled off around twenty rounds. Mr Reid’s machine put its nose down and dived west. Mr McNaughton closed up on us. I could see that his gunner, Lieut Rowle, was standing.

I turned left gently so as not to unbalance Mr Whieldon. He dropped into the nacelle. Once he was down I banked more sharply, searching for the Hun. There were two of them, but only one was at all close. We headed towards the Fokker, which was above us and to the left. As we approached, Mr. Whieldon fired a full drum from his forward Lewis.

We turned again, looking for the Hun. He was gone! I forced myself up against the lap belt and searched backwards over the engine. Visibility was limited, but there was nothing. Then I saw Mr. Whieldon pointing down over the left side of his pulpit and pounding the breech of his Lewis with his mitt. A yellow Fokker was falling in a flat spin. We watched it as it hit the ground near Thélus. Whiedon replaced the tip of his mitt over his bare fingers and punched the air. Possibly, just possibly, we’d get credit for a kill.


"We watched it as it hit the ground near Thélus."

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/19/16 12:08 AM

Jolly good show, that!
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/16 01:18 PM

.

Banjoman, Carrick, and Raine - enjoyable reports Gents. Had some time after Allard's dawn patrol this AM to catch up on your latest doings. And as I have a bit more time right now I will report on said dawn patrol.



Capitaine Allard Tremblay and his flight preparing for the first sortie of the day at Brocourt-en-Argonne.



As the Le Rhône warms up Allard checks over his mount.



Lifting into a beautiful summer sky.



Reaching altitude above the front at Varennes.



A short time later the Capitaine dives on a lone Eindecker attempting to sneak back across the mud.



After a well-placed volley into the Hun craft Allard follows it down into the trees near the Aisne river.



He watches as his victim bursts into flames upon impact.



After resuming the patrol another hour passes before the flight runs across a trio of Huns at the front east of Sommepy. The Capitaine latches onto the leader.



Allard gets on the Hun's six and sends two bursts from the Lewis into his prey.



But Tremblay's inattentiveness has resulted in him flying directly over a German machine gun position. His is shredded by ground fire and must break off.



While he is only grazed by a bullet his mount is badly damaged and it is all he can do to wrestle it to the ground. Fortunately it is on the friendly side of the mud. He scrambles out of his kite and dashes for cover as a barrage is in progress.

After getting medical attention the Capitaine is told he will be spending the next several days on the ground as his wound heals. He is counting himself lucky to still be alive, much less up and walking about.

That is one of the great things about this sim. Even after all the countless hours I have spent flying it I can still make such noob mistakes in the heat of battle.

.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/16 11:36 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt, 32 Sqn
Rfc.

The Rain stopped so they had us move to Vert Galand Aerodrome.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/21/16 04:16 PM

Beau Brummel
Sgt, 32 Sqn
Rfc.


July 21, 1916.



What a Mess. I had a Bump in the night all 10 a/c were 40 ft in the air then Crash and all destroyed when they fell down with my pilot listed as wounded and not flyable for 14 days pitchafit
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/21/16 04:39 PM

That really sucks, I wish they would fix that. Do you use Robert's pilot backup utility? If so, I believe I speak for the group and say it would be ok to restore your pilot to yesterday and refly the mission.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/16 12:05 AM

popcorn

I have downloaded the backup Utility. I dont know if I placed it in the right location or How to use it. Will give it a stumble through tomorrow. sigh
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/16 04:00 AM

Journal Entry: July 21, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

The rumors of us becoming a purely pursuit squadron were proven to be true on the evening of the 19th when I received a call from Wing informing me that our trusty Strutters were to be removed and replaced by the new untested Sopwith Scout. The Wing commander had gotten his hands on four of the new scouts and decided we were the perfect group of pilots to put them through their paces. I had not been privy to any information on this new scout and so I was a little hesitant to part with my Strutters, but as with everything in the military I was not allowed to get a vote in the matter. The Lorries began arrived around ten the next morning and in no time the ack emmas had the Strutters ready for transfer and were already working on our four new scouts. As soon as one of the scouts had been completed Sgt. Stiles, who has never had a problem with voicing his opinion, said to everyone present, “this Pup looks like it was sired by a couple of those Strutters.” Everyone laughed which probably was his intention, but the name had stuck and it wasn’t long until everyone was calling them Pups. As soon as they had my machine completed I took her up to see how she handled and was I ever surprised by what I discovered. This aeroplane climbed remarkable well, was incredibly agile since it had ailerons in both wings and responded well to a light touch. I knew right then that I was ‘head over heels’ in love with this machine and to be honest didn’t want to land. Eventually, I had to land and even that was amazing. I have never landed an aeroplane with a shorter roll out than this Pup; if the wind were blowing harder you could almost land it standing still. After the other three had been rigged, I set the ack emmas to painting my machine for tomorrow’s sortie. Behold, the Grim Reaper has returned to the skies of Flanders.




This morning’s sortie gave me a small taste of just what the Pup can do in combat and it will give us complete control of the sky. I led a flight of five on a patrol in the Ypres area and as we were arriving I spotted two Fokkers to our east. I signaled the attack and climbed above the fray so that I might be able to assist any of my flight. While we were engaged I spotted a flight of five Fokkers that were diving to help their brothers. I turned and began climbing to engage these newcomers. Two flashed on past and three stayed to engage me and much to my surprise, I was easily handling the situation. As a matter of fact, I downed all three of the Fokkers in short order. One, I sent spiraling out of control, the second; I damaged his engine causing him to crash land and the third I sent down in flames. It was the most amazing encounter I have had during my entire war flying career. At no time was I threatened by the Fokkers, I could easily out turn them and out climb them. This machine could very well have a significant impact on the war.






--------------------------------------------------------------------
In case anyone was worried, I only filed a claim for one of my kills because that would be breaking the rules and "ain't nobody got time for breaking rules."
biggrin
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/16 09:46 AM

I caved in and started a new pilot....although summer holidays are around the corner.


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/16 12:46 PM

Yea! We are certainly glad to have you back.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/16 04:09 PM

reading

A fine looking Scout ship. Nice Skin.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/16 12:28 AM

Banjoman, so you have the Pup you lucky dog, while we're still flying the flee-bitten mongrels.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/16 12:40 AM

Yep, I think WOFF is actually a little early in delivering the Pup but who's complaining.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/16 01:03 PM

Here's the latest status report.

Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/16 11:21 PM

Carrick, you are getting a ton of flying time in both DiD campaigns! How do you manage it?

Lou, glad to see you were only grazed. Great photos!

Banjoman, I'm ridiculously jealous of you getting a Pup this soon. Leave some Huns for the rest of us, please.

Lederhosen, brilliant name for your new British pilot.

Sgt Alfred Keers is back in action just in time to sit in his tent listening to the rain...

It was good to be back in 20 Squadron. Finally done with my punishment assignment as duty NCO, I have had more time to get to know people here. I’m sharing a tent with Jeffery Andarto, our other sergeant-pilot. He’s a quiet sort, but a good mate, and being from Yorkshire we have a lot in common. His Da and mine were both pitmen, and like me he’d worked on steam engines. Only in his case he apprenticed as a colliery engineman.

On 21, 22, and 23 March the sleet and wind grounded us, and we got permission to wander into town. We visited the old cathedral and the large market square. Jeff and I tried to buy lunch at the Hotel Francois, but were shown the door as it’s only open for officers. Their loss – within minutes we found a little café on a nearby side street that served a wonderful baked fish dish, done in cream sauce with potatoes and bits of turnip and accompanied by some very fine cider. The proprietor and his wife fussed over us as if we were a pair of colonels.

I bought some shaving soap and Murad cigarettes and Jeff acquired a heavy carpet large enough to cover the duckboards between our bunks in the tent. We returned to Clairmarais just in time for dinner. To my surprise, Major Wilson had been invited to dine with the NCOs and after the meal and Royal Toast he said he had an announcement. He then said that it had been confirmed that the Fokker shot down my Lieut Whieldon and me on 20 March had fallen near our lines and been confirmed. This was the first confirmed kill for our squadron by an NCO pilot. I drank for free all night.

The 24th was a wash-out as well. We got up on 25 March. Captain Paget Graves led three Fees on a long flight south to Lens. I spotted three unidentified two-seaters heading west out of Hunland and signalled, but the captain shook his head. A little later I saw three monoplanes a mile or two off to the east, but again the captain did not pursue them. I was browned off since I’d gotten hold of the idea of Hun-getting.

We had more rain and snow on the 26th and 27th. I didn’t have enough saved to head back to town so I spent the day helping the ack emmas and playing Nap for francs in the mess.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/26/16 12:42 PM

funny thing War. Infact we still listen to Clasical Hunnish music.


Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/26/16 04:01 PM

Lederhosen, I think that picture may be the Canadian army comedy troupe called "The Dumbbells."
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/26/16 07:43 PM

'The Maple Leaves', a Canadian concert party


http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/west-end-or-western-front
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/16 02:09 PM

Good morning Gents! I am fixing to pick up the pieces and rejoin. Warbirds rising are in 1916 right? Is there another calender for intrepid flyers?

Looking forward to being back in the fray.
Mark
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/16 03:03 PM

Just sent you the calendar for Intrepid Flyers and yes the Warbirds are in July of 1916.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/16 02:29 AM

Sgt Alfred Keers had an exciting day today.

We woke on 29 March 1916 to the blissful sound of a light rain falling on the canvas. It was warmer than the previous days and you could smell the earth – no surprise as it had been well manured since before the Romans came, I suppose. But at least that meant the ground was thawing properly. Anderto and I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of tea and toast and a boiled egg before wandering over to our respective hangar.

I was assigned to Mr McNaughton’s patrol. My aircraft, his, and Mr Reid’s were to patrol over into Hunland towards the aerodrome at Phalempin, south of Lille. We took off and climbed through the low cloud. Cloudy days like this put me on edge. There were too many hiding places for Fokkers. I had grown fond of the Fee, but I could not shake the feeling that too much could happen behind you on the other side of that rumbling Beardmore. But there were no Fokkers this day. We did our rounds for the allotted time and headed home with nothing to report.

30 March was a totally different matter. Captain Paget Graves led a three-machine patrol – his machine, mine, and Mr Reid’s – down south. For the past several days the enemy had dropped bombs on the airfields south and west of Doullens. It was a sunny morning and the clouds were sparse and fluffy. We climbed to 9000 feet and followed landmarks: the bend in the Lys near Trizennes; The town and the distinctive wood near St-Pol; the smoke haze over Doullens.

Just south of Doullens is the aerodrome of Marieux. As we approached, the gunners near the field were putting up a display of fine Archie-ing (for I’d learned that anti-aircraft fire was known as nothing but, with all credit to George Robey and his ditty). We made out two aircraft and soon recognized them as Fokkers. It was most unusual to see them so far over. I picked out the closest and manoeuvred to put Mr Whieldon in a good firing position, but the Hun was wily and I had to throw our bus around to keep him from getting behind us. Poor Mr Whieldon knelt in his windswept tub with an arm locked around the rear gun’s post. I lost the Hun momentarily before spotting him beneath me, about to give us the slip and help his friend, whom Mr Reid was harassing. I put the Fee over to the left and dived. Mr Whieldon released his post and grabbed the forward Lewis. He fired about 20 rounds and the green Fokker began to tumble in a flat spin. I gave a whoop, but I’m sure Mr Whieldon didn’t hear me. That was one fine man on a machine gun!


"He fired about 20 rounds and the green Fokker began to tumble in a flat spin."

We watched only a few seconds, for Mr Reid was now in trouble. The other Fokker, a yellow machine, was on his tail and we could hear the firing of its gun. The yellow Hun was caught totally by surprise when we opened fire from barely 20 yards away. I nearly overshot him and as I slewed to one side, I saw our bullets tracing along the side of the Fokker. It began to smoke and dive away. Mr Whieldon slammed a fresh drum onto his Lewis.

We climbed, turned, and fell onto the Hun’s tail with Mr Whieldon firing nearly the entire drum. An orange puff appeared, and then flames began to pour backwards along the fuselage of the Fokker. Our Lewis kept firing, mercifully ending the day for the poor fellow.

Back at Clairmarais, we recounted the story to the RO and babbled like street urchins who have found a florin on the sidewalk. He made calls to 15 Squadron at Marieux. They confirmed our flamer, but informed us that the green Fokker was seen to recover close to the ground and head east. At least Mr Whieldon and I had our second confirmed kill, which made us the top-scoring pair in the squadron. Mr. Whieldon was good enough to arrange with the sergeant-major that I should have an open chit in the WOs’ and Sergeants’ Mess that night!


"The yellow Hun was caught totally by surprise..."


"An orange puff appeared, and then flames began to pour backwards along the fuselage of the Fokker."
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/16 04:50 PM

Journal Entry: July 29, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

It has been eight days since our top pilots have been assigned the Pup and I can say without any reservations that this aeroplane has drastically changed how C Squadron is performing. When I assumed command of C Squadron, the squadron consisted of a group of men fulfilling their duties but nothing more. When we switched to a purely pursuit squadron and then added the Pups that was when I noticed a change in the attitude and demeanor of the men. Now the men seem to be more aggressive and confident, even the pilots not flying the Pups. I must say that having a machine that is far and away superior to anything the enemy possesses does tend to make one confident and aggressive. The added benefit is that even the pilots not flying the Pup feel a boost of confidence just by flying with the Pups. One last word about the difference the Pup has made, we have had these machines for eight days and in that time we have destroyed ten Hun machines that should be all that needs to be said.

An interesting thing happened today as we were returning from a line patrol over near Dunkerque. We had just flown past Dunkerque when I spotted two aeroplanes above us and approaching from the west. I didn’t recognize the shape of these machines and that made me suspicious and so I gave the signal to pursue. We began to climb and before long one of the machines turned to engage us. These were Huns for sure, but the aeroplanes they were flying were unlike any I have seen before. It appeared that the fuselage filled the space between the upper and lower planes thereby giving the pilot and the observer a wonderful field of vision above, but not so much below and forward. What was probably the most startling was that this two-seater was attacking us. In this situation that could have turned ugly, the Pup showed its worth. After the initial shock of seeing this strange craft, I was able to quickly get on its tail and send it crashing into the sea. After landing, we learned that this strange bird is called a Roland C.II and the Huns are just now starting to replace the worn out Aviatiks with this newer machine. The Pup has once again proved it is the superior aeroplane, even besting the Huns brand new design.

I’ve included a few photographs of my successes with the Pup. I regret that I was not able to get a photograph of the Roland, but I imagine I will be seeing them again.



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/16 11:35 PM

Sgt Brummel
32 Sgn


29 Jul 1918.


Back at Sqn, Assigned to Asst. Supply Officer till back on Flt Status 1 Aug 1918. Painted my kite today looks good cant wait to mix it up proper with the Hun.

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/16 09:32 AM

It's interesting that the British have access to both the Pup and the Triplane already in the summer of 1916. I remember running into Tripes in the other DID while I was still flying Aviatiks in mid 1916 - not much fun, though my observer did manage to shoot one of them down!

In real life at that time, there were only one or two Pups and Tripes in France for testing purposes. They didn't become operational in large numbers until much later in the year, and the Tripe only in early 1917.

Excellent reports and great pics everybody! I've been taking a break from DID flying because of excessive heat, but I should get back to business next week as the weather cools down. smile
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/16 12:56 PM

Hasse, I know I feel a little guilty flying one since they really weren't issued until much later. I have to ask, do you fly outside? Why would it being hot outside affect what you are doing inside? biggrin

Edit: I might add that we only have 4 Pups.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/16 01:05 PM

Because my house is hot as hell inside. Most of the year it's very cold here and I don't have air conditioning. When a rare heatwave occurs, the result is my house turning practically into a sauna. I don't feel like sitting in front my PC and wearing my TrackIR cap when simply hanging around and doing nothing can make you sweat!

Four Pups is still way too much, especially as they saw no action over the front until late 1916.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/16 01:25 PM

I figured you didn't have A/C, just a poor attempt at humor. I also agree with your comment about the Pups. Does it cool down much at night?
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/16 01:37 PM

It's getting cooler already. But it always takes a few days for all the stored heat to dissipate. Up here in the far north, the sun doesn't set at all for most of the summer. This period of late July is actually the first time in several weeks when it goes below the horizon!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/16 02:46 PM

That would be kind of cool, but it would take some getting used to constant daylight.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/16 04:12 PM

reading

I can feel Hasse's Pain. I used to live up in Alaska for 3 years. During the summer Jun and July) it ws 90-98 degrees Dry and dusty with No air conditioning. Fall came ( Temps falling down to 30-20 above Zero), the month of August. then Winter, Sept-May, had temps down to 30 below. The worst part was one year at 30 below their was a wind that dropped the temp to 60 below. Luckily , It was only for a day or so then the wind backed off.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/16 05:29 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
That would be kind of cool, but it would take some getting used to constant daylight.


Winter balances it out - then the sun won't rise at all. biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/16 07:50 PM

Here is the latest status report. Deacon211, I'm still confused. You have Ingvar in an Army unit with a Naval rank. I've left him the naval unit that he started in. Please let me know how I should be posting him.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/16 04:08 PM

Sgt Brummel
32 Sgn
Vert Galand, France.


1 August 1918.

Hq want a Show the Flag over Hun land so tagged along as Tail end Charlie. No Joy.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/16 04:23 PM

March news of the World for Intrepid Fliers:

March 1
Germany began an extended submarine campaign using a strategy of trying to lure the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet into U-boat traps.
March 2
Russian forces captured Bitlis from the Turks in Armenia.
March 4
The German raider SMS Moewe returned to a heroes welcome in Bremen, Germany following a series of successful attacks on British ships in the Atlantic.
March 5
A combined British-South African Colonial force began an offensive towards Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa.
March 7
Newton Diehl Baker was appointed US Secretary of State.
March 8
Another British attempt to relieve the besieged force at Kut-al-Amara was defeated on the Dujaila Redoubt.
March 9
The Fifth Battle of the Isonzo began when the Italians launched another offensive on the Isonzo River.
The German Government declared war on Portugal over the seizure of German ships in Lisbon.
March 10
British forces captured Taveta in East Africa.
March 11
The Battle for Latema Nek began in the Latema-Reata between Germany and British-South African forces in British East Africa.
March 12
The action at Latema Nek ended with an Allied victory.
An Allied conference at Chantilly discussed the forthcoming summer offensive on the Somme.
March 13
New Moshi in East Africa was occupied by British forces.
March 14
British forces reoccupied Sollum on the Egyptian coast.
March 15
Austria-Hungary followed Germany and declared war on Portugal.
March 16
General Pierre Auguste Roques succeeded Joseph Gallieni as French Minister of War.
At the Battle of Verdun the Germans successive attacks on Vaux were repulsed.
March 18
The Lake Naroch Offensive began when Russian forces attacked the Germans at Lake Naroch on the Eastern Front.
March 20 French politician Baron Denys Cochin was appointed Under-Secretary of State for foreign policy matters responsible for dealing with the blockade of Germany.
March 21
German forces retreated from the Kilimanjaro area after they were defeated at Nahe.
March 22
Yuan Shikal formally abandoned monarchism and relinquished the throne of China.
March 24
The passenger ship SS Sussex was torpedoed by a German U-boat in the English Channel.
March 26
Russian forces continued the attack at Lake Naroch without success.
March 27
Russian commanders suspended their offensive at Lake Naroch.
March 28
An Inter-Allied conference in Paris resulted in a declaration of unity on military, economic and diplomatic affairs between Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Russia and Serbia .
March 29
General Alexei Andreyevich Polivanov resigned as Russian War Minister and was succeeded by General Dmitry Savelich Shuvaev.
March 30
The Russian hospital ship Portugal was sunk by a torpedo from the German submarine U-33 in the Black Sea.
March 31
A German airship raid targeted the East coast of England; the Zeppelin was subsequently shot down by gunfire in the Thames Estuary.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/16 04:27 PM

Warbirds Rising news of the World for the month of July:

July 1
The Battle of the Somme began on the Western Front. The opening day of the battle was the worst single day's fighting in British military history with casualties of nearly 60,000 British troops.
July 2
The Battle of Erzincan began between Russian and Turkish troops.
July 3
The Russian and Japanese Governments concluded a treaty regarding future policy in the Far East.
July 4
Heavy thunderstorms impeded progress at the Somme as British troops continued their advance in La Boiselle.
July 5
British and Indian troops entered Tanga on the Indian Ocean in German East Africa.
July 7
David Lloyd George succeeded the late Lord Kitchener as British Secretary of State for War.
July 9
The British liberal politician Edwin Samuel Montagu was appointed Minister of Munitions in Great Britain.
July 10
The Italian destroyer Impetuoso was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in the Adriatic Sea.
July 11
A German submarine shelled Seaham harbor in County Durham.
July 12
British forces succeeded in clearing Mametz Wood, four and a half kilometers past the German lines on the Somme.
July 13
British troops temporarily pierced the German line at Bezantin Ridge on the Somme.
July 14
The Battle of Bazentin Ridge began, launching the second phase of the Somme Offensive.
British troops occupied the German port of Mwanza in German East Africa.
July 15
A subsidiary attack of the Somme Offensive, the Battle of Delville Wood began when South African troops attempted to clear the woods of German forces.
July 17
The Battle of Bazentin Ridge ended in a tactical British victory.
July 18
The British Government ratified a treaty with Ibn Saud, the Emir of Nejd.
July 19
The Battle of Fromelles was a combined operation by British and Australian troops to divert attention from the Battle of the Somme.
July 20
The Battle of Fromelles ended with a decisive German victory.
July 22
Sergei Sazonov resigned as Russian Foreign Minister and was succeeded by Boris Sturmer.
July 23
The two week struggle for the French village of Pozieres and the surrounding ridge, the Battle of Pozieres Ridge
began.
July 25
Russian forces captured Erzingian in Armenia which was then evacuated without further fighting.
July 27
British naval Captain Charles Fryatt was executed by the Germans after he was court-martialed following his
unsuccessful attempt to ram and sink a German U-Boat.
July 28
British troops captured Delville Wood and Longueval village and progressed towards Pozieres.
July 29
The German Government rejected Britain's offer to permit sea passage of humanitarian foodstuffs going to Poland from the United States.
July 30
The first combined Franco-British aerial operations took place on the Western Front.
The Black Tom Island munitions plant in New Jersey was destroyed by an explosion. It was suspected to be the work
of German saboteurs.
July 31
The British Prime Minister denounced the execution of Captain Fryatt in the House of Commons.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/02/16 01:52 PM

ug 1916.

Another Bump in the program, all a/c crashed after appearing 40 ft off the ground in the Air. Down for another 14 days Wounded ? Gotta install and learn to use the retro start program. darkcloud
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/02/16 02:23 PM

You should post this on the Technical section. They really need to fix this problem.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/02/16 08:50 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
You should post this on the Technical section. They really need to fix this problem.


I'm wondering if it's not system related. I've been flying for a "while" now without ever encountering this bug, meanwhile Carrick had two of them already in a relatively short span. I could just be lucky and having said that it'll probably happen the next time I'm on the airfield. explode
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/16 12:31 AM

It has happened to me a couple of times, but nothing like the frequency that Carrick is experiencing.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/16 04:13 PM

reading

It may be just 32 Sqn program track in 1916, so Killed off the pilot. ( Pushed him into the Virtual Spinning Prop ) I will be starting a new one in a different Sqn and see what happens.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/16 04:17 PM

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/16 04:42 PM

Sgt, Saville
24 sqn
Flanders, France.

3 Aug 1916.


I went up on a Patrol along with 8 others split into 2 flights. No e/a spotted
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/16 09:45 PM

Carrick, your new pilot better behave this time. He knows how ruthless you are and what you did to your last one. It may be a tall order in the spinning incinerator.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/04/16 02:49 AM

Sgt Alfred Keers is learning to love the Fee!

Mr Whieldon (his Christian name is Jamie, but I can’t get comfortable using a given name with an officer, even in private) was becoming a great chum. We would disappear for walks and talk about home and dreams for the future. His home is in the Hebrides, the island of Jura, where his father is a minister. He helped maintain automobiles for a distillery owner there until he headed for England to join up. He was briefly an artillery officer before getting lucky enough to be transferred to the RFC in early 1915 and attached to 7 Squadron at Chemsford for training “of sorts,” as he put it. He told me that Mr Alice, the fellow I flew over from England and looped the Fee with, is still put out that we have a couple of Huns to our credit while he has none.

The news from home is a bit upsetting. People have not yet realized there is a war on, what with strikes and various disruptions. I try to write to the parents every other day, and to Rosetta and Eliza a letter each week. We are going up only once a day at present, but I am told that we can expect to be up two or even three times a day as the weather improves and action at the front intensifies.

On 31 March we were sent on a reconnaissance patrol to the front near Armentieres and were engaged by Fokkers. A thrilling time. We force one to land and destroyed another, but the formation was split up and we had no confirmation. Major Wilson is very reluctant to submit an unwitnessed claim to headquarters, and ours was rejected.
The next day, 1 April, saw us patrolling down to the Somme River in a cold rain. Again we were engaged by Fokkers and again Mr Whieldon drove one down out of control. And again our claim was denied.

Mr Alice was heard to cast doubts on our claims, I am told. I would like to get commissioned so I might cuff him with impugnity.

On 2 April we went south again, this time to Arras, but saw nothing.

Then our luck turned. On 3 April we were sent well over the lines to an area south of Lille. We patrolled for nearly two hours without seeing a thing, but on our return I noticed friendly Archie off to the northwest of us towards Abeele. I turned to investigate. Captain Paget-Graves did not join us, nor did Mr McNaughton’s aircraft. After a few minutes, we saw two Aviatiks, a Hun two-seater type, circling the area. I made for one of them and Mr Whieldon prepared his Lewis gun. To our surprise a third Aviatik fired at us from behind!

It wasn’t hard to evade the Hun and we were soon under its tail. Mr Whieldon fired only about 20 or 30 rounds and it burst into flame and shed its wings, falling in a field near Poperinghe. It was our third official kill, and I rode in the Crossley with Mr Whieldon to inspect it that afternoon. By the time we found the wreck it had been picked over by souvenir hunters, but Mr Whieldon got a bit of fabric with the serial number and I prised out the altitude indicator, a lovely piece of German craftsmanship.

On the following day, 4 April, we did a reconnaissance flight over the German lines southeast of Arras. Captain Paget-Graves dropped out with engine trouble before we crossed over, and Mr McNaughton took the lead. As we were about to turn back, I noticed three monoplanes emerge from a bank of clouds about a mile off and turn towards us. I signalled to Mr McNaughton but he simply pointed west and we dashed for safety. But the Fokkers had the height advantage and gained on us. I saw one getting close to Lieut McNaughton’s machine and turned to engage it. As I did so I saw a second Hun under our tail. We shook him off and chased the Hun on Mr McNaughton’s tail, but the same green-painted Fokker that had eluded us a few days before engaged us. We turned and twisted at low level over the ruins of Monchy. The Hun was a star turn. Finally Mr Whieldon put a few rounds into the Hun and chased him off. We thought we were clear, but another Fokker made a pass at us. He was fairly dud, though, and we got behind him and finished him off. The machine fell into a tree line behind the enemy trench lines. We circled for height and dashed home to find that Mr McNaughton’s machine had collided with the third Fokker and crashed. He walked away nearly unharmed but his observer, Lieut Stapleton, was killed.

The RO called the headquarters nearest the scene of the engagement and we were delighted to learn that the 55th Division’s artillery observers confirmed a Fokker and a pusher type duelling on their front at the right time of day, with the German aircraft crashing. We now had our fourth official victory!


"Mr Whieldon fired only about 20 or 30 rounds and it burst into flame and shed its wings..."


"We turned and twisted at low level over the ruins of Monchy."
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/04/16 02:51 PM

yep

Ah Yes Fullofit. Next time its Head 1st into the Prop for the unfit pilot.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/04/16 05:47 PM

Fantastic reports and pics, gentlemen! The Fee seems to be a real killing machine when flown by Raine. I must confess it's one of the crates that I've never liked to fly myself, but it's great to see somebody making so good use of it. smile

August Ege is back in action...

***

The Diary of August Ege.

FFA 71. Frescaty-Metz.

Montag, 3.IV.16, 9.00 Uhr nachmittags.


This day didn’t turn out to be quite as ordinary as it first seemed!

At 9 o’clock this morning, I was flying a regular artillery co-operation mission for the heavy batteries of XV. Armeekorps in the Fleury-Vaux sector northeast of Verdun with Oberleutnant Balthazar as my observer. Everything was going as planned, though the rainy and cloudy weather had again forced us to stay lower than usual and the terrible mud on the ground seemed to be sucking in the shells of our guns, making it something of a challenge for Balthazar to accurately register their hits.

We were making another pass over the target area from west to east when I spotted a machine approaching us directly from the south. It was heading straight towards us and I became suspicious of its behaviour, knowing how the French have been increasing their aerial presence in the sector in the past few weeks. The Aviatik is a gentle beast, so I could easily let go of the controls and watch the approaching machine through my binoculars. My suspicions were correct - it was a French Nieuport single-seater, armed with a gun over the top plane!

I instantly shouted to Balthazar and motioned at him to stop working his wireless apparatus, pointing towards the approaching Frenchman. Balthazar quickly understood what was happening and grabbed hold of one of our Parabellums, cocking the gun and turning it towards our enemy.

What happened next is even now something of a blur in my mind. I can see the Frenchman approaching and myself turning our Aviatik towards him so that Balthazar can get a good shot at his machine. Then I see the bolt of Balthazar’s gun moving back and forth and bright sparks coming from the ejection port - and above everything else, even over the loud roar of the engine, I hear sharp cracks which I realize are coming from the gun firing so close to my ears.

I don’t remember looking at our attacker - I so was fully concentrated in flying our machine and trying to keep a good field of fire for Balthazar. Then, quite suddenly, he ceased firing and let the gun lower itself to its rest position, shouting at me and gesturing wildly to the right and rear of my cockpit. I turned my head to look and saw a bright ball of fire - our opponent had burst into flames! Black smoke and flying debris surrounded the burning enemy machine, which lingered in the air for a second before plummeting down towards the earth like a comet from the heavens above. We could see the remains of the Nieuport scatter down on the trenches near Vaux.

After continuing on our course for a while we both seemed to realize that even after our sudden victory in the air, there was still a war going on all around us, and that we had to get back to our normal business. Our machine seemed to be working well, so I was confident that the enemy plane hadn’t managed to hit us. I brought us back to our target area and Balthazar resumed his work with the wireless. Everything had happened so quickly that the artillery detachment probably hadn’t even realized Balthazar was no longer sending them his corrections!

The rest of the mission was uneventful, as was our return flight to Frescaty. After we had landed, we informed our mechanics and then Hauptmann Stelzer of what had happened. Everybody was greatly excited by our news, and Stelzer immediately contacted AOK 5 to see if the ground troops could confirm our victory. It took a few hours - we were all waiting in the mess as the weather had turned too bad to keep flying - but finally the phone rang and Stelzer received word from the Stabsoffizier der Flieger: the infantry division in the Vaux sector had seen our air battle and the destruction of the enemy machine! Apparently its remains had rained down on our own positions, so there was no lack of evidence to support our case.

Afterwards, there was so much shouting and cheering and laughing that my ears are still ringing from it - or maybe it was the fire from Balthazar’s Parabellum? Our Abteilung has scored its first kill, and I get to share the glory with my observer!

It is a peculiar feeling. On one hand, I’m happy about what happened. But on the other, the image of the Frenchman going down in flames somehow troubles me. We’re at war, and hundreds - maybe thousands - of people are dying every day all over the world. It wasn’t even me who pulled the trigger, but Balthazar.

And yet - it is a peculiar feeling, to see somebody die like that.

Perhaps I’ll get used to it.



View from the office.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/04/16 07:27 PM

Sgt, Saville
24 sqn
Flanders, France.


August 4, 1916.


Dawn Patrol: went up to the lines, no joy.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/06/16 05:11 AM

Sgt, Saville
24 sqn
Flanders, France.


August 5, 1916.

O805 hrs; The Sqn put up 8 a/c to due a line patrol at 4000ft. No contact.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/06/16 06:59 PM

Sgt, Saville
24 sqn
Flanders, France.


August 6 1916.


Balloon Attack

A Flt: 3 a/c cover
B Flt: 2 A/c Strike package

Ammo: Full

E/A: 3 Fokkers E Types

Remarks: A frightful Show. B Flight curved in out of a corkscrew from 3,000ft into a flight of Huns. Mixing it up with turning, Reversals, and twisting. I didn't see A flights machines in the fight but heard later that 1 was lost . Both of our machines were hit. I had one on my six , I think it had 2 machine guns ? , made a chandell then nosed over and ran like E'LL amid the Archie. No claims and we didnt get the Balloon.


Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/07/16 12:58 PM

Lovely report from August, Hasse!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/07/16 04:14 PM

Sgt, Saville
24 sqn
Bertangles West
Flanders, France.

August 7, 1916.

Maj Hawker led B flights 5 a/c on a show the flag over the Aerodromes by Peronne. No Joy.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/07/16 10:01 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/08/16 08:22 PM

Sgt, Saville
24 sqn
Flanders, France.


August 8, 1916.


B flight was posted to do a hop over to a Hun A.F.. To my surprise, we did some damage at the cost of 1 a/c missing.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/16 06:08 PM

Sgt, Saville
24 sqn
Flanders, France.


August 9, 1916.


Pulled escort duty for 2 BE types over to Bertincourt and back. Our cover flight took a hit by ground fire and lost a machine. Otherwise a cake walk.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/16 05:23 AM

Sgt, Saville
24 sqn
Flanders, France.

August 10, 1916.

Picked up a slug from ground fire coming back over NML. Our 5 a/c , B Flight, attacked an enemy A.F. at Bertincourt. Wild little mix up. I got off a full drum while diving at the Field then on pull out 3 Huns were waiting for us. I had one shooting me up as I turned and reloaded. My wing man got him, I saw the crash then a Hun got my wingman. I reversed and fired off another drum at we passed and ran for home getting wnd in the process as another flight member shot down the Hun. Looking back as I ran I saw another Hun being Forced down near the target. My kite was full of holes so couldnt get above 400 meters as I crossed over the lines getting hit 3 more times Finally, Home and the Medics ( Out for 13 days)

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/14/16 01:09 PM

Here is the latest status report. Guys, I won't be able to produce next weeks status report because of my move, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to get the next one. Thanks in advance for everyone's patience.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/14/16 06:28 PM

Banjoman, thanks for generating the report every week. Worry not about missing one. Good luck with the move and hope you're up and operational in no time.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/16 03:46 AM

It's been a while since I had time to sit down and write up Alfred Keers' memoirs.

Sgt Keers and his partner Lt Whieldon continue to do well in the Fee.

The period started well with the news on 5 April that the Aviatik we’d shot at near Houplin a couple of days before had been seen to go down by a balloon observer near Neuve-Chapelle, and that the Fokker we’d sent down out of control south of Arras the previous morning was also seen to crash. That made our official count four kills.

On 6 April 1916 we flew far south to observe enemy positions along the Somme river. Captain Paget Graves’s machine mounted a camera. As we were escorting him, a lone Aviatik two-seater flew by about a half-mile off. I gave chase and slipped under its tail. Mr Whieldon fired only about 20 rounds before the enemy machine began to smoke. A trickle of flame appeared along the left side of the engine and it dipped. The observer could be seen batting at the flames with his arms. Then the machine erupted and fell like a comet, carrying its unfortunate crew to the ground far below. Unfortunately we were well over and out of sight of our mates, so our claim remained unconfirmed.

On 10 April I had a dead stick landing when the engine of our Fee died just over Arras – broken petrol pipe. I shut off quickly and put down at Hesdigneul.

Heavy rain scrubbed most flying the next week. Mr Whieldon met me in the hangar in the wet afternoons, determine to teach me to play bridge. Sgt Craforth and Corporal Stringer, our master sailmaker and our #2 rigger, rounded out the foursome. Corporal Stringer was an unlikely champion at the game, having learned at sea before the war. The sergeant was nearly as good. Mr Whieldon despaired of my play, and taught me that officers could on occasion teach the other ranks a thing or two about profanity.

On 16 April the sun came out long enough that we were part of a three-machine reconnaissance headed to the lines south of Arras. On the way I spotted two Aviatiks near Bruay and signalled to Captain Paget-Graves. He waved his hand as if to say “Off you go and play,” and we pursued one of the Huns east until it was just over the lines. Finally, Mr Whieldon fired and the machine’s right lower wing partially separated. It circled down, its propeller windmilling, and crash-landed between the German main and reserve lines. We put in a claim for this machine, but it was rejected higher up because we could not swear the machine was damaged beyond recovery.


"It circled down, its propeller windmilling, and crash-landed between the German main and reserve lines."
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/16 04:27 PM

Sgt, Saville
24 sqn
Flanders, France.


I will be released from the Hospital in 2 days then a short 2 day pass in Paris. However , I should be reporting in by the 22nd-23rd.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/16 08:40 PM

So that's the reason it was so quiet here. Stop chasing after the nurses, Carrick. There is war to be won.
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/16 08:57 PM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
So that's the reason it was so quiet here. Stop chasing after the nurses, Carrick. There is war to be won.

biggrin thumbsup
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/16 08:43 PM

I would like to introduce Flight Sub Lt. Bolitho. He has flown a few missions as of today. I did not want to enroll him in the fray until I was sure a full redo of WOFF would not be needed to fix my glitch. Back in the skies and glad to be here!


Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/16 02:17 AM

Good to have you flying with us MFair. I'm sure Banjoman will add you to the roster once he settles in his new place. Be careful, it's becoming dangerous in the air.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/16 10:55 PM

Thank you Fullofit. It's good to be back!

Broderick had 2 patrols today. Both were escort missions. One reccy missions of the lines saw nice skies and little Archie. We cruised above the FE's for 30 min. Before headed back t o Furnes. The afternoon hop was escorting 2 Strutters to bomb Ghistelles. Again, all went well and no Huns sighted.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/16 04:13 PM

thumbsup

All right MFair.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/16 04:24 PM

Sgt, Saville
24 sqn
Flanders, France.


Back to the Hospital. I got bit by a Recon type TailGun. Made an attack from 200 meters and closed. Firing a full drum but had no return fire so got closer ,thinking I had sent the gunner south, reloaded and Bang Bang the rear gunner fired at point blank hitting the motor. My kite caught fire but by diving I put it out. Then the really bad part , I made the lines only to crash a Fence at full tilt putting back in the hospital till Sep.




Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/16 10:38 PM

Carrick, is the nurse pretty at least?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/16 04:24 AM

AH, I dont think so !

http://giphy.com/gifs/40s-nurses-in-the-army-department-of-defense-wp3v3rNa8te2Q
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/16 11:35 PM

August 24, 1916
Furnes aerodrome

Flight Sub-Lt. Bolitho was feeling rather cocky. 24 missions and 2 confirmed kills. Then returning from an uneventfull escort mission over the lines he landed and while bounding down the runway let his port wing dip hitting the ground. The light Nieport promptly flipped over sending the young Lt. To the hospital for 12 days. Off to see the nurses, that is if Carrick has left any!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/16 01:16 AM

Looks like he's willing to share all these beauties. biggrin
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/16 02:59 AM

MFair, good to see you here!

Sgt Alfred Keers gets a surprise promotion, and makes a mess of his first day at his new home. He's out for six days.

We were grounded by foul weather from the 17th to the 20th of April 1916. I went with Jeff Anderto into St-Omer most days, but there was little to do. The town had some cafés and restaurants, but many were reserved for officers. There were a number of hospitals, both for men and animals, and there were headquarters, of course. We visited the building that had been until recently Gen Haig’s headquarters. I expected something more imposing.

One day we got terribly lost and stopped to ask directions of a woman who was sweeping the pavement outside her home. She generously invited us in and insisted we drink coffee with her and her husband, who was some sort of town official. We struggled to communicate but found the French very friendly and accommodating. They are also very religious compared to us, crossing themselves and praying before eating. Little shrines to the Virgin or some saint seem to adorn every room. That said, there is a certain sort of woman here who is doing a roaring trade in town. The Army turns a blind eye to it all. In fact, their main concern is that officers and other ranks should avoid using the same establishments!

I was up twice on the 21st, the morning flight a distant patrol over the lines several miles past Thélus. The cloud was heavy and we saw nothing. On days like that the Fee is the coldest machine you can fly, as there is no protection from the elements and no heat from the engine, which is behind you. We flew a second distant patrol over Haubourdin in the late afternoon, but again we saw nothing. Mr Whieldon was on leave for a few days, so my observer was Lieut Pearson.

The rain returned on the 22nd, but the day was not without excitement. After lunch, the CO called for me. I reported to his office and saluted smartly, wondering what I’d done. Instead putting me through the facings, he invited me to take a seat.

“You’ve had quite a start to your service,” he began. It was not quite two months since I’d arrived here.

“I did my best as duty sergeant, sir,” I said, referring to the punishment duty the major had given me for looping a Fee on my arrival at Clairmarais.

“Well,” he said, “if you’re to be sorted out next time, we’ll have to make you duty officer, Mr. Keers.”
It took a moment before I realised what he’d said. “Officer?”

“You are getting a commission. It should be gazetted tomorrow. Let me be the first to congratulate Second Lieutenant Keers.” The major stood and offered his hand. I reciprocated and he motioned that we should sit back down.

“It’s a difficult thing to serve as an officer in a unit where you were an NCO, so you’re to transfer tomorrow to 29 Squadron at Abeele – they’re flying DeHavillands. That will give you a fresh start in your new role.” He had something else. Major Wilson had laid claim to an officer’s service dress tunic with RFC badges. It already had the lonely Bath stars of a subaltern on the sleeve. He said he wished me more luck that the tunic’s previous owner, and suggested it would do me until I could get properly kitted out. There were no breeches. I’d have to pick those up in St-Omer.

I was slated for the early patrol in the morning, and got permission to keep my sergeant’s stripes up until after the flight was done. As it happened, our original patrol was scrubbed and we were dispatched to Coudekerque to hunt for some reported intruders. We took off at six, myself and Mr Pearson behind Captain Paget-Graves’s machine and Lieut Granger’s.

I was the first to spot them, two silver-white two-seaters dodging eastward among thick clouds. I signalled and gave chase. We became separated in the clouds and I emerged from a wall of cumulus directly below an Aviatik. Mr Pearson fired. We were scarcely fifty yards away. The Hun machine shed a wing and began tumbling earthward. Mr. Pearson pointed. A second Hun was just ahead, probably five hundred yards away. We quickly got under it and within seconds it broke up in the air. Unfortunately both Huns fell over the lines and were not seen, so we were denied the victories. It would have been a great send-off.

I arrived at Abeele, near Ypres, just before lunch, wearing a dead man’s tunic and NCO’s breeches. The CO, Major Dawes, seemed a very decent sort, and introduced me to a few fellows whose names did not stick. I learned I was to fly a two o’clock on a familiarisation jaunt to the lines near Armentières. I had time for only a twenty minute circuit on the DH2 before possibly going into action!

I wasted no time in getting the machine up. It was tiny and light compared to the Fee, and if possible, it was even colder. By the time I put the machine down there was no sensation in my hands.

Should I be concerned, I wondered? I’d been assigned to fly alongside two sergeant-pilots. Sergeants Noakes and Thomas were first-rate men, but I questioned if I’d been sent around to the service entrance by the officers. The thought disturbed me, but I shook it off. It was a beautiful afternoon and I guided the nimble little pusher into the air and took my position on Sergeant Noakes’s wing. He would lead this patrol.

My experience did not last long. Two minutes after takeoff the Gnôme began to miss badly. I gave Sgt Noakes the wash-out signal and began to glide down. I had enough altitude to turn back and gingerly brought the machine around, keeping the nose well down. The motor died and I glided in. The field was still 300 yards off and I had a fence to clear. I was coming in too low. Suddenly and without warning the left wing dipped as the machine stalled. I nearly recovered but it was too late. There was a loud snapping of splintered wood as the left wingtip touched ground and the undercarriage crumpled. The machine spun around on the broken wing and fell to the right. The right wings shattered and the motor shifted on its mounting. I hit the ground hard and knew immediately that I’d done something to my back.

The DH2 was a complete write-off. It had arrived in France the day before. At least I spun the machine so that the motor didn’t fly forward and decapitate me, I thought. Pain shot down my right leg and up into my neck.

I’d made a right mess of this job.


"A second Hun was just ahead, probably five hundred yards away."

Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/16 10:20 AM

Wow, so much has happened here in the past weeks! I confess I haven't really flown any missions with August Ege recently, but I hope to continue this DID too in the near future. The other DID is now in such a fascinating situation with the end of the war approaching that I've spent my flying time there with Albrecht Niemann, and then there was that small Olympics event in Brazil, which also caught my attention.

Anyway, excellent reports and congrats to Mr. Keers on his promotion! Is he now a proper gentleman? smile
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/16 10:11 PM

We're running out of nurses very quickly.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/27/16 10:05 PM

Hello guys, this is the first I've been able to check in. It looks like you've been real busy in my absence. I hope to be up and flying in a couple of days, somehow I have to find an ethernet cable here in Antigua. Anyway, I've sure missed reading the reports.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/29/16 10:31 AM

Welcome back Banjoman. How are the new digs? I'm still doing double-takes when I look at the location in your sig. I've just started my vacation. 2 weeks on Fuerteventura. I've flown ahead, so I won't miss any of the score reporting.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/16 08:01 PM

Great to hear from you, Banjoman!

2Lt Keers is setting squadron records at No 29. Just not the right kind of records...

“Stand straight while I’m talking to you, Mr. Keers!” I’d never seen an officer that colour of purple. Major Dawes had transformed from the decent gentleman I’d met scarcely a week ago into a banshee, spraying spittle and grimacing fiercely.

“You have done more bloody damage to this squadron than any Hun alive! Do you realise that, Mr. Keers? Do you, hey?” I was afraid he was about to spit out something he’d need later. “What in the name of all that’s holy were you trying to accomplish today?

Ah well, it’s a long story. So let’s begin eight days ago when I wrecked my first DH2 stalling after my first patrol as a subaltern with 29 Squadron.

...

Except for the back pain, I’d walked away scot-free from a dreadfully heavy smash-up. I therefore spent my first week at Abeele as duty officer for the week until cleared for flying. This was a pleasant change, as I’d only been duty NCO before. In addition to the tasks I’d become used to, I got to sleep on a tiny cot in the squadron officer in order to man the telephone at night. I also got to close the NCOs’ mess, which brought me more than my share of rude but muttered comment. When I’d been in the NCOs’ mess at Clairmarais, we’d given nicknames to each of the officers. Now that I was an officer I was keen to discover if I’d been graced with such a name, and if so what. “Deadeye” or “Killer Alf” would be nice, I thought. But it was one night as I called for everyone to leave the NCOs’ mess that I overheard my new nom de guerre – “Splinters.”

My DH2 took the better part of that week to repair, needing new wings, undercarriage, propeller, engine mounts, two longerons, and nacelle ribs, not to mention miscellaneous wires and bits.

Finally on 30th August, I was given permission to fly again. That morning we headed to Armentieres for an offensive patrol. Again I was led by a sergeant, Sgt Noakes. We spotted two Hun two-seaters and gave chase. I damaged one, but as I banked away the German gunner scored a lucky hit on my fuel line and I was forced to glide down and land in a field. At least the machine was intact.

I was back at Abeele by afternoon and aloft in a borrowed machine. For the very first time I got to lead a flight. I was ordered to take two sergeant-pilots, Sgt Thomas and Sgt Long, and shoot up a rail station behind the front. We were making a good job of it until two Fokkers dived on us. Thomas got one and I tangled with another. Although my Lewis rattled off a full drum, the Hun did not fall. We headed home to count the number of holes in our machines.
The next day began quietly with an early escort patrol. We nursed a Sopwith Strutter from No 5 (Naval) over to Houplin. The Huns were abed and chose not to disturb us and we returned for a second breakfast with nothing to report. This time I touched down flawlessly, rolled to the hangar, and proudly presented the ack emmas with a machine that required no major surgery. They clapped, though, which was a bit disconcerting.

But there was a second patrol that day. Another low job: same rail yard, same orders. Sgt Noakes led this time, which annoyed me. He was a pleasant fellow and a fine pilot, but I was the one with a pip on the sleeve of my second-hand tunic.

We were passing over LaGorgue at 5000 feet when I heard a sound from the Gnôme I’d never heard before – like bits of tin being spun about inside a metal drum, which is likely a pretty accurate description of what was happening four or five feet behind my head. I quickly switched off and began spiralling down.

Now, the field at La Gorgue is surrounded by trees, so I planned to come in a little higher than normal. The problem is, you see, that as I made my final turn there was a strongish breeze that I had not fully accounted for. The DH2 wallowed a bit. I watched as the speed fell off and the trees passed underneath. All but one...

The left wings hit first and threw the machine around. Good, I thought, the engine won’t kill me that way. Then the right wings hit another bit of woods. The longerons caught in some branches and for a moment everything came to a sudden halt forty feet above the ground. Then the longerons snapped, the tail assembly departed, and the wings crumpled backwards. I piloted my mount vertically to the ground. Somewhere on the trip the motor fell out, sideways, thank God. We hit with a violent crunch and I knew I’d hurt my back once more. There was a terrible tangle of wood and wire and bits of canvas to crawl through. I staggered several feet out of the tree line and looked at the disassembled mass of the Royal Aircraft Factory’s finest work. At least it didn’t burn, I thought.

And then it went “whoompf.”

...

So back to the office. Major Dawes was standing behind his desk now and stabbing the bit of his pipe in the direction of my nose. “You, Mr Keers, are an officer now. You need to set an example. You need to meet a standard. And you are failing, Mr Keers. Sort yourself out and start wrecking more Fokkers than DeHavillands. There, now be a good chap and bugger off smartly.”

I saluted and left the office. I needed to get my back looked at.


"Now, the field at La Gorgue is surrounded by trees, so I planned to come in a little higher than normal."
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/16 08:40 PM

Raine, it seems that "Splinters" could use a horse shoe nailed to his stick or a rabbit's foot or some other such artifice!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/16 08:48 PM

Raine, I'm enjoying your stories immensely. Who the heck thought it would be a great idea to keep the trees on the approach path? Probably some German engineer.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/16 09:33 PM

What a funny story! Let's hope Mr. Splinters is only experiencing some temporary difficulties, or he'll soon find himself in the trenches as an infantryman... biggrin
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/16 09:36 PM

Fine story Raine! Seems a few of us are having a little trouble setting these birds on the ground.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/16 05:54 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, Rfc
24 Sqn.


September 1, 1916.

Nice to be flying again even if it was a boring Security Patrol.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/16 06:37 PM

April News of the World for Intrepid Fliers:

April 1
British forces on the River Tigris renewed their attempts to break Turkish lines and relieve the besieged garrison at Kut-al-Amara.
April 2
More than 100 men and boys were killed by an explosion at the Explosives Loading Company munitions factory at Faversham in Kent when a store of TNT and ammonium nitrate blew up.
April 3
The Greek Government refused to allow an overland route for Serbian troops from Corfu to Salonika.
April 4
Russian General Aleksei Brusilov replaced General Nikolay Iudovich Ivanov in command of the Southern Front.
April 5
In the final Allied attempt to relieve Kut, British forces attacked Falahiya. After an initial success, the Turks held the garrison.
German forces captured Haucourt at Verdun.
April 6
German troops pushed forward towards Bethincourt and Hill 265 at the Battle of Verdun.
April 7
Russian forces renewed their offensive at Lake Naroch, with limited success.
April 8
French forces evacuated Bethincourt at Verdun.
April 9
German forces launched a coordinated attack on both sides of the Meuse and captured part of Le Mort Homme, consisting of Hill 256 and Hill 295, northwest of Verdun.
April  10
In Paris, the International Olympic Committee confirmed that the Games would not be held until the War was over.
April 11
Portuguese troops occupied Kionga in German East Africa.
April 14
Aircraft of Royal Naval Air Service flew from Mudros and attacked Constantinople and Adrianople.
April 15
The Serbian Army landed at Salonika from Corfu.
April 16
German forces bombarded Hill 304 at the Battle of Verdun.
April 17
British forces in German East Africa launched an attack on Kondoa Irangi.
April 18
Russian forces captured Trebizond on the Black Sea from Turkey without opposition.
US President Wilson threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Germany if submarine attacks on passenger ships are not stopped.
April 19
British forces captured Kondoa Irangi in German East Africa.
Field Marshal von der Goltz was assassinated by an Albanian officer in Asia Minor.
April 20
Russian troops from the Far East arrived at Marseilles to fight in France.
April 21
Irish revolutionary Roger Casement landed at Tralee Bay in County Kerry in Ireland from a German submarine and was arrested by British authorities.
April 22
The final attack by British troops on Sanna-i-Yat was repulsed during the Siege of Kut.
April 24
The Easter Rising began when Irish Republicans staged an armed insurrection against British rule with the aim of establishing an independent Ireland.
The river steamer HMS Julnar was sunk during a final attempt to provide supplies to the besieged troops at Kut-al-Amara.
April 25
A German naval squadron bombarded Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth on the east coast of Britain.
April 26
An agreement was signed in Berlin for the repatriation of sick and wounded British and German POWs to Switzerland.
The British gunboat Helga bombarded the city of Dublin from the River Liffey and destroyed Liberty Hall.
April 27
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Wimborne proclaimed martial law in Ireland.
April 29
After nearly five months General Charles Townshend surrendered the garrison at Kut-al-Amara to the Turks.
April 30
The Lake Naroch Offensive ended with a German victory when the Russian attack petered out.
 
(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/16 06:39 PM

August News of the World for Warbirds Rising:

August 2
The Italian Dreadnought Leonardo da Vinci sank in Taranto harbour in Southern Italy after an internal explosion caused her to capsize.
August 3
The Irish Nationalist Roger Casement was hanged at Pentonville Prison for his involvement in the Easter Rising in Dublin earlier in the year.
The Battle of Romani began. The unsuccessful attempt by the German led Ottoman force to seize control of the Suez Canal was the last ground attack on the critical waterway during the war.
August 5
The advance of the main body of British forces began through the Nguru Hills during the East Africa Campaign.
August 6
The Sixth Battle of the Isonzo was launched against a combined German-Austro-Hungarian force. Also known as the Battle of Gorizia it was the most successful Italian offensive along the Isonzo River in North Eastern Italy during the war.
August 8
The Portuguese Government accepted the participation of Portugal in the war and extended military co-operation to the Europe.
August 9
Italian Chief-of-Staff Luigi Cadorna led his forces to take Gorizia and establish a bridgehead across the Isonzo River during the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo.
August 10
After its initial success the Brusilov Offensive came to an end with the loss of about 500,000 Russian and 375,000 Austrian lives.
August 11
The German colonial district of Mpwapwa in German East Africa was occupied by British forces.
August 12
Italian troops landed at Salonika in Greece to join Allied forces.
August 15
A British air attack and naval bombardment was launched on Bagamoyo on the German East African coast. The Germans were overrun and the German garrison taken.
During the Caucasus Campaign the Armenian towns of Mush and Bitlis were re-occupied by Turkish forces.
August 17
Luigi Cadorna had succeeded in moving forward 5km along a 20km-front and ended the offensive in the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo.
The Treaty of Bucharest of 1916 was signed between Romania and the Entente Powers. The treaty stipulated the conditions under which Romania agreed to join the war on the side of the Entente.
August 18
A combined British-French offensive was launched on the German held village of Guillemont with three British corps attacking the village while the French attacked the nearby village of Maurepas.
August 19
Two town-class light cruisers, HMS Falmouth and HMS Nottingham were sunk by U-boats.
August 22
The Morogoro Region of Kilosa in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) was captured by British forces.
August 23
The German blockade-breaking cargo submarine Deutschland returned to Bremerhaven in Germany.
August 24
In another engagement between the Russian Caucasus army and their Ottoman counterparts, Mush and Bitlis were again taken by Russian forces.
August 25
Russian forces cross the Danube into the Dobrudja to assist Romanian forces.
August 26
Under General Smuts, the city of Morogoro in Tanganyika was taken by British forces.
August 27
Following the Treaty of Bucharest, the Romanian Government ordered mobilisation of their armies and crossed the border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into the much-contested province of Transylvania.
August 28
Germany declared war on Romania and Italy declared war on Germany.
August 29
Brasov in Transylvania was occupied by Romanian forces.
Field-Marshal von Hindenburg succeeded General von Falkenhayn as Chief of the General Staff of the German Field Armies with General von Ludendorff as Chief Quartermaster-General.
August 30
The National Schism, caused by the disagreement on foreign policy between King Constantine I of Greece and revolutionary Eleftherios Venizelos, led to the Venizelist revolt in Salonika.
 
(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/16 10:00 PM

Thank you for the news Fullofit. Always very informative! Good to see you back Carrick. Bolitho is back and flew his first mission today. All went well and he was very careful on landing.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/16 02:30 AM

Guys, I will have our status report on Sunday. I'm still messing with computer issues down here in sunny Guatemala so I haven't really had a chance to fly any.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/16 04:03 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, Rfc
24 Sqn.


2 Sep 1916.


Line Patrol: Arras-St Vaast.
Almost a soild wall of clouds at 2000 meters. Our flight was at 2300 meters and you wouldnt have seen and entire Jasta.
No contact.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/03/16 04:39 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, Rfc
24 Sqn.


September 3. 1916.

Roused out of bed for an early crank, seems there are Hun air machines over the Factories. Up into the pre dawn sky to see Search lights scanning the cloud base at 2000 meters. Our 7 machines went up to 1600 meters and checked the area, but found nothing.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/16 02:19 PM

Here is the latest status report. Thank you guys for being so patient with me and my move. It looks like I've finally gotten everything set up so now I can get back to flying.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/16 05:29 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, Rfc.
24 Sqn
West Bertangles

Sept 4, 1916.


Mission: AF attack
B Flt: 4 A/C Strike
A Flt: 3 A/c Cover

Remarks: B flight made a shallow diving attackfiring at the parked hun machines. I was reloading my 1st Drum when I saw a couple of Fokker Mono planes off to port. Engaged in a twisting fight using and reloading 2 more Drums of ammo finally smoke poured out as my last drum emptied. Headed for home. Later found my claim rejected due to no one seeing a Crash or forced landing.



Posted By: Stache

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/05/16 02:51 PM

Blake Tindale did meet his end recently - was on a fairly routine mission attack a railyard.
The flight arrived over target and began the attack with no enemy in sight.
During the attack, Blake noticed a lone plane far away, but got distracted and lost sight.
A bit later got hit by a single well placed burst, causing the plane to fall out of control.
Never did see his attacker.

I have started up Caleb Moore, flying a Sopwith Strutter with RNAS-5.
Caleb had an interesting transfer flight from England.
Had some majestic, but low hanging clouds during the flight.
Keep flying East-SouthEast hoping to catch sight land but it was just taking a lot longer than expected.
Eventually the coast was made, then the question arose, were the heck is he..

Using Lou's excellent Flanders map, Caleb realized he was a bit far to the north.
Matter of fact he was behind enemy lines and did a quick turn to the southwest.
After that it was easy to locate his new home field.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/05/16 04:07 PM

wave

Stache: Bummer, about losing ur pilot Tindale. Beware of the Hun in the Sun !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/05/16 04:11 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, Rfc.
24 Sqn
West Bertangles

September 5, 1916.

B flight had Escort this morning for 3 BE2,s to bomb an enemy AF. Some how we couldn't fine each other in the clouds so missing the 2 seats the flight flew around the local flying area as Security Patrol. Total Wash out.
Posted By: Stache

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/16 05:07 PM

Caleb Moore - RNAS-5

First Dogfight / Confirmed Kill



Caleb's close call on mission 6
(best viewed full screen - night time mission)
After an uneventful night mission Caleb was in the landing pattern when there was a system failure.
He tried to get down as quick as possible and then just before touch down the engine caught fire.
Still too fast on landing he overran the field, though for sure he had come to a quick end.
But the WOFF gods where kind that night.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/16 09:23 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, Rfc.
24 Sqn
West Bertangles


6 Sept 1916.


Line Patrol:

E/A Sighted: 3

Engaged: 2 Recon types


Remarks: Our 5 a/c were on patrol at 1500 meters, I sighted 3 machines off to the right going in and out of clouds. Fired off 7 rds to alert the flight. As the closest a/c I led the climbing turning attack. Fired off a drum and swung right to reload. Spotted Maj Hawker close to e/a heard firing then saw the e/a spin into the ground. About the same time Cpt Knight got his machine too. I saw it spin in. The e/a Mono plane had turn ed and flew off. The flight landed with 2 lt damaged and 1 a/c missing.




Although I dont know why, I started thinking about flight school.
https://youtu.be/8UlaAHdcRMg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/16 04:59 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, Rfc.
24 Sqn
West Bertangles


Posted as wingman, I flew a High Security Patrol. No Joy.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/16 05:14 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, Rfc.
24 Sqn
West Bertangles



September 8, 1916.



The C.O. sent B Flt's 4 a/c up on a Balloon Burst Mission. As we came upon the target I went up as High Cover (1500 meters) as the other 3 attacked and got the sausage. Then it was home and Tea.


Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/16 10:54 PM

Nice stories and pics Gents!

Sub Flight Lieutenant Bolitho got his promotion today. He also lost his wingman of 30 missions. We were escorting some bombers to the front lines when attacked by the new Fokker biplanes. We were out numbered and I managed to damage one and escape with a few holes in my Nieuport. Arriving back at Furnes I learned My wingman had gone down over no mans land.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/16 12:50 AM

MFair, my German pilot Ahren has been flying with the same wingman for almost a year. I think I might be more scared of losing Manfred than Ahren.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/16 09:22 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, Rfc.
24 Sqn
West Bertangles


September 9,1916.

What a Scrap. Fokkers all over the place with guns aflame . Twists, turns, dives, reversals were the order of the day. Did spot one Hun going down, the a/c was hammered by an A Flight a/c. I fired off over 3 drums and never hit a sausage.


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/16 10:11 PM

Journal Entry: September 9, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Well, I finally met the new Hun machines that everyone has been talking about and to be quite honest, I wasn't impressed. For weeks the lads have been speculating about the new Fokker machines that were supposed to be arriving, and yet, no one had actually seen one of the new scouts. I had the pleasure of bagging one in this morning's sortie and another in the afternoon sortie. As I said, I came away from those encounters unconvinced that the new Fokker is significantly better than the Fokker monoplanes. Granted, two wings are obviously better than one, but it seemed to me that it was considerably under-powered and as far as I could tell, was only armed with one machine gun. Of course, the two pilots that I engaged today could have been inexperienced and unable to maximize the full potential of this new machine, but I remain unconvinced. The Roland, as far as I can tell, is the only machine that gives us Pup pilots a handful. The Roland is a machine that will teach one a very painful lesson if one is not careful. I am certain that the Huns will eventually develop a scout that will test our Pups, but in the meantime, I will continue to enjoy our mastery of the sky.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/16 03:42 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, Rfc.
24 Sqn
West Bertangles


Sept. 10, 1916.

Up and Down No joy Told to pack my kit. Due to the needs of the Service, I was being reassigned to 70 Sqn to fly 2 Seat machines. Sopwiths
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/16 09:42 PM

Carrick, I still think you are the "king of screens". Great shots. Enjoy the 2 seaters.

Banjoman My thoughts are the same on the DII. Even in my Nieuport they are not a match.

Broderick Bolitho had the most hair raising flight of his stay at the front. We were to attack a Hun airfield and I had a hanger smoking and was determined to knock it out. Came in low at ground level to really hammer it. Did I say I got cocky! Pulling up there was a WHAM! Crap!(here the quirky no sound thing after a collision happens) No power I think. Immediatly set down on the field, still moving. Look at instruments. I have power! Pull back on the stick. Barely flying. Land? Fly? What to do? Lets fly home! Oh no! Trees dead ahead. How I cleared them is beyond me. Now a stall is happening. This all happened so fast there was no time to see what kind of damage I had. Finally get in the clear and have to hold full rudder and left aileron to stay level. My right wing is shreds and my left verticle stabilizer looks like a pretzel. If I try to climb the machine starts to stall. Long story short, I made it back over the lines. Note to self. Those who get cocky die!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/16 02:11 AM

Wow, what a story!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/16 01:50 PM

Here is the latest Status report and the latest Honor Roll.



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/16 04:25 PM

reading

MFair: Thanks. I cant claim the Honor, but I do try to take pics during the fight.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/16 05:25 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, RFC
70 Sqn
Fienvillers, Flanders.


11 Sep 1916.

I flew as a spare pilot on a line Patrol . I spotted 2 e/a on the down low passing thru clouds. My flight kept on course so I dove to attack. Great fun, turning among the fully white clouds. I took 8 hits in my kite but got some in return. I had to break off as they went lower and ran towards the trenches. Ammo: Vickers Empty Rear-gun got off 194 rds.



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/16 11:33 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, RFC
70 Sqn
Fienvillers, Flanders.


Sept 12, 1916.

Holy smokes, these Fokker's had 2 wings. We did a Line Patrol at 1500 meters and contacted 3 e/a. A nice little shoot up till one got on my tail couldn't shake him and he hung right where my gunner couldnt shoot him. All I could do was RUN.

Ammo Rpt. Vickers 112 rds fired / Lewis 97 Rds fired No hits.

Sgn RPT. 1 Sopwith 1 1/2 er destroyed. No claims of e/a.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/16 05:11 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, RFC
70 Sqn
Fienvillers, Flanders.

Sept 13, 1916


Another 3 a/c line Patrol with no contact.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/16 09:45 PM

Give them hell Carrick. I'm still flying the Fee and my gunner is having all the fun. Thinking of switching to Strutters.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/16 12:35 AM

2Lt Alfred Keers is finally back in the air...

My mechanics thanked me for burning my DeHavilland so thoroughly. They estimated it saved them thirty-six hours of repair work. The back strain from my two wrecks continued to bother me. At times it was difficult to walk. I slept with a board under my mattress. For the first three days I was ordered to rest and then begin mild stretching exercises.

On 6 May I was sent over to St-Omer, ostensibly to await delivery of a new machine, but in fact to get more hours in on the DH2. I headed over to the depot on after dinner that night. Lieut. Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, the OC Depot, welcomed me back like a long-lost brother and insisted I stand him a gin in the mess to celebrate my commission. There were two DH2s earmarked for 32 Squadron. He assigned me one and said I should treat it as my own machine for a couple of days or until someone came to pick it up. But best of all, he flew the other alongside me. We practised dead-stick landings, S-turns, and spin recovery. The DH2 had a reputation for spinning its pilots into the ground, but it was actually quite simple to get it out of a spin as long as you had a bit of altitude. Patrick then led me in games of follow-the-leader. He threw his machine all over the sky. I soon learned that I’d been far too light on the rudder. This aeroplane needs a good boot on the rudder bar to start a good turn. Aileron can wait. The thing is light and easy to turn, as long as you keep your speed up.

My two days were well-spent. By the time I my replacement machine arrived from England, I’d regained my confidence. Now all I had to do was learn to shoot in the thing. But my plans for some extensive practice shooting were dashed by the weather. It rained every day for a week.

Finally, on 16 May 1916, I was added once more to the duty board. To my delight, I was assigned to lead a three-aircraft raid on the Hun aerodrome at Lille. There was heavy cloud from 7000 to 9500 feet. I led the fellows through it and emerged into glorious sunshine, the first I’d seen in a long while. We followed a bearing southeast for twenty-five minutes, which should have placed us over the Lys river. When I finally found a break in the clouds, no river could be seen. We descended and continued southeast. At 3000 feet I made out the smoke from a thousand chimneys off to the east. We had nearly overshot Lille!

Turning north and following the lines, I at last saw the line of hangars at our target aerodrome. I fired a green flare, our attack signal, and made a firing pass over the hangar. Sergeants Thomas and Long followed close behind. I turned for a second run, emptying my drum and pulling up only when my wheels skimmed the rooftops of the Hun buildings.

Suddenly there were three loud smacking sounds. Two holes appeared in the instrument panel in front of me and there was a gash in the arm of my leather flying-suit. I regained height and checked my instruments. The LeRhône continued steadily. I fired a red flare to order the flight to regroup. The scene we left behind was rewarding. We saw an overturned tender and a hangar and fuel dump on fire.

We made for home. I was looking forward to our second, real breakfast when we got back to Abeele. This time I cleared the treetops and cut the engine only when nearly on the ground and down to 50 m.p.h.

As I dismounted I noticed for the first time that the mechanics has stencilled a small yellow arrow on the side of the DeHavilland's nacelle. It pointed upwards and beneath it were stencilled the words, "This end up. Handle with care."




"This time I cleared the treetops..."

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/16 04:43 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, RFC
70 Sqn
Fienvillers, Flanders.


14 Sep 1916.

Patrol up to Messines= No Joy.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/16 07:58 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, RFC
70 Sqn
Fienvillers, Flanders.

Sept 15 1916.

Security Patrol: Same O no joy.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/16 02:30 AM

Alfred Keers is on a hot streak...dance

Now that the winter was over, the great military mind that plans such things thought we might enjoy moving out of our tents and into huts. A row of Nissen huts was erected, with officers billeted at one end and sergeant-pilots at the other. 29 Squadron had a surfeit of sergeant-pilots. There were only four flying officers other than the major: me, Lieutenant Tom Pillings, and Second Lieutenants Rick Bolster and Rob Dinton. We all shared a single Nissen.

Pillings was from Derbyshire, a cherub-faced, short fellow with a silly sense of humour. He could play the piano. Rick was the son of a station master in Dorset. He claimed to know ninety-nine ways to make love, but I don’t believe he knew any women. He should make a fine consultant one day. Rob Dinton was our resident toff, a Cambridge student who vowed it his life’s work to make teach me the works of Shakespeare and Milton. I vowed to make it my life’s work to frustrate his efforts. Our typical conversations sounded like this:

Dinton: “Shakespeare and Milton. You absolutely must know them, Keers.”

Me: “Shakespeare and Milton...aren’t they the lot that did that funny bit about the vicar and the flower girl and opened for Vesta Tilley at the Royal Variety last year?”

Let me describe our home at Abeele. A dirt road ran along the south end of the field where our huts were built. Every night vehicles, waggons, and men plodded along it going to or from Ypres, just a short way to the east of us. To the north of our huts lay a cluster of farm buildings. Our squadron office was set up in the main house and the officers’ mess in an outbuilding. Beyond the farm were a number of sheds, used mainly for vehicles and equipment storage. Our gunnery officer, Captain Bowlby, had done himself an office and billet in one of them. He’d fitted it out with all manner of buckshee furniture and ruled over his little kingdom like a tin god on his own island.

The hangars and landing ground were just west of all this, in a long field across a north-south dirt lane. All in all, Abeele was a comfortable spot even if the guns were a bit too close for sound sleeping. Looking east on a clear day, you could see the Hun balloon lines from the aerodrome.

17 and 18 May 1916 offered a bit of adventure. I was up twice each day, and on all four occasions, Major Dawes had me leading a three-aircraft patrol. On the morning of the 17th we shot up another rail siding near Lille. I flew so low I rolled the wheels of my DH2 on the top of a Hun railway carriage! On our return, I patrolled north through deepest Hunland, seeing nothing. We spotted a pair of two-seaters on our way back, Aviatiks or Albatros types, but we gave up the chase as fuel was getting low.

In the afternoon we escorted a pair of naval Sopwith Strutters to bomb the enemy aerodrome at Ghistelles. Things got interesting. Three Fokkers dived on the Strutters, obviously not noticing our DeHavillands perched above them. We charged to the rescue, each picking our target. My opening shots obviously hit the engine of the Fokker I’d selected, for the machine’s propeller stopped and it drifted down and turned over in a field. We were now very low down. A second Fokker tried to get behind me, but I gave him the slip and dropped behind and below him. He lost me and made the mistake of flying straight for a few seconds too long. I popped up on his tail and fired until the machine tumbled out of the sky. Sergeant Thomas was right behind me and saw the whole thing. The two Huns I’d downed in less than five minutes brought my official tally up to six kills! I began to feel like a bit of a star turn.

The 18th began with an attack on the German balloon line near Passchendaele. It was cloudy and I became unsure whether the first balloon we spotted was our assigned target. We attacked it anyway. I emptied a drum into it without result, but Sergeant Long flamed it. Then we turned north and spotted another gasbag. As I was well ahead of the others I got two passes at it and set it alight before the others arrived. Kill number seven!

We were up again in the afternoon, an uneventful escort of a group of Fees down to Lille. The highlight of the week was a binge in my honour that evening. I have a vague recollection of playing rugby in the mess with a cabbage. It will take a couple of days’ pay from each of us to replace the furniture we destroyed.


"My opening shots obviously hit the engine of the Fokker I’d selected, for the machine’s propeller stopped and it drifted down and turned over in a field."


"I popped up on his tail and fired until the machine tumbled out of the sky."


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/16 08:11 PM

popcorn
Fullofit: The 1 1/2 ers are a good bet in 1916. Easy fly when compareed to the DH2. Come on down !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/16 08:22 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, RFC
70 Sqn
Fienvillers, Flanders.

Sept 16, 1916.

Rail Yard near Peronne.

A Flt: 3 a/c 2nd wave.
B Flt: 4 a/c 1st Attack Wave.

Arm: Full machine gun ammo, + 4 Bombs on each a/c.

Remarks: a rough one, we caught Cannon fire, not very accurate, from the NML all the way to target. As tail end charlie spotted 2 Hits near rail shed all others missed. A Flt attacked low, no hits.
Sqn Rept: A Flt 3 missing. B Flt: 2 lt damaged.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/16 07:13 PM

Here is the latest status report.



Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/16 02:47 PM

Thanks for the Chart BanjoMan. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/16 08:25 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, RFC
70 Sqn
Fienvillers, Flanders.


Sept 19, 1916.

Sent out to Bombard an enemy A.F.

Location: Ugny

B Flt: 4 machines
Load: 4 0 lb bombs EA.

Remarks: Good Mission, alot of hits and the fuel dump. The flight bomb High and I bombed low. In addition to 2 Machine gun low level attacks.

Ammo Rpt: 84 Rds Vickers + 46 rds Lewis.





Sgn Rpt: 2 a/c lt damage.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/16 12:40 AM

Banjoman, thank you for keeping us all up to date. Hope you're getting everything sorted out after your big move. Best wishes!

Here is Alfred Keers' latest report...

The next few days saw generally fair weather and we flew morning and afternoon, usually in flights of three. On the morning of 19 May 1916 I went with Sgt Noakes and Sgt Thomas to attack a Hun balloon west of Lille. I saw it first and led the attack, flaming the balloon before the others had a chance to join in. The Hun observer used a parachute to escape. This became my eight confirmed kill. As we regrouped two enemy two-seaters passed us by. We gave chase and took some long shots at them, enough to put the wind up them properly. They put down their noses and ran for the Hun aerodrome at Houplin.

The follow day was a shock. The morning patrol had us attacking a rail yard north of Lille. We went with A Flight and between the two flights, we shot up the place thoroughly. The ground fire was intense and I landed with a number of holes in my machine, including a fairly close grouping just behind my seat. Sergeant Thomas, however, did not return. Neither Sgt Noakes nor I saw what happened to him. Also, A flight returned before lunch without Rob Dinton. He took a direct hit from Archie. We sorted his kit for packing in the afternoon. Pillings and Bolster decided that he would want me to have his Everyman’s Library volume of Shakespeare’s comedies. I have resolved to read the damn thing before I go home on leave.

I miss Rob. Our little hut is darker and colder. I have never known anyone like him to be so friendly and approachable. If back home he’d wandered through the engine shops of the Seaham Harbour Dock Company, I’d have joined with the lads in making his upper-crust life miserable. But here at the front he was just one of us, or perhaps I was one of them. It just doesn’t matter like it does at home. He was a softer man than any I’d known, yet he flew without fear. His education had cost his father thousands of pounds, I’m sure. Yet a few bits of German tin and a couple of ounces of powder had erased him from the world of men. The world is less without him.

We have been reading of the insurrection in Dublin and the trials there. Our Irish among the ORs generally express concern that their service in France will be devalued by the misguided idealists back home. It is a complicated thing for them, and Major Dawes cautioned us to be reserved if asked about the uprising. It seems like a simple case of treachery to me, but that’s why I’m not in politics.

On the morning of 21 May we attacked the balloon line near Menen. I attacked two of them and downed one, but I’d separated from Noakes and it was just the two of us, so my claim remains pending. That afternoon we were off for an airfield attack near Lille, but I dropped out over Armentieres with a dud engine. It quit entirely as I crossed back over our lines and I put it down in a farm field outside the village of Steenwerke, just getting over one fence and just stopping before crashing into another.


"...I put it down in a farm field outside the village of Steenwerke, just getting over one fence and just stopping before crashing into another."
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/16 07:49 AM

Good to hear from you, Banjoman! It must have been a real big change for you to move to another country. I hope all goes well! smile

I always read and enjoy the reports here. Sadly I haven't had the time to keep actively flying two DID pilots. The older DID is now in such a critical phase that I have devoted my flying hours to it. But I hope to continue this one too sooner or later.

Nice to see Alfred has now stopped wrecking his machines on landing. biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/16 03:28 AM

Clever Saville
Sgt, RFC
70 Sqn
Fienvillers, Flanders.


Sept 20, 1916.


On the Roster for a Rail attack,but didnt make it. Power loss after take off, Full power but she ran like it was 50 % so aborted and RTB cutting off motor and doing the Dead Stick.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/16 12:35 AM

Alfred Keers's last few days started with good news and ended quietly...

The evening of 21 May 1916 was memorable. That expression normally denotes that one remembers many things about the time. In my case it is quite the opposite. Oh, it started off well enough. My crate was downed in a field twenty miles away at three in the afternoon and it took until nearly eight o’clock to get the thing airborne again. I’d got myself a ride into Armentieres while the recovery team slaved away. There is a restaurant there – the “Au Boeuf” on the Rue de Lille – that some of the lads had spoken of. My grimy leather flying coat and oil-stained face was a nice contrast to the staff wallahs at the next table. Madame served up a fine but mysterious sausage with eggs and potatoes, all washed down with dark beer. The front room was crowded (the back had separate rooms so the rest of us wouldn’t have to put up with the red tabs) and two New Zealand subalterns shared a table with me. They were fine fellows, I believe, for I understood about every third word they spoke. I returned to my machine around seven and we got it off the ground a half-hour later, getting back to Abeele just before dark.

I washed quickly and wandered over to the Mess, where I was met with a loud cheer. Major Dawes stood on a chair and announced that I’d been promoted Lieutenant and would finally earn enough to buy a tunic that fit properly. And then he announced that the balloon I’d downed yesterday had been confirmed, bringing my official score up to nine, quite possibly the highest score of all living British pilots now in France.

That’s when the champagne began. And there was whiskey. And beer. Things became vague quickly. I awoke around three in the morning to the rumble of guns in my ears and a light rain on my face; I found myself draped over a pile of sandbags outside the Nissen. My tunic, breeches, and boots were gone – Pillings and Bolster had pulled them off me before I ruined them, as I seemed to have ruined my singlet and pants – adorned with foul-smelling bits of “Au Boeuf” sausage. I half-crawled to my bed and prayed for the room to stop spinning.

I was scrubbed from the earliest patrol and assigned along with Sergeant Long to patrol the Hun lines near Bethune. We attacked two observation aeroplanes, one of which hit my fuel line, so once again I made an unscheduled stop, this time at the field at La Gorgue.

In the afternoon of 22 May we patrolled our own lines as far south as the Lys River, but saw nothing of the enemy. Pillings was forced to land in German territory when his engine failed. A strong headwind made any thought of getting home impossible. We are confident of his safe landing but are waiting to hear a confirmation that he is all right.

On 23 May the rain started and continued without stop for the next two days. I regained my appetite, got a proper bath in town, and caught up on my letter-writing.


"...once again I made an unscheduled stop, this time at the field at La Gorgue."
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/16 12:49 PM

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/16 02:03 PM

Clever Saville
Sgt, RFC
70 Sqn
Fienvillers, Flanders.

Sept 23, 1916.


Up for a Flight then the Motor went U/s. I made a landing on a road.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/16 10:17 PM

Journal Entry: September 23, 1916
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Had a rather interesting engagement this morning. We had been hearing quite a lot of rumors and speculation concerning the Albatros a new Hun machine that has begun to be deployed in the Hun scout squadrons. Since I first heard of this machine I had wanted to have a go at one of them to see how they measure up to our Pups. This morning I got my chance and the fact that I'm writing this should tell you that our Pups are still supreme.

We were tasked with escorting three Strutters over to the Passchendaele area for a bit of recon work. We had just arrived in the area when I saw three Hun machines to our northeast and flying below us. They were of a size and shape that I had never seen before and so I drifted closer and determined that these must be the brand new Albatroses that we had heard so much about. I signaled Richard and down we went. The Huns didn't see us until we were almost upon them and in their panic one collided with another and plunged earthward plummeting smoke. That evened the odds and the engagement began in earnest. I can't speak for Richard but I had no difficulty getting on the tail of my opponent. After a couple of bursts, I saw the Hun slump forward and the machine immediately started spinning. I quickly spotted Richard just as he was dispatching his Hun. I would imagine the Albatros is a more powerful machine than our Pups, but as far as maneuverability it appears to be rather clumsy. I realize that I can not build tactics based upon one engagement, but I will start watching to learn how best to defeat this new Hun machine. I can definitely say that as today the Roland is still the toughest Hun nut to crack.



Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/16 11:53 PM

Today the orders took us over enemy airfield. When we reached it, a lone Fokker came to greet us. My gunner/observer took aim and sent a burst his way to say hello. The Hun dove down and never recovered. He crashed between 2 hangars taking them both out. When we finally stopped leaning over the side of the nacelle of our Fee to watch what has just happened, we looked at each other in disbelief and the gunner grinned and yelled to me: "BONUS!". We returned home without any further incidents.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/16 03:03 AM

Clever Saville
Sgt, RFC
70 Sqn
Fienvillers, Flanders.

D E C E A S E D due to being STUPID.


Went up on the 24th and left the formation to attack 2 white colored 2 seats. The 2 rear gunners tore me up. I Should have just stayed with the formation.



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/16 09:24 PM

Here is the latest status report. Carrick58, make sure you log Clever's demise so that I can get it into the report and get him in the Honor Roll.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/16 05:37 PM

Don't feel bad Carrick, Bolitho died in a fiery fireball. Direct hit from Archie I do believe. Charles Chamberlain will be taking to the skies shortly.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/16 09:46 PM

wave

Bummer !
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/27/16 03:27 AM

MFair, Carrick. Sorry to hear about your pilots. There is still a lot of alphabet left wave

Alfred Keers had a good week...

The weather has finally turned, shaking off the chill of early spring. The sun has real warmth now and I can see some beauty in the featureless landscape of Flanders. Scarlet poppies bloom in every field and the trees seem to open all at once. Their leaves are uniform pale green.

We flew twice every day this week. On 26 May we escorted a BE2 over the Hun lines in the north. The two-seater patrolled along the lines for an age, ranging our guns on one Hun position after the other. It had just turned west and begun to reel in its wireless antenna when Sergeant Long fired a flare. Two Fokkers were approaching from the southwest. The Huns must not have noticed us because as soon as we approached they broke for home. One got away quickly, but I was able to chase the other down to tree-top level and empty a drum into it. It wobbled and caught fire, crashing heavily into a tree stump in the shattered landscape below. Sergeant Long was able to confirm the kill, which brought my score to ten.

My eleventh official kill came the next morning. We were ordered to attack the Hun balloon line in the north, near the Channel coast. I bagged one and Sergeant Noakes another, and we were away home before the Huns could react.

That afternoon we flew an offensive patrol over the Vimy sector. Three Fokkers dived on us and would have surprised us but for Sergeant Noakes’s vigilance. Our fight was brief and confusing. I fired at two different Huns, and then the sky was empty. I circled, looking for the others, and saw an aircraft climbing towards the east. I gave chase and was soon able to identify a lone Fokker, painted a dark grey or perhaps green. I stalked him for fifteen minutes. We flew southeast towards Houplin, and were almost over that Hun aerodrome before I was finally close enough and comfortably under the tail of the Fokker. The first burst did damage, for the Fokker tumbled into a flat spin. But the pilot pulled out of the spin at a thousand feet and attempted to come about for a landing. I dived on him and fired again, and the enemy machine fell onto the aerodrome, destroying both the Fokker and a hanger! Chased by a host of machine guns, I zigzagged away towards home. Unfortunately there was no way to confirm the kill.

The rest of the week was uneventful, except that I finally got a letter from my sister Eliza. Unlike Rosetta, who wrote twice weekly with all the gossip about a shell factory full of women, Eliza had barely written. She’d been in service and her long days and Spartan accommodations lacked the material for good letters, she claimed. But now she wrote to tell me that Seaham Hall had been given over by Lord Londonderry as a hospital and the family Eliza worked for had given her permission to work as a VAD nurse twice a week. She was quite thrilled about this, and to read her letter, you’d have thought her a true suffragette!

The fields about our aerodrome are inhabited by several battalions of Canadians. They are recently arrived and terribly keen. On Sunday, 28 May, I was assigned along with Lieut Oliver Black (newly attached to us from England) to attend the Canadian 10th Battalion’s church parade. We had several of their officers in the mess that night and have been invited to participate in a sports day, although flying may make that impossible unless the weather turns bad again.


"It wobbled and caught fire, crashing heavily into a tree stump in the shattered landscape below."


"I was assigned along with Lieut Oliver Black ... to attend the Canadian 10th Battalion’s church parade."
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/16 09:07 PM

Oh yes! Bernard Sorelle has finally been allocated Nieuport 17! In his excitement he failed to notice that this is the Lewis version with the gun still on the top wing and the pitiful amount of ammo. Oh well, at least he'll look good in the squadron's new paint job.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/16 04:13 PM

thumbsup

Looking good while doing it is a pilots requirement. yep
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/16 04:26 PM

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/16 05:58 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
9 Sqn
Flanders

1 Oct 1916.


I say, bit of a disappointment. Flying School said we were to have the latest machines,but I am to fly the same type I trained on a BE2. Posted to the afternoon flight and saw some Huns, but no results.


Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/16 09:11 PM

News of the World for the month of May - Intrepid Fliers:

May 1
The leaders of the rebellion in Ireland surrendered to British forces.
Reichstag member Karl Liebknecht was arrested following a pacifist demonstration.
May 3
Patrick Pearse and two other Irish rebel leaders were executed by a British firing squad.
German forces began an artillery bombardment of Hill 304, northwest of Verdun.
May 4
The German Government pledged to the United States that they would not attack merchant ships without warning.
May 5
The German airship LZ85 was downed by British guns at Salonika.
German forces gained a foothold on Hill 304 at Verdun.
May 7 The verdict of the Court Martial was communicated to Irish rebel, Sean Heuston, that he had been sentenced to death and was to be shot at dawn the following morning.
May 8
White Star steamship SS Cymric was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 in the Atlantic Ocean.
May 9
The British and French Governments concluded the Sykes-Picot agreement regarding the eventual partition of Asia Minor. The agreement took its name from its negotiators, Sir Mark Sykes of Britain and Francois Georges-Picot of France.
May 10
Lord Wimborne resigned as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.
May 11
A German attack west of Vaux Pond was repulsed during the Battle of Verdun.
May 12
Irish republican and socialist leader James Connolly was executed by a British firing squad because of his role in the Easter Rising.
May 14
An Austrian offensive against Italy began with an artillery barrage in the province of Trentino.
May 15
In northern Mesopotamia Russian forces occupied Rowanduz.
The Allies began a blockade of the Hejaz coast to assist the Arab revolt under Sharif Hussein bin Ali, Emir of Mecca.
May 16
The House of Commons passed an extension to the Military Service Act bringing married men into the scope for conscription.
Austrian forces captured the Italian trenches at Soglio d'AspiO.
May 17
Earl Curzon of Kedlesron was appointed as President of the Air Board in Great Britain.
May 18
Austrian forces captured Zugna Torta and Unz from Italy.
May 19
The Austrian offensive stalled in the Trentino when Italian troops held Monte Pasubio but the Italians then retreated from Monte Toraro and Monte Campolon.
May 20
German forces attacked Le Mort Homme and captured the summit of Hill 295 at Verdun.
May 21
Adolf Tortilowicz von Batocki-Friebe was appointed president of the newly created German food control board.
May 22
French forces launched an assault and gained a foothold in Fort Douaumont at Verdun.
May 23
British troops occupied the capital city of El Fasher in Darfur.
May 25
The Second Military Service Bill became law in Great Britain.
May 26
German and Bulgarian forces occupied Fort Rupel on the Greek border with Macedonia.
May 27
US President Wilson proposed a "universal association of nations" to settle future disputes.
May 28
German forces bombarded the British line between La Bassee Canal and Arras on the Western Front.
May 29
The first Despatch of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief of the British Armies in France and Flanders, was printed in the London Gazette. It covered the fighting at the Bluff, St Eloi and other actions of early 1916.
May 31
The Battle of Jutland began between Britain's Grand Fleet and Germany's Hochseeflotte in the North Sea.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/16 09:12 PM

News of the World for the month of September - Warbirds Rising:

September 1
Bulgaria declared war on Romania.
The British and Russian Governments concluded the "Sykes-Picot" agreement for the eventual partition of Asia Minor.
Fourteen Zeppelins raided England dropping bombs from Gravesend, east of London, to Peterborough. One Zeppelin, Schutte-Lanz S.L. 11, was shot down over London by a British airplane.
September 3
The British advanced at Guillemont and the French captured Foret; at the same time the Battle of Delville Wood ended with a tactical victory for the Allies.
September 4
Dar-es-Salaam in German East Africa was surrendered to British forces.
September 5
British troops captured Leuze Wood during the Battle of Guillemont.
September 6
The Battle of Guillemont ended.
September 7
The Battle of Kisaki took place between German and South African forces near the town of Kisaki during the East African campaign.
September 8
The Battle of Kisaki ended in a German victory.
September 9
In the intermediate phase of the Battle of the Somme, British troops captured the German held village of Ginchy, a strategically important post at the Battle of Ginchy.
September 10
French and Serbian forces broke out of Thessaloniki, advancing north on the Macedonian Front.
September 11
Greek Prime Minister Alexandros Zaimis tendered his resignation.
September 12
The Battle of Kajmakcalan began in the foothills of Mount Kajmakcalan on the Macedonian Front between Serbian and Bulgarian soldiers.
September 14
Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces again fought each other along the Isonzo River as the Seventh Battle of the Isonzo began.
September 15
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette saw the first deployment of British armoured tanks when the British Fourth Army launched a large scale offensive on the Somme. The battle signified the start of the third stage of the Somme Offensive.
September 16
Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos replaced Alexandros Zaimis as Prime Minister of Greece.
September 18
The Seventh Battle of the Isonzo ended. Italian troops under the command of Field Marshall Luigi Cadorna succeeded in wearing away at Austro-Hungarian resources, both in terms of manpower and in crucial artillery availability.
September 19
Belgian forces captured Tabora, the capital city of German East Africa.
Allied forces began a naval blockade of the Greek Macedonian Coast between the Rivers Struma and River Mesta.
September 20
The Brusilov Offensive ended with a decisive Russian victory.
September 22
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette ended; the strategic objective of a breakthrough had not been achieved although tactical gains had been made with the capture of the villages of Martinpuich, Courcelette and Flers.
September 23
Twelve Zeppelins bombed London and the English East Coast. Two of the invading aircraft were brought down.
September 24
French aircraft bombed the Krupp munitions works at Essen in Germany.
September 25
The Battle of Morval began with an attack by the British Fourth Army on the German held villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs.
September 26
The Battle of Thiepval Ridge began with the aim of building on the Fourth Army attack at Morval 24 hours earlier.
September 28
The Battles of Morval and Thiepval Ridge both ended with victories for Allied forces.
September 29
Eleftherios Venizelos and Admiral Condouriotis announced the formation of a new Greek Provisional Government in Crete, in opposition to government in Athens.
September 30
Serbian forces captured the eastern and western peaks of Mount Kajmakcalan as the Battle of Kajmakcalan came to an end.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/16 02:46 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
9 Sqn
Flanders

Oct 2, 1916.

A and B flights were sent out on a photo ops and ran into the Huns. Over NML a flight of Halb attacked our A flight 2 a/c so I went back to help. My gunner got off 4 shots then took a bullet from the e/a on our tail. Fish tailed, spun, and did a Blue max in between the trees, I managed to get back.




The Sqn lost 2 BE2's that day.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/16 10:57 PM

Here's the latest status report, sorry for the delay.

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/16 08:54 PM

Oh....I got promoted to 2ndLt..
Temporary Gentleman I am.
Also means 1 month off to Blighty to learn how to be a Gentleman.
chin chin and all that stuff till 22 Oct.1916
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/16 10:08 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
9 Sqn
Flanders

Oct 3, 1916

Returned from morning Arty Spot only to find me bags packed seems That I am Reassigned to 19 Sqn Rfc. Stiff upper lip and have a go in Scouts, I will be flying a BE 12. They say its the finest ever designed and a flying wonder.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/16 10:10 PM

Interesting. One week has not even passed and Bernard gets a new machine. This time the real N17, with real Vickers and plenty of ammo. Time to go to work.





More ammo means more victims.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/04/16 01:32 AM

Fullofit, I fear Bernard might be a shooting star. "Slow and easy wins the race", says the tortoise. biggrin
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/04/16 03:37 AM

Fullofit, great photos. Carrick, best of luck surviving with the BE2. And thank you Banjoman for keeping up with the stats.

Alfred Keers has had an eventful week...


Dearest Ma and Da,

What a cracker of a week this has been! Since my last letter I’ve bagged four more Huns and got another promotion. Tomorrow I’m off to a new squadron with a topping new machine – can’t say much about it, I’m afraid...


I looked down at the paper and wondered how I’d put the thrills and laughs and terrors of the past few days into words that my dear parents would understand. The mundane world they lived in – bleak rows of pitmen’s houses on hills overlooking the North Sea – it was a world away from all this.

29 May 1916 saw me on a distant offensive patrol to Houplin. We chased two Aviatiks away from crossing the lines.

Then the next day we attacked a balloon and were jumped by several Fokkers. Sgt Long got the balloon and one of the Huns. My machine was shot up a bit and I put holes in a Hun, but could claim nothing. That afternoon we saw two more two-seaters, possibly the same two Aviatiks from the day before, for we saw them in the same place. We sent them running.

On 31 May I was up twice again, leading B Flight. We escorted two Fees to Ghistelles up north, and were engaged by three Huns. I downed a Fokker, but was well separated from the others so it remained unwitnessed and unconfirmed. But in the afternoon we took some Fees from another squadron south to Loos. We saw Huns everywhere, but the EAs did not engage us. We took our Fees back over the lines, and then we went hunting. Northwest of Lille we saw three Fokkers and dived on them. I got mine on the first pass and Blackie (Lieut Black) saw it go down. Number 12 for me.

June arrived with a glorious, cloudless, warm day. The morning had us over Ghistelles again and I stalked and downed a two-seater, but it remained only a “driven down.” In the afternoon we escorted some BE2s over the lines, seeing nothing.

That night we read of a huge naval action in which the Grand Fleet put the chase to the Huns. Perhaps the war will be over sooner than expected.

On 2 June we attacked a balloon near Lille. Sgt Long got the balloon. I downed two Fokkers of three who tried to put the jump on us, but only one was confirmed, the other being classified only as driven down. Official count is now 13. In the afternoon we chased some two-seaters. One of them had a very stout gunner, who damaged my controls. I put down in a field up north and waited until late that night for the repair and recovery team.

Then, on the morning of 3 June, life got interesting. We were dispatched to shoot up ground targets near Lille. I spotted a train on a siding and signalled the attack. Blackie and Sgt Long joined in. What a show! There poor railway Huns were running in all directions. One of the carriages must have been carrying something highly inflammable, for we created quite a pyrotechnic display.

We had attacked from the south, and as I pulled up I noticed specks dancing in the sky low over Rekkem. I signalled for the others to follow and climbed to 2000 feet. As I approached I saw two DH2 being harried by three or four Fokkers. I threw my machine into the middle of the melee and picked a Hun. It did not take long to get behind him and I fired from less than 50 yards. The Hun tumbled over and fell into a field. I caught a fleeting glance at one of the other DH2s. It was Sgt Noakes, who was assigned to A Flight that morning. He had a Hun on his tail and I scared him off.

But by now three more Fokkers had joined the fight. Blackie and Long were engaged farther south, and I was here over Rekkem with three Huns all to myself at low altitude. “Just don’t let anyone get behind,” I kept telling myself. Several times I came close to stalling as I pulled the poor machine around and around, first one way and then the other. There was one particular Hun who gave me a chance at a few fleeting shots. Finally he broke for home. Then more Fokkers arrived.

For about five minutes it was five to one. Several times the enemy machines holed mine. On occasion I got a quick burst at one, then another. After nearly ten more minutes one of the Huns flattened out momentarily. I saw the pilot leaning over the breech of his machine gun. In seconds I was directly on his tail, probably only ten yards away. I fired perhaps fifteen rounds and the Hun’s machine lurched and fell spinning to earth. I turned to meet the other Fokkers, but they had had enough and were heading northeast. All alone, I climbed towards our lines.

About ten seconds after I began the westward climb there was a massive blast. My DH2 was flung forward. Strips of torn fabric purred in the wind, and I noticed the engine sounded a little rough. I focused on climbing without losing a great deal of speed. All I wanted was to see our lines pass beneath me. The machine would not stay level without left aileron and a bit of rudder. Then the engine coughed and died. I picked out the first green field past the lines. There was just enough height to put the machine down, threading my way between trees on the approach.

I returned to Abeele late in the afternoon, my machine following in pieces on a truck. As soon as I arrived, Major Dawes drew me into his office.

“How many Huns today, Keers?” he began.

“Two sir, both Fokkers. I saw both hit the ground,” I replied.

“Indeed. Well, you’ll be please to know that Sergeant Noakes said he owed his life to you today. And he saw your first Hun. Black said he saw a second crash in your area as he headed home. Both will be confirmed, Keers. That brings you up to fifteen.”

“Thank you sir,” I said. This was a far cry from a few week ago when all I destroyed were DeHavillands. But then the big news came.

Major Dawes shook my hand. “Congratulations on running your score to fifteen. You should know, Keers, that I’ve put you in for a significant decoration for today’s work. Afraid that’s all I can say for the moment. Oh, and you’ve been awarded the MC.”

I was stunned. If I’d already got the MC, the significant award had to be the DSO. I wondered.

“But that’s not all,” the Major continued, “because you’ve also been requested by the OC at 70 squadron to transfer over as a flight commander.”

I hadn’t heard of 70 Squadron, and was informed that their first flight had just arrived in France, flying over last week. The next flight was due tomorrow. They were flying the new Sopwith two-seater scout type, which the RFC had acquired from the RNAS in anticipation of the summer’s big push. Becoming a flight commander would also mean a captaincy.

The binge that night was modest, as I had the early show in the morning and it was already eight-thirty. On 4 June I was up twice, my last flights with 29 Squadron. Both were offensive patrols. We saw nothing in the morning, and in the afternoon we got into a furious but inconclusive scrap with a group of Fokkers.

Then it was time to pack.


"It did not take long to get behind him and I fired from less than 50 yards. The Hun tumbled over and fell into a field."
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/04/16 03:53 PM

wave

Thanks all.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/04/16 04:02 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
19 Sqn
Flanders


Oct 4, 1916.


I will never believe any stories about how great my new bus can fly. Its still a BE that's modified. My Kite gets up to 105 KM/H and that's it. My section had its hands full fighting a 2 Seat's near loos. Finally, our 3 a/c managed to force one down. Fired off 106 rds all at long range just couldn't get very close.



Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/04/16 10:55 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Fullofit, I fear Bernard might be a shooting star. "Slow and easy wins the race", says the tortoise. biggrin

Banjoman, easy for the tortoise to say that. It has a hard shell. All this butterfly has are fragile lower wings ... and a stinger. copter
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/04/16 11:00 PM

Raine, looks like we're going to be in the same squad. Bruce put in for transfer to 70 RFC earlier and is waiting for his orders to come through. He'll see Alfred on the field once he gets there. salute
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/16 11:35 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
19 Sqn
Flanders

Oct 5, 1916.


Up and down in the Rain swept skies. No Contact
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/16 04:18 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
19 Sqn
Flanders


Oct 6, 1916.

Pulled duty as Escort and engaged 3 Monoplanes. Good little shoot em up except at the beginning as my wingman almost Rammed me going for the Hun. I got far away from him and was able to swoop down on on by its lonesome. No problem to comfirm the E/a as he lite up the sky for miles.


Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/16 03:54 PM

Fullofit, I'm looking forward to seeing you in 70 Squadron. Flying the Strutter in mid-1916 is still fun. 70 had the highest casualty rate in the RFC by year's end, though. I hope I get a promotion and transfer before then.

Carrick, good job getting a kill flying that bathtub!

Alfred Keers joins a new squadron and meets an old friend...

The tender left me at the edge of an orchard just outside a low, drab village with a lovely church. This was my new home. 70 Squadron shared a field with 29 Squadron, flying Martynsides. A half-mile farther out of the village there was a sprawl of hangars and shops – the No 2 Aircraft Depot at Candas. This place handled the supply of pilots, parts, and equipment into the more southerly located squadrons along the Somme valley.

I knew nothing about 70 Squadron other than that they had just arrived in France and were flying the new Sopwith two-seater scout, so it was a shock when, still only ten paces from the roadside, I heard a familiar voice.

“Keers, you bloody terror, have to come to smash up our new buses?” It was Bill Kennedy-Cochrane-Patrick, my flying mentor from the early days at St-Omer (was it really only two months ago). I was embarrassed to discover that I now outranked him. Patrick was embarrassed too, partially because I outranked him, and partially because he was standing absolutely starkers in a canvas bathtub in the middle of the orchard. “And a captain? Good God, you must have caught Trenchard sleeping with a duck. How did you manage that?”

“Patrick, nice to see how much I outrank you,” I said with a wink, and he sat back down in the tub.

Once he was dried off and dressed, Patrick showed me around. The squadron was under canvas. Even the mess was a large sectional tent with a wooden floor and a furnished anteroom. I sat down with the CO, Major George Lawrence. He had been in France since September 1915 and had distinguished himself on Farmans. He claimed to hold the RFC record for most Hun bullet holes in a machine in a single mission, something in excess of three hundred! The Major explained that since his squadron had been equipped with the best machine then in service, it was his aim to make it a squadron of committed Hun-getters. He saw me as just the man to lead one of his flights.

I wanted to tell him that my Hun-getting was not the product of any great blood-lust. Rather it was the by-product of flying buses that were too slow to run away. I now relished the idea of flying a machine that could run away at will (and had a rear-firing gun to warn the nasty Huns away while I ran from them). Instead I remained silent. The Major told me to get airborne and enjoy the hunt.

I found my tent and dropped my kit. The other two beds were empty, as A Flight’s commander had not yet been named, and C Flight was still in England facing delay after delay in getting its aircraft. I wandered over to B Flight’s hangar and introduced myself to the ack emmas.

The Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter was a wonderful machine. It mounted a powerful Clerget rotary engine and was equipped with a forward-firing Vickers gun. A Vickers-Champion synchronising gear kept it from shooting off its propeller. The AM1 said it seemed to work most of the time. The observer had a Lewis gun. My machine’s Lewis was mounted on a horrid contraption. The AM1 referred to it as a Jabberwock and told me they were indenting for the far superior Scarff mountings. Several of the other machines already had Scarffs. My instinct for survival said to use my rank to demand an exchange; it would be unpopular, but it was my hide at risk. On the other hand, I needed to make a decent first impression so I suppressed the survival instinct and left the Jabberwock in place until we could raid the Depot for a replacement.

My first impression of the Sopwith was that it was a joy to fly. It was quick and surprisingly nimble for a two-seat machine. Visibility was above average for a tractor despite the broad chord of its wings. I’d miss the splendid forward and upwards view from the DH2, but not the bitter cold of its pusher configuration. The Sopwith, being a tractor design, was far warmer and more comfortable once you got used to the misting of castor oil that came with flying any rotary.

That afternoon it began to raid. Other than the first brief familiarization flight, everything was scrubbed for two days. I spent a great deal of time with my observer / gunner, Second Lieut Tallon McAulley. He had fashioned an effective speaking tube made from the rubber tubing used to connect the pitot to the airspeed indicator. One wore an earpiece under one’s flying helment
On 7 June 1916 I led a four-craft C.O.P. to the southern sector near Miraumont and Bapaume. We drifted about Hunland-on-the-Somme for an hour and a half before turning for home. We were still three miles from the lines when my engine began to miss on one cylinder and then another. I fired a Very light to let Patrick know to take over and began a long glide westward, landing at an aerodrome southwest of Arras.

I had more success the following day. The morning of 8 June was a write-off marred my driving rain and high winds. We all enjoyed a long sleep-in. The weather cleared before noon, and at one o’clock I was dispatched on another offensive patrol along with Patrick and Sergeant Mazzini. We flew north towards Ypres and then turned east to the lines. As we were passing north of Ypres itself I surveyed the sad state of the ancient town. Its famous cloth hall stood out as a square of ruined walls enclosing a jumble of stones and pale grey powder. Would the world ever rebuild, I wondered.

That’s when I noticed movement below. Nearly underneath us three faint shapes were moving westward. I banked for a better look and called to McAulley through the speaking tube. He used his observer’s binoculars and then signalled to me, holding his gloved hands to his head like horns. This was McAulley-speak for Huns, I assumed, and led our group of three Sopwiths down.
They were Fokkers without a doubt. The crosses were soon visible. Each Sopwith pilot picked a dancing partner and the fight was on. I quickly closed on mine, firing 20 rounds from the Vickers before my speed carried me past the Hun and I zoomed upwards. From then on it was a turning fight. The Sopwith lacked the DH2’s tendency to stall without warning, so the low-level minuet over the rooftops (or at least the roof-less walls) of Ypres was not too unnerving. At length I got into firing position and fired a succession of five-round bursts. The Hun wobbled and fell into the streets below.

I looked about and saw Patrick’s machine. He closed up and motioned to me, a cut-throat sweep across his neck, and then pointed backwards. He’d got his Hun too. Mazzini was gone. I’d last seen him heading east in pursuit of a fleeing Fokker. We climbed eastward over the lines. A mile or so in the distance I could make out two flea-like objects swirling slowly in the air over the Hun lines. We closed quickly. The Hun was behind Mazzini, who was now making westward. The Fokker pilot saw Patrick and I approach and turned eastward towards the German balloon line. I closed to about 200 yards and, not wanting to follow the Hun into an Archie-trap, I fired. I’m not sure if the sight on the Vickers was that much better than the one I was used to on the DH2’s Lewis or if I was just lucky, but in any event the Fokker immediately began to tumble out of control and soon crashed into a field behind the German lines. Patrick and I turned west to escort Mazzini home.

Both kills were confirmed by evening, brining my official bag up to 18 kills. That night I enjoyed my first binge with 70 Squadron.


William Kennedy-Cochrane-Patrick
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/16 05:27 PM

wave

Wow Such detail in a story . Well done
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/16 05:28 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
19 Sqn
Flanders
Oct 7, 1916

Security Patrol in the scattered Rain clouds No Joy.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/16 10:39 PM

Bruce Wayne's transfer orders to 70 RFC have finally come through. He celebrated by downing an Aviatik. He was unsure how he would measure up after an extended period in the Fee, where all he could do was chauffeur the observer/gunner and he would do all the work. Now he has a gun all to himself and is making good use of it.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/16 10:44 PM

Bernard Sorelle is also making progress in his shiny N17. He's busy shooting down all kinds of pray. Rolands and Fokkers and Albatroses, oh my!



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/16 04:46 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
19 Sqn
Flanders


Oct 8, 1916

We need a better air machine. While on a 4 a/c show the flag over Hun land

, my section got into it with one of the new Hun Fighters. It has a fish shape body with 2 wings. What a fiasco, The Hun pilot took out one of my flights a/c then ended up forcing another down. I took 8 hits while firing of 312 rds at him. Finally my Wing mate Orly force him down in NML.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/09/16 03:04 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
19 Sqn
Flanders

Oct 9, 1916.

The C.O. sent the 2 of us out on a Balloon Burst mission. I fired off 123 rds only to my wing-mate get the Victory
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/09/16 04:40 PM

Carrick;

Dudley Nighshade's wing mate must have gone to church that morning, just before the mission! biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/09/16 04:56 PM

Originally Posted By: Robert_Wiggins
Carrick;

Dudley Nighshade's wing mate must have gone to church that morning, just before the mission! biggrin

And now he has to go back to church and repent for his sin - stealing.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/09/16 09:29 PM

Not stealing, but finishing. biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/09/16 09:53 PM

Here is the latest status report and the latest Roll of Honor.



Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/16 03:28 PM

Bruce Wayne continues to ease into the hunter role. Plenty of bombing missions as primary objective in the Strutter, but doesn't shy away from the air fight either. Here's a few shots of a hunt for the Eindekker.



Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/16 03:32 PM

Bernard Sorelle in his Nieuport with the rest of Escadrille N 57 continue to dominate the skies over Verdun.
Posted By: Hellshade

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/16 03:41 PM

Great screenies Fullofit!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/16 05:42 PM

Originally Posted By: Hellshade
Great screenies Fullofit!

Thanks Hellshade. It probably would look even better in WOFF UE. Can't wait!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/16 07:44 PM

wave

Na it was steeling reading
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/16 07:51 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
19 Sqn
Flanders


Oct 10, 1916.

Morning Patrol got into it with the Huns. I dont know what kind of e/a but it was flown well. The flight 0f 2 acted like a flight of six. Our 3 a/c section all had damage and someone claimed 1 Hun destroyed. Well, I didn't see it. My Vicker's jammed after 7 rds so I bailed and had to put down at a friendly.


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/16 11:02 PM

Our good friends the Rolands, probably the only plane that gives the Pup any trouble.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/16 12:02 AM

Oh...that Roland! The one that attacks anything and everybody no matter what the odds? The one with the pilot set to "always attack"? The one that thinks he is a scout, not a bomber? That one?
Never heard of him.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/16 12:45 AM

rofl
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/16 04:00 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
19 Sqn
Flanders

Oct 11, 1916.


Sighted 3 Hun Scouts, they were higher than us, doing a slow circle. Only one stayed to play. The others took off for home. My 4 a/c two of which were Spad VII's were hard put to nail him. Our flight leader got lucky and smoke filled the morning sky.


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/16 10:46 PM

Carrick58, did I read that correctly, SPAD VIIs? I wasn't aware that they were available yet.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/12/16 07:10 PM

yep

Spad VII,s to the Aces and the flying bathtub to us poor people.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/12/16 07:18 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc
19 Sqn
Flanders


Oct 12, 1916.

The section was sent to get a balloon. We popped the gas bag only to have 1 of our 3 a/c to crash ( gun fire explosion ? )
We pulled into a corkscrew going up only to get into it with 3 Halb Scouts after awhile 2 went home. We played tag until he grew tired and went home. Frustrating !


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/13/16 02:14 AM

Carrick58, I just noticed that Dudley isn't in the status report. Please enter his information so I can keep track of him.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/13/16 06:17 PM

thumbsup

OK, I was seeing if hes going to live. However , I will post the infor
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/13/16 06:23 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc

On TDY to 60 Sqn.


Ive been posted to 60 Sgn to get a little Rotary Engine Time. Nice Chaps they put me on Patrol strait away and almost got shot down. Our 3 a/c mixed it up with a Halb and I took over 12 hits in my Morane. The gunner fired off 97 rds of Lewis but no hits, but it might have scared him off.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/14/16 11:06 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc

On TDY to 60 Sqn.

Oct 14, 1916.


Our 2 a/c were doing a Railyard strike and got bounced by 3 of the New Hun machines. My wingmate Phil got the Chop never had a chance. My kite got shot up over 15 hits including the motor made a "Ell " of a racket but was able to make it down on our side of the lines.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/14/16 11:34 PM

Carrick, I urge Dudley to seek help of a specialist. It looks like he has a death wish to fly these crates. Good luck! wounded
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/14/16 11:52 PM

Bruce Wayne spent the entire week looking through the window at the waves of rain. The gloomy interior reminded him of a cave. He only flew one mission.

Bernard Sorelle on the other hand was taking advantage of favorable weather and was getting to know the rear end of the new Albatros very well.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/15/16 08:00 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc

On TDY to 60 Sqn.


Oct 15, 1916.

Went on an Arty Spot Mission. Spent most of the flight hiding in the clouds and flying away from Hun Scout Patrols, but did managed to get the job done no losses.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/15/16 08:06 PM

wave


Fullofit:
Dudley has applied for his RNS Status to be re instated. If approved by the Department, He will be going to the Royal Navy Flight Sqns.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/16 11:57 AM

Carrick, that's great. These boys should be able to set you up with a better ride. tomcat
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/16 05:46 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, Rfc

On TDY to 60 Sqn

16 Oct 1916.

Got my walking papers, I have been reassigned. Although the orders didnt mention Rank, I have been re-instated to the Royal Navy Flight Service. It reads, Report to RNAS 6 with haste.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/16 10:47 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/16 11:43 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.


17 Oct 1916.


Arrived by the Seaside. I say, lovely looking Aerodrome. The boys straight -away put me up for an Orientation flight. The Flight Commander showed me the Taps for my Kite. Its one of those Marvelous improvements made to the French N-10. Smashing wot ?

Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/16 01:24 AM

Banjoman, thanks for keeping up with the chart. I haven't had much writing time this week so I had to add a week of entries in one go. Carrick, how are you finding the Morane?

Alfred Keers earns a wound stripe...

70 Squadron were a cheery lot. To a man we were delighted with the new Sopwith, and we set out to give the Hun a good walloping. My count now stood at seventeen. I’d thought it one higher, but Wing later credited one of my DDOOC claims to a passing DH2, who’d apparently intercepted the Hun trying to pull out at low altitude.

The next week saw us on the occasional long reconnaissance. These were long patrols up and down the area behind German lines, taking photographs of assigned areas. The tasks were laid out by Brigade and would often consist of following a road or a rail line and taking overlapping pictures up one side and down the other. McAulley operated the camera, which fit into a conical recess in the floor of the aircraft. My job was to hold the machine level over our assigned path and make faces at the Archie gunners below who tried to extinguish our young lives. Meanwhile, McAulley shifted the loading handle on the camera to drop new plates into place and shift exposed plates into their carrying box, all the while counting off the seconds until the next exposure was due. After eighteen plates and about two thousand barks from nasty black Archie bursts it was time to turn about and repeat the performance. Oh, and we while doing this we also had to keep our wits about us in case some cheeky Eindekker jockey wanted our tailplane for his mess anteroom.

Letters from home complained about them calling off the Whitsun bank holiday.

We read news of the big naval battle at the end of May. The papers all claimed we’d smashed the Huns, but the casualty lists suggest it was not so clear-cut an affair. Lord Kitchener’s death was the other big news. Closer to home we talked of the push that was sure to come soon. The RO confidently predicted next week and the CO confidently predicted August. All we know is that the reconnaissance and long distance patrolling is picking up. I have been in France for three months now and am third on the leave list; I expect to get it by month’s end. If the push interferes, the Kaiser and I are going to have words.

Rain swept through from the 13th to the 16th of June, turning the field into a quagmire. I got a ride into Doullens with Patrick and Cruikshank, the other two flight commanders (Patrick’s appointment is acting until our newly-arrived third flight completes its working-up). Doullens is overrun with waggons and horses and ambulences. It was difficult to get a table to eat, but still grand to escape into a real town for a day. We saw a Charlie Chaplin film and a couple of the fellows enjoyed a remarkable new experience about which I shall remain silent. I was tempted to partake, but the Wing’s medical officer has done a creditable job of terrifying me. Hence Chaplin.

17 June was a lovely warm day and I got back into the air for an offensive patrol from Lille up to the Lys. We chased some Fokkers and scrapped with them inconclusively. Then we spotted two two-seaters which turned out to be the new Roland machine. How they could be handled. They seemed every bit as good as our Strutters. I managed to hit one of them several times without apparent effect. Then the Hun gunner raked us while his pilot was in a bank. By rights the chap should have been on his Khyber, but he still managed a crack shot. I was grazed along my sitting parts and McAulley lost one of his little toes. This was a double loss, as McAulley is a fine dancer, while I prefer to sit and watch the ladies. Such is fate. We landed with a broken fuel pipe close to Bethune, barely clearing a row of stubbly trees. There we got patched up at a regimental aid post of the Royal Scots. We’re both out until the 20th at least.


"We landed with a broken fuel pipe close to Bethune, barely clearing a row of stubbly trees."
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/16 11:32 PM

Today was a day to remember for Bernard Sorelle in Verdun sector. The ominous clouds rolled in, then the sky opened and a blast of blinding light hit the airfield. When everyone came to a talk, of new Hun weapon started. Then everyone noticed something was not right. The whole aerodrome changed! This is what it looked like before. Lemmes in foreground and Vadelaincourt in the background separated by some woods.



Now, this is what the same view looks like:


They are now connected making it the longest landing strip on the Western Front.



If it is a new Hun weapon then ... well done!

This change seems to have hit some other 'dromes as well. Here's what Verdun airfield looks like now.


They've finally managed to grow some grass there.

The strangeness of the day was not limited to the airfields either. Today Bernard and his escadrille escorted a new type of plane.


What will they think of next?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/16 08:56 PM

reading

Banjoman: The Morane. It flies nice with a lot of lift and floats around in the sky. A Good Death Trap for enemy planes.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/16 09:05 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Oct 20, 1916.


Up on Escort when our Top Cover got into it with the Bosche. Our 2 a/c were fighting a mix of Albatross D-1, 2 or 3 Fokker's monoplanes and 2 Two Seat Types. I went back to help. Used all my ammo wildly while chasing a monoplane. It turned very sharply way too tight and its wing broke off. Of course , being right behind, I put in for the Kill. However, I got Rejected.


The Sqn lost 2 N-11's
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/16 11:13 PM

Carrick, I loved the Morane in '15. The observer has a wonderful field of fire, but in '16 they would be a deathtrap.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/16 02:06 PM

wave

I agree.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/16 02:12 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Oct 21, 1916

Bit of a worry, the Sqn 6 a/c were sent off on a Aerodrome attack. The enemy had an Alert Fighter on standby. He managed to get off and knocked down a N-10. However, we did do some damage although my Lewis jammed after 33 rds,


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/16 09:11 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Oct 22, 1916.

Assigned as tail end charlie for the Sqn's 3 Aces in N-11's. I guess to show me the ropes ? However, Sure enough we ran into 3 Halb's Over the lines. 1 went home the other 2 were shot down. I had a chance and fired off 51 rds in bursts of 17. No hits. I watched as my Flt Leader flamed the one I was chasing.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/16 05:17 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Oct 23, 1916.


Odd Bodkins, another shoot em up near Loos. I became separated from the flight due to clould coverage. While looking for my flight I ran into a Few Halb's. Smashing good time, exchangeable gun fire till I ran out. Nothing for it ,but to run for home. Thank goodness for Archie opening fire as it made them turn for home.


Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/16 06:52 PM

Salute

Fianlly after 1 months training to be a temporary Gentleman, Cecil is finally back in the air.
He was in shock though, as he found his name listed as being posted to 3 RFC on Morane's and not his
beloved Be12 fighting scout.




He has become friends with a famous book writer.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/16 09:11 PM

Here is the latest status report. Lederhosen, it has been a long time since I've seen a Morane in the report.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/16 08:57 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Oct 24, 1916.

We lost an a/c after doing the Dawn Patrol. He ran off the airfield into the soft ground and went Prop over Tail. Otherwise all ok.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/25/16 10:16 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.


Oct 25 1916.

I went up as a tag along with 2 other a/c for a afternoon Patrol. The flight was strung out for 1-2000 meters ( Might as well fly by one self ) Spotted a dot in the clouds low and to the left dropped down to say Hello. The dot became 2 Fokker's monoplanes. and just like the days of the knights we made head on attacks. Smashing good time until I ran out of ammo. Nose down and run for home.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/27/16 11:35 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Oct 27 1916.

I say, spot of joy today. I was credited with a Balloon after returning from the mission. Although my flight ( 3 a/c) did damage the gas bag I finished it off with machine gun fire.


Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/28/16 02:14 AM

It's been a while since I could catch up with Alfred Keers's narrative...

The next week or so was busy. Most days saw us on long distance patrol, recording rail and motor traffic in deepest and darkest Hunland. The weather was filthy and Herr Hun must have stayed snug and warm by the fire, scarfing down sausages and swilling beer, because on most days Archie was our only friend.

I shall touch only on the main points. The morning of 22 June 1916 was typical – low cloud, drizzle, barely flying weather, so of course they packed us off to the area around Cambrai, thirty miles into enemy territory. We took notes about the number and directions of trains on the Cambrai – Lille line for an hour and a half, and then headed home. Two Fokkers took off from Epinoy and followed us. When we were nearly at the lines I signalled for Patrick and Cruikshank to continue while Sgt Trollope and I headed back. We had a wonderful barney and I finally got a good crack at the Hun, who tumbled down. But just as I fired, Sgt Trollope’s machine climbed from below right into my line of fire and one of my rounds wounded his observer, Lieut Gomm. As a result I lost sight of the Hun when he still had enough room to straighten out, so could report him only as driven down.

Gomm will recover, but Major Lawrence had me do the hatless dance in his office and put me on duty officer for a week. It’s a bit embarrassing for a captain. It is usually a subaltern’s job, but being the perpetual duty officer seems to be a constant theme of my time in France.

The following day started for us at four in the morning when a massive barrage shook us out of our scratchers. Our pilots gathered outside in our drawers, woolen, universal. The eastern sky danced with light and the boys cheered, all except me, for I’d learned the previous evening that I was up for leave any day. We were aloft before five in the morning heading for the southernmost sector west of St Quentin. Again we saw nothing until the homeward leg. I noticed a lone Fokker down low, scurrying eastward. We dived on him and my first burst got him smoking. I came about and my second burst stopped the Fokker’s propeller. I watched him land and nose over in the German lines. Cruikshank witnessed the kill, which went in the books as my 18th official one.

At supper we were told that all leaves are cancelled and done will be granted until further notice.

We had a free day on the 24th due to heavy rains. I got two letters from home, one from the parents and one from my sister Eliza. She spoke of her work with the VAD. They had some sailors wounded in the big action at the end of last month. To hear them talk, the Hun pretty much had their way with the Grand Fleet, which is disturbing. That’s not at all what the papers said.

On 25th June, I bagged another Fokker. We were up near Wipers and three Huns approached us tentatively. When we turned to meet them they had second thoughts. I caught up with one who trailed behind the others and forced him to crash in a field north of Menen. It was only a driven down for a day, but Wing matched it with a balloon report and it went down as number 19.

On 26 June I attacked an Aviatik north of Bethune. The gunner was a stout fellow and his first burst hit my machine, shattering the windscreen. A piece of aluminum embedded in my goggles and I got something in my eye. It wasn’t serious, but I was grounded for two days.

On my return I had a new observer, a young fellow from Leith in Lancashire named Aldridge. He’s a complete babe in arms, straight from school. Descent fellow, though. I hope he does well.

On 29 June we were north again to provide escort to a photographic reconnaissance of Messines Ridge and the land to the east of it. I was with Sgt Trollope and Cruikshank. Sgt Trollope’s machine had to turn home due to a dud engine. Cruikshank and I headed south over Hunland to give Aldridge a taste of the real war. We were Archied fairly intensely. There was a low cloud layer at 5500 feet which silhouetted our machines and gave the Archie crews a good idea of our height. I expected Aldridge to get windy, but he held up well. In fact there was a foolish grin on his face every time I turned to check on him.

Then we spotted two Fokkers heading towards the aerodrome at Halluin. They were still about eight miles off and we caught them easily in a dive. Cruikshank’s made off on him, but I was able to put a good burst into mine and stopped his propeller. He nosed over in a ploughed field. If it gets confirmed it will be number 20.


"We dived on him and my first burst got him smoking."


"They were still about eight miles off and we caught them easily in a dive."
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/28/16 11:59 PM

Journal entry: 30 June, 1916
Bertincourt

It has been a while since I last wrote anything in my journal and that is probably because of the dull tedium that is life here on the front. The constant fear and stress of flying ever day tends to dull one’s senses and it takes something big to awaken you from your slumber. This week there have been one such occurrence that I wish to describe in great detail. We have been flying the Fokker monoplane and for the most part it has been sufficient for our needs, but the Nieuports are being seen in greater numbers and as a matter of fact, there is a new model that has been making life extremely difficult for us. The situation was becoming so dire that I felt it necessary to express my concerns to Major Friedel, who once again told me to be patient. As usual, he was correct because on the 24th a large number of lorries arrived with three new machines for our KEK. These were the new Halberstadt scout that I had heard so much about and I was excited to get one into the air. The men spent the rest of the day completing the rigging and of course it rained all day on the 25th, so it wasn’t until the 26th that we were finally able to fly them. I led Manfred and Max up to the front to see if we could scare up any business while Hans led Joachim and Georg on a routine patrol. Of course, the French didn’t disappoint and it wasn’t long until I spotted three small dots approaching from the north. I signaled the group and we turned toward the enemy. Once the range closed, I noticed that the French were a little unsure as to the identity and nature of our new machines. I took advantage of their uncertainty and quickly separated one from the pack and shot him down. Max and Manfred quickly drove off the other two French machines. What made my victory especially sweet was the fact that these Nieuports were from the vaunted Stork squadron. We completed our patrol and turned for home and upon landing we were understandably in high spirits. Our new machines are so maneuverable as compared to our old Fokkers and they give us a real fighting chance against the best the enemy has to offer. We were a little concerned when we saw that Georg was the only one returning from the other patrol but the others could have landed elsewhere so we didn’t worry too much. When he landed we surrounded him to discover the fate of the others and the story he told quickly killed all of the joy that we had felt earlier. It turns out that the two Nieuports that we had driven off hadn’t returned home, but had instead continued their patrol. They encountered our second patrol and made quick work of the Fokkers of Hans and Joachim. Georg was very fortunate to escape with his life. This horrid war continues to give and take away and I daresay will continue until its last gasp.



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/29/16 02:39 AM

thumbsup

Give em " E ll "
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/30/16 03:25 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/31/16 01:06 AM

Banjoman, thank you for the latest stats.
Both Bernard Sorelle in October and Bruce Wayne in June continue to be the scourge for the Fokkers.



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/31/16 11:15 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.


Oct 30, 1916.


I say, Bit of bad luck. I made the enemy Tote Board. I went out with asection of 3 and ran into 2 e/a on the enemy side.
They were the New Hun buggies The Albatross. The chaps were good shots. We had the Height advantage and they machine gunned both of my mates at low level then got on my tail and whacked my kite good. I took a Wnd then did a Blue Max among the trees while my motor clanged loudly. I made the lines amid an Arty barrage. The PBI chaps packed me off to the Hospital be down till the 11th.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/31/16 11:42 PM

This war is starting to get dangerous.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/16 11:15 PM

News of the World for June - Intrepid Fliers:

June 1
The only large-scale naval engagement of the war, the Battle of Jutland ended with a tactically inconclusive result. While the Royal Navy suffered more losses, the battle effectively ended any threat from the German High Seas Fleet, and British dominance of the North Sea was maintained.
June 2
The Battle of Mount Sorrel took place at Ypres when German forces attempted to capture the high ground around Ypres.
German forces stormed Fort Vaux in the Battle of Verdun.
June 3
The National Defense Act authorised a five-year expansion of the US Army.
The Allied Commander in Thessaloniki ordered all Greek officials out of the town, effectively imposing martial law.
June 4
The Russian Brusilov Offensive began on the Eastern Front.
June 5
TE Lawrence helped the Emir of Mecca in the Arab revolt against Turkish rule in Hejaz.
HMS Hampshire struck a mine off the Orkneys and sank with the loss of nearly all the crew, and Great Britain's war minister, Lord Kitchener.
June 6
The Arab attack on Medina was repulsed by the Turkish garrison.
President Yuan Shikai of China died and was succeeded by Li Yuanhong.
June 7
French troops at Fort Vaux surrendered to the Germans.
June 8
Voluntary enlistment in Britain was replaced by compulsion when the Second Compulsory Service Act came into operation.
British forces occupied Bismarckburg and Belgian troops occupied Usumbura in German East Africa.
June 9
Arab forces captured the city of Jeddah in Arabia.
German forces attacked Kondoa lrangi in German East Africa.
June 10
The New Zealand Government passed the Compulsory Service Bill.
June 11
The Battle of the Strypa began during the Brusilov Offensive.
June 12
Zaleszczyki in Galicia was taken by Russian forces.
June 13
The Battle of Mount Sorrel ended when British and Canadian troops secured the line near Ypres.
June 14
French politician Etienne Clementel presided over the Allied Economic Conference in Paris.
June 15
Paolo Boselli was appointed Italian Prime Minister, following the collapse of the Salandra Government.
June 16
Italian forces began a counter-offensive against Austrian troops in the Trentino.
June 17
French defenders repulsed German attacks on Le Mort Homme at Verdun.
June 18
German flying ace and pioneer Max Immelmann was shot down and killed during aerial combat with a British squadron.
June 19
British and South African troops marched into Handeni in German East Africa.
June 21
The Entente Governments sent a Note to King Constantine demanding Greek demobilisation and a change of Government.
June 22
Alexandros Zaimis replaced Stephanos Skouloudis as Prime Minister of Greece.
June 23
German forces attacked and captured Fort Thiaumont at Verdun.
June 24
Massive preparatory bombardment to destroy German defenses began at the Somme.
June 26
The trial of Roger Casement for high treason began.
June 27
The Emir of Mecca issued his Proclamation of Independence from Turkey.
June 28
The Italian cavalry reached Pedescala, north-east of Asiago on the Southern Front.
June 29
Roger Casement was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death.
June 30
The Battle of the Strypa ended.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/16 11:17 PM

News of the World for October - Warbirds Rising:

October 1
The Battle of Le Transloy was the final offensive mounted by the British Fourth Army during the Battle of the Somme.
October 4
The troop transport ship RMS Franconia was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-47 in the Mediterranean Sea.
October 5
The Battle of the Cerna Bend began in Macedonia between the Bulgarian and Entente armies.
October 6
Serbian troops attacked Bulgarian troops near the villages of Dobroveni and Skochivir on the Macedonian Front, but were counter-attacked and pushed back. The Bulgarians took the village of Brod.
October 7
In the Battle of Brasov the city was recaptured by Austro-Hungarian forces.
October 8
Under the command of Kapitanleutnant Hans Rose the German submarine U-53 sank five merchant ships off the coast of Rhode Island, USA.
October 9
The Eighth Battle of the Isonzo began and continued the Italian attempts to extend the bridgehead established at Gorizia.
Eleftherios Venizelos arrived in Thessaloniki to establish a pro-Allies provisional Government and to raise an army.
October 10
Allied Governments sent an ultimatum to the Greek Government demanding surrender of the Greek naval fleet.
Spyridon Lambros replaced Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos as Prime Minister of Greece.
October 11
The Greek Government acceded to the Allied demands.
October 12
The Eighth Battle of the Isonzo ended with little territorial change and heavy Italian casualties.
October 13
The Norwegian Government prohibited belligerent submarines from using her territorial waters.
October 14
The Transylvanian frontier into Romania was crossed by German troops.
October 15
Anti-Entente demonstrations were held in Athens.
October 16
On the Western Front French troops gained a foothold in Sailly at the Battle of Morval.
October 17
During the Senussi Campaign the Allied Western Frontier Force moved to attack the enemy Senussi troops at the Affairs in the Dakhla Oasis.
October 18
General Henry Rawlinson mounted further attacks against the Germans at Gueudecourt during the Battle of Le Transloy.
October 19
French forces began a new offensive to capture Fort Douaumont at Verdun.
October 21
Austrian President Count Karl von Sturgkh was assassinated by Friedrich Adler, son of the founder of the Austria's Social Democratic Party.
October 22
Constanza in Dobrudja was captured by German and Bulgarian forces on the Eastern Front.
October 23
The British minesweeper HMS Genista was sunk by a German U-boat off the west coast Ireland.
October 24
French forces opened the First Offensive Battle of Verdun and recaptured Fort Douaumont.
October 26
The naval engagement, the Battle of Dover Strait took place when the German Empire launched flotillas of U-boats in order to disrupt the Dover Barrage and destroy all Allied shipping in the Strait.
October 27
By the time the Battle of Dover Strait ended the British had lost one destroyer, one troopship and several drifters while the Germans suffered only minor damage to a single torpedo boat.
October 28
Ernst von Korber was appointed Austrian President following the assassination of Count Karl von Sturgkh earlier in the month.
October 29
The Sherif of Mecca was proclaimed King of the Arabs.
October 30
Hermann von Stein succeeded Adolf Wild von Hohenborn as German Minister for War.
October 31
The Ninth Battle of the Isonzo was launched - the third of three short-lived offensives fought on the Isonzo front in the autumn of 1916. The battle started with an attack on Vrtojba and the northern and central areas of the Karst Plateau.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/16 04:19 PM










Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/16 09:09 PM

Lederhosen, that's a nicely weathered skin. Is that stock?
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/16 07:20 AM

yes
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/16 04:07 PM

Lederhosen, I really like that map where did you get it?
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/16 05:27 PM

I make em myself
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/06/16 09:16 PM

Here is the latest status report and the latest Honor roll of those who have fallen. The good news is it looks like we haven't had anyone added to the Honor roll in a long time, oops, did I just jinx us all. biggrin



Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/16 12:47 AM

Fullofit, thanks for the continuing chronology! Lederhosen, great photos! And thank you, Banjoman, for keeping the stats up to date.

I have a lot of writing to catch up on. Here is the next chapter of Alfred Keers's career. He has recently passed the 100 hour mark.

The end of June saw 70 Squadron acquire some spit and polish: the fields were mowed, the paths between the tents and huts and hangars were freshly gravelled and outlined with lovely whitewashed rocks, uniforms were inspected, and stores were inventoried for the umpteenth time. For this was the week the circus came to town, or at least the ringmaster. General Trenchard and his headquarters moved into the village of Fienvillers on 27 June, setting up in a fine house in the centre of the village.

Our third flight was still in England, as the navy had absconded with their Strutters and they were waiting for new ones. Accordingly, Cruickshank and I, together with Patrick, flew far more often than we had a right to (or a need to, in my view). Nearly every day we were loaded up with Cooper bombs and packed off to annoy ground Huns. I longed for a bit of free-lance scouting, but Major Dowding at Wing had more mundane tasks in mind. It was clear that the big push was nigh.

On 29 June 1916 we were assigned the task of conducting a deep reconnaissance beyond Messines, up in the Ypres salient. It was a three-machine show – me, Cruikshank and Sergeant Trollope. I had a new gunner, Lieutenant David Aldridge, a public school boy from Lancashire. We got into a scrap with several Fokkers and he handled himself well despite putting two rounds through our stabiliser. One particularly good Hun got amongst us and made himself difficult for several minutes before I got a crack at him. After that he tried to break off, but I got another long burst from no more than twenty yards’ range. The Hun machine tumbled beneath us. I could not take the time to watch it fall, but by the following day Wing phoned to confirm its destruction. I had my 20th confirmed victory.

The guns had been firing continuously for several days. I thought of Rosetta making shells in the old engine works in Hartlepool and wondered if it was some of her handiwork keeping us awake all night. Likely it was. But in the early hours of 1 July, the deadly orchestra reached for a new crescendo. The ground shook. You could feel the force of the barrage in your teeth and chest, and the eastern sky flickered orange with a new intensity. I arose at three-thirty and went for tea and an egg. The word was out now that this was the day. We flew five hours that day, attacking railway sidings and assembly points behind the German lines. We lost Sgt Dunleavy’s machine. He returned that night, but his observer, Lieut Glasgow, had been killed by shrapnel from Archie.

On 2 July we flew a very long distance south in support of the French. Over a place called Ham we bombed a Hun aerodrome. As we were regrouping several Fokkers surprised us. The fight was fierce and short, and I got one Hun down low and saw his propeller stop. The claim was seconded by Cochrane-Patrick, so it went down as number 21.

Later that morning we went north to Ypres and were jumped by a group of Fokkers west of Messines Ridge. I forced one Hun to land just behind its lines, but it was under control and I could not have it confirmed as destroyed, although I’m sure our artillery finished the job. As we were tangling with the Huns, our own shells were ripping through the air and throwing our machines about in a terrifying way.

3 July saw us perform two attacks on rail yards in the Ypres sector. We hit our targets well both times, once seeing an ammunition waggon go up among a large group of de-training soldiers.

That evening we got a visit from General Trenchard’s aide, an odd sort of fellow named Captain Baring. Apparently he is the GOC’s dogsbody. I thought him to be a bit poofy at first. He’s very well spoken and is able in something like five languages, and he likes to talk about Italian poetry and such. He’d come to inform me that I’d been gazetted for an MC and a DSO both! That will be a first for any of the lads from the Seaham Harbour Dock Company (or at least for any of the lads in the engine shop there). Baring turned out to be a bit of all right, though. He’d brought a small keg of good “double” beer. The French in these parts aren’t the brewers the Belgians are, and for the most part the stuff they turn out is weak “petit” beer. I suspect they water it down for the soldiers. This stuff was a fine dark beer.

It turned into a bit of a binge and Baring held forth with a fine repertoire of filthy songs, then capped the evening off by balancing a champagne bottle on his head, lying on the floor, and getting up – all without toppling the bottle or spilling a drop. Only the wealthy can afford to learn such a trick.


"One particularly good Hun got amongst us and made himself difficult for several minutes before I got a crack at him."


"The fight was fierce and short, and I got one Hun down low and saw his propeller stop."
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/16 01:54 AM

Raine, I see your gunner is just as good as mine. Must be a Strutter thing. His gun mount is so flexible, he can shoot nearly straight forward (hitting the wings in the process).
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/16 04:03 AM

Journal Entry: 10 July, 1916
Bertincourt

A lot has happened the last three days and if I were to include it all, it would fill quite a few pages in my journal so I will limit myself to just the high points. First of all, let me say a few words concerning our new machines, the Halberstadts. They are superior to our old Fokkers in every way that matters. The only thing I am missing is my second machinegun from my old E.IV, but I am willing to trade that for the increase in maneuverability. Each pilot now feels that he can fight on at least even terms with the enemy and that has gone a long way to increase morale. We received three new pilots, Leutnant Mulzer, Leutnant Muller, and Leutnant Parshau, on the 7th and that brings us up to full strength. These three gentlemen are energetic, aggressive, and professional in how they carry out their duties and I expect great things from each of them. With the addition of Leutnant Mulzer and Muller, we now have three Maxs in the KEK. I've named Muller "Max ein", Mulzer "Max zwei", and Unteroffizier Neeb "Max drei". With the British offensive in full swing the men are flying three time a day and it really helps to have a full compliment of men.

The excitement started on the morning of the 7th when the British finally started their offensive. No one was surprised and from what we could see from the air it doesn't look like their preparatory bombardment accomplished anything. Anyway, it was raining and I didn't expect to see anything when much to my surprise I spotted two enemy machines approaching from the north. When the distance closed I recognized that the enemy planes were a DH.2 and a Bristol Scout. Who in their right mind would send a Scout up to the front now? The British continue to amaze me in their powerful desire to die while flying old antiquated machines in combat. The DH.2 gallantly turned to engage while the Scout fled for home with Max ein, Max zwei, and Otto scampering along behind. I engaged the DH.2 and what followed was a battle of wills. Fortunately, I was able to damage his flying controls which allowed me to get on his tail and apply the coup-de-gras. Otto was able to chase the Scout down and put it out of its misery and we returned to base. The afternoon sortie is the encounter that I am still thinking about and why I am still alive. After lunch, I led Max ein, Max zwei, and Otto back up to the battlefield to prevent the British recce machines from carrying out their work and on the way I spotted two planes following us. I really didn't pay much attention because we had other pressing matters to attend to so I was a little surprised when I noticed that they were not only still following but had closed the range. One of the two machines was obviously a Nieuport but the other was unlike any flying machine that I have seen before. It had three planes. I had heard that it was possible to have more than two planes but I had no idea anyone had actually accomplished it. Well, this strange machine rapidly closed the distance and it began to attack us. In the meantime the Nieuport had decided it didn't like the odds and quickly disengaged. For lack of a better word, this triplane, could climb unlike anything I've ever seen and easily turn within our turns. The enemy pilot actually played with us for about 10 minutes and then just flew away leaving the four of us shaken and rattled. After we completed our patrol and landed I reported our engagement and was shocked once again when I learned that the High command had no foreknowledge of this new machine. What a difference that machine could make in the war.

The 8th was a dud day, but the 9th was quite productive for the KEK. In the morning sortie I shot down a BE.2C that was spotting for some Tommie artillery. I hope I made the lives of our Kameraden in the trenches a little easier. In the afternoon sortie I led Max ein and Max zwei up to the front to continue our harassment of the British. We didn't have to wait long before here came two BE.2Cs escorted by a DH.2 and another Bristol Scout. I just shook my head as I signaled the attack. The two Maxs attacked the escorts and attacked the BE.2Cs. I quickly flamed one of the Quirks but while I was engaged the other managed to escape. Max ein and Max zwei both took care of the escort and we head home. It was a pretty impressive three days for the KEK, we scored seven confirmed kills in three days.







Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/16 08:40 PM

Careful, Banjoman. I certainly wouldn't like to take on Tripes with Halberstadts any more than absolutely necessary!!!
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/16 08:44 PM

Originally Posted By: Raine
Careful, Banjoman. I certainly wouldn't like to take on Tripes with Halberstadts any more than absolutely necessary!!!


Nonsense! The observer of Albrecht's Aviatik shot down one of those fancy Tripes in July 1916 without breaking a sweat. It should be even easier with a Halby. biggrin

My other DID campaign is now over, so the plan is to finally continue this one. However, I seem to have lost track of the calendar and I have no idea what date it currently is. July something, it seems. I'd be much obliged if one of you gentlemen could help me with my problem. smile
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/16 10:27 PM

In Intrepid Fliers, 8 November 2016 is 11 July 1916. Check your PM -- I will send you an excellent 2016 Intrepid Fliers' calendar that Banjoman was good enough to put together when I joined this campaign late.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/16 11:11 PM

Yea, Hasse is rejoining. Between Raine and Hasse the stories will be fantastic.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/16 07:17 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Nov 08, 1916.


I got back from the Hospital last night and posted to today's afternoon Patrol. The Sqn 6 machines ran into some Walfish 2 Seats. Top cover chased 1 while my 3 fell in with 2 others. I dove to attack firing off 33 rds when I heard Frabic tearing. The strange noise came from my Top Wing so cut power and carefully headed home. I did spot the Flight leader get a flamer.

Sqn Losses; 1 N-11 + 2 lt damage. Claims two 2 seats e/a.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/10/16 07:29 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.


Nov 10, 1916.

Close Escort for two Fee's busting a Balloon. I don't know if they got it as our 3 machines got tangled up wit 3 Fokker Monoplanes. A fast and furious little shoot out then everyone got lost in the clouds. I fired off numerous 100 rds and got a few hits and got hit counted 8 holes in my kite the other 2 N-10's had holes too. No claims and the Fees got back ok or so I hear.



Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/16 03:56 AM

Poor Alfred Keers has gone west...

After several days of bad weather, he flew three uneventful missions on 7 and 8 July 1916. On the afternoon of 8 July he lead three Strutters on an attack on the Hun airfield at Pronville. They hit the target hard and headed home. Keers noticed that his mates had got into a scrap a mile east, but seemed to have the upper hand. The EA broke off and headed home. Because Archie in the area was heavy, Keers climbed and turned westward. About five miles before he got to the lines he passed a lone Roland heading east. The two began a long scrap. After putting a good burst into the Hun, Keers saw him turn away and gave chase. His fire seemed to cause the German gunner to stop firing so he close for the kill. He did not notice that the gunner was still very much alive. The Hun's first burst hit Keers, wounding him severely. The Strutter's engine seemed to be missing on one cylinder, but it kept up enough revs that Keers was able to get back over the lines and put his machine down in a field. Pilot health was showing 26%. Keers landed safely but did not survive.

On to the next pilot in a few days!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/16 12:29 AM

Raine, sorry to hear of your pilot's demise, especially one flying in the same squad as my pilot. We can blame Banjoman for this. BTW, I try to steer clear of the Rolands. Very bad business.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/16 03:28 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Nov 11, 1916.

Hokie Smokes, I over-stressed my kite on an Airfield attack this morning. Got my rockets off and they ended up tearing up a lot of trees and Shrubs + the side of a tent. The N-10 behaved badly all the way back maybe now they will give me a New N-11.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/16 09:08 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/16 11:29 PM

Thanks for the stats Banjoman.
Now that you've been there for a while, how do you find the new country?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/16 01:54 AM

We love it. The people are wonderful and the climate is almost perfect. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but really the difference between the average high temperature in the summer and winter is only four degrees, it is almost a constant temperature in the 70s. As a matter of fact, we live with our windows open all the time and since we have screens on them we aren't bothered by mosquitoes.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/16 02:02 AM

That does sound nice. Even though it is better than normal this year weather wise here, I already cringe thinking of the white stuff that will eventually come this way. Enjoy it!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/16 04:08 AM

Come on down when you've had enough of that white stuff. I think it's amazing that most of the people here have never even seen snow.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/16 03:33 PM

wave

Banjoman

Have U got settled in down there or still exploring ? Hope that all is well and fine.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/16 03:41 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Nov 14 1916.

Up on Patrol with 4 other a/c, flying as tail end charlie spotted a blue colored e/a. Tried to alert the Flight, but no go. Since I was so far back anyway, I did a loner and played tag with a 2 Seat. While making my last run , I emptied my last ammo drum at him, and Heard that awful Ripping sound The Fabric was tearing off my wing. Leveled off, down power, and very gently headed for a long road to land on.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/16 09:46 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Nov 16, 1916.

I say, A regular shambles today. Posted to a 4 a/c Aerodrome attack. On the final turn to target, we spotted a 3 e/a flight over target area + 2 of the newer Albatross planes on the down low. My flight leader turned for home only to loose one N-11 to flack on the way back. Boulder Dash !

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/19/16 03:48 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

Nov 17, 1916

Sent back on a Do-over attack. Hq seem a bit crackers about the Mission. Supply only had 8 rockets for the 4 of us.so Stiff upper lip and Off we went. I didnt see a lot of damage after I shot everything I had in 2 passes. After that Home and Tea.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/20/16 01:44 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/21/16 02:02 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt-Pilot
RNAS 6
A Sqn , 4th Wing
Petit-Synthe Flanders.

20 Nov 1916.


I say, Bit of bad luck, I tangled with Hun who was a good flyer. We had 5 a/c in 2 flights on Patrol. B Flight took after 2 two Seats escorted by 1 Fokker I spotted Our Top cover diving on 3 Albatross Scouts so I went down with them. It was a turn and burn dissolving into individual fights. Spotted 2 smoke trails under me while fighting the Hun. I put on the last drum when he hit me with a good burst and I spun out. Luckily, Archie was popping and the Hun went home as I limped into a friendly base and the Hospital till 1 Dec. The Sgn Reported 2 Destroyed + (me) Wnd the other 2 had Lt damage. for 1 Hun destroyed ( 2 seat)





Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/21/16 02:34 AM

Bad luck, Carrick58! At least your pilot is still in one piece (more or less).
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/16 12:03 AM

Today Bernard Sorelle was bested by the Aviatik rear gunner. He cut Bernard's control wires with the first burst on the initial pass. Bernard went into a shallow spin north of Verdun with no chance of recovery. Once he realized his fate has been sealed, Bernard begun to sing La Marseillaise and did not stop until the bitter end. RIP Bernard Sorelle 1892-1916.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/16 02:54 AM

Tough week for everyone it seems. Sorry to hear about Bernard, Fullofit. And Carrick, that's a long time out. Best of luck for your return. Banjoman, thank you for the chart.

After a short break for real life, I have started a new career in the Warbirds Rising group. Meet Blaise St John-Cottingham. In the game and in my online report he is a Sergeant, but for the sake of the story below, he is a commissioned 2Lt and will remain so until the game promotes him past that rank.



War Journal of 2/Lt Blaise St John-Cottingham
Savy, France
20 November 1916 –

20 November 1916: Posted at last. It’s been a long innings getting here. A few autobiographical notes are in order, just in case I’m not around to fill in that part of the tale. I was born in Church Stretton, a lovely place. The St Johns have lived in the place since the Flood, I’m told. My great-grandfather built one of the earlier woolen mills in the area, shearing fortunes from the black-faced sheep that dot the high heaths of the Long Mynd. The Cottingham side of the family came along in the presence of my paternal grandmother, whose father recognized the economic potential of the healthy air and mountainous scenery. He built hotels, spas, and acquired property. Between the two families, they did rather well, becoming little tin gods on their own island. The family names acquired a hyphen, and in 1880 my grandfather acquired a baronetcy, which has since passed to my father. Father is horse-mad and was until recently Master of the South Shropshire Hunt.

I came along in 1896, a boy at last after three girls. My sisters, all of whom are annoying, are married. I boarded at Shrewsbury School. Cricket and rowing and riding captured most of my attention, I’m afraid. Father intended to see me off to Oxford, but the war saved me from having to explain that they would be unlikely to take me. I took a commission into the Shropshire Yeomanry in August 1914. We had a wizard time playing soldier in the fields about Peterborough. In November 1915, however, our brigade was dismounted. Having pleaded with Father to speak with someone to get me into the RFC, I made a dash for London. Father had talked with a fellow he knew who owned newspapers and who was owed a favour by someone in Asquith’s government. All very confusing, but I was in without too much bother.

Staying in was a bit more of a concern. I was quickly packed off to the Vickers flying school at Brooklands, but had not progressed beyond classroom instruction before being sent to Upavon. There I took a “Rumpety” (a Maurice Farman machine of the pusher type) up six times in four days. With about 150 minutes of dual time in my book, I was allowed to solo. Unfortunately I soloed into a line of trees, surviving much more intact than my machine. I was on the infirm list for about three months after the crash.

On my return I was welcomed with various dire threats, but a week later I got the bloody machine up and brought it down safely on the third bounce. I did better on the classroom work, for once an attentive student. From that point life became more interesting. We got to fly BE2s, a real combat aircraft, and then Avros. Before shipping out to France, I managed nearly two hours on a Nieuport 10C.

My first stop was the depot at St-Omer, where for two weeks I had my fill of bad food and good flying. On 20 November 1916, a year to the day after leaving the cavalry, I was posted to No 60 Squadron, RFC, stationed at Savy, near Arras. The squadron commander here is a severe looking chap, Major Smith-Barry. The squadron was on Moranes until a month or so ago. It has taken its share of casualties, but it has had its share of victories, too. Most notable among the old boys was Captain Ball, who has gone home on leave.
We are billeted in the fine home of the village mayor, directly across from our field. There is a world of livestock about us, so I fear the mayor will have to look out for his property. I share a room with a fellow named Willie Fry, a former bank clerk who started here a while back on Moranes.

My machine is a Type 16 Nieuport. It is very light and nimble and mounts a Lewis gun on the upper wing. My flight commander, Captain Gilchrist, warned me that the thing is also liable to break up if handled roughly. I got to take the machine up three times this first day in order to learn a little about the countryside and how to find my way home.

21 November 1916: At eight-thirty this morning, Captain Gilchrist took our flight down towards the Somme but stayed behind the lines. Several enemy aircraft had been reported west of Albert, but we saw nothing. By previous arrangement I left the formation over Doullens and navigated home. The Nieuport lacks a compass, so I must carry my own. I promptly dropped the thing to the floor and from that point I picked my way from landmark to landmark, finally recognizing the rail line that runs west from Arras towards Savy. I was thrilled to arrive back before the others. 2/Lt Oliver Phillips was gazetted for an MC today, so there was a party in the mess – a “binge” it’s called. I’m learning a little more about my fellow pilots, which I shall record when I have more time.

22 November 1916: To my horror, Major Smith-Barry told me I must lead a flight of five machines north of Ypres to our lines near Diksmuide, there to patrol for an hour. It took a long time to climb to ten thousand feet, just high enough to clear a rather heavy cloud layer. On our second circuit in the patrol area, Phillips pulled ahead of me and led the others in a sweeping turn to the north. I followed them, annoyed at Phillips usurping my lead when I was doing nicely, or so I thought. Seconds later a strange cigar-shaped machine swept past me to the left. It bore big nasty black crosses!

For the next three or four minutes I struggled to follow the action. I believe there were two “Huns”, as the enemy is universally called, and I was told later they were Roland two-seaters. The things were astoundingly nimble. I fired most of a drum away in short bursts, but I saw no effect and eventually lost sight of everyone. I climbed westward, as the wind was carrying us over the lines below. Then out of thin air emerged first one Nieuport, then another, then another two, until all four had taken up formation once again. It chilled me that four machines could take station on my wing without my noticing their approach. If they were Huns, I thought.

I managed to find Savy without too much trouble and regained a little confidence. Willie Fry claimed one of the Rolands, and I bought him a drink after dinner. Off to bed. I have an early wake-up in the morning.


"I promptly dropped the thing to the floor and from that point I picked my way from landmark to landmark, finally recognizing the rail line that runs west from Arras towards Savy."
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/16 04:11 AM

wave

Good stories. Keep em flying
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/23/16 11:58 AM

I'm sorry to have to report that my two-seater pilot flying in FFA 71, Offizierstellvertreter August Ege, was shot down and killed on July 26th, 1916, on a photo recon mission to Verdun.

It seemed like a typical flight, and August and his wingman even had three Eindeckers escorting them. Returning to base, they were attacked by a large group of French Nupe 17's. The Fokkers ran away without a fight, leaving August and his wingman to fend for themselves. August attempted to shake off the attackers by diving down, but it was of no use and soon bullets from a Nupe hit him.

He made a forced landing behind enemy lines, but soon perished from his wounds, and was buried near Verdun among countless other victims of that terrible battle.

***

Clearly my two-seater flying skills are terribly rusty after spending so much time flying Fokkers in the other DID! It didn't help that the escorts ran away as usual. But I should have known to expect that and been better prepared.

Oh well, c'est la guerre!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/25/16 02:09 AM

Hasse, so sorry about August. But it's time for another pilot. The war is starting to get interesting.

War Journal of 2/Lt Blaise St John-Cottingham
Savy, France


23 November 1916: Flew in filthy weather, snow and sleet, up to patrol the area near our field at Hesdigneul. Wing reported EA in that sector. Lt Cole led, and Major Smith-Barry flew on his wing. I flew on his other wing. At one point the two of them turned and began climbing. I followed some distance behind. A German two-seater emerged hazily thought the muck and Cole began to fire. The Hun quickly snapped about and began throwing his “grid” all over the sky (Keith Caldwell, our resident Kiwi, calls every machine a grid, which is an antipodean name for a bicycle). Then I found a second Hun on my tail. With the high wind gusts, my Type 16 machine passed quickly from straining due to speed to stalling and back to straining. I managed only a few brief snap bursts before stalling and falling below the fight. The Huns, which I later learned were Rolands, made off safely and we returned home, wet and frozen.

Capt Latta from A Flight is being posted out to Home Establishment this day. He took over the flight from Ball before he left at the end of last month. His place will be taken by Capt George Parker. I am sharing a room in the mairie with a chap named Bill Sowrie, a former infantry type and a quiet sort. He has two brothers in the Flying Corps and is quite mad about wanting to shoot down Huns, which I find distasteful.

At dinner I learned that the Halberstadt I claimed yesterday was seen to crash by a Canadian artillery battery, so it is my first confirmed victory. Far from being feted, this apparently calls for me to buy a round of drinks for everyone in the mess.

Mother has sent me a wonderful hamper from Fortnum & Mason: fruits, ham, gentleman’s relish, tinned grouse, marmalade, chocolate, shortbread, ginger biscuits, and wine. The latter is a waste, since decent wine can be bought for pennies here. I wrote home to thank the parents. I also received a package with back issues of the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News and the Tatler.

24 November 1916: Bad weather persists yet I went up again with Cole, Smith-Barry, Phillips, and Sowrey. We married up with two French Caudrons and picked our way through clouds. I got lost at one point for nearly ten minutes, but then spotted the others some distance off just as several EA attacked them. I joined in and fought a Halberstadt single-seat type down to about a thousand feet above the enemy lines near Oppy. I got a couple of good shots at him and saw rounds hit home. The Hun’s propeller stopped and I last saw it descending in swirling loops over the lines. I have put in a claim but heard nothing from the RO since our reports were filed. It will likely remain only a “driven down.”

I learned also that no squadron tradition obliged me to buy drinks yesterday. Captain Gilchrist told me that story and I was gullible enough to believe him. It will be necessary to get revenge or I shall look a fool.


"The Hun’s propeller stopped and I last saw it descending in swirling loops over the lines."
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/25/16 02:31 AM

Raine, what I love most about your stories is your ability to make the everyday life of your pilot sound so interesting. Where do you find the names of the stores and other businesses that you have in your stories?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/25/16 04:50 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Raine, what I love most about your stories is your ability to make the everyday life of your pilot sound so interesting. Where do you find the names of the stores and other businesses that you have in your stories?


Thanks for indulging my insanity, Banjoman! I'm happy you appreciate the stories, because like a true history geek I try to ensure that they are as accurate as possible.

You asked about stores and businesses. Fortnum & Mason, mentioned in the last story I posted here, has been a London purveyor of fine foods since the 1700s and wealthier British families famously sent F&M gift hampers to men at the front in both world wars (In Rommel's 1942 attack on the Gazala Line in North Africa, so many retreating British officers had to leave so many of their goodie boxes behind that the former defensive position was jokingly called the "Fortnum & Mason line"). You can still visit the store on Piccadilly. Two years ago my son and daughter in law in London sent us one of their famous hampers of delicacies for Christmas.



Most business references are researched on line. For example, I've referenced Gieves and Hawkes, the London tailor known for making officers' uniforms; period hotels like the Regent Palace; theatres like the Alhambra (making sure to know what was playing where); and restaurants like Ciro's or the Criterion. Because the stories have to make historical sense, I'll check the rail lines from Southampton or Dover and make sure that the character on leave is arriving at the right station. Sometimes this leads to weird searches, such as "what soldiers' canteens were operating in Charing Cross Station in 1918 and by whom -- Red Cross, YMCA, someone else?"

Other references come from book or Internet searches, or from personal experience. For example, I spent Christmas of 1971 and 1972 at the Lion Inn in the town of Shrewsbury in western England. Having got to know a little of the surroundings, I placed my latest pilot in that part of the world. Back in 1971 I watched the South Shropshire Hunt in Church Stretton, which inspired the reference in Cottingham's first story to his father having been the Hunt Master. A book on 60 Squadron described the accommodations at Savy and helped me get the squadron and flight commanders right. I knew that the "Tatler" was a popular society magazine of the day (I think it was mentioned in Downton Abbey), but I googled up the sporting magazine that Cottingham got in a package from home. The reference to "gentlemen's relish" came from V.M. Yeates's "Winged Victory."

Sometimes I'll use modern maps or Google Earth and combine them with period memoirs to make sure that descriptions of places are accurate to the time. In the other DiD campaign my characters were in Paris. You could trace their outings easily on a map.

Finally, sometimes I'll use tales from family history. For example, my Jack Cairns character in the other campaign was born in Glasgow after his vicar father moved there to stay with his parishioners, who had moved north when Yarrow shipyard moved from London to Glasgow. That pretty much mirrors my great-grandfather, who was an engineer with Yarrow and moved to Glasgow from London around 1911 when the business relocated.

One of the hardest things is to get the language right. In my last post, Cottingham says "We had a wizard time playing soldier in the fields about Peterborough" (incidentally, the Shropshire Yeomanry were in fact training in that part of England in 1915). It took a half hour to confirm that the use of "wizard" to mean "terrific" or "wonderful" was in current use as early as 1916.

I admit I've gone a little nuts about all this, but it's fun for me, and helped RAF_Louvert accept that I was barmy enough to join the BWOC. I remember one night searching online sources for three hours to make sure that a character forced down over British lines would meet folks from the right regiment for that place and time, and that he would be processed through the right casualty clearing station and end up in the right hospital for his situation.

Sad, isn't it? I suppose the payback is that you really become immersed in your pilot and his times, and try very hard to take care of him. It makes for a wonderful flight sim experience.



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/25/16 06:50 PM

To: Sgn Mess, 6 RNAS

Nov 25th 1916.

Hi Chaps, Just a little writ to let you blokes know I'll be heading back. The doctors say that I am fit to be back in the thick of it. On leave in Paris to see the sights until returning 1 Dec .

https://youtu.be/lRUBigCcVA8

Dudley Nightshade
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/25/16 07:20 PM

Raine, it might be sad but it is the main reason why I love your stories. As a matter of fact, I think you have inspired me to try and do a better job of including that sort of information in my stories. I feel like I can speak for you when I say that the stories are my favorite part of these DID campaigns. Anyway, keep these fine stories coming.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/26/16 01:32 AM

Sgt. Cesar Turtellotte.
Verdun sector. Nov.24, 1916.
The unit is transferring from Lemmes to Vadelaincourt.



I think I'll just walk.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/26/16 02:36 AM

rofl
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/26/16 08:57 PM

Sqn Mess
6 RNAS
Petit- Snythe
Flanders, France.


Arrived in Paris for my Med Leave, I took in futuristic Film at the EXPO here in the city

https://youtu.be/NMn1-_n4jw0

then off to a relaxing Theater Play

https://youtu.be/lK0gYi1YEZ8

Sgt Dudley Nightshade
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/27/16 02:24 PM

Here is the latest status report. Last week was a rough week for the group, we lost a number of stellar pilots.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/27/16 06:22 PM

As always, thanks for the stats Banjoman.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/28/16 11:27 AM

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/28/16 09:50 PM

Oh Lord, Cecil isn't long for this world! sigh
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/16 03:21 AM

Banjoman, thanks for the stats update!!! Here is the latest story from Blaise...

War Journal of 2/Lt Blaise St John-Cottingham
Savy, France


25 November 1916: A corporal rousted Sowrie and me out of bed before first light. We were due for the early patrol, but snow and sleet had fallen all night and it was obvious the show would be cancelled. We sat on our beds and sipped tea. Each flight shared a single batman. Ours was named Cporporal Maconochie. His tea was vile but he did our boots well.

Sowrie was painfully quiet. I prised it out that he’d been at King’s College School, Wimbledon. He had done some rowing, so we had that in common. He had two brothers in the RFC. One, Frederick, had even got the DFC for downing a Zeppelin. He was aeroplane mad. Once the topic turned mechanical he was a different chap altogether.

I had time to wash up properly and had just pulled my kit together for a walk to the village bath house when Maconochie arrived blue-faced to stutter out the news that B Flight was to take off in fifteen minutes. Breakfast was forgotten in the rush. Major Smith-Barry was to lead Sowrey, “Duke” Meintjes, and me up to St-Omer in response to a telephone call that Huns were spotted over the lines in that direction. Sleet and mist hid the far end of the field.

We took off in heavy gusts and the left lower wing snipped at the frozen tufts of grass before I lifted off. The flight north was miserable and wet. My feet were frozen in my leather boots, and I envied the chaps with the new sheepskin things from Harrods. The clouds were thick and disorienting so I followed the leader and ignored everything else. This far behind the lines that seemed a safe plan.

Suddenly Smith-Barry winged over and dropped. I followed, but several seconds behind. I passed blindly through several banks of clouds, emerging at last into a clear gap at around 6,000 feet. And there in front were three Halberstadt single-seaters heading east at full throttle. The three Huns were likely lost and scared, for they made little effort to engage us. One turned at us and fired a few rounds, then dived away. I followed and emptied a drum at him from 150 yards behind, all to no effect. Changing the drum on the Type 16 was a circus act, requiring one to unbuckle and stand, hold the stick between one’s knees, and loosen the old drum in the face of a wet, driving, 100 knot gale. Twice I nearly fell over the side of the cockpit. When I finally gave up and sat, the stick got caught under my coat and nearly caused me an injury. Fortunately for me the Hun disappeared into the clouds and let me recover in dignity.

I was lost so flew west for ten minutes. At length I spotted a town, and then the unmistakeable clutter of No 1 Aircraft Depot at St-Omer, where I put down and sorted out my ammunition before flying home at 500 feet. Over a late breakfast I got the happy news that the Halberstadt I downed yesterday had been seen to fall by own troops. That was my second official victory, which made me feel rather a success.

26 November 1916: We escorted a BE12 to Péronne, seeing nothing but getting very cold once again.

27 November 1916: The rain and sleet let up this morning long enough to get off at eight. Captain Gilchrist had a 48 hour leave pass, so Lieut Cole led me, Phillips, Fry, and Hill on a distant offensive patrol down to Bapaume and then thirty miles into darkest Hunland. We saw nothing until shortly after we turned home. Then one flight of Halberstadts approached from the south. We turned to meet them and had barely begun to scrap when a second group of Huns joined in. I cursed the tendency of my older model Nieuport to stall when fighting in high winds. A pair of Huns singled me out. For at least five minutes I flew absolutely defensively, firing only once in all that time. Suddenly the Huns broke off and I was alone, down to 3,500 feet and far from home. I climbed westward searching the sky. After nearly fifteen minutes a lone Nieuport approached and took station on my wing. It was Phillips.

Back at Savy we were delighted to discover that Fry had already landed and Hill and Cole had called in by telephone from other fields. Cole claimed one EA down and Fry another. All in all a good day.

C Flight has moved into Nissen huts by the field and has set up its own mess. Perhaps we will join them soon, but I am in no hurry to leave our comfortable billet in the village. Since I missed the chance yesterday, I will make my way to the baths this afternoon.

French villages are odd places. They seem so low and drab compared to our lovely little English communities. Oddest of all are the piles of manure that each landowner accumulates in front of his house, as if to proclaim his importance and wealth by strength of odour. But the inside of the homes are meticulously kept and the smells from the kitchens more than compensate for the stinking middens outside. Each room is adorned with religious imagery, whether a crucifix, a shrine to the Virgin, or a languorous Christ with his exposed heart entangled in thorns. Give me a good old British hunt breakfast scene any day!

A heavy fog is creeping over the fields about us. We may get some time off at last.


"I followed and emptied a drum at him from 150 yards behind, all to no effect."
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/16 10:52 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, 6 RNAS


Dec 1, 1916.

Posted to the mornings flight only to be Cancelled out by the weather SNOW. looks like no flights till 3 Dec.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/16 01:57 AM

Intrepid Fliers - News of the World for July:

July 1
The Battle of the Somme began on the Western Front. The opening day of the battle was the worst single day's fighting in British military history with casualties of nearly 60,000 British troops.
July 2
The Battle of Erzincan began between Russian and Turkish troops.
July 3
The Russian and Japanese Governments concluded a treaty regarding future policy in the Far East.
July 4
Heavy thunderstorms impeded progress at the Somme as British troops continued their advance in La Boiselle.
July 5
British and Indian troops entered Tanga on the Indian Ocean in German East Africa.
July 7
David Lloyd George succeeded the late Lord Kitchener as British Secretary of State for War.
July 9
The British liberal politician Edwin Samuel Montagu was appointed Minister of Munitions in Great Britain.
July 10
The Italian destroyer Impetuoso was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in the Adriatic Sea.
July 11
A German submarine shelled Seaham harbor in County Durham.
July 12
British forces succeeded in clearing Mametz Wood, four and a half kilometers past the German lines on the Somme.
July 13
British troops temporarily pierced the German line at Bezantin Ridge on the Somme.
July 14
The Battle of Bazentin Ridge began, launching the second phase of the Somme Offensive.
British troops occupied the German port of Mwanza in German East Africa.
July 15
A subsidiary attack of the Somme Offensive, the Battle of Delville Wood began when South African troops attempted to clear the woods of German forces.
July 17
The Battle of Bazentin Ridge ended in a tactical British victory.
July 18
The British Government ratified a treaty with Ibn Saud, the Emir of Nejd.
July 19
The Battle of Fromelles was a combined operation by British and Australian troops to divert attention from the Battle of the Somme.
July 20
The Battle of Fromelles ended with a decisive German victory.
July 22
Sergei Sazonov resigned as Russian Foreign Minister and was succeeded by Boris Sturmer.
July 23
The two week struggle for the French village of Pozieres and the surrounding ridge, the Battle of Pozieres Ridge
began.
July 25
Russian forces captured Erzingian in Armenia which was then evacuated without further fighting.
July 27
British naval Captain Charles Fryatt was executed by the Germans after he was court-martialled following his
unsuccessful attempt to ram and sink a German U-Boat.
July 28
British troops captured Delville Wood and Longueval village and progressed towards Pozieres.
July 29
The German Government rejected Britain's offer to permit sea passage of humanitarian foodstuffs going to Poland from the United States.
July 30
The first combined Franco-British aerial operations took place on the Western Front.
The Black Tom Island munitions plant in New Jersey was destroyed by an explosion. It was suspected to be the work
of German saboteurs.
July 31
The British Prime Minister denounced the execution of Captain Fryatt in the House of Commons.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/16 01:59 AM

Warbirds Rising - News of the World for November:

November 1
French forces recaptured Fort Vaux near Verdun.
November 4
The Ninth Battle of the Isonzo ended with a limited Italian advance. 1916 had seen five Isonzo operations on top of four undertaken the previous year.
November 5
Germany and Austria declared an "Independent State of Poland".
Although the Battle of Le Transloy officially ended on 18 November, a final attack was made without success. The battle ended with no significant gain along the Transloy Ridge.
November 6
In the Sudan operations against the ex-Sultan of Darfur resulted in his defeat and death near the frontier of Wadai at the Affair of Gyuba.
November 7
Woodrow Wilson was re-elected as President of the United States of America.
November 8
The American Steamer Columbian was sunk by German submarine U-49 near Cape Finisterre.
November 9
An aerial battle took place between British and German aeroplanes near Bapaume in northern France.
November 11
The Battle of the Ancre Heights ended with a British victory over German forces.
November 12
British forces occupied Shiraz in Persia.
November 13
In the final significant phase of the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of the Ancre saw a renewal of the Allied offensive; British troops finally captured Beaumont Hamel.
November 15
An Inter-Allied conference was held in Paris to discuss ways to counter German mobilisation of Belgians and Poles.
November 16
The Battle of Targu-Jiu began in Romania.
November 17
Germans broke through the Romanian front at the Battle of Targu-Jiu in the Jiu Valley.
November 18
After four-and-a-half months of fighting the Battle of the Somme ended with enormous losses on both sides. Allied forces had pushed back the German line but the offensive cost more than 1 million casualties.
November 19
French and Serbian forces captured Monastir in Serbia.
The Entente Governments presented another ultimatum to King Konstantinos of Greece demanding that all representatives of the Central Powers be expelled.
November 20
German diplomat Gottlieb von Jagow resigned as German Foreign Minister.
November 21
German forces occupied Craiova in Romania on the Eastern Front.
The British Hospital Ship HMHS Britannic sank after hitting a German mine in the Aegean Sea.
Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria died and was succeeded by his great-nephew Charles I.
November 22
German and Austrian forces captured Orsova in Hungary.
November 23
The British hospital ship Braemar Castle was damaged after hitting a mine in the Aegean Sea.
The Provisional Greek Government at Salonika declared war on Bulgaria and Germany.
November 24
Boris Sturmer resigned as Russian Premier and Foreign Minister was succeeded by Alexander Trepov as Premier.
November 26
A German naval raid took place on Lowestoft on the east coast of England during which the naval trawler HMT Narval was sunk.
November 27
Two Zeppelins were shot down during a German airship raid on Hartlepool and Great Yarmouth on the east coast of England.
November 28
The first German daylight aeroplane raid on London took place. The Germans hoped that by making raids on London and the South East, the British Air Force would be forced into protecting the home front rather than attacking the German Air Force.
November 29
David Beatty was appointed to replace Admiral Sir John Jellicoe as Commander of the Grand Fleet.
November 30
Allied forces began disembarking at Piraeus in Greece.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/16 02:07 AM

This war has become deadly for the Eindecker Fliegers.



Bruce Wayne made sure one of them will not be bothering him anymore.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/16 02:25 AM

Great screenshot Bud! Thanks for the events calendar. Always very informative.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/16 03:07 AM

MFair, my pleasure. I always learn something new when preparing them.
The picture kinda makes you feel sorry for the unfortunate pilots in front of your gun. C'est la guerre!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/16 02:44 PM

Here is the latest status report and the latest Roll of Honor. You guys be careful the Roll of Honor is starting to get rather large.



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/16 05:53 PM

Dudley Nightshade
6 RNAS




4 Dec 1916.

Its still snowing outside so No flights. I was put in charge of a detail to pack the Runway. We use a horse to pull a door with 2 men riding on it over the snow thereby packing it down.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/06/16 01:58 AM

Today Bruce Wayne & Co. went on a trip all the way up north sightseeing the English Channel. They had to start early as it was a long trip.



Once there they were greeted by beautiful views, great weather...

...and some Huns.

Needless to say the Hun got more than just the sun tan.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/11/16 09:49 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/16 01:51 AM

Thanks for the stats Banjoman. No too many pilots in the early period. Looks like everyone wants to get to 1917 ASAP.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/16 03:10 AM

Yep, Raine is normally a good standby during the early period but his pilot died and he hasn't created a new one.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/16 03:46 AM

After I lost my early period pilot, I played with the idea of a German pilot in the early period or a British one in the later period. The latter idea won out and I didn't want to have two going at the same time. If Blaise gets killed, my next fellow may be in the earlier series...
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/13/16 04:26 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, RFC
6 RNAS


11 Dec 1916.

The weather opened up for a little flight time, but looks like it will close back in shortly. Light Snow and freezing rain along with Heavy cloud. The Sqn put up 5 a/c for a line patrol. spotted a few friendly a/c then headed home.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/13/16 09:58 PM

Carrick58, I bet Arthur, my Warbirds pilot, has flown only twice during the whole month of December. I don't remember from early versions of WOFF the weather being so horrible in December '16. I wonder if they tweaked the weather logic?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/13/16 11:06 PM

Same here. Cezar has been grounded since end of November in Verdun. Flown 1 mission last week. Flown yesterday and is grounded till Saturday. That's 3 missions in 3 weeks. Just imagine what must be happening in the trenches!
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/16 06:46 AM

December 1916 was very bad month for flying due to poor weather. However, good for relaxing and leave to Paris.
Posted By: Deacon211

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/16 11:05 PM

I was thinking the same thing about the weather, but I do recall when I ran my first Laf Esc pilot through the whole war that around this time the weather was dog squeeze.

It just wasn't as odious as I just kept advancing through weather CNX until eventually I was back flying every day.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/16 11:56 PM

Originally Posted By: JJJ65
December 1916 was very bad month for flying due to poor weather. However, good for relaxing and leave to Paris.

Time to learn Can-Can with the ladies.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/15/16 02:27 AM

Finally had a chance to catch up on the story. The weather has been terrible!

War Journal of 2/Lt Blaise St John-Cottingham
Savy, France


4 December 1916: Shortly after my last entry on 27 November we received news that Captain George Parker, who had joined us and taken over A Flight only four days earlier, had been shot down. His flight met up with some of the new Albatros type scouts, which are the Hun’s latest devilry.

We have had snow and high winds every day for a week. Flying was impossible. We put up two flights (not mine, thank God) and lost four aircraft to bad landings in the winds. Several aircraft were damaged when their tail skids shattered on the frozen turf.

Major Smith-Barry is complaining unceasingly about the poor abilities of our new men. This week he wrote a long letter to the GOC outlining his ideas about how pilots needed to be prepared for France, the latest of several essays on the topic.

Smith-Barry is one of those types who become very concerned about morale when men are idle. To be sure, idleness has never bothered me greatly. I rather enjoy it, actually, especially when the alternative is to lather oneself in whale oil, don more sheepskin than a Cossack warlord, and take off into a hundred mile an hour blast at minus twenty degrees to test whether frostbite or the spray of burnt castor oil will do you in first.

We got up this morning to fine but bone-wrackingly frigid day. The flight was led by the New Zealander, Captain Caldwell (We call Caldwell “Grid.” It’s an Anzac name for a bicycle and he calls all aircraft grids. Some of the others have taken to it as well.) The job was to waltz over to Douai and strafe the Hun aerodrome there. By the time we turned onto our final leg, approaching the target field from the south, I could not feel my hands. They were mittened lumps of insensate blubber. I loosened by belt and tried sitting on one hand, then the other, but it did no good. Before arriving over the Hun field I tried placing my right hand inside my flying coat and under my arm. That succeeded only in letting the icy wind get at my upper body.

I made a firing pass over the hangars and saw several mechanics running about in panic. Great fun. Then off to one side there appeared a lone Halberstadt approaching the field. He must have spotted some of us for he turned away. He never saw me approach. I tried changing drums but dropped the spare one over the side due to my frozen hands. With just 15 or 20 rounds left in the first pan I closed to mere feet from the Hun machine and fired. There was no chance of missing. In a few seconds the Lewis’s cocking handle slammed forward into the number one position -- no more ammunition. My Halberstadt blithely sailed away, seemingly unharmed! I was separated now from the others and returned home alone.

I have read a great deal the past few days. Mother sent me several volumes of Walter Scott, and a rather good novel by Wells. Tried my hand at a bit of poetry for the first time since Shrewsbury School, but still produced pure rubbish.

11 December 1916: Lieut Cole took up four of us in driving snow to patrol deep into Hunland. We headed south towards the Saint-Quentin area. Naturally we saw nothing, but I had several harrowing moments as white Nieuports disappeared and reappeared only feet away in the cloud and muck.

Despite the weather, Sergeant-Major Aspinall, driven to action no doubt by the good major, rousted me out of the warm mess to join the football team for a match against 11 Squadron from Izel. The side from No 11 had the advantage of a larger mess, being a two-seater outfit, but we had a secret weapon in our stores sergeant, who had been a league midfielder before the war, and we won handily. I was filthy by the time we were done and the water at the village bath house was cold. If I die of pneumonia, please take the matter up with Smith-Barry.

14 December 1916: Have not flown since the 11th. Last night the squadron orchestra put on a concert for all ranks. The OC declared it a parade, so I spent ninety minutes in C Flight’s draughty hangar having my morale improved. Sergt-Major Nicod, our technical sergeant-major, is rather a good pianist, and some of the other ranks were fine violinist. The squadron commander announced that we have the finest orchestra in the RFC. He is a musician himself, and without his help all this would not be necessary.

For my part, give me a squadron commander who loves horses, hounds, wine, and women. Then we’ll have some entertainment.


"We got up this morning to fine but bone-wrackingly frigid day."
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/16 09:02 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, RFC
6 RNAS

Dec 16, 1916.


Still on the ground due to Weather.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/18/16 02:30 PM

Here's the latest status report. Carrick58, I noticed you haven't logged any information in a while, please don't forget because I want to keep an official record of Dudley's exploits.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/18/16 09:35 PM

Broderick Bolitho
Squadron Com.
December 18, 1916
Furnes Aerodrome

The morning show was to attack Roulers Junction. Myself and Flight Commander Kennicut were assigned the task. The day was very nice but cold. Only a few clouds and good visibility above 5000 ft. Approaching Roulers We were attacked by a lone Hun scout. Kennicut got behind him and I was able to watch the show as he sent him to the ground.



We reformed and made 3 passes on the Railyard. As I was completing my third pass there was a Hun scout coming straight for me. I out climbed him and rolled in on his tail and with a few short bursts he went to the ground and crashed. One more pass and we headed home. Another day alive.



Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/19/16 02:11 AM

End of August 1916, Flanders. Bruce Wayne is enjoying his time in the Strutter. On his most recent mission he crippled a Halberstadt, flew alongside him and then his gunner did what a gunner usually does. He farted in his general direction.



Bruce had to finish the job, as the gunner was having too much fun.

16 December 1916, Verdun. Cesar Turtellotte finally was able to get a mission in. Balloon busting.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/21/16 04:28 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, RFC
6 RNAS

Dec 21, 1916.


The Sqn put up my section of 3 for a patrol. The enemy PBI put 2 holes in my lower left wing for my efforts, but at lest I got some air time.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/21/16 04:31 AM

wave


Hi There, My pilot been on the ground except for 2 flights due to weather However I will send the info this weekend.

tanksalot
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/21/16 01:07 PM

Thanks, Arthur is in the same boat. I think I've only flown twice as well.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/16 04:11 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, RFC
6 RNAS


Dec 22, 1916.

Balloon burst

B Flt: 5 A/c
Arm: Rockets and full machine guns loads.
T/O 0545 hrs.
WX: Low clouds but broken.


Remarks: I was flying Tail End and spotted 2 A/C High and to the East so popped up as High Cover. The e/a stayed away so reformed. My mates got the Air Bag amid Gun Fire. No fight with E/A developed so fired rockets at Known MG nests on the lines. One N-17 was lost due to ? Lumpy was seen waving as he lost height and crashed on the Hun Side Maybe POW ?



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/23/16 03:18 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, RFC
6 RNAS

Dec 23, 1916.

B flight had the duty so off on Patrol. Nothing spotted.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/24/16 04:57 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Sgt, RFC
6 RNAS


Dec 24, 1916.

I say, good show today ! B flight's 4 a/c were up on Patrol with Flt Commander Temple acting as Cover. Nearing the Trenches, I saw him mix it up with 2 e/a scouts. I dove to give a spot of help. He must have hit 1 because it headed for Hun Land, but the other made a side pass and got on his tail. Petal to the Metal, I barely got close enough to fire off a 40 rd Burst. The e/a , A Halb I think, curved to the right and I fired off another 40 rds. I must have hit him because the e/a slowed so I gave him 32 more 303 cal bullets. The e/a turned into a fireball as his wings came off and he went into a final dive. Following the Commanders a/c, I saw him force land by a French Church. He's Ok, I saw him Waving after getting out of the machine.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/24/16 01:56 PM

Carrick58, has your squadron converted to a night fighting squadron? biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/25/16 09:58 PM

Here's the latest status report.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/25/16 10:12 PM

reading

Ha Ha popcorn
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/25/16 10:23 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS



Dec 25, 1916.


Sqn Parade in the Hanger Promoted to Flight Lieutenant and notified that my 3rd Victory was confirmed. Our missing Flt Commander returned on a Horse drawn wagon late in the AM all flights down due to weather.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/25/16 11:46 PM

Congrats on the promotion Carrick! Stay safe
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/28/16 07:35 PM

yep wave

Thanks MFair.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/28/16 07:42 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt
6 RNAS
Petit-Snythe
France.


Dec 28, 1916.

Spotted a 2 Seat during the morning Patrol, the rest of the flight continued on. I did managed to close then it was a series of Head on passes. After putting on my last drum and not being able to get on his tail, I fired as I closed and dove away after going under him. We both headed for home and Tea.

Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/30/16 02:47 AM

War Journal of 2/Lt Blaise St John-Cottingham
60 Squadron
Savy, France


It has been two weeks since I have brought this journal properly up to date, and it would be wonderful to say that I have been too busy giving hell to the Hun to bother with writing. In truth, it has been anything but busy. We have had snow and freezing rain with low clouds and high winds for most of the past fortnight. As a consequence one is kept busy with mundane duties imposed by higher. God be praised that I got out of the cavalry, as the ground forces are suffering as much from the cold and wet as from the enemy. I made some scratch notes each day, so this entry is put together from those notes and from memory.

16 December 1916: Flew close offensive patrol to Coucellette, but got lost in driving snow. Patrolled the assigned sector for an hour at 1000 feet, taking miscellaneous rounds from friend and foe. Saw nothing and went home.

17-20 December 1916: Dud weather. Sgt-Major Aspinall decided I would learn Rugby, and the RO.

21 December 1916: We were assigned to down a balloon south of Lens, but did not find it. C Flight got it instead. I have been in combat for a complete month now.

22 December 1916: Patrolled in semi-darkness north to Ypres. As dawn broke, we spotted two Rolands in a break the heavy cloud and engaged them. I overstressed the right lower wing, which turned in its sockets in a horrid way, so I put my machine down at La Lovie. Our South African, Lieut Meintjes, bagged a Roland.

A new CO arrived, a Major Paget-Graves. He was a Fee jockey with 20 Squadron, where he damaged himself rather severely. He will be a non-flying squadron commander, it seems. Major Smith Barry leaves day after tomorrow for England. His relentless badgering of the GOC has paid off with his appointment to start a School of Advanced Flying at Gosport, and he is certainly over the moon about the whole thing. A dinner is planned for tomorrow night.

23 December 1916: Dud weather again. We had a send-off dinner for Major Smith-Barry tonight, a wonderful spread in the large dining room of the mayor’s house where we are billeted. Three turkeys and two pigs were done up for the meal, and Captain Dobson, our RO who fulfilled his secondary duties as PMC by laying down a fine supply of wines of all shade. The brigade commander, General Higgins, sat on one side of Smith-Barry and Lieut-Col Pretyman, our wing commander, sat on the other. Our local archie regimental commanders attended, as did a number of commanders of other squadrons. I had drinks before dinner with the actor, Robert Loraine. He was delighted to hear that I had seen him in Man and Superman at the Criterion during my Christmas holidays back in 1911. He is close with Bernard Shaw, who is sending him some short plays to put on at 40 Squadron, which he commands.

Our squadron band played for the dinner. Conducted by Captain Vincent and featuring the piano virtuosity of Sergeant Nicod, they did a smashing job.

24 December 1916: Took off at 7:00 in the morning, pitch black. Flew to Courcellette again, arriving as the black turned to grey. Snow stung us all the way there and back. Burned the requisite amount of fuel and went home.

A parcel arrived from Mother and to my delight contained a pair of the fine sheepskin thigh boots from Harrods. At last I shall be able to feel my feet while flying!

25-26 December 1916: Dud weather. I got 48 hours’ leave to go to Doullens. Not much to do, but had a good night in a hotel with a hot bath and fine meal.

27 December 1916: The morning flight was cancelled, but the weather broke by late morning. Captain Cole led four of us down to Brayelles, near Cambrai, providing cover for a couple of BEs. Again, we saw nothing.

Received a letter from Margaret, my second sister. Her husband Hugh has been sent to France with the Blues. He has had to give up his mount and commands a machine gun squadron. Margaret believes that he will be safer in that position.

28 December 1916: To my surprise, Major Paget-Graves had himself dropped into a Nieuport and led a five-machine flight to escort a BE2 on a photographic shoot of Hun positions along the Somme valley sector. On our return, two passing Rolands mixed with us for several exciting minutes, but then disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. At one point the gunner of one of the Hun machines put a round through the cowling that surrounds my windscreen. The bullet must have missed my face by only an inch or two. But a miss is as good as a mile, as they say.

And then the snow returned...


"At one point the gunner of one of the Hun machines put a round through the cowling that surrounds my windscreen. The bullet must have missed my face by only an inch or two."
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/30/16 08:43 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt
6 RNAS


30 Dec 1916.

Nothing but bad weather in the forecast so off to Paris for a long 3 day pass.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/30/16 08:50 PM

Cesar Turtellotte in Verdun sector has been promoted to Adjutant.
Despite his early near misses:



and impossible mission demands from the brass hats:



He finally hit his stride by downing a few Huns:




Bruce Wayne back in September 1916 had just the most successful bombing sortie of his career. Everyone pitched in:

Posted By: Hellshade

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/30/16 08:53 PM

Great screenshots. The new UE Damage Model is such a great improvement over 3.0
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/30/16 09:54 PM

Hellshade, in that case you will appreciate what Cesar did to this guy:




Or what state Bruce sometimes returns home:



I especially like the fact that the fire is concentrated in some areas and not just placed randomly like it used to be with the older DM with the bullet holes pretty much always in the same locations.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/01/17 05:42 PM

Intrepid Fliers - News of the World for August:

August 2
The Italian Dreadnought Leonardo da Vinci sank in Taranto harbour in Southern Italy after an internal explosion caused her to capsize.
August 3
The Irish Nationalist Roger Casement was hanged at Pentonville Prison for his involvement in the Easter Rising in Dublin earlier in the year.
The Battle of Romani began. The unsuccessful attempt by the German led Ottoman force to seize control of the Suez Canal was the last ground attack on the critical waterway during the war.
August 5
The advance of the main body of British forces began through the Nguru Hills during the East Africa Campaign.
August 6
The Sixth Battle of the Isonzo was launched against a combined German-Austro-Hungarian force. Also known as the Battle of Gorizia it was the most successful Italian offensive along the Isonzo River in North Eastern Italy during the war.
August 8
The Portuguese Government accepted the participation of Portugal in the war and extended military co-operation to the Europe.
August 9
Italian Chief-of-Staff Luigi Cadorna led his forces to take Gorizia and establish a bridgehead across the Isonzo River during the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo.
August 10
After its initial success the Brusilov Offensive came to an end with the loss of about 500,000 Russian and 375,000 Austrian lives.
August 11
The German colonial district of Mpwapwa in German East Africa was occupied by British forces.
August 12
Italian troops landed at Salonika in Greece to join Allied forces.
August 15
A British air attack and naval bombardment was launched on Bagamoyo on the German East African coast. The Germans were overrun and the German garrison taken.
During the Caucasus Campaign the Armenian towns of Mush and Bitlis were re-occupied by Turkish forces.
August 17
Luigi Cadorna had succeeded in moving forward 5km along a 20km-front and ended the offensive in the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo.
The Treaty of Bucharest of 1916 was signed between Romania and the Entente Powers. The treaty stipulated the conditions under which Romania agreed to join the war on the side of the Entente.
August 18
A combined British-French offensive was launched on the German held village of Guillemont with three British corps attacking the village while the French attacked the nearby village of Maurepas.
August 19
Two town-class light cruisers, HMS Falmouth and HMS Nottingham were sunk by U-boats.
August 22
The Morogoro Region of Kilosa in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) was captured by British forces.
August 23
The German blockade-breaking cargo submarine Deutschland returned to Bremerhaven in Germany.
August 24
In another engagement between the Russian Caucasus army and their Ottoman counterparts, Mush and Bitlis were again taken by Russian forces.
August 25
Russian forces cross the Danube into the Dobrudja to assist Romanian forces.
August 26
Under General Smuts, the city of Morogoro in Tanganyika was taken by British forces.
August 27
Following the Treaty of Bucharest, the Romanian Government ordered mobilisation of their armies and crossed the border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into the much-contested province of Transylvania.
August 28
Germany declared war on Romania and Italy declared war on Germany.
August 29
Brasov in Transylvania was occupied by Romanian forces.
Field-Marshal von Hindenburg succeeded General von Falkenhayn as Chief of the General Staff of the German Field Armies with General von Ludendorff as Chief Quartermaster-General.
August 30
The National Schism, caused by the disagreement on foreign policy between King Constantine I of Greece and revolutionary Eleftherios Venizelos, led to the Venizelist revolt in Salonika.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/01/17 05:44 PM

Warbirds Rising - News of the World for December:

December 1
The Battle of the Arges began along the line of the Arges River in Romania between Austro-German forces of the Central Powers and Romanian forces.
The Greek Government refused the Entente demands of 19 November.
December 2
Russian premier Alexander Trepov announced that the Allies acknowledged Russia's right to Constantinople and the Dardanelles.
December 3
German submarines entered Funchal Harbour in Madeira, sank three ships and bombarded the town.
December 4
Admiral Sir John Jellicoe was appointed as First Sea Lord, replacing Admiral Sir Henry Jackson.
December 5
Prime Minister Herbert Asquith resigned.
December 6
German forces captured Bucharest in Romania.
December 7
David Lloyd George replaced Asquith as British Prime Minister.
December 8
The Allied naval blockade of Greece began.
December 9
The new British War Cabinet was formed replacing the War Committee which had held its last meeting earlier in the month.
December 11
The two month long Battle of Cerna Bend between Bulgarian forces and French and Serbian troops ended in a tactical victory for the Entente powers.
December l2
German, Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian and Turkish Governments all delivered a Peace Note to their respective United States embassies stating they are ready to negotiate for peace.
December 13
British forces in Mesopotamia began operations to recapture Kut-al-Amara.
December 14
Allied powers sent an ultimatum to Greece demanding the removal of all forces from Thessaly.
December 15
The Greek Government accepted the Allied ultimatum.
December 16
The United Kingdom recognized the Sherif of Mecca as King of Hejaz.
December 17
The Greek Government issued a warrant for the arrest of Eleftherios Venizelos on a charge of high treason.
December 18
The longest battle on the Western Front, the Battle of Verdun ended with huge losses but no tactical or strategic advantage had been gained by either side.
US President Woodrow Wilson issued a Circular Note, asking all belligerents to state their war objectives, as a first step towards peace.
December 19
The British Government instituted National Service.
The British Government formally recognised the Venizelos Government of Greece.
December 20
Count Heinrich Karl Clam-Martinic replaced Ernst von Koerber as Prime Minister of Austria.
December 21
British forces occupied El Arish in their advance across the Sinai.
December 22
The British Government formed new Ministries of Food, Pensions and Shipping.
December 23
The Battle of Magdhaba took place in the Sinai peninsula during the Defense of Egypt section of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. After a day long battle, Turkish troops surrendered to the British.
December 25
King George V sent a message to the troops on the third Christmas Day of the war.
December 26
An Anglo-French conference met in London to discuss the German and US Peace Notes as well as the campaign in Salonika and the division of forces on the Western Front.
December 27
The German colony of Togoland was divided into British and French administrative zones.
December 29
Two relatives of Tsar Nicolas II, Grand Duke Purishkevich and Prince Felix Yusupov poisoned the confidant of the Tsarina, Father Grigori Yefimovich Novykh (Rasputin) at Yusupov's home in Petrograd. After this attempt at murder failed, the pair shot Rasputin and dropped his body through the ice of the River Neva.
December 30
The Bulgarian Government accepted President Wilson's proposals for peace negotiations.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/17 09:57 PM

Broderick Bolitho
Furnes Aerodrome
Jan. 2, 1917

Had a nice encounter with the Huns while escorting a bomber over a Ghistelles. We drove them off and everyone made it home safe.



Returning home after attacking the same airfield at dawn.



Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/17 10:24 PM

No rest for the wicked.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/17 06:05 PM

Guys, I'm really sorry for the delay in the status report but I've been super busy. Anyway, here is the latest status report and the latest Honor Roll call.



Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/17 06:38 PM

Thank you for the chart Banjoman, and thank you Fullofit for the "News of the World".

Since getting on up in hours I am at the point that Brodrick is getting a little nervous when the engine turns over.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/17 07:22 PM

MFair, you think you're nervous you should check out the hours both of my pilots have. It's hard to believe they are still alive.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/17 08:03 PM

I keep saying, the good times are about to be over with the Albs coming on the scene. 1917 will be as kind to our pilots as 2016 was to the celebrities. I've already made a list of pilot names all the way through "z".
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/17 08:58 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS


Jan 3, 1917.

General Weather has us grounded again. The Met Man says maybe 2 days more then a break.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/17 11:05 PM

FullofIt, that's just funny. rofl
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/17 12:31 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS


5 Jan 1917.


The Sqn put up 8 machines for the Dawn Patrol. Most of" A Flight's " are New Guys. Nothing sighted.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/17 01:37 AM

Carrick, how can you still be flying this bicycle? It's 1917, you should be in a Pup by now. winkngrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/17 02:31 AM

Fullofit, he's in a real man's squadron! biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/17 03:20 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Fullofit, he's in a real man's squadron! biggrin

Ah, I see. Good on you Carrick. When I was flying this crate, I couldn't wait to upgrade. I was happy when I got the girly Bebe.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/17 09:26 PM

A girly Create ? The N-10 and N-11 's were top of the Techno ladder ( back then anyway )
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/17 09:29 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS

Jan 6, 1917.


B flight did a little Balloon Burst. Why does GQ send us up at Dawn I don't know, it seems the gas bag would be up all day. Someone got the Bag then Home and Tea.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/17 05:13 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
7 Jan 1917.



Another Dawn Patrol up to the Lines and back. I did spot Many dots on the Enemy side of the lines , but my Flight Leader kept us on course.


Singing By the Light of the Silvery Moon: we fly along always thinking of Flying in Jun By the Light ect.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/08/17 05:45 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS


Jan 8, 1917.


Mission: Lines Patrol

B FlT: 4 N-10's
A Flt: 4 N-11's

T/O: Dawn

Alt: 2400 Meters

E/A: 2 Seat Types Also sighted and Engaged 8 Albatross Type Scouts
Loc: Our side of Lines in our sector.

Claims: 1 2 seat Destroyed. Losses: 3 Light Damage + 1 N-11 Destroyed and 1 pilot wnd.

Remarks: Lucky to be back. Our flights were between a Rock and a hard place on this one. High cover attacked the 2 Seats. My flight turned for Home when I spotted 7-8 E/a Scouts low and headed for the fight. I broke off and over flew the Jasta leading them away from the engagement. Two of the blighters managed to get up to my altitude and the turning fight was on as the Rest fell away amid the Archie Blasts. Fired off 40 rds but didnt hit anything. Finally, the 2 scouts gave up on me and went home.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/08/17 06:42 PM

Carrick, that was lucky indeed. Those Albs could turn your Nupe into minced meat.
Posted By: Deacon211

Black Sunday - 01/08/17 08:32 PM

Wow, what a terrible day on the Western Front.

Jurgen, who was off to a good start after my long surviving pilot Ingvar was smacked into by a wingman just plowed into an FE.





Sad, but totally his fault for pressing the target.

Not 30 minutes later Harry, who is actually a non-DiD guy I brought into the campaign since the campaign had caught up with him got plowed into by his wingman going after a Roland.





Survived the collision, but died of his wounds. That one hurt as he had lived through quite a lot.

I seem to go through these bouts of long surviving pilots followed by sudden disasters that wipe my stable clean often within days, or in this case hours.

Midairs seem to be my primary cause of death, as often as not with my wingman's assistance.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/08/17 08:43 PM

Here is the latest status report. Tough week all around Deacon211

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/08/17 09:10 PM

That really sucks Deacon. I'm usually relieved when my wingman buys the farm - typically happens on his first mission. Then I have 3 to 4 days of peace before the new one arrives and I have to keep looking over my shoulder again to make sure he doesn't plough right into me. They're bigger menace than the enemy.

Thanks for the report Banjoman.
Posted By: MFair

Re: Black Sunday - 01/08/17 09:38 PM

Carrick, keep up the good work.

Deacon, sadly this eels to be a bad week for pilots.

Broderick Bolitho, 80 plus missions, was leading a flight of 3 to attack the Railyard at Roulers for the second time in a row,. As befor we were jumped by numerous EA over the target. All was going well and I was hammering an Alb when BAM! One of my flight collided with me. I was able to set her down but died shortly after landing. I understand the Huns gave me a fine burial.

Yep, mid air takes out most of my pilots also.

Thanks for the chart Banjoman. Now to think of a "D" pilot.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/08/17 10:46 PM

MFair, you should be using a "C" pilot not "D".
Posted By: Deacon211

Re: Black Sunday - 01/08/17 11:33 PM

That's terrible news mfair...I sympathize.

I admit that, when I feel that the death was caused by an oddity of the AI (i.e. not caused by target fixation or a true simo run), I'm often tempted to restore my pilot.

Sometimes there are just limitations of the sim that would not normally occur in real life that cause your pilot's death. I haven't reset yet, but I have considered it.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/09/17 12:21 AM

I certainly know what you mean and I've been tempted as well.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/09/17 12:55 AM

That's some rotten luck, Gentlemen. Better luck next time.
As to the sim limitations costing our pilots' lives I wouldn't put too much thought into it. Just look at all the concessions we get as armchair pilots. We get to put the whole thing on pause when we have something more important to do. We really aren't afraid for our lives and it doesn't affect our performance. We do not freeze for 2 hours and then attempt to fight. We do not freeze from fright when someone is on our six shooting at us. And finally, even though our pilot dies, we still learn from that experience and that experience is carried over to the next pilot. We are practically cheating. Our next pilot is never a rookie. This is actually the reason I don't complain that the HA's don't die. We don't die, why should they? It's only fair.
Posted By: Deacon211

Re: Black Sunday - 01/09/17 02:01 AM

All good points Fullofit.

I don't get too worked up about it. But from a gaming perspective, it sometimes feels like the more questionable demises run contrary to the intent of DiD. Like I said, I don't mind calling it a kill if you and your wingman collide going after the same target unaware of the other. That likely happened quite often. But occasionally the AI does something wonky, like run into you from your dead six. That I'd have a hard time believing even the most target fixated pilot would do. Then it feels more like you are fighting the game than the enemy.

Posted By: MFair

Re: Black Sunday - 01/09/17 02:13 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
MFair, you should be using a "C" pilot not "D".


You have to be patient with me Banjoman, after all, I am from Mississippi!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/09/17 04:05 PM

Hey now, don't be disrespecting Mississippi! I love Mississippi and my father was from there as well. biggrin
Posted By: MFair

Re: Black Sunday - 01/09/17 04:18 PM

Yep, We like to play up the dumb ole country boy. That way everyone underestimates us and we take advantage of it. As you well know. We think much faster than we talk! How about "Charles Chaterley"
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/10/17 12:01 AM

Originally Posted By: Deacon211
All good points Fullofit.

I don't get too worked up about it. But from a gaming perspective, it sometimes feels like the more questionable demises run contrary to the intent of DiD. Like I said, I don't mind calling it a kill if you and your wingman collide going after the same target unaware of the other. That likely happened quite often. But occasionally the AI does something wonky, like run into you from your dead six. That I'd have a hard time believing even the most target fixated pilot would do. Then it feels more like you are fighting the game than the enemy.



Deacon, agreed. System failures, like a malfunctioning joystick, suck and warrant a three-fingered salute. Mission should then not record and you can call it a nightmare for your pilot, where he wakes up in the middle of the mission. winkngrin
Rear-ending wingmen, that's a different story. Have to live with it and shake your head in disbelief, just like when they dive after an already on fire enemy and end up ploughing the field.
Posted By: Deacon211

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/10/17 12:23 AM

Well, that's what I've done thus far. Not certain that will always be the case though.

Sometimes when your whole flight initializes about five feet above the field and bounces themselves to death or when your flight of 6 is stalling all over themselves trying to outslow the BE they are escorting and wind up an aircraft part yard sale at angels 9, I think you trip across the line into unrealistic behavior.

Not casting blame on the devs for those rare gremlins that every complicated system has. However, I am increasingly inclined to view those events as glitches and not as features. Others are welcome to their own feelings on the matter of course. smile
Posted By: Raine

Re: Black Sunday - 01/10/17 03:48 AM

Originally Posted By: MFair
Originally Posted By: Banjoman
MFair, you should be using a "C" pilot not "D".


You have to be patient with me Banjoman, after all, I am from Mississippi!



Here's a favorite of mine (sung by Kathy Mattea) for all you Rebs!


Posted By: Hasse

Re: Black Sunday - 01/10/17 10:06 AM

Although I haven't been flying recently, I've been keeping an eye on the reports in this thread. So please keep it up, gentlemen! I enjoy the stories and the pics. smile

Unfortunately I no longer have enough free time to fly two DID campaigns simultaneously.
Posted By: Polovski

Re: Black Sunday - 01/10/17 10:25 AM

You can't say a human wouldn't do something totally irrational - even driving on the roads you see all sorts of nutters day in day out, who would easily kill themselves let alone you. Many pilots were lost through accidents, live with it, that's war in the air WW1 style.
Posted By: Deacon211

Re: Black Sunday - 01/10/17 12:06 PM

Originally Posted By: Polovski
You can't say a human wouldn't do something totally irrational - even driving on the roads you see all sorts of nutters day in day out, who would easily kill themselves let alone you. Many pilots were lost through accidents, live with it, that's war in the air WW1 style.


Truly I don't want to belabor the point, but there are definitely some things that a human wouldn't likely do that lead to undesirable behavior in the sim. Simo runs still happened when I was flying mil, though they were thankfully less common than in the early days of flight. In game, I have no beef with calling it bad luck when you swap paint in a furball or fixate on a target as I did the other day.

Having said that, there are absolutely some AI behaviors where the AI is trying mightily to do the smart thing, but can't quite decide what that is. The big whifferdills that the escort flight does if the escorted aircraft is substantially slower is one example that comes to mind. Leading a flight of 5 or more at a couple of knots above stall speed is just not good flight leadership. And it yields predictable results like stalls and midairs.

As always, I'm really not looking to slam the AI or WOFF as I pretty firmly believe it is one of the best sims ever made. But I always have a hard time accepting that its few vices are secretly virtues. I accept the occasional head scratchers for what they are and try to work around them. So my pondering over the last couple of days has not been in the way of aggravation at WOFF, but more of considering whether your flight lead running your flight into the mountains is a fortune of war to be accepted or a rare AI glitch to be recovered from.

In any case, I don't mean to get into a Luf on the point. I'm still undecided myself. Should I ever decide to resurrect a pilot after my personal BS light comes on, I will be more than happy to courteously recuse myself from the DiD campaign.

I don't really play for points and my pilots never seem to live that long anyway. wink


Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/10/17 11:28 PM

wave

Fullofit:

Anything in the Air can make Mincemeat out of my N-10. I have become the Hunted. sigh
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/10/17 11:47 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Jan 10, 1917.

Mission: Escort Bombers to Target near Burgge on the Coast.

A Flt: 4 N-11
B Flt: 5 N-10,s and N-11's.

Alt: 1500 Meters.

Bombers: 2 FE's. Meet over Airdrome.

Remarks: We got our blooming backs ripped open. A Jasta of Halb's fell on us as we crossed the lines. Top cover lost 2 N-11's before they ripped into us then the bombers. We were scattered to the 4 winds I had 2 of the Vultures circling me like I was a Road Kill. I managed to fire off 2 drums about 94 rds then broke free and ran for it. As I sped away, I spotted both bombers going down on the enemy side of the lines.





Sgn Claims: 1 Halb Destroyed. Losses: 2 N-11's+ 1 damaged From A flt. B flight: 1 N-10 Lost +2 damaged.
and 2 Fe's Destroyed. Intell Rpts: Jasta 11 was in Area.
Posted By: Deacon211

Re: Black Sunday - 01/11/17 11:14 AM

Good on you, Carrick. Flying those in 1917 is no joke!

You're doing a man's job sir!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/11/17 09:39 PM

Originally Posted By: carrick58
wave

Fullofit:

Anything in the Air can make Mincemeat out of my N-10. I have become the Hunted. sigh

Carrick, time for a change. Time for you to become the hunter again. charge
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/12/17 08:57 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS


Jan 11, 1917.


B flt put up a section of 3 A/c for Patrol. No contact
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/13/17 12:51 AM

Sept. 14, 1916.
Bruce Wayne woke up this morning, said: "I've got this", went up and bagged the Red Baron.

Posted By: Deacon211

Re: Black Sunday - 01/13/17 02:05 AM

Bravo sir!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/13/17 02:42 AM

You forget, he is the terminator. He will be back! biggrin
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: Black Sunday - 01/13/17 06:57 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
You forget, he is the terminator. He will be back! biggrin

Not with Mission Editor's "DiD Enemy HAs" feature wink.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/13/17 11:13 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Jan 13, 1917.


Mission Line Patrol.
T/O: 0715 hrs
A Flt: 3 N-11's
B Flt: 5 N-11's and N-10's

Alt: 2300 meters
Loc: Just short of the lines.
E/A sighted: 2 Rolands higher and to the East 1 Dfw to the West Higher still + Jasta 2 a/c.
Engaged: Jasta 2 machines 8 -11 Albatross Type Scouts.
Claims: None
Losses: B Flight 4 Destroyed+ 1 Heavy damage with pilot wnd ( ME).

Remarks: My flight leader turned a 180 and led us into the furball. I was tail end Charlie and saw my Leader and his #2 get the chop then 2 e/a were on me firing and weaving. I got off Pot Shots of 40 rds no hits but helped to keep them off me. Finally one of them hit me ( Wnd) then his wingmate got my motor with a bust. I spun in to low level and forced landed on out side as they flew back to Hun land. Off to the Hospital till the 20th.


Posted By: Raine

Re: Black Sunday - 01/14/17 07:33 PM

I haven't been able to keep the story of Blaise St John-Cottingham up to date due to work pressures, but I'll fix that next week. Here's a quick installment written on the road that should be read with your Sunday morning tea and toast.

After Christmas, the CO undertook to meet privately with each of his pilots, an entertainment he announced would be repeated from time to time. My first such audience with Major Paget-Graves came the morning after New Year’s whilst I was nursing a headache and he was disgustingly full of energy.

Paget-Graves was both lugubrious and birdlike in feature. He walked with a pronounced limp and used two sticks to get about, as he’d crashed his machine and smashed himself up badly back in 1915. But this morning he was in a game mood.

“So, Mr. St John-Cottingham, how do you think you’re getting on here at Sixty?” be began cryptically.

“Well enough, sir,” I replied. The CO’s face betrayed nothing of where this conversation was bound. “I’ve bagged two Huns, and if I could only get assigned a Type 17 I’m sure I could add to that.”

“Aircraft assignments, for the moment, are up to the Flight Commanders.” His hawkish eyes were studying me. “I’ve heard you are a bit of a loner. Do you know what the others call you?”

This question gave me a chill. I had no idea and feigned nonchalance. “Haven’t the foggiest, sir. And can’t really say it matters much to me.”

“I’m sure it doesn’t, Cottingham. They call you the Neapolitan.” This was certainly the worst nickname in history. It made no sense to me, and I said so.

“From The Merchant of Venice of course,” said Paget-Graves. That, apparently, should have meant something to me, but the blank look on my face gave me away. “Shrewsbury School, right?”

I nodded. I neglected to mention that the war had saved me from the shame of failing my university entrance exams.

“Then you ought to know your Shakespeare. Portia to Nerissa. She’s describing her suitors, one of whom is a Neapolitan prince.”

“Prince? Then that’s not so bad,” I said hopefully.

“Ah, but Portia explains that ‘he doth talk of nothing but his horse.’ That’s you, Cottingham.”

I looked about for a response and stammered something about having been in the cavalry, after all. But the CO folded his hands pensively and leaned over his desk. He fixed me with his stare as an etymologist pins an insect to a slab of cork.

“Mr. St John-Cottingham, it’s time you realised that part of being an officer is that you must lead men. And one cannot lead men one cannot understand. Moreover, one does not want to lead men one has not come to respect. I intend to make you a leader.”

This took me aback. I stood to inherit several very profitable mills, a fine estate with outstanding stables, and more than half a million pounds. Leadership was, in my view, a birthright. As for my fellow officers, they were an odd lot. Many were of snot-nosed schoolboys or Oxonians who read classics and quoted poetry, but couldn’t row or ride worth a damn. The rest were a scruffy lot of colonials. The colonials were a great deal more fun in a binge, but scarcely people with whom I could identify or whom I'd want to call close chums.

Major Paget-Graves continued. “Colonel Pretyman and General Higgins are contemplating a cricket tournament at Easter. Have you played?”

It was a silly question. I’d batted a century once for the first eleven at Shrewsbury. It was not my favourite sport, but I had a flair for it. I began to describe my accomplishments, but the major cut me off.

“There will be an officers’ team from each squadron in the brigade. We likely won’t begin to identify who will represent Sixty until mid-March. I have suggested that the tournament have a separate division for other ranks. One officer will be permitted on the OR teams, provided the officer captains the team. For this squadron, that officer will be you. Each such OR team may also have three NCOs.”

I immediately began to complain how little I really knew about putting together a team, and I expressed doubts that we had eleven ORs who had even seen the game, much less played it, but the CO held up a hand.

“Mr. St John-Cottingham, this is an exercise in leadership. And it is not a request but an order. You WILL select, train, and field the finest ORs’ team in the tournament. And you WILL win. I have personally wagered ten pounds with Colonel Pretyman that our ORs will take the cup.”

“Do you think that is wise, sir?” I asked. “After all…”

Major Paget-Graves interrupted me. “It is your job to make it wise, Cottingham. Oh, and by the way, I told the Colonel that you had put up ten pounds as well.”

I began to protest, but the CO just laughed.

“I know you are good for it, Cottingham. Besides, the Wing Commander offered three-to-one odds. You stand to do rather well when we win, and it will be just about the time you’ll come up for home leave. Go see Sergeant-Major Aspinall. He knows all about it."


Major Evelyn Paget-Graves
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/15/17 03:13 PM

Here is the latest status report. Everybody give a hearty welcome to Dark_Canuck who has joined us. Dark_Canuck, I've added your name to the weekly status report so you are now official. biggrin

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/15/17 03:46 PM

Welcome Dark_Canuck. I'm glad our circle is growing.
Thanks for the stats Banjoman!
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: Black Sunday - 01/15/17 03:58 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome. Almost as warm as the Germans gave me ar15 Writeup coming soon.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: Black Sunday - 01/16/17 01:33 AM

Flt Sub-Lt Albert Barleigh

13 Jan 17
Furnes
I arrived at Furnes bright and early, practically shaking with anticipation and nerves. I immediately reported to my new CO. He cast a withering glance over my frail form and sighed wearily.

"You'll do. Canadian right?"

"Oh yes Sir!" I replied. "From out west."

He didn't reply as he motioned me out of his office and towards the hangers. "That there is Samuel. Terrific Chap, already has 5 victories. He will be your wingman. Get up in the air, get familiarized and then steel yourself. You will be up on patrol before the morning is out."

Samuel just shook his head as he saw me. "Another one along eh? Well, there is yours over there. No, not the Tripehound you fool. The N11 behind it. Just remember, if you see a Hun...Run."

I stared at him blankly, trying to absorb it all.

........

The famil flights went okay, but the patrol was another matter entirely. We made our way down South over Ypres and then turned East over the remains of Polygon Wood. My N11 struggled mightily to keep up with the Tripes.I struggled with keeping formation, map reading, scanning my sectors and praying for some warmth.

Then out of nowhere a gaggle of Huns were among us. I heard nothing but the sound of bullets hitting my kite. Panic overtook me and I dove for the deck as fast as possible. I was pretty sure I was on the wrong side of the lines, but the only thing that mattered was getting to ground.

I recovered my wits enough to point west and resumed the prayers that had so far kept me from receiving bullets. I pressed lower and lower until I was able to see trenches. Machine Gun bullets whizzed passed. I kept my eyes glued on the horizon, searching for a decent landing site. I could see nothing but shell holes and trees.

I passed our lines at about 200 feet. Nothing for it now. I aimed for a blank spot among the shattered terrain and managed to avoid a stall. Luck was with me today. As I sat frozen with fear in the cockpit I came to the horrific realization that I will not survive this war.



The riggers counted over 60 holes. How none found me is a mystery.

14 Jan 17
Another bloody patrol. The thought of getting into the Nupe makes me physically ill. Thank God the engine gave up over De Blankaart. I happily signaled engine trouble to the lead and turned back toward Furnes. Unfortunately, I had to put it down on the road to Dunkirk. The only bad news about this whole affair is that Samuel was shot down and killed. He seemed like he might have even been a decent sort.

15 Jan 17
A long patrol South along the lines. Nothing seen. No frostbite either, which was a minor miracle. I am beginning to regret enlisting.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/16/17 02:42 AM

Dark_Canuck, welcome to the meat grinder. It sounds like Albert is getting a good introduction to life at the front. biggrin
Posted By: Raine

Re: Black Sunday - 01/16/17 09:38 PM

Nice work, Dark Canuck. I'll look forward to reading a lot more.
Posted By: Raine

Re: Black Sunday - 01/17/17 02:25 AM

St John-Cottingham is out of action for nearly two weeks...

16 January 2017, No 60 Sqn RFC, Savy

The miserable weather continued into the new year. New Year’s Day 1917 saw us dine well in the mayor’s house in Savy while the wind and sleet rattled the window panes and wispy strands of snow swirled over the frozen field across the road.

We flew on the second, when I was attached to Caldwell’s C Flight for a “close offensive patrol" to the lines east of Bapaume. Caldwell turned back with a dud engine while I struggled to keep up with my old Type 16. My machine’s engine was “no bon,” as the troops would say. Flying into a headwind it was difficult to gain altitude without stalling. We saw nothing amidst the dark clouds and headed home.

The new fug boots I’d got before Christmas kept my feet warm, at least, and I’d also received a lovely grey highland sweater from my Auntie Flora. I wore it over a high-necked fleece cardigan. The parents sent me a paisley blue silk scarf which shut out the draughts when I buttoned up my leather flying coat. The issue mitts did a good job. Mine were a very nice lambskin lined with felt with a separate place for the index finger. I had a local woman sew a square of lambswool on the back of each mitt, so that I could rub my face or wipe my nose as the need came. The whole was capped off, quite literally, with a white balaclava worn under a leather helmet. All in all, I felt wonderfully kitted out.

We flew on the fifth, a defensive patrol up to Auchel. En route we spotted a Roland and engaged it. The gunner was a keen chap who put several rounds into my machine, cutting a fuel line. I glided down and landed in a field near Béthune, glad to be out of it. I’m not fond of well-handled Rolands.

On 6 January 1917 we flew another defensive patrol, this one south to Bertangles, but saw nothing. Then on the 7 January the major decided to lead a patrol to tour the lines near Loos. He is not really supposed to cross the lines, being the CO, but being mad about shooting at Huns, he had himself lifted into Sowrey’s Nieuport 17 and led Caldwell’s flight. I was ordered to join the show in my ailing 16.

There was fairly heavy cloud and it was difficult to keep station in the winds at altitude. Major Paget-Graves led us up to 13,000 feet. My machine was barely able to hold the altitude and was not giving anything like full revs. The CO suddenly fired the dud engine signal and turned away. We formed on Captain Caldwell’s “grid,” as he insisted on calling it. It was Caldwell, Fry, “Pidders” (2/Lieut Geoffrey Pidcock), and I. Within a very few minutes Caldwell waggled his wings and rolled over, diving on some unseen prey. I followed as best I could, fiddling with the mixture all the time. Without warning the engine roared to full revs and I heard or perhaps felt an ominous crackling from the lower planes. It was not unknown for Nieuports to fold up in a dive, and as my machine was a particular pig, I blipped the engine and levelled out with great care.

Below me a swirling dogfight had begun. Ever keen, Caldwell had fallen on a formation of six Albatri with our three and a half Nieuports. One of the Huns, a machine with a red nose, quickly climbed onto my tail. My Le Rhône chose that moment to revert to its half-hearted efforts. I got one brief crack at the Hun, a full deflection shot that seemed to do no harm. The Hun, however, was very good and began stitching my machine with his Spandaus. In a very short time we were low over the front and I took yet more hits from ground fire. The engine began to miss badly so I picked out some pockmarked but apparently level ground just past our trenches and tried to settle down onto it. The damned machine caught a gust and floated over the level spot into a line of crump holes. The undercarriage cracked on the rim of one hole and the whole bloody arrangement went arse over teakettle.

I must have broken free of my lap belt on the Nieuport’s first flip, for the machine was shattered and I, relatively unharmed except for a couple of cracked ribs, ended up fifty yards away in a frozen depression with half of a dead man for companionship.

Soon I was dragged into a dugout where I was plied with whiskey by the company commander of the York & Lancaster Regiment, and then given some painkillers by their battalion MO. The combination meant I had only fragmentary recollections of how I spent the next day. I ended up in a Canadian CCS near Bethune, from which I called the squadron to arrange transport back. The doctors said flying is out of the picture for me for at least a week, so I am hoping for a Type 17 by then.

Major Paget-Graves expressed satisfaction that I was back, especially as I will now be free to fill in for Lieutenant Alders, our equipment officer, who is up for leave. And, of course, I will be able to begin recruiting ORs for his damned cricket match. It seems ridiculous to be thinking of cricket in ten degrees of frost, but orders are – well, you know.

First on my agenda was to consult with the “Great Man,” Sgt-Maj Aspinall. Unbeknownst to me he is a keen batsman and a self-avowed fine bowler to boot. He advised that I spend time in the hangars and shops to get to know the men personally, and suggested that one might find more talent than one expects if one approaches things right. “Approaching things right,” where the men are concerned, involves drink. I resolved to get to know some of the men and then set up the team office in a village estaminet where one might share a pint if necessary.


Squadron Christmas card, drawn by Roderic Hill
Posted By: MFair

Re: Black Sunday - 01/17/17 04:28 PM

Dark Canuck, it seems we have another story teller in our crowd! Nice work.

Raine, nice to see your flyer back in action, I have missed your stories. Now we all look forward to the pretty nurse story!
Posted By: Raine

Re: Black Sunday - 01/19/17 04:12 AM

St John-Cottingham is still out of action, but 60 Squadron moves to Filescamp and he starts on his appointed task of fielding a squadron cricket team for the Easter brigade tournament.

On 17 January 1917, orders came to leave Savy and move to the large field at le Hameaul, at the end named after the large farming estate of Filescamp. The farm itself was sprawling, with a small chateau and a number of ancient outbuildings and high grey walls. The proprietors were Monsieur and Madame Tetus, and the squadron immediately adopted their small children.

The Royal Engineers had been hard at work. Our accommodations were rows of wooden-flanked Nissen huts built close by the farm’s orchard, with another row of hangers, sheds, and small buildings perpendicular to the accommodations huts. The billet was a step down from the cozy bedroom I shared with Bill Sowrey, but at least we were in hard standings and not freezing in tents. The mess was a particularly fine place, with a brick fireplace and plenty of room for our growing collection of lewd prints and Hunnish trophies.

The first night was miserable, as our kit and bedding did not arrive until the early hours and we huddled on a bare floor around the iron stove in the middle of the hut. But by morning we were able to take advantage of the continuing poor weather to start to put the place in order. I was heavily bound up due to the broken ribs, so I was thankfully spared some of the heavier work, which suited me fine.

In my role of Equipment Officer (temporary, acting, unpaid), I made proper acquaintance of Sgt-Maj Smyrk, the technical sergeant-major and a wizard with all things motorific. We discussed my mandate to work up an ORs’ cricket team, and he called the air mechanics, clerical, and general duty personnel together in A Flight hangar that evening. Sgt-Maj Aspinall presided. As the men gathered, the Great Man whispered some advice. He said not to sound either demanding or pleading, simply confident that we would produce the finest ORs’ eleven in the brigade and that it was important to speak up if you had cricketing experience. “Oh, and your idea of interviewing candidates in a village pub is a good one, although you should expect a few to show up just for the drink.”

“All right, you lot,” the Great Man began. “Gather about. You may smoke if you have them. If you don’t have them, beg from a friend. And if you don’t have a friend, pay someone. Right. This, as you may know, is Mr. St John-Cottingham. The CO has appointed him player and coach of the squadron men’s eleven for a brigade cricket tournament to be held at Easter. There will also be an officers’ eleven, but Mr. St John-Cottingham will play for your team. Up to three NCOs may play on the team as well. He will brief you. SAH!” He stepped back, turned about, and snapped off a pukka Guardsman’s salute, the smartness of which I’d never before experienced. I tried to return it, nearly putting out an eye in the process.

“Now I’m sure we have some fine cricketer is the ranks,” I said. I was met with stony silenced and hollow stares. “And I’m sure we’ll be the best ORs’ team in the tournament. I shall be setting up interviews in the village starting tomorrow after dinner. Sergeant-Major Aspinall will post a sign-up sheet for all those interested, and I shall post a roster for interview times and locations. We have a spare hangar for a winter practice site, and practices will begin next week. Are there any questions?”
“Sir?” said an Irish voice.

The Great Man whispered in my ear, “Corporal O’Connor, a Sinn Feiner and the squadron Boshevik. Be careful, sir.”

I looked about and the voice called out again. “Yes, that man. Corporal O’Connor, isn’t it?”

“”If that’s what the sergeant-major told you, sir, he’s roight.”

“Mind yourself, corporal,” interjected the Great Man.

“Roight. And now sir, will the men’s team be playing the officers then?”

This one had me. As far as I’d understood, the officers would play the officers and the ORs would play the ORs, as it should be. I frowned, and said I wasn’t certain.

“Well, sir, if the men aren’t good enough to play the officers then why should they play at all?”

“Why for the honour of the squadron, of course,” I said.

Cpl O’Connor came back directly. “Why sure, if we would honour the squadron by beating the men of the other squadrons in the brigade, then certainly it would be an even greater honour to beat their officers?” There were murmurs of agreement, and I said I’d take it up with the commanding officer.

“Are there any immediate volunteers?” I asked.

“Me sir,” came an enthusiastic voice. I looked about. A grinning dark face bobbed up behind the first ranks. My heart sank.

“Name?”

“Private Harjit Singh Samra, sir!” The fellow was damned keen, but likely better as a batman than a batsman, I thought.

“Very good, Samra. Anyone else?”

Silence reigned until a broad Scots voice thundered out. “Creekit’s a daft game. Fu’ o’ numpties and bloody Sassanachs sippin’ tea an’ wolfin’ doon crumpets. Can we no play fitba, surr?

“Not at this time, Donat,” said the Sergeant-Major from over my shoulder. “And keep your insights on the world of sport to yourself.”

“Och, but it’s no a man’s game.”

“DONAT!”

“Aye, surr.”

It would be a bigger challenge than I’d thought.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/19/17 04:24 AM

Raine, you are a genius. I really love your stories and to think we get them for free. biggrin
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: Black Sunday - 01/20/17 10:29 AM

19 Jan 1917

A Tripe of my own. Words cannot describe the joy I felt at getting to fly a kite that can compete in the air. I was not longer just a target, I could be a hunter, just like my mates! I would fly up and down the front, downing all enemies who dared to challenge me!

I looked over at Samuel's empty bunk. A cold feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. Maybe it might be best to save the heroics for the heros. I should probably just try to stay alive and keep my kite in one peace. At the very least the boys in the shop will be happy with me.

I sighed and pulled on my frigid boots. Bundling up, I walked over the few meters to the HQ hut and checked the roster for today. B flight is to RV with some bombers and lay some pain down upon some German supplies. Seemed easy enough. If we were lucky we wouldn't even see the enemy. If we were really lucky we wouldn't even see our bombers and could come home without ever crossing the lines.

We met the bombers without incident, sadly. We chugged towards the lines, literally flying circles around the two BE2cs that were carrying their little bombs towards the unsuspecting Germans. A strange whistling sound told me they had layed their eggs over the target. Just as I was swinging my nose around for home I noticed a glint on the horizon.

HUNS!

I motioned to my Flight Commander and charged headlong at the foe. My eyes were drawn tight to the growing specs on the horizon. As I came closer I realized these were two seaters. ROLANDS. I sighed relief. No quick death at the hands of some Hun ace for me today.

We closed rapidly, and I chose my dancing partner. As we came into contact,he flipped his craft around, showing me the tail. I stayed low, heeding the advice of some of my squadmates.

"Now Barleigh," they would say patronizingly between drinks, "When you come up on a two-seater what do you do? No, no, no Albert, not like that, you have to stay low. Come up under her skirt and give it to her hard and fast."

I slowly made my way closer, careful to stay out of the arcs of the rear gunner. Finally I popped up my nose and fired. As I did I drifted up into the range of the rear guns.

Nothing. No return fire. I smiled inwardly. Now this should be easy. I drifted in closer, ready to finish my pray when all of a sudden I heard bullets snapping past. Oh bother, that rear gunner was awake!

I fired another long burst into the cockpit area and spiraled down out of range. I became coldly aware of the fact I was all alone, miles behind the lines. Looking behind me I saw a faint trail of vapour. Bugger it. A slow leak of petrol. I should have enough to get back over the lines. I sighed and resigned myself to another landing far from an aerodrome.

I looked at my map and determined that La Lavoie was the closest parking spot. I decided to head in that direction and hope I could make it.

My petrol reserves survived the trip and I lined up my approach. I drifted in slowly, determined to make a graceful landing in front of the airmen here. At about 200 ft my engine coughed and died. No worries I thought. Ill just touch down a few meters in front of the field proper. Hey, what is that line there? FENCE! FENCE FENCE FENCE BUGGER PULL UP! I grunted at the effort, but it was no use. I smashed into the fence.

The Tripe was a write off. I fared a little better fortunately. Four days in a nice hospital with some pretty nurses. The whole time I couldn't help but think who in their right mind puts a fence 50 yards from a runway?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/22/17 02:54 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit Snythe, France.


20 Jan 1917.

Returned to Flight Status, most of the chaps are new. The C.O. posted me to a Cracker Jack of a Security Patrol late in the day. Our 9 a/c ran into and engaged 2 Rolands. The Flights got 1 ea. I was the Flight Commanders wing man so got some 40 rds off at a 2 seat then watched as he got in the killing bust while I reloaded. A flamer that took a header into the soil of France. We didn't get away unscathed. 2 damaged plus 1 heavy damage fit for junk.




Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/22/17 05:33 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit Snythe, France.

21 Jan 1917.


We got batted around by the Huns. The Sqn,s eight machines engaged a flight of 3 Roland 2 seat types over our Aerodromes. Wild show,the Pilots were Vets puling around ,diving and spinning all the time the guns were banging away. I got off 9 rds then jammed as another Hun got on my tail so I spun out of it then went home.
Sgn losses: 1 N-10 destroyed + 3 N-11's damaged. Claims: 0.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/23/17 07:45 PM

Guys, I having internet problems so the status report will be late. I'm sorry for inconvenience this has caused anyone. I love Guatemala, but I don't love how bad the internet is here.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/23/17 09:22 PM

wave

No problem, we appreciate your work.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/23/17 09:25 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit Snythe, France.

Jan 22, 1917.

B flight went Balloon hunting this morning. Not good situation, we got the gas bag However, it cost us 2 machines not a good trade.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/23/17 09:42 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Guys, I having internet problems so the status report will be late. I'm sorry for inconvenience this has caused anyone. I love Guatemala, but I don't love how bad the internet is here.

No worries Banjoman.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/23/17 10:03 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit Snythe, France.

Mission: Security Patrol.
B Flt: 3 N-11's + 1 N-10.
ALT: 2300 meters
Engaged: 2 DFW Types.
Results: B flt loss 1 Pilot Mortally wnd + 2 damage. Claims: 0
Bugger ! I just got in a good position and was firing off my 1st Drum when a loud Ripping Noise was heard. Then came a thunderous Flapping sound. All I could do was cut power and very slowly descend to a friendly Aerodrome.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/24/17 12:37 AM

Carrick, at least your pilot lived to tell the tale. Mine parked himself behind a 2-seater, received a single bullet to the head and ended up eating the dirt. RIP Cesar Turtellotte.

Posted By: Raine

Re: Black Sunday - 01/24/17 01:47 AM

Fullofit, I feel your pain! 23 January 1917 was Blaise St John-Cottingham's last flight. Finally back in the air but still cursed with an Np16 that was totally outclassed I flew three flights this weekend and today. Basically I ran away from Albatros scouts. Then tonight we ran into Halberstadts and I finally had a chance to mix it up, but I must have been rusty. Had a spot of target fixation and collided with the Hun. Well, there goes a good cricket match story!

Next fellow will be a Canadian, I think.


Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/24/17 02:35 AM

Oh crap! This is a bad day. Sorry to hear you'll not be able to finish his story. Maybe it's for the better. I wouldn't be able to follow the game.
Canadian, eh? Me thinks he'll survive the war and you'll run out of stories to tell about him.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/24/17 09:05 PM

wave
We are getting Creamed by the Huns.


What we really need is : https://youtu.be/rowvfXJtWHc
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/24/17 09:08 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit Snythe, France.


JAN 24, 1917.

My flight of 5 was off covering the aerodromes again. No enemy sighted.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/24/17 10:55 PM

Originally Posted By: carrick58
wave

What we really need is : https://youtu.be/rowvfXJtWHc


Or at least one of these: xwing
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/25/17 04:33 AM

It's my fault, if I wasn't having these blasted internet problems then everything would be ok. biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: Black Sunday - 01/25/17 08:25 PM

WooHoo!!!!! Internet is back and I'm back in business. Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/25/17 10:01 PM

Whoa! Only 3 pilots in Intrepid Fliers group?
Thanks Banjoman.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Black Sunday - 01/25/17 10:33 PM

Dudley Nightshade
6 RNAS
Flt Lt.



Jan 25, 1917.


I Took a section aloft. Our 3 a/c flew up to the lines but, No joy
Posted By: Raine

Re: Black Sunday - 01/26/17 12:17 AM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
Whoa! Only 3 pilots in Intrepid Fliers group?
Thanks Banjoman.


My new guy will be coming back to Intrepid Fliers...
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Black Sunday - 01/26/17 12:42 AM

Originally Posted By: Raine
My new guy will be coming back to Intrepid Fliers...


Oh good, I was getting worried that the replacements aren't getting trained fast enough.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/17 02:21 AM

Welp,poor Albert bought it after a wing failure. One strategically placed burst of rounds from an over-zealous wingman weakened it and it snapped during a low-G turn as I headed for home.

Ill be back at it tomorrow with Benjamin Kincaid. Time to think up a good story arc that he might be able to live through.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/17 03:26 AM

Carrick58, I don't have any of Dudley's latest info in the status report. Don't think of this as a nag, but as a gentle exhortation from a friend. biggrin
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/17 09:39 PM

Well today was a day to forget about !!

Ohh mannnnn, did I make bad decisions.
Normal easy flight to the lines and back. I thought we’d take bombs along and bugger up someone’s day. Well we went a looking for targets when 5 Alb DII’s turned up. First pass and my formation was ruined. We scattered each for himself. I saw one Be12 with 2 on his tail and another one limping into Hunland. The forth man I never saw. I had 2 on my tail and then 2 Halbs joined in too… oh what fun. I gave up trying to help my friends in any way and put my nose down and ran, yes ran, for friendly positions for mg support.

In the end I picked off a lone Alb that was dumb enough to follow me way deep over then lines. So never take this Sim for granted boys…yeh might just get your butt handed to ya.


Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/17 12:22 AM

Originally Posted By: lederhosen
Well we went a looking for targets when 5 Alb DII’s turned up. First pass and my formation was ruined. We scattered each for himself.


Lederhosen, you mean like this?

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/17 12:25 AM

Originally Posted By: Dark_Canuck
Welp,poor Albert bought it after a wing failure. One strategically placed burst of rounds from an over-zealous wingman weakened it and it snapped during a low-G turn as I headed for home.

Ill be back at it tomorrow with Benjamin Kincaid. Time to think up a good story arc that he might be able to live through.


Welcome to the club. That's 3 of us who had to start a new career this week.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/17 12:55 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit Snythe, France.

26 Jan 1917.


Mission: Line Patrol
B Flight: 6 Machines Mix N-11 and N- 10's.
E/A: 8- 11 Halb D-III 's ?
Alt: 1900 meters.
Losses: 2 N-10 destroyed and 1 N-10 Heavy Damage Pilot wnd (me) + 2 N-11's damage. Claims 3 Halb's.


Remarks: Big Furball. We were setting up to attack a Dfw 2 seat when the fights fell on us. Twist and Burn. Spotted Tiny Tim trying to help out and he had a mid air both ships broke up and burned. I got off a drum 47 rds, and saw a burning Hun going down then 3 on my tail. All I could do was spin out.but caught a bullet in the right leg. The doc will keep me down till 1 Feb.







Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/28/17 07:02 PM

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/28/17 07:09 PM

Originally Posted By: carrick58
Dudley Nightshade
6 Rnas
5th Field Hospital.
Row 2, Bed 7.


Jan 28, 1917.


People must be crackers, My fellow wnd tell me that The N-10 was long ago Obsolete and that the N-11 BeBe was pulled from the From Line back in Dec 1916. My wing and Sqn must be at the end of the Supply line our someone doesn't like us.


Carrick, I'm pretty sure you're right about the supply lines. Are you sure you're not playing in Jan. of 1916?
Love the new address, btw.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/28/17 07:40 PM

yep

Return to duty in the game is 1 Feb 1917. Bummer being at the end of supply lines. sigh
It also read that I would be flying the N-11 BeBe. The one type pulled out to trainers in Dec 1916.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/28/17 07:57 PM

Dudley Nightshade

Things here might not be so bad after all. We had a High Society Lady come thru seemed to be friendly.

http://giphy.com/gifs/boards-turner-2hRfBIto5ShbO
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/17 05:53 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/17 06:59 PM

Thanks Banjoman, but I'm not dead yet. My lad just started. Did I press the wrong button in the survey?

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/17 07:34 PM

Sorry, I'm sure that was my fault. I'll get it corrected in the next one.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/17 08:13 PM

No problem Banjoman, and thanks again for your continued work on the report.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/01/17 01:27 AM

I finally have a bit of time to write and introduce my new pilot.

A journal of the Great War -- By an Anonymous Aviator (unless this notebook should be found by a pretty girl, in which case my name is Colin Urquhart)

Part 1

I was in my final year as a boarding student at Upper Canada College in Toronto when the event occurred that was to change my life. Matty Novak and I went "over the wall" one January afternoon bound for the Pavlova dance hall near High Park. It had opened only recently and Matty had been there over Christmas break. We stopped at an address on Bloor Street, a place Matty knew, where an ugly old man filled Matty's silver flask with whiskey for 75 cents. We had it half done by the time we arrived at the Pavlova.

Sheila was nearly 23, the daughter of a city alderman, and a frequenter of the dance hall. I couldn't keep my eyes off her and she, having noticed our flask, couldn't keep her eyes off me. Temperance ruled in Ontario that year and you couldn't buy liquor anywhere legally. Sheila talked me into refilling the flask, so I took Matty's flask and my leave, and escorted this swell beauty back to Bloor and the ugly old man's apartment. It was cold as we walked along towards Christie Pits, where there was a hockey game going on under the lights. Sheila and I sat on a bench and passed the flask back and forward, talking and giggling all the while. I was getting a little dizzy, and was working my courage up for a kiss. Unfortunately Sheila chose that moment to get violently ill all over herself and me.

The rest of the evening was lost, but I awoke in a police station cell the next morning, horrifyingly aware of a Latin examination that I ought to have been writing at that very minute. A certain alderman had phoned the officer of the watch demanding my execution. The police were inclined to oblige him, but the physical training instructor from the school arrived and bailed me out. I was brought before Mr. Auden, the principal. I trembled as the Great Man spoke of his decision to rusticate me while he considered whether there might be any condition under which I could ever return to the College. He would, of course, be informing my father.

I returned to my room and began to pack. My father would murder me. I knew it. Dr. Alexander Urquhart MD, FRCS headed the orthopaedic unit at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital. If ever there was a man interested in family pride, correct behaviour, and social climbing, it was my father. There had been hell to pay if ever I placed a mere second in my class. He was very proud when I'd been accepted at UCC, and now I was being sent home in shame.

I was sitting in Union Station that same afternoon, awaiting the train home to Montreal, when a group of fellows came in laughing and bantering. One of them asked me for a match. I didn't have one, as I didn't smoke. Instead I asked him for a cigarette. It was important to try everything before I died, and it was certain that my father was going to kill me tomorrow. The fellows were off to England, they explained. They had joined the Royal Naval Air Service and enrolled in the Curtiss Flying School in Long Branch, but the school was suspended for the winter and they were going broke waiting to get their certificates. So the powers in Ottawa had allowed them to enlist in the RNCVR and were sending them to Halifax to train as ordinary seaman. After that they'd get their probationary commissions and head for England to learn to fly.

So I was off to the Navy. I enlisted that afternoon and told the petty officer that if he could get me sworn in I would make my own way to Halifax to join the group I'd met. To my surprise that is exactly what he did. I had a good sum of money with me, as my father had set up a joint account for my pocket money, books, and tuition. I had emptied the account that morning before Mr. Auden could telegraph my parents.

The train went by way of Kingston, Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton, and Truro. After Kingston, I wrote a long and mournful letter to my sainted mother explaining my academic downfall and decision to volunteer. I mailed it from the train station. In the letter I did not identify which branch of the service I was in or where I was bound. My father might have tried to interfere.

The next months were hectic. I spent two months on a training vessel in Halifax, learning not much. Finally, in April 1916 we were sent off to England on the liner Scandanavian, bound for Glasgow. From there we were sent to Redcar, in the northeast of England, for flying training. They made us probationary flight sub-lieutenants and put us up in the village. It felt like home since there were so many Canadians there. The weather delayed our flying a great deal and it was July before I was allowed to solo in a G3 Caudron. I circuited well enough, but broke the landing gear coming down. We learned a myriad of other subjects, such as meteorology, rigging, engine construction and maintenance, navigation, etc., etc. etc.

Due to wind, weather and a surfeit of students, I was in Redcar until August. In that time I flew the Avro and a Curtiss JN-4. From Redcar I went to Eastchurch, on an island on the south side of the Thames Estuary. There I advanced to Shorthorns, or "Rumpeties" as we called them. We began the study of aerial gunnery and observation. In early September, I was posted to 3 Naval Wing at Manston. The Wing was to fly the new Sopwith two-seaters, called Strutters, but their arrival was slowed by losses in France. The Navy had issued a number of its Strutters to the RFC, it seemed.

The RNAS (which many in the know claimed stood for "Rather Naughty After Sunset") had ordered 3 Naval Wing to establish a base at Luxeuil-les-Bains, in the Vosges Mountains of eastern France, not too far from Nancy and within range of the German border. From there our aircraft were to cooperate with the French in long-range bombing of industrial targets in Germany. I learned in mid-September 1916 that I would meet the war there. I arrived in Luxeuil late on 26 September, flying with two other crews in our new Strutters. I was the only one to complete the journey on schedule.

The base at Luxeuil was broad and spacious. 3 Naval Wing shared the field with the French 4e Group de Bombardement, led by a piratical-looking, bearded fellow named Capitaine Happe. Alongside Happe's gang were a most unusual gathering of Americans, Squadron N.124, also called the Escadrille Americaine. This group of volunteer Yankee "Frenchmen" were a hard-partying crowd who welcomed us with cases of champagne.

On 27 September 1916, I piloted Obsvr S/Lieut Nathanial Buck, another Canadian (from Elmira, Ontario) and two other Strutters on an orientation flight over the lines. It was far harder to hold station in our formation over the mountains that it had been in England. It must have been due to updraughts from the hills. We saw the outlines of the trenches and dugouts below and the marks of shells in the earth. The terrain is heavily wooded, but the area of the lines is a bit of a wasteland. Nothing fired at us and we saw no other aircraft.

That afternoon we went on a second flight, only this time I was ordered to take the lead position and find our way to the assigned sector of the lines. Fortunately the weather had cleared a little and I could trace a path from wood to wood and lake to lake. The occasional rail line helped to confirm location. It will be a long time before I can do this without constant fear of getting lost and landing in Germany.

That night I heard from my father for the first time since I left school in January. A telegram sent to the Admiralty four days ago had found me, arriving at dinner time. I opened it nervously and read the terse message:

IF ALIVE WRITE IF DEAD DONT BOTHER STOP
FATHER

[Linked Image]
Upper Canada College

[Linked Image]
First flight from Luxeuil


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/01/17 04:15 AM

Raine, it's so good to have you back.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/01/17 05:07 AM

Nice one Raine! As a Toronto raised lad much of the local content is very familiar to me. I enjoyed that touch.

Cheers mate
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/02/17 04:53 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
6 RNAS





1 Feb 1917.

Mission: Recon Escort for 2 1 1/2 ers
B FLT: 6 a/c mix N17 Bis and N-11 BeBe's
E/A: 3 Albatross Scouts
Results: 1 N-11 in Flames. Enemy ?

Remarks: I Stayed with Bombers as the Rest engaged ( my 1st time flying the N-11 a twitchy machine). I confirm old Nick Charles got shot down in flames an Albatross skidded

behind him and He Brewed right up.

Sqn Losses : 1 N-11 + 2 N-17's Damaged.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/17 01:34 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
6 RNAS

Feb 2, 1917.


Morning Parade: Assigned a Hand me down a/c from 9 RNAS. Re built Motor and new Flying Wire, it also came with two 97 Rd Drums instead of the standard 47 rd drum.

B flights 6 machines were assigned to a late morning Aerodrome Security flight. No contact.

Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/17 03:11 AM

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 2

Luxeuil-les-Bains has to been the most beautiful field in all of France. It is situated in an open plain of grass surrounded by the Vosges Mountains. We are not far from the Swiss border to the south, and within range of the Rhine and Germany. The advance party came out here in June to put the place together and we have fine, albeit rustic, huts with wood stoves so we shall we comfortable enough come winter.

Our crowd is very largely Canadian. The Wing Captain, “Daddy” Elder, is British as is the operational commander, Wing Commander Bell-Davies. There are a few other Brits, like Flt Commanders Chris Draper and Norman MacGregor. But a lot of the rest are Canucks. I share a hut with John Sharman from Manitoba; Jimmy Glen from Enderby, British Columbia; John Page from Brockville, Ontario; Ray Collishaw from Nanaimo, BC; and Arthur Dissette from Toronto. Even a good number of our gunlayers are Canadian.

As tolerably comfortable as we are, we are no match for the Americans across the way who have installed themselves in a fine villa in the town. The town of Luxeuuil is pretty little place with a thermal spa that dates back to Roman times, they say. There are a number of good shops and little cafés and restaurants. The Yanks are a crowd to be reckoned with, mostly rich and a few truly unusual, including one fellow who has already been at war with the Foreign Legion. Their mascot is a lion, which I was assured is quite friendly, although I did not try to test the proposition.

The Americans invited us to dinner on the 27th. They have set up their mess in the restaurant of the Hotel Lion d’Or, the poshest place in town. The night began with many toasts. Wing Commander Elder toasted President Poincaré. Captain Thénault, the Frenchman who leads the American escadrille, toasted the King. Raoul Lufbery, one of the earlier Americans to join the French, toasted one of their fellows killed last Saturday. It descended rapidly from there, with toasts to Marie Dressler of Canada and Theda Bara of the USA (we conceded they won that match) and to the losers of the war of 1812. It was the debate over that last point that started the chinaware flying. The aubergiste of the place couldn’t stop the madness and we shall all be out much money this month. We have resolved to settle the 1812 question over a baseball game.

We are flying training missions while we await more Sopwith 1 ½ Strutters to arrive from England. Then we shall begin operations with Capitaine Happe’s 4e Groupe de Bombardement and the Escadrille Americaine. On 28 September we flew two long patrols up to the lines near Thann, practising formation flying. It is far more difficult that I thought it would be because the mountains here force us to climb and there is not too much difference between stall speed and maximum speed, and one must be careful when adjusting the throttle or mixture.

On 29 September, Wing Commander Bell-Davies assigned me the task of leading three machines north to Luneville to practise joining up with some French Farmans. Just south of Luneville, however, we saw three monoplanes a few miles off to the west. I suspected they were Moranes, but decided to take a closer look. We soon found ourselves in a topping mix-up with three Fokkers of the latest two-gun type. And to boot, I got above one and dived on it, firing all the way. As I zoomed up and around to come back at the HA, I whooped with delight to see his machine streaming white smoke and its propeller windmilling. I fired at it again and saw the Fokker tumble out of control and crash into a wood five thousand feet below. Sharman’s machine was below, circling another Hun. I flew to assist him, but he bagged his Fokker before I got there. The third enemy machine escaped.

There was much yelling and singing on our return. We are still waiting for someone to confirm my Hun, as Sharman saw him tumbling but not crash.

That afternoon we were given an operational show! Four machines, led by F/S/L Dissette, were bound for a rail junction near Colmar, well behind the enemy lines. We are not really supposed to engage in more than training for the moment, so orders were to bomb from 11,000 feet. We dropped our bombs, some of which actually hit the field, and began to regroup. My gunlayer, Buck, suddenly opened fire and I saw a lone Fokker approaching from behind and below. I headed west as I didn’t fancy a long fight this far over and the other Strutters were a long way off. Near the lines the Hun caught up with us and I turned the aircraft around to engage him. We circled a long time, diving and zooming and trying to turn under one another. It was dodgy, because there were very high mountains all around and the trees sometimes came up on us in a hurry. Then I got a long distance burst at the Hun. A few moments later I saw him lose control, whether because of my fire or simply because of a stall I cannot tell. In any event, the HA crashed into a wooded hillside and burned. It will take some luck to get my claim confirmed as it was still some distance from our lines. We had a balloon up, so who knows. The RO will try to get in touch with the balloonatics to see if they saw anything.


"The town of Luxeuuil is pretty little place..."


"As I zoomed up and around to come back at the HA, I whooped with delight to see his machine streaming white smoke and its propeller windmilling."
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/17 02:41 PM

Marvellous stories, Raine! Absolutely marvellous.

I thought I had a brilliant idea: I was going to enlist a French pilot flying in one of the escadrilles comprising GB 4 and stationed at Luxeuil. Unfortunately it's not currently possible with the planes available in WOFF in late 1916. pitchafit

So now I'll have to think of something else for my next pilot. Too bad - it could have been interesting to have our pilots in the same location, albeit fighting for different countries.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/17 03:13 PM

And now Hasse is rejoining, the reading is going to be really good.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/17 04:41 PM

yep

The more the Merry er ? Hasse: thats on my wish list all the a/c flyable in WWI
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/17 04:51 PM

Dudley Nightshade
6 RNAS
Flt LT
B Flight.



Our 6 machines did an Escort for Be 2's. No contact for them. The Flight was spread all over the sky like Jam on Bread. As we headed home, One N-17 dropped out ( Ground Fire ? Motor ? ) He is Listed as missing. I spotted and dove on 2 Dfw Types and we shot it out till I took to many hits then Dove for home only to land on our side of the lines by a Balloon Detachment. Counted 18 hits Plus a fuel Leak.



Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/17 09:09 PM

Journal Entry: 2 February, 1917
St. Pol-sur-Mer

It has been a while since I've written anything in my journal and to be quite honest, I had all but decided to quit. Between flying and the responsibilities inherent in running a fighting squadron, I just couldn't find the time. It was a letter from my dear old father that rekindled my interest in saving my thoughts and experiences in something more secure than just my memory. My father is what you would call a capitalist through and through, why if he could sell sand to the Bedouins he certainly would. Anyway, the gist of his letter involved me making a fortune selling my memoirs after the war. He reminded me just how well Winston Churchill had done on his various war memoirs. Of course, I have no intention of selling my memoirs, it would seem almost blasphemous to do so. What I will do is begin anew with the hope that someone in the future could learn something from what we have experienced and accomplished in the war.

I received the news of our impending transfer to St. Pol with mixed emotions, while I have generally enjoyed our stay here in Vert Galand it would not be honest of me to deny that the thought of returning where it all began for me doesn't hold a certain attraction. I can hardly believe it has been over a year and a half since I began combat flying and to return to where I took my first tentative steps makes me certainly nostalgic. The boys have no memories of St. Pol and so the move is meaningless to them, just another spot on the map. Their only concern is will their physical needs be met and who can blame them, I too was once like that. The other bit of news is to be a surprise when we arrive at St. Pol and so I haven't shared this with the men. We are trading in our beloved Pups for the Tripehound. If everything that I've read and heard about this kite is true then I don't think the men will miss their Pups for long.

3 February - The move went smoothly without any significant problems. The men were a bit surprised to see the lorries waiting for us when we landed and their surprise grew when the riggers began to disassemble the Pups. Imagine my joy when I could then inform them of our new kites that were waiting on the lorries. The men jumped to it and helped with the disassembly, reminded me of children at Christmas. As soon as the first Tripehound was assembled I had Higgins set to it to apply my personal markings so that I could fly tomorrow's sorties.



Life is certainly strange, I return as a battle proven combat pilot to the place where I once was a frightened fledgling scared of my own shadow. It will be interesting to see what new memories I make in my time in St. Pol.


Edit: Removed the summer picture and replaced the correct winter picture, oops.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/17 05:25 PM

Dudley Nightshade
6 RNAS
Flt LT
B Flight.



Feb 4, 1917.


Posted to cover Aerodromes, flew along with 9 machines, one returned early ( heard later that it was a rough Engine, but may have been LMF ). No contact.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/17 05:47 PM

Just realized I haven't posted the news yet!

Intrepid Fliers - September 1916:

September 1
Bulgaria declared war on Romania.
The British and Russian Governments concluded the "Sykes-Picot" agreement for the eventual partition of Asia Minor.
Fourteen Zeppelins raided England dropping bombs from Gravesend, east of London, to Peterborough. One Zeppelin, Schutte-Lanz S.L. 11, was shot down over London by a British airplane.
September 3
The British advanced at Guillemont and the French captured Foret; at the same time the Battle of Delville Wood ended with a tactical victory for the Allies.
September 4
Dar-es-Salaam in German East Africa was surrendered to British forces.
September 5
British troops captured Leuze Wood during the Battle of Guillemont.
September 6
The Battle of Guillemont ended.
September 7
The Battle of Kisaki took place between German and South African forces near the town of Kisaki during the East African campaign.
September 8
The Battle of Kisaki ended in a German victory.
September 9
In the intermediate phase of the Battle of the Somme, British troops captured the German held village of Ginchy, a strategically important post at the Battle of Ginchy.
September 10
French and Serbian forces broke out of Thessaloniki, advancing north on the Macedonian Front.
September 11
Greek Prime Minister Alexandros Zaimis tendered his resignation.
September 12
The Battle of Kajmakcalan began in the foothills of Mount Kajmakcalan on the Macedonian Front between Serbian and Bulgarian soldiers.
September 14
Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces again fought each other along the Isonzo River as the Seventh Battle of the Isonzo began.
September 15
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette saw the first deployment of British armoured tanks when the British Fourth Army launched a large scale offensive on the Somme. The battle signified the start of the third stage of the Somme Offensive.
September 16
Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos replaced Alexandros Zaimis as Prime Minister of Greece.
September 18
The Seventh Battle of the Isonzo ended. Italian troops under the command of Field Marshall Luigi Cadorna succeeded in wearing away at Austro-Hungarian resources, both in terms of manpower and in crucial artillery availability.
September 19
Belgian forces captured Tabora, the capital city of German East Africa.
Allied forces began a naval blockade of the Greek Macedonian Coast between the Rivers Struma and River Mesta.
September 20
The Brusilov Offensive ended with a decisive Russian victory.
September 22
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette ended; the strategic objective of a breakthrough had not been achieved although tactical gains had been made with the capture of the villages of Martinpuich, Courcelette and Flers.
September 23
Twelve Zeppelins bombed London and the English East Coast. Two of the invading aircraft were brought down.
September 24
French aircraft bombed the Krupp munitions works at Essen in Germany.
September 25
The Battle of Morval began with an attack by the British Fourth Army on the German held villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs.
September 26
The Battle of Thiepval Ridge began with the aim of building on the Fourth Army attack at Morval 24 hours earlier.
September 28
The Battles of Morval and Thiepval Ridge both ended with victories for Allied forces.
September 29
Eleftherios Venizelos and Admiral Condouriotis announced the formation of a new Greek Provisional Government in Crete, in opposition to government in Athens.
September 30
Serbian forces captured the eastern and western peaks of Mount Kajmakcalan as the Battle of Kajmakcalan came to an end.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/17 05:48 PM

Warbirds Rising News of the World for January 1917:

January 1
The Cunard troopship Ivernia was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-47 off the Greek coast in the Mediterranean Sea.
General Sir Douglas Haig was promoted to Field Marshal.
January 3
German forces captured Focsani in Romania.
January 4
The Russian battleship Peresvet sank off Port Said, Egypt, after hitting a mine laid by German U-boats.
January 5
A conference was held in Rome between representatives from the British, French and Italian Governments.
January 6
The last Russian and Romanian forces evacuated Dobrudja in Romania.
January 7
The Allied Conference in Rome closed.
January 9
The day long Battle or Rafa completed the recapture of the Sinai Peninsula when Ottoman forces were driven back by British troops during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
The Royal Navy battleship HMS Cornwall was sunk by German submarine U-32 in the Mediterranean.
Prince Nikolai Dmitriyevitch Golitsyn replaced Alexander Trepov as Prime Minister of Russia.
January 10
The Allied powers replied to US President Wilson's Peace Note of December 1916 outlining their peace objectives.
January 11
Germany and Turkey signed a Settlement Treaty in Berlin.
German and Austro-Hungarian Governments issued a Note repudiating responsibility for continuance of the War.
January 14
A provisional Council of State was set up in Warsaw, Poland.
The Japanese battle cruiser Tsukuba was sunk while in port at Yokosuka after an internal explosion.
January 16
The German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann sent a telegram to his ambassador in Mexico, instructing him to propose an alliance against the United States with the Mexican government. Zimmermann believed that a war between Mexico and the United States would prevent American involvement in the European war.
January 17
An Inter-Allied conference convened at Petrograd to discuss war policy, finance and cooperation.
January 19
The Zimmermann telegram was intercepted and deciphered by the British.
A massive explosion in East London occurred when a large quantity of TNT exploded at a munitions factory in Salvertown.
January 20
General Reginald Hoskins succeeded General Jan Smuts in command of British forces during the East African Campaign.
January 22
US President Wilson addressed the US Senate and appealed for a settlement of the conflict in Europe on the basis of "peace without victory".
January 23
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Simoom was blown up by gunfire from German destroyers during action off the Schouwen Bank near Zeebrugge.
January 24
The Greek Government formally apologized to Allied Governments for refusing the Entente demands in December 1916.
January 25
German destroyers shelled Southwold and Wangford on the Suffolk coast in England.
A British attack on the Turkish salient at Hal met initial success but was beaten back by a Turkish counterattack.
January 26
British and Indian troops recaptured the trenches lost on 25 January at Hal.
January 27
The British steamer SS Artist was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-55 west of The Smalls near Newport in Wales.
January 31
The German Government announced that it would resume unrestricted naval warfare from the 1st February.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/05/17 03:03 PM

Banjoman, great episode. I read it over Sunday brekkies. It's great to have so many writing here. We have to recruit T3G to join the campaign. Has anyone heard from Maeran of late?

Fullofit, thanks for the news update.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/05/17 03:12 PM

That was a great report, Banjoman! Looking forward to more. Fullofit - thanks for the news report! smile

Gentlemen, let me now introduce my new pilot, sous-lieutenant Bruno Berthier of Escadrille C 66!

***

8 October 1916. Plateau de Malzéville, Escadrille C 66.

Sous-lieutenant Bruno Berthier quickly dusted off his dark blue chasseur uniform, made sure all his pockets were properly closed and then knocked on the door of capitaine Henri de Kérillis.

“Come in, the door is not locked!” Berthier pushed the wooden door and entered the office of his new commanding officer. The room was small. It was dominated by a large oaken desk surrounded by a few simple chairs. The walls were covered with maps of the Western Front. Underneath them Berthier could see a faded reddish wallpaper with typical flower patterns from the previous century. The room was illuminated with light streaming in through a window on the wall next to the desk. Sitting behind it was a tall man with dark hair and a neatly trimmed moustache. He was wearing a simple bleu horizon uniform with a pair of golden pilot wings above his right breast pocket. Berthier saluted the captain.

“Mon capitaine, I am sous-lieutenant Bruno Berthier. I was ordered to report to you for my assignment to your escadrille.”

“Ah, our latest aviator! Fresh from Avord, yes?” Kérillis flashed a warm smile at Berthier.

“Yes, mon capitaine. I graduated only last week. The depot ordered me here a couple of days ago. I brought my records with me.” Berthier approached the desk and handed a folder to Kérillis.

“Thank you. Please, sit down; I want to take a look at what you’ve been up to at Avord - and before!”

With Berthier somewhat nervously sitting on a rather uncomfortable chair at the other side of the desk, Kérillis started going through the documents. “So you’re from Normandy? Ah, and you served in the chasseurs! Of course - you have the dark blue uniform! You were planning a military career before the war?”

“Yes, I was in the 8e bataillon de chasseurs à pied as the war broke out. Like all chasseurs, the battalion was acting as a covering force for the army during mobilization. We were among the first to encounter the hordes of the invading boche.” Berthier was proud of his service and Keréllis could hear it in his voice.

“We delayed the enemy advance throughout August 1914, and then participated in the counterattack on the Marne.”

“That is when you were wounded, yes?” Kérillis was quickly going through the service record of Berthier.

“Yes, on the 12th of September. I was leading my platoon when we ran into a boche rear guard in a small copse of trees.” Berthier raised his left leg in the air and pointed at it. “I was hit by a rifle bullet - right here.” He smiled somewhat wryly. “Angered by this, my men chased the boche out of the woods. I don’t think they bothered to take any prisoners.”

“I see you were mentioned in dispatches by the division. It must have been quite an engagement!" Kérillis continued his reading.

“It was. I tried to keep up with my men but couldn’t. They had to bandage me and then carry me to the nearest aid station.” Berthier grimaced. “In the chaos of battle, it took a few hours. Not a pleasant memory, but I survived.”

“It was fortunate that you did! There’s a pretty long list of military hospitals in your record”, Kérillis looked up from the document, somewhat surprised.

“Yes, mon capitaine. The leg was badly hurt and had to be operated multiple times. I spent over six months convalescing. I was fortunate that they didn’t have to cut it off completely.”

“Indeed! And then you were transferred to a depot in Paris?”

“Yes. A chasseur must be able to run quickly. I no longer could, so they had no use for me on the front. Instead, I was given an office job in Paris.” Kérillis could see a fierce flash in Berthier’s blue eyes.

“I felt miserable there. Right from the very first day in the office. After spending a few weeks there pushing papers around, I thought I was going to lose my mind.”

“Many officers would gladly take a bullet in the leg for a transfer to a depot in Paris”, Kérillis looked Berthier in the eyes, studying his reaction.

“Yes, mon capitaine. I guess I’m not one of them.” Berthier wasn’t joking.

“I can see you are not! Was it difficult to get accepted into the air force?” Kérillis was starting to like the young chasseur officer.

“It took some effort. But I figured that having a bad leg wouldn’t be such an obstacle for flying than it is for light infantry work. Apparently, I was able to convince them of that.” Berthier was grinning happily now.

Kérillis read through the rest of Berthier’s record. Bruno had been accepted into pilot training in early 1916 and was assigned to the military flight school at Avord, which was among the largest of its kind in the whole world. He had been a good student, though not excellent, completing his training without any serious trouble.

“I see you have experience from flying Caudrons?” Berthier nodded. “Très bon! Now Escadrille 66 is currently equipped with the Caudron G.4, so you should fit in quite well here.” Capitaine Kérillis stood up and pushed his chair back. Then he turned to face one of the maps covering the walls and motioned for Berthier, who was already standing, to come look at it.

Pressing his finger on the map, Kérillis proceeded to explain the situation to Berthier. “We’re here at Malzéville - part of Groupe de bombardement 2, under Army Detachment Lorraine. Our sector extends from left here in the western area of Nancy to the line Epinal - Rambervillers - Badon on the right. The rest of the escadrilles are stationed at these fields…”

For several minutes, Kérillis moved his finger around the map, tapping it on various locations and explaining which units and formations they contained, and how everything related to the military situation on the whole front. Berthier listened carefully, trying to memorize as many details as he could. Finally the captain finished his lecture and turned to face Berthier. He looked very serious now.

“Berthier, my escadrille is considered to be one of the finest of its kind in the whole aéronautique militaire. We take our business quite seriously, and expect the best from our officers and men. Do you think you’re up to the challenge?”

Without hesitation, Berthier replied: “Mon capitaine, I will do my best!”

“Très bon! That’s all I ask of my men!” The captain smiled and then motioned with his hand toward the door. “Now let us go and introduce you to the rest of the escadrille. Then we can get you properly started with a little practice flight, since the day is still young.”

Kérillis proceeded to leave the office with Berthier following him closely behind. As the two men stepped outside, they could see the sun shining brightly through a gap in the dark cloud cover of the early autumn.

Somewhere in the distance, a few guns boomed like thunder.



TO BE CONTINUED...
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/05/17 03:59 PM

You are welcome Gentlemen. Welcome back Hasse.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/05/17 05:06 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
B Flight
6 RNAS


Feb 5, 1917.


The old up and down covering airfields, We put up 9 machines. No Joy.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/05/17 08:35 PM

Here is the latest status reports. We have someone actually captured, I think that might be a first.



Here is the list of our fallen heroes.

Posted By: Deacon211

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/06/17 12:40 PM

Thanks Banjoman.

That's my guy...I thought I had clicked "Injured", but must have fat fingered it. This is the second 6 day injury for Kurt.

Damned Strutters!

Man, I got a lot of dead guys on there. I think I got Fokker Scourged. In a Fokker!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/06/17 02:54 PM

Yep, you seem to enjoy producing heroes. biggrin

Edit: If you give me some back story on Bob I'll include him in my Arthur stories.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/06/17 11:52 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
B Flight
6 RNAS

Feb 6, 1917.


Mission: Aerodrome Attack.

A Flt: 3 N-17 Bis.
B Flight: 5 A/c 3 N-17 and 2 N-11 Arm with Rockets.

Results: Shot up 2 bldg. and 2 2Seat machines.
Losses: 1 N-11 Destroyed and 1 N-17 pilot shook up ( LMF ? ).

Remarks: Bloody Cockup. Supply sent the rockets to another unit so we had only machine gun ammo. Enemy flights all over the Target area so had to run like E'll. I shot up one full large drum and kept the rest encase the Huns caught up with me.

Posted By: Deacon211

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/17 12:48 AM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Yep, you seem to enjoy producing heroes. biggrin

Edit: If you give me some back story on Bob I'll include him in my Arthur stories.


Let me get a few hours on Bob. I start giving him a backstory and you might as well start typing his name on the Heroes now! biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/17 12:49 AM

Hahaha
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/17 01:21 AM

Originally Posted By: Deacon211
Let me get a few hours on Bob. I start giving him a backstory and you might as well start typing his name on the Heroes now! biggrin


Too funny! And true!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/17 02:59 AM

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 3

Work intensified as the first week at Luxeuil continued. On 30 September 1916 we drew the sunrise flight. At 4:30 in the cold of morning, a steward arrived in our cabin (as we Naval fliers call our wooden huts, each divided by partitions into eight separate and private rooms, and each boasting an iron stove in the centre companionway, one at each end). He walked quietly by the first two berths, where my luckier comrades were sleeping.

“Wakey-wakey, sir,” he said, and shook my shoulder. “There are Huns that need bombs dropped on in an hour. Tea’s on in the mess, sir.” That was his way of saying “If you were expecting a cuppa in bed, you’ve another bleedin’ think comin’.”

I gathered my shaving gear and left it on a wooden chair by the nearer stove. Then I poured water from the pitcher by my bed into an enamel cup and placed it on the stove. As quietly as possible, I placed two small logs on the barely pink embers and hoped for the best. With a towel around my neck I made my way along a duckboard walkway to the ablutions area, a line of galvanised metal basins on tables in the copse behind the huts. The last watch had started an immersion heater, but the chill was still barely out of the wash water. After a quick splash it was back to the cabin to shave and dress, then over to the mess.

Breakfast was good tea and hard-boiled eggs, toast, and the wonderfully British invention – gentleman’s relish. It was salty and made you want to drink water, which was never a great idea before a long flight, but I loved the stuff.

The mechanics had my Strutter run up and waiting. Armstrong, Collishaw, me, and of course our gunlayers were off to try dropping a few light bombs from the two-seater Sopwiths. Normally we used only the B1 types, the single-seat bomber Strutters, for this. But we were learning to have fun. Our job was to hit the Hun forward positions near Luneville. The flight to altitude was spectacular with the sun rising in the east. Halfway there Armstrong fired the wash-out signal from his Very pistol and turned home with a dud engine. That put me in charge. I led Collishaw down to 4000 feet over the front and we let loose our baggage together.

Just as we turned for home, Buck, my gunlayer, fired a burst. I turned about and saw three Fokkers diving on us. One paired off with Collishaw and the other two fastened onto me. It must have been only a couple of minutes, but it seemed an age. I twisted, turned. I fired, and then Buck fired. Jacob Buck is a Mennonite from Elmira, religious but not one of those very traditional types. Nonetheless, I was bowled over to hear him bellowing the most foul curses at the Fokkers every time he fired (we have rigged up a speaking tube system using earpieces joined with pitot tubing). Finally the Huns broke off and we headed home. The fight was inconclusive but thrilling enough, and we took pride in the fact that our machine was not holed. Collishaw had damaged his man but it had escaped.

On our return Wing Commander Elder congratulated me with the news that my Fokker from the previous morning’s flight to Luneville had been confirmed. This was the first kill among our latest-arriving pilots, so I felt very proud.

On 1 October we flew in the morning to drop bombs on the aerodrome at Sirentz, in Germany. We dropped them from high level, hitting a hangar, but saw no sign of the enemy.

On 2 October we flew to the front east of Nancy and loosed our bombs over enemy position, but saw nothing due to ground mist.

My aircraft was under repair the next day and I had a day’s leave coming, so I went up to Nancy on the 3rd. Nancy is an old fortress town, and is divided into the Old Town and the New Town, the main different being that the New Town is only 300 years old! It is probably the most beautiful city I have ever seen. I stayed at the Grand Hotel, a wonderful old palace on the elegant main square, the Place Stanislas. My waiter at breakfast in the hotel restaurant spoke English. He was an art student before the war and offered to take me on a tour of the Art Nouveau architectural sites in the city. We had a good walk the next morning. One doesn’t leave gratuities here like at home, but I left him a few francs in an envelope after lunch that day. The fellow had a lame foot which kept him out of the army.

I ran into Jamie Coltrane from the Wing and we had a few beers together. In a weak moment he talked me into buying a pipe and some tobacco, a bittersweet smelling blend from the Levant. Life is full of new things. I bought some macaroons which I shall put in a good tin and try to send home to Mum. They are very fine, sweet and brightly coloured.

5 October was a long reconnaissance north to the Luneville sector again. It began to rain and we had to pick our way through the mountains in the low clouds. Needless to say we saw nothing, but got very cold.

We play the Americans at baseball tomorrow.


"...the elegant main square, the Place Stanislas."


"The flight to altitude was spectacular with the sun rising..."


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/17 08:27 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
B Flight
6 RNAS

Feb 7, 1917.

I say, bit of a sticky wicket today. Flew as Tail end a/c on a 8 machine Balloon bust mission. The chaps got the gas bag ,but we were spread out all over the sky. I do believe that this formation caused the Lost of a N-17 that was reported in flames in the Target Area.
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/17 09:07 PM

Good report, carrick58. Just why balloon busting missions in WOFF usually assign 5+ aircraft. That seems at least little bit unreal, because balloon busting missions were usually single aircraft missions, early on dawn.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/17 10:24 PM

Originally Posted By: JJJ65
Good report, carrick58. Just why balloon busting missions in WOFF usually assign 5+ aircraft. That seems at least little bit unreal, because balloon busting missions were usually single aircraft missions, early on dawn.


I'm not sure I agree. Mannock, for example, planned balloon attacks with a flight at low level to get the balloon and one at high level to attract Archie. Sholto Douglas, in his excellent account Years of Combat, speaks of multi-aircraft balloon-busting shows.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/08/17 04:41 AM

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 4

6 October was cloudy and cold in the morning. FSL Dissette was selected to lead me and Stearne Edwards north to shoot up the Hun aerodrome at Buhl. We were crossing the lines about forty minutes out when Dissette spotted three Huns climbing to intercept us. Following orders, he turned away and we dropped our bombs on the German front line positions and headed home. We’re not supposed to get into any major scraps in Hunland until we are fully up to strength. Commander Bell-Davies is bending the rules, but he doesn’t want to take any losses well over the lines.

I was delighted to learn at divisions that I had been credited with a second kill. The Fokker I’d hit with a long range shot the day before had fallen into the French lines in the hills near Thann. We they found the wreck the pilot had a bullet hole in his head, and it was the only round that had hit the man or his machine! It was complete luck. That gives me two confirmed victories, more than any other of our front line pilots.

We played ball against the Yanks in the afternoon. They were pretty good, too. They didn’t count on Dissette, though. The fellow was a well-known rower and rugby player back in Toronto and he handles a baseball bat like a toothpick. He single-handedly kept us in the game. Jimmy Glen got a lucky hit or two, and it all came down to the final inning. Flt Comdr Draper had a little wager on the game with Captain Thénault of the Escadrille Americaine. Neither was that interested in the sport otherwise, but the bet made it worth watching. Draper had the wardroom stewards make up bowls of punch for each team. Ours was largely fruit, selzer, and champagne, while the one he made the Yanks was mainly cognac. We won in the final inning only because the Yanks were pretty much paralytic by that time.

Captain Elder invited them for drinks in the wardroom that evening. It was perhaps the wrong occasion to extend our hospitality. They’d vowed revenge for the ribbing they’d taken at the Lion d’Or a few nights ago and for the defeat at their national game (and they had by then discovered the punch bowl stratagem). All of a sudden at some secret signal, all hell broke loose and the Yanks went on a wild rampage, nearly destroying the mess and going through our cabins like a tornado. The little partitions that divided our sleeping areas were reduced to matchwood in the fracas. The row ended only with the sound of gunshots. We raced outside to find Joe Fall, our resident Yukoner, firing a Webley at a copy of the drill regulations – held by a none-too-steady Raoul Lufbery! Fall had placed a perfect five-round grouping in the manual without shooting off Lufbery’s thumb. He gave each of the Yanks a page out of the book to remind them what would happen if they touched his abode again.

We made a short jaunt over the hills to shoot up a rail junction south of Mulhouse on 7 October. Buck and I took some rounds into our machine from ground fire. We made it away nicely after scaring some ground Huns half to death.

On 8 October 1916, it nearly all came to an end for us, though. Flt Comdr Draper led FSL Nathanial Bath and me on a long patrol. We had permission to nose over the lines in the direction of Colmar. The cloud was heavy and fairly low, so we had to squeeze over the mountains and under the cloud as we headed northeast. We had scarcely crossed the lines when I spotted a faint grey speck moving left to right above and in front of my machine, probably two miles off. Even looking directly at it I kept losing sight of the object, which I was certain was a hostile aircraft. I waggled by wings at Draper and made directly for it, alerting Buck (my gunlayer) by means of our speaking tube.

We drew closer. It was a juicy great two-seater, but it was heading home now and was skirting over the hilltops, so I could not get below. I lined him up carefully and began firing from a long way off. From 200 yards down to 100 I fired in short bursts. The Hun did not answer back and I began to feel as thought I’d killed or wounded his gunner. I fired again and saw bits fall away from the machine, an Aviatik. Then to my alarm, the Hun gunner came to life and immediately hit our machine. Oil began to smear my windscreen and goggles. I quickly broke away and headed west, clambering for altitude.

It took about five minutes to reach the French lines. There was no open ground ahead for ten miles, so I turned north, hoping to reach the open ground near Saint-Dié. It was no good. The Clerget began to misfire and lose power. I was barely a thousand feet above the trench lines and broken trees on the hilltops below and had only seconds to find a place to put down. Off to our left there was a pockmarked slope studded with shattered stumps. It was our best chance. I sideslipped down and hit the ground at 90 miles an hour. The Strutter bounced, floated, and settled back. We snapped branches of the low shrubs and hit a stump. The field fell away to the left and our right wing hit the torn ground and a section of the lower plane broke away. The machine slewed around and stopped. Buck and I unfastened our belts and climbed down.

“Done for today, Colin?” Buck asked. I answered rudely. A German mortar round interrupted us, exploding only fifty yards away. We ran for the other side of the ridge and the safety of the trees beyond.


"Off to our left there was a pockmarked slope studded with shattered stumps. It was our best chance."
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/08/17 05:29 PM

nope


I say, bit of bad luck old man.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/08/17 05:38 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
B Flight
6 RNAS

Feb 8, 1917.

Mission: Rail Bombardment
Loc: Loos, Rail yard Jct.
A Flt: 3 machines Escort
B Flt: 4 machines Bombardment.
T/O: 0815 hrs.

Results: Damage to rails and build.
Losses : None.

Remarks: Passed under 2 enemy Patrols in target area. It was just luck that no one dived on the flights.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/09/17 09:39 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
B Flight
6 RNAS

Feb 9, 1917.

Mission: Escort 2 Fee's on a Bombardment mission.
A Flt: 3 N-17 Bis.
B flt: 3 N-17 Bis + 1 N-11 BeBe.

Sighted: Flt of 3 Dfw Types off to the East. 5 E/a Scouts.

Engaged: 5 e/a Scouts.

Results: Claims 0 Lossses 1 N-17 destroyed. + 2 Heavy Damage and 1 Light damage 1 N-11 Lt Damage ( mine) Bombers: one Fee from Rfc 20 Sgn Destroyed. ( spun out of control

Remarks: A flight of Huns engaged the foremost machines B flight + 1 from A flt ( 2 of A Flt machines had already turned back before the fight started ). The e/a split up 3 mixing it up Turn and burn while 2 dove for the Fee's. I turned into the 1st of these got off about 93 rds. He pulled level and headed home while his # 2 got on my tail firing. I spun down to the deck while taking a few hits. Pulling out of the dive, I saw him heading home.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/10/17 03:45 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
B Flight
6 RNAS


Feb 10, 1917.



B flight had the duty covering Aerodromes. Nothing but clouds in the sky.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/17 03:39 PM

Today Bruce Wayne is no more. He fought valiantly, being wounded in the process by several Hun machines. He was able to drive them off before bringing his own bird home and passing out.



Bruce and his gunner's injuries were too heavy to recover from.




RIP

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/17 05:29 PM

popcorn

Bats off to Bruce and his gunner. Quick to the Bat Cave ( his room ) and we can divide his stuff.
duh
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/17 05:34 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
B Flight
6 RNAS

Feb 11, 1917.


Airfield Patrol today. Nothing sighted.



Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/17 06:35 PM

Originally Posted By: carrick58
popcorn

Bats off to Bruce and his gunner. Quick to the Bat Cave ( his room ) and we can divide his stuff.
duh


Heh heh. That's good Carrick, but you're forgetting one thing. Catwoman's already there.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/17 08:38 PM

Sorry to hear that Fullofit, but I can't say that I'm really surprised. Bruce definitely lived life in the fast lane and it finally just caught up with him.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/17 09:02 PM

In case anyone has missed it, we lost one of the great ones this past week. Everyone should have a toast in their respective messes for the late, great Bruce Wayne.

Here is the latest status report.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/17 09:20 PM

Originally Posted By: Banjoman
Sorry to hear that Fullofit, but I can't say that I'm really surprised. Bruce definitely lived life in the fast lane and it finally just caught up with him.


You're right. I didn't expect him to survive the war. He was living on the edge and sooner or later some joker would get him. At least his enemies feared him.
So, we're done with "B's", time for a "C". Tomorrow Cyrus Gold will be arriving at the Front.
Thanks for the stats, Banjoman.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/13/17 03:43 PM

wave

Fullofit: Cat woman Meowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww thats sounds Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfect.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/13/17 03:47 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
B Flight
6 RNAS


Feb 13, 1917.


Morning Patrol to Loos and back 9 machines. I flew as Tail end Charlie because of the speed of my wornout machine.

Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/17 12:24 AM

Fullofit, so sorry to hear about your losing Bruce. He had an amazingly long career! Good luck with Mr. C!

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 5

Buck and I ran from the twisted remains of our Strutter. The ground was rocky and torn with shell holes. From across the valley a machine gun hammered away. We could hear rounds slapping into the mud and ringing off the rocks nearby. Buck took a roll of barbed wire in a leap, or at least tried to. The tails of his leather flying coat caught and brought him crashing into the mud. I risked puncture by searching for a gap in the wire. From there it was a breathless fifty yards to the edge of the wood. And that is where the two dullest poilus in France met us with the points of their bayonets. They screamed at us and spat at us and called us Boches and, I’m fairly sure, a number of other unsavoury things. One of them, who I gathered was named Paul, wanted to shoot us on the spot. The other, named Pierre (I know, I laughed too, despite our predicament), wanted to stick us a bit first.

I screamed “Anglais” at them, then “aviateur,” then “Canadiens,” but I might as well have been shouting “Don’t shoot, I’m the parliamentary secretary for the Minister of Inland Revenue.” Pierre and Paul stared at us, slack-jawed and dull-eyed, and darted their bayonets about our faces. After a minute or two of this, an officer rode up on a fine grey.

“Thank God,” I said. “Do you speak English?”

He removed a leather glove and slapped me twice across the face. “Ferme ta putain de gueule, maudit barbare!

“What?” I asked. I truly had no idea what he said. That’s when my trusty colleague Jacob Buck spoke up.

“If I have it right, Colin, he said for you to shut your whore of an ugly throat, you damned barbarian.” Buck was very satisfied with himself. I’d had no idea he could "parlez-vous the ding-dong."

“Seriously?” I asked Buck. “A whore of a throat? What the hell is a whore of a throat?”

“It’s rather vulgar, I admit,” said Buck.

“Vulgar? These idiots need to learn how to curse.” I turned to the snail-eating officer. There followed some florid asservations of his mental inferiority and low birth, interspersed with lurid Anglo-Saxon suggestions as to what he could do with himself and where he could do it, and capped with suggestions for the disposition of the French army and of Pierre and Paul. I stopped to catch my breath.

Eh bien, why did you not tell me you were Canadian?” he said.

Lieutenant Morneau, for so he was named, turned out to be a fine fellow possessed of a comfortable dugout with good stock of port. He was even able to procure a glass of fresh milk for my Mennonite gunlayer-cum-translator. It took until evening to get us back to the field at Luxeuil.

We went all the way to Colmar on a patrol on the 9th October. We spotted a pair of Hun two-seaters, but they were too far off to be worth chasing.

On the 10th we escorted Nathanial Page and Ron White for an artillery shoot up near Luneville. About twenty minutes into the shoot three Fokker biplanes climbed to the attack. It turned into a wild fight. I got a deflection shot at one of the Huns who tumbled out of control. There was another on us, and Buck had done a good job of holding him off. As religious and upright as he was, I was astounded by his vocabulary when engaging the enemy. I managed to damage the second Fokker in a head-on pass, then get behind him as he tried to break off. We both dived towards the Hun lines with Archie bursting all around. At length I closed on him and finished him off, watching the machine crash into some trees north of Herbéville.

We were turning for home when I noticed a bit of yellow moving over the dark earth a half-mile off. It was likely the third Hun. We made for it and surprised him near Héming. He fell into a field and burned. We returned elated and claimed all three. That’s when we learned that Page and White had not returned. Page was a young English boy. I’d hardly got to know him, although he had the cabin next to mine in our hut. White was a petty officer. He had been in the service since 1914.

The RO informed me later that my OOC claim was denied, as the Hun had recovered close to the ground and headed east. The French balloon line confirmed the second Hun, and the third was denied as it was not witnessed and Captain Elder was a stickler for understated claims. Still, I now had three confirmed victories and was a damned fine fellow, wot, or so the Captain said.

That night a new fellow moved into Page’s cabin – an American named Charles something. He’d signed up in Canada, he said.

We flew twice on the 11th without anything interesting happening, except that I landed from the afternoon flight in the dark. That was a first and was frankly terrifying. Just before touching down, our machine gave a sharp lurch and there was a snapping of brush. We landed with a good piece of treetop in our undercarriage.

Not everyone was so fortunate. The next day was a momentous one. Most of our wing escorted the French bombing group to attack the Mauser works in Oberndorf, Germany. The Escadrille Americaine went into action for the first time. The day was a sad one for our American friends across the way. Norman “Nimmie” Prince, one of their earliest members, was coming in to land in the late day and hit a telegraph wire. He was thrown from his machine and seriously injured.

We missed the Oberndorf show. Instead we accompanied Flt Comdr Draper, Armstrong, and Dissette over the lines near Nancy to attack an enemy rail junction. Except for some accurate Archie, nothing of note happened.

The next two days saw us on an offensive patrol twenty miles over, then on an artillery shoot up near St-Dié. I am beginning to think the Huns have given up the air to us. They certainly have not been bothering us a great deal of late.


"At length I closed on him and finished him off, watching the machine crash into some trees north of Herbéville."
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/17 11:47 AM

Salute to the fallen pilots and good luck to the new ones! salute

Raine, you continue to entertain with your stories. Keep it up! smile

I've been pleasantly surprised by the Caudron G.4 in WOFF. It's a very gentle machine and with two guns with good visibility and fields of fire can also defend itself reasonably well. Or at least I hope it can - no Hun planes have attacked Bruno yet. smile

Anyway, here's the latest from Bruno...

*****

15 October 1916.
Melzéville air base.


Dearest mama & papa,

First let me offer you a thousand apologies for not having written anything in a while. I know you must be awfully worried about me. In my defense, I can only say that I have been terribly busy with my new assignment. Serving as a pilot in a real front escadrille is very different from being a student at a flight school! One may think he knows well the theory and even the practice of flying, but then having to put all that knowledge into actual use - under wartime conditions no less - is another matter entirely. It is a humbling experience, but a very educational one too. (I’m sure you as schoolteachers can appreciate this!)

What should I tell you about my new outfit? Our escadrille is under the command of capitaine de Kérillis; a professional officer in the true sense of the word. He knows his business and can be very demanding; yet he also leads by example and puts himself in the same dangers as his men, like a real officer should. I have full confidence in him, which sadly cannot be said of all the officers that I’ve served under.

You know I cannot go into details because of the censors, but I can tell you this: our escadrille is one of the best of its kind, and specializes in bombing and reconnaissance duties. I must work hard to earn my place here. So far, I think I’ve been successful at this; I haven’t wrecked any machines or injured my observer. -I suppose you’d like to hear more about him? His name is Pascal Girard and he’s a sous-lieutenant like me. He’s from Marseille, has a fiery Mediterranean temper, and comes from the artillery like so many observers. I’m getting along with him reasonably well - and he’s not one to mince his words if he thinks I haven’t been flying our machine steadily enough.

There are so many things I’d like to tell you about our people and machines here, and also of this place and the countryside surrounding it. I’ll try to do my best in the future. But now I’m tired and must go to bed. I just wanted you to know that I’m doing well and you don’t have to worry about me (though I know you will and I love you for it). Tell Marie and Sophie and Louis that I love them and always think about them. Please write to me soon and let me know everything that goes on there. Spare no details - letters from home are always greatly cherished here.

Your humble (occasionally) and obedient (rarely) son,

Bruno.

PS. My leg is doing pretty well now. Not much pain, though the stiffness is still there and may never disappear completely. It doesn’t bother me when flying, which is all that matters.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/17 08:00 PM

Journal Entry: 17 October, 1916
Bertincourt

Returned this afternoon from an exhausting and ultimately frustrating sortie to find an Oberst Deist from the Kriegspresseamt and three oily 'gentlemen' from the press waiting in my office. As soon as everyone was seated, Oberst Deist introduced the three men as representatives of Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Berliner Tageblatt, and Vossische Zeitung respectively. After the obligatory small talk, Oberst Deist came to the point of this meeting by saying, "Rittmeister Auge since you well know that you are the leading ace in the Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte I should not have to tell you of your honor and duty to share with the people back home your glorious victories." His statement was quite shocking to me because I had no idea that I was leading the Luftstreitkräfte. Of course, I keep detailed records of every sortie I fly, but it never crossed my mind that I was the highest scorer. Anyway, I responded, "What about Boelcke? I thought he was providing that service for the Fatherland." Oberst Diest answered, "He is, he is and he is performing that duty quite admirably, but as you well know, the public needs more heroes. These men will ask you a few questions and take a few photographs and then you will be able to return to your duties. Gentlemen, I believe Rittmeister Auge is ready for your questions." Well, the truth was I wasn't ready for their questions but how do you argue with an Oberst so I grudgingly cooperated. The interview was actually quite pleasant until the reporter, I forget his name, from the Berliner Tageblatt asked, "Rittmeister Auge, can you tell our readers what's it like to shoot down an enemy aeroplane?" I sat stunned at the insensitivity of that stupid question and so I asked a question of my own, "Sir, are you asking me what it is like to intentionally stalk and kill another human being?" The reporter fumbled and stammered and ultimately was saved by Oberst Deist who graciously ended the interview. After thanking me for my time, the men filed out and left my office. Afterwards, I sat thinking of the stupidity and naivety of those back home, they really don't understand this war at all. One bright note of the interview, one of the photographers sent me a photo as a keepsake.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/17 09:44 PM

Great stories Gents! Charles Choto, 3 Wing, RNAS will be joining the war later this week.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/17 10:31 PM

Thanks Guys. Bruce had an exceptional run (11 months), but with the Albatros on the prowl it looks like there will be more joining him soon.
Meet Cyrus Gold. Son of a murdered merchant whose body was dumped into a swamp.



It is the middle of October, but the weather is still holding.



His first flight was cut short by a mechanical failure right after take off. It took him half a loop to get back to the airfield, but the Strutter was a mess.



Not the best way to impress the CO.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/17 10:50 PM

wave


Good Luck
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/17 10:59 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe, France.


Feb 14, 1917.


Cheerio, Bit of Luck today. Posted to Cover Aerodrome down towards Calais. Mixed it up with two 2 seat types. The rest of my section was spread out so far I ended up attacking alone. By jove, they were so high and so fast I had to fire at 400-300 meters then reloaded and fired off my second 97 rd large drum from 400 meters by then they were almost out of eyesight.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/17 11:06 PM

Originally Posted By: carrick58
wave


Good Luck


Thanks Carrick. My aim is to get promoted and get my hands on a shiny Pup.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/17 06:10 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe, France.


Feb 15, 1917.


Mission: Patrol to the lines.

B Flt: 5 machines, mix N-17 and 1 N-11.

Alt: 2300 meters

E/a: 2 flights of three 2 seats ( Roland ) + 1 or more in Archie fire. 7-9 enemy a/c.

Results: 1 Roland destroyed. Sqn Losses: 1 machine forced down ( Mine) 2 pilots wnd. and all of B Flt's machines damaged.

Remarks. Bit of the Diciest encounters yet. B Flt was strung out when we encountered and chased one machine. I broke right to cut him off when I ran into 3 e/a that I hadn't seen. The flt was already engaging another enemy flt of three so no help at all. Managed to get off 2 ( 47 rds) drums during the flight before I took too many hits. The 2 e/a on my tail got in some good hits to my engine ( the Oil line) the motor made strange sounds then stopped. Nothing to do but Spin down and find a road. ( the e/a lost interest in me as I spun from 2000 meters to 500. )

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/16/17 06:35 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe, France.


Feb 16, 1917.

Mission : Aerodrome attack

B Flight: Bombardment arm with Rockets and machine gun ammo
A Flt: Cover Flight arm with full load of machine gun ammo

T/O: 1400 hrs.

Results: Target damaged. Sqn Losses: 2 N-17's damaged. 1 N-11 ( mine) had System failure, but landed at Friendly Airfield.

Remarks : A hair raising little flight. Flew under 2 enemy Patrols. Then flew around another Patrol avoiding a flight of 2 seats in a landing pattern. Fired off my rockets and 1 drum of ammo then headed home. Passing a friendly field, my motor sized up so had to land.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/17/17 04:29 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe, France.


Feb 17, 1917.


Patrol to the lines and back: B Flight did a low level patrol this afternoon, spotted nothing to see.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/19/17 12:10 AM

Oct 20th, 1916
Sub Flight Lt. Charles Choto
3Wing RNAS, Alsace

Four days ago Charles had awoke with a splitting headache and bandage around his head.

"Welcome back to the world old boy!" came a voice. Looking up Charles made out the blurry form of Colin Urquahart. Colin had been friendly to Charles since his arrival on the 10th. "Seems you celebrated your first confirmed victory a little too much",said Colin.

"What the hell happened"? asked Charles.

"It seems you were 3 sheets into the wind and when you arose from the table you went spinning like a windlass and came down on the table! Don't worry though. the table is none the worse for it. You should be fit to fly in a few days." With that, Colin stood up and said he had the morning patrol and must be off.

Charles thought back to his first mission. He led C flight to note troop movements near St. Die. Arriving at St. Die, he and the other machine in the flight started their circuit. It was a beautiful day. While patrolling around St. Die at the order of his gunlayer, Capt. Eggleston, Charles saw two monoplanes coming in from the northest. He instantly got on the tail of one and scored some hits and it dove away. His flight mate had sent the other one packing and they formed back up at about 6000". They resumed their patrol and Charles kept a watchful eye as he now had a few bullet holes in his tail! No sooner had they settled into their observation patrol he spotted 2 more machines above and to the east. "Must be B flight he thought." At that moment they nosed over into a dive. It took Charles a split second to realize what was happening and he turned into them with a head on climbing pass. As soon as the two Huns went over him he reversed and was on the tail of one of them. He fired 2 bursts and the pilot slumped over and the Halb nosed straight into no mans land! Looking around, Sharman was no where in sight. Charles turned into a slow circle and spotted Sharman at low altitude circling with the other. He dove and side slipped to loose height as fast as possible. By the time he was almost to their level, Sharman had got behind the Hun and was pouring it to him. The Hun started to smoke and nosed over into the hillside.



The elation turned to horror as Sharman tried to pull up and came down hard in a shower of dirt on the hillside!

Eggleston motioned to Charles to get out of there and they flew back to base without incident. They were glad to know that Sharman was OK. He was a bit banged about but OK and would be back by nightfall. Charles filed a claim for the Hun. Sharman had claimed two.



It was on his third mission, more observation near Herbarviller in the rain, when almost to the lines Charles saw "A" flight turn and head back. Eggleston motioned to follow. Charles thought they may have seen Huns and were returning to base but in fact had seen 2 Aviatiks and were intent on some fun. After loosing them in the clouds he looked all around to locate them when out of a cloud one one of the Huns appeared going in the opposite direction about 200' above with one of "A" flight on his tail. Charles turned the Strutter around and reentered the cloud he had just come out of. Coming out he could not see anything. He looked all around. Nothing! Then Eggleston shouted, "He's right above you!" Charles looked up there were those two black crosses plain a the back of your hand. He eased back on the stick and fired. The Hun dipped to starboard and went straight into the ground near Luneville aerodrome. He was beside himself! Another Hun! He made a heading for the patrol area and after about 2 miles saw an Aviatik tumbling to the ground about a thousand feet below. Looking ahead Collishaw's machine came into view and they resumed the patrol.



Their other missions had been uneventful. Word came down that the second Hun had been confirmed but the first was rejected. It did not matter. He had his first confirmed Hun!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/19/17 01:34 AM

Carrick, excellent shots of the rocket attack. Too bad they don't really do much damage.
Have you, or anyone else flying in the northern Flanders, noticed that there is no machine gun defense at Ghistelles? Flak yes, but no MG. I can fly along with the poor Fokkers expecting protection, but getting decimated instead. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this, or is it just my version somehow knackered.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/19/17 01:39 AM

MFair, you're a brave man (along with Raine) flying in Alsace. One dead engine and endless forests can easily end your career quicker than any enemy in the air. I guess all enemies even slightly damaged are also as good as confirmed kills. You've got to take the good with the bad, right?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/19/17 02:53 PM

Here is the latest status report. It looks like everyone had a quiet week.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/19/17 06:30 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS



Feb 19, 1917.


Been down for weather maybe it will break on the 20th.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/19/17 09:53 PM

Originally Posted By: Fullofit
MFair, you're a brave man (along with Raine) flying in Alsace. One dead engine and endless forests can easily end your career quicker than any enemy in the air. I guess all enemies even slightly damaged are also as good as confirmed kills. You've got to take the good with the bad, right?


This is the 1st time to fly this region. Ones first impression is "this is beautiful!" Your next thought is just as you mentioned. "Where am I going to land if something goes wrong!"
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/17 08:32 PM

popcorn

I lost many a good pilot and a few Aces to Where in the E'LL am I going to land. biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/17 08:35 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Feb 20 1917.


Snowing outside so no flights. The weather in the Paris papers say next chance will be the 25 th.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/17 02:01 AM

Hey all, Benjamin Kincaid will be off on leave until mid-June. Unfortunately, my job will be sending me across the country for a rather intense course and I will be away from my flying rig until then. Best of luck to you all!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/22/17 12:43 AM

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/22/17 01:24 AM

Originally Posted By: Dark_Canuck
Hey all, Benjamin Kincaid will be off on leave until mid-June. Unfortunately, my job will be sending me across the country for a rather intense course and I will be away from my flying rig until then. Best of luck to you all!


Be safe in your travels Canuck. The war should really be in full swing upon your return.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/22/17 01:47 AM

MFair, that transfer was pretty lucky and I'm sure you'll enjoy more "traffic" in Verdun sector.

Adjutant Dominique Urbain in Verdun is finally seeing some confirmed kills. His current confirmed kill ratio is less than 1 out of 3. His wingmen are blind as bats and can't be relied upon to confirm his claims.




Flight Sub-Lieutenant Cyrus Gold in Northern Flanders is also making progress with the help of his gunner.


Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/22/17 02:35 AM

A journal of the Great War -- By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 6

Norman Prince never recovered from the crash and died on the 15th. All the Americans turned out for a full military funeral, and we sent an honour guard of 25 men and eight officers. The French arranged for a gun carriage and we escorted Prince's coffin to a small cemetery in Luxeuil. After the short service, the six of us repaired to the Pomme d'Or for brandies and stories.

I got to know Charles Chotto, our resident Yank. He had bagged his first Hun that morning and then joined us for Prince's funeral. He is a great favourite with the Escadrille Americaine pilots, as he is a southerner like many of them. Unlike most of that gang, though, he's not a college boy. He was working as a motor mechanic in upstate New York and slipped across the border to Canada to join the RNAS. He was one of the fellows cooling his heels and waiting for flying lessons at Long Branch, just like the fellow I met at Union Station at the start of my journey here. Suffice it to say, he celebrated hard that afternoon at the Pomme d'Or, and then returned to the mess to join in a celebratory binge. He was feeling wretched for several days after. It's terrible what Temperance at home does to ruin one's capacity for liquor!

We flew on a long reconnaissance up the front in the St-Dié sector on 16 October, me and Buck and John Page and Turpin. Three Fokker biplanes jumped us out of the sun and a twisting fight ensued. We were passing over some high wooded hills. As I banked the Strutter, the treetops seemed almost to brush my wingtips. One had to watch the airspeed very carefully. I chased one Hun off to the east and was turning back for home when I saw a Fokker down low, close on Page's tail. Turpin, the gunlayer, was not firing. Page's Strutter wobbled and dipped into a clearing. For a moment I thought he'd put it down safely, but then there came a flash of light and the machine began to burn fiercely. I dived on the Hun, who had turned to admire his handiwork. It was a bad mistake, for I set the Fokker alight with my first burst and saw it drop a wing and curve to the ground below.

I reported the loss of Page and Turpin on my return to Luxeuil and claimed the Hun without much hope of confirmation. To my surprise, just as I was leaving the mess later that evening, the RO stopped to tell me that Page had called in. He was not seriously hurt, although Turpin was dead. And he confirmed my Fokker! That made four confirmed kills to date.
Bad weather prevented all flying for the next three days. Captain Elder had a theatre built in one of the hangars and we had motion pictures. Then Chotto and I got leave to Nancy, although we had little time to do anything but shop, have dinner, and enjoy warm baths.

The next two days had us on long bombing runs to aerodromes well back of the front lines. I hated those long flights, as the weather was turning much colder and there was little chance of avoiding a crash over the mountains if the engine cut out.

The Yanks left on the 18th, posted up north to the Somme region. By all accounts, if they wanted action they'll find it there.
We were not far behind. On 21 October we got word that we were to transfer to our forward base at Ochey, south of Toul. We were excited, for the country is more open and we will be not too far from all the action around Verdun. There are stories of a new Hun aeroplane called an Albatros. I expect we shall we seeing it soon.

The first operational flights were on 23 October. I was to follow Flt Comdr Draper and Dissette up to the St-Mihiel salient, but a failed obturator ring shut down my engine and I had to put down in a farm field near Neufchteau. This time no one thought I was a sale Boche, but I found it impossible to get any passing soldiery to guard my aircraft until nearly nightfall. At length, two policemen were sent to watch the machine and I walked into town, where a Jesuit priest invited me into his rectory to wash and eat. I ended up spending the night as the guest of one of his parishioners, a lawyer named Villeneuve with an extraordinary pretty wife who spoke excellent English. I was sad when the Crossley came for me after breakfast in the morning.

On 24 October 1916, the new front offered me a taste on excitement. I flew back to the salient with Armstrong and a new lad, Carl Foster. My old gunlayer, Buck, was promoted to Observer Lieutenant and given a ten-day leave. His replacement is very green, a timid English boy named Mark Landon. Just north of Toul we ran into a couple of Hun two-seaters with three Fokker biplanes. The Huns were very keen and gave us a good fight, but Foster downed one and Armstrong drove one down. I chased the third back north, where the three of us forced it to land, unfortunately behind his own lines. Just then three of the new Albatros scouts dived on us. Two singled Landon and me out. The first burst knocked out the Clerget and we drifted down, landing among the trenches. We jumped out and ran to the south, not fully sure if we were in friendly or enemy territory. I'd seen some distinctly Hunnish uniforms in a trench just seconds before touching down.

As it turned out, we had landed between the French forward and reserve trench lines. We huddled in a bunker occupied by Moroccan soldiers while the Huns shelled our machine. We listened to the explosions outside. A piece of metal came thudding down into the mud by the entrance step. It was unmistakably a section of the Strutter's cowling.

"I should think you can forget about returning for the watch, Colin," Landon said.

[Linked Image]
"The French arranged for a gun carriage and we escorted Prince's coffin to a small cemetery in Luxeuil."

[Linked Image]
"I dived on the Hun, who had turned to admire his handiwork. It was a bad mistake, for I set the Fokker alight with my first burst and saw it drop a wing and curve to the ground below."
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/25/17 01:18 AM

Oh the tides of war! Having a wonderful round with 4 Fok. DII's and Collishaw ran into me. Of course he was just barked up a bit but Charles Choto went down as a burning comet in Verdun.

On to a "D" pilot
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/25/17 05:31 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-snythe
France.


Feb 25, 1917.


Finally, the weather Broke. Got to do a little Close Escort work. Flew over a Hun aerodrome at 3000 meters. I say, loads of fun. The enemy shells were popping and we could see an entire Jasta in a landing circle way down below. Finished up and nosed over for home.


Attached picture CFS3 2017-02-25 09-10-38-23.jpg
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/25/17 10:13 PM

Carrick58, I don't know anybody that likes this new format. As far as your questions go, you probably should post those over in the Technical Help thread because I for one can't help you with any of them.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/25/17 10:48 PM

cool, thanks
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/26/17 02:31 AM

Journal Entry: 28 October, 1916
Pronville

Today was a black day for the Luftstreitkräfte and for me personally. I had just returned to my office from our afternoon patrol when my telephone began to ring. I answered and was surprised to hear that it was OberstLeutnant von der Lieth-Thomsen. Without any small talk he said just three words that would forever change my life and quite possibly the Luftstreitkräfte as well. He said, "Boelcke is dead!" Forgetting myself, I exclaimed, "what did you say?" He asked me to calm myself and this time he described in detail what had happened to the great Boelcke. He went on to say, "that I was to gather my belongings and get over to Lagnicourt as quick as possible and take command of Jasta 2. Apparently, Leutnant Böhme was under suicide watch and the other men are completely devastated." I told him I would move with all haste and hung up the telephone.

The men had already gathered for the evening mess, so that saved me the trouble of having to gather them together. The noise and general rowdiness of our mess quieted as soon as I entered, I guess the men could tell by my countenance that something terrible had occurred. Manfred called from across the room, "My God man, what has happened?" I told the men to find a seat and quiet down, I have bad news to share with them. As the men settled, I took the opportunity of drinking a small brandy in hopes that it would calm my frayed nerves. Finally, the men were settled and patiently waiting for me to share my news. I came right to the point and explained how this afternoon Boelcke had fallen in a aerial engagement, but that it was caused by a collision with another pilot. I then went on to tell that I was also leaving tonight to take command of Jasta 2 because it is in disarray due to this terrible shock. I turned to Manfred and told him that as of now he was in command of Jasta 1. Manfred deserves to command a Jasta and will do a fine job, but it is a shame that it would have to happen in this manner. I said my farewells and went to pack my belongings. As I was driven away, I realized that between the time I received the call and leaving only two and half hours had passed.

As I reflect on today's horrible event, I can't help but feel that if Boelcke could fall then what hope is there for any of us. Sure, I have more victories that Boelcke but I always felt he was the better tactician. I hope that I will lead the Jasta in a manner that would have pleased him. My first task will be to help the men respond and deal with the tragedy of today and then we can work on making Jasta 2 even better.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/26/17 06:26 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe, France.

Feb 26, 1917.

B flight had the duty so up to the lines and back. I spotted many flights of our guys something must be up ?

Attached picture CFS3 2017-02-26 10-07-49-17.jpg
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/26/17 09:39 PM

Here is the latest status report.

Attached picture ScreenHunter_171 Feb. 26 15.35.jpg
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/17 09:18 AM

Nice reports gentlemen! I always enjoy reading them. I've been very busy with things and it's been a choice of either writing or flying, so I've picked the latter option. Hopefully I can put together a new Berthier story soon. Banjoman, I was expecting to see something about Boelcke's demise and you didn't disappoint. smile

BTW, this new layout is making my eyes bleed...
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/17 03:53 PM

I know what you mean, I hate it as well. I think most everybody hates it, but what can we do.
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/17 05:25 PM

I don't think it's finished yet. Looks like someone is designing it on the fly.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/17 05:54 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe, France

Feb 27, 1917.


B flight went Ballooning this morning. I was Tail end charlie and saw the Flight Commanders wing man get the Gas Bag. My kite got overstressed in the dive so popped over to a friendly Aerodrome. The ground Chaps said all the flying wires need to be braced.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-02-27 09-33-29-28.jpg
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/17 01:38 AM

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 7

During the first week at Ochey I flew daily patrols up to the big salient southeast of Verdun, where our French allies were once again on the offensive. I was becoming frustrated with the Strutter these days. For one, the new Fokker biplanes seemed a bit more manoeuvrable than my machine, and the Albatros scouts (or “Albatri,†as they were invariably known) were in another league altogether. For another, it suddenly seemed that my Vickers gun had become impotent. On 26 October we met a lone Hun two seater as we made our way home from the Verdun area. I fired nearly two hundred rounds at the thing without apparent effect.

Ochey was reasonably comfortable. We had well-constructed huts built on the same lines as the quarters we’d had at Luxeuil. We kept to our same groups, and my American chum Choto took the space across from mine. But the camaraderie was short-lived. The next day he failed to return from a flight up to the lines. His flight mixed it up with a group of Fokker biplanes and in the melee his machine touched Ray Collishaw’s. Collishaw suffered nothing more than a start, but poor Choto’s upper plane came apart and he crashed. His body was recovered by the French and he was buried up near Bar-le-Duc.

Ochey, however, offers a great deal more comfort than Luxeuil, for we no longer have to traverse the mountains in sleet, rain, and fog. They say we shall probably fly from here until the spring at least. The aerodrome is on a low rise just outside a meagre village of forty-odd houses. An even smaller hamlet called Thuilly-en-Groseilles lies just to the east of the field and offers a very cozy little café. You can get anything you need in Ochey’s shops, but you have to go to Toul for anything you want. The old fortress town of Toul is about eight miles to the northwest.

On 25 October, Collishaw had an entertaining day. While ferrying a machine to Ochey (without his gunlayer) he was attacked by several Hun scouts. He destroyed one but got well shot up by the others. One enemy round shattered his goggles and he got bits of glass in his eyes. In all his wild turning and diving he wandered well into Hunland before he shook free of his assailants. He then made his way homewards and landed at the first friendly field he saw. As he trundled up to the hangars, he was stunned to see that the “French†aeroplanes all bore black Maltese crosses! He immediately took off again and made it to a real French aerodrome, where he spent several days letting his eyes recover.

On 30 October 1916, I flew with my new gunlayer Landon, Dissette, and Flt Lieut Foster up the salient. We ran into three Fokkers and got into a ripping good scrap. My Hun tried to escape and I followed him for a good distance over the lines. I managed to put more than a hundred rounds into him from as close as ten yards [picture below], but again with no obvious effect. He spun down over the German trenches and made his escape.

There are rumours about some new naval scout squadrons being formed and I let Wing Cmdr Bell-Davies know that I was keen to try a single-seater some day. He offered little encouragement, but I am clinging to the hope that he is simply taciturn.




Description: "I managed to put more than a hundred rounds into him from as close as ten yards..."
Attached picture unhappy scrap.png
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/17 04:45 PM

Journal Entry: 29-30 October, 1916
Lagnicourt

I ordered that the 29th be a day of rest for the Jasta so that I could personally interview each pilot and finish the necessary paperwork for the transference of command for both Jasta 1 and Jasta 2. I also thought it would be beneficial to the pilots if they could have a day to grieve the loss of their comrade. I started with Leutnant Böhme because he is the pilot I'm most worried about, but after our interview I think he has managed to put this tragedy behind him and move forward with his duty. He did have one request which I have granted and that is to fly lone missions for the next few days. Of course, I can completely understand his request as I believe I would also be hesitant to fly in a formation after what happened. My good friend Leutnant Muller is flying with the us and so his interview was a mere formality since I already know of his abilities. The one pilot that does stand out from the rest is a certain Leutnant von Richthofen. He is very keen and has already proven to be a successful pilot. I foresee him having a very successful career as long as he manages to stay alive. The rest of the pilots all are good men and quite keen to perform their duties to the best of their abilities. At the end of the day I was feeling much better about my Jasta and I'm quite certain that in the coming days we will give a good accounting of ourselves.

The 30th was the first day that I flew with my men and it turned out to be quite a successful day at that. The morning patrol consisted of Leutnant Böhme in schwarm ein and Leutnant Muller, Leutnant von Richthofen, and myself in schwarm zwei. The four of us circled the aerodrome gaining altitude and after some time Böhme waved and left for his patrol. It wasn't long until I turned my schwarm toward the front to begin our patrol. As we approached the front, I saw in the distance an aerial engagement in process and as we closed the distance I noticed that it was Böhme and he was engaged with two Nieuports and a Quirk. I gave the signal and we attacked but before we could get into position I saw that Böhme had flamed one of the Nieuports. Muller and Von Richthofen were chasing after the other Nieuport and I attacked the Quirk. I made short work of the Quirk and it was soon falling earthward on fire. I waited for the others to form up and then we completed our patrol. When we landed I learned that Muller had claimed the other Nieuport, so three enemy machines were brought down, not bad for a morning's work. The afternoon patrol was just as eventful. Leutnant Böhme was once again flying the solo patrol and I led Muller, Von Richthofen, and Gerlich on a line patrol of the front down near Bapaume. We had hardly settled into our patrol when a flight of three Nieuport 17s swooped down on us from the clouds that were hanging above us. Fortunately, they were hasty in their attack and we were able to counter and avoid their first pass. The engagement devolved into a melee with seven aeroplanes swirling and swooping around in the sky, a perfect situation for another collision. I managed to stay above the fray and saw a Nieuport chasing Leutnant Gerlich so I dove and was able to get a burst into the Frenchman which caused him to break off and attempt to run. Unfortunately for him, the Albatros is faster than my old Halberstadt and I quickly closed the distance. My second burst must have killed or wounded the pilot because it flipped over and began to spin. I watched until as a speck it plunged into the ground. I gathered my schwarm, completed our patrol, and headed home. The men were quite pleased with my double for the day, and to be quite honest, so was I. I am quite pleased with the performance of my Jasta today and especially with Leutnant Böhme's performance.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/17 01:13 AM

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 8

I was rousted out of bed at 4:30 in the morning of 31 October to accompany Red Flight to escort the 4e Groupe on a raid to Metz. Dissette and I were the only two in the wardroom. The place was starting to take on some character. Edwards had led a scrounging party into Toul and acquired some second-hand furniture, including a wonderful china case which we’d put behind the bar to hold bottles, five overstuffed chairs which would not have been out of place in a Bulgarian bordello, a genuine baize-topped card table, and an assortment of smaller tables, throw rugs, magazine stands, kerosene lamps, ash trays, and a bronze nude of dubious artistic value. Someone had framed lewd pictures from La Vie Parisienne and the inevitable ping-pong table had appeared. Dissette was from Toronto, where I went to school, and we compared notes about favourite spots in the city as we had our tea and toast.

Commander Bell-Davies came in and we both stood.

“Stand easy,†he said, and fell into a chair alongside Dissette and me. “Urquhart, you’re off the Metz job. Take White Flight up to Verdun and hop over to visit the Huns at La Folie Ferme and bomb the place. Our orders came from the French Second Army, so it’s an important show. I can spare only you, Sharman, and Coltrane from the Metz job, so don’t bugger it up.†Thus inspired, I went off to find Lieut Higgins, the RO, to get details on the area and study the maps.

We took off at 7:40 and skirted the salient to the west, passing over the rubble of Verdun and then turned northeast towards the target. Still about five miles out, I spotted a flash of sunlight reflecting off something below, bright against the gloom of the forest of Spincourt. It was hard to make them out, but eventually another faint glint gave away the two aircraft rising to meet us. I put down the nose of the Strutter and made straight for the Hun aerodrome at La Folie Ferme. We unloaded our bombs and, with Sharman and Coltrane close behind, turned and climbed towards our lines.

About three miles east of the muddy smear of the front lines, the Huns engaged us. Two Halberstadt scouts. I was able to avoid their first pass with only one round through our top plane. Landon rattled off a drum and I turned to join the fight. One of the Huns was diving on Coltrane. He didn’t see us coming and I got the Strutter behind him. The Hun had begun to climb, which allowed me to close the distance between us in a few seconds. I caught him from behind and to his left, a little below and only 75 yards away. I fired and held the trigger until we had to break off to avoid collision. The Halberstadt flipped upside down and began a long, inverted spin, crashing into the forest below.

The other Hun had made a run for home. We returned elated, although I rather spoiled it by missing Ochey and taking a twenty-mile tour of the countryside before getting by bearings again. Unfortunately neither Coltrane nor Sharman saw my Hun crash, so my claim awaits the French.

The news at lunch was that the Hun gun-merchant Boelcke is dead, killed by crashing with one of his own people. One less worry... The other news was that I'd been promoted Flight Lieutenant. Five more shillings a week!!!






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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/17 03:38 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe, France


Feb 28, 1917.


Off to Paris for a little leave. Should be back by 2 March 1917.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/17 04:59 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe, France

March 2, 1917.



The Sqn was covering Aerodromes again, I was Tail End to 6 A/c . Spotted a speck in the clouds off to Port amid Archie bursts. Alerted the the Flight by firing off 9 rds,but I as to far behind. They headed home while I broke off. The speck turned into 3 E/a finishing off two Fee's. As they formed up I took the closest and gave him a drum of 303's. I stayed high and reloaded then Chandeled down firing as I over flew him. Clearing my tail, I lost him in low cloud and blowing snow.. Upon landing I put in a claim only to have it rejected.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/17 10:22 PM

News of the world.
Intrepid Fliers - October 1916:

October 1
The Battle of Le Transloy was the final offensive mounted by the British Fourth Army during the Battle of the Somme.
October 4
The troop transport ship RMS Franconia was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-47 in the Mediterranean Sea.
October 5
The Battle of the Cerna Bend began in Macedonia between the Bulgarian and Entente armies.
October 6
Serbian troops attacked Bulgarian troops near the villages of Dobroveni and Skochivir on the Macedonian Front, but were counter-attacked and pushed back. The Bulgarians took the village of Brod.
October 7
In the Battle of Brasov the city was recaptured by Austro-Hungarian forces.
October 8
Under the command of Kapitanleutnant Hans Rose the German submarine U-53 sank five merchant ships off the coast of Rhode Island, USA.
October 9
The Eighth Battle of the Isonzo began and continued the Italian attempts to extend the bridgehead established at Gorizia.
Eleftherios Venizelos arrived in Thessaloniki to establish a pro-Allies provisional Government and to raise an army.
October 10
Allied Governments sent an ultimatum to the Greek Government demanding surrender of the Greek naval fleet.
Spyridon Lambros replaced Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos as Prime Minister of Greece.
October 11
The Greek Government acceded to the Allied demands.
October 12
The Eighth Battle of the Isonzo ended with little territorial change and heavy Italian casualties.
October 13
The Norwegian Government prohibited belligerent submarines from using her territorial waters.
October 14
The Transylvanian frontier into Romania was crossed by German troops.
October 15
Anti-Entente demonstrations were held in Athens.
October 16
On the Western Front French troops gained a foothold in Sailly at the Battle of Morval.
October 17
During the Senussi Campaign the Allied Western Frontier Force moved to attack the enemy Senussi troops at the Affairs in the Dakhla Oasis.
October 18
General Henry Rawlinson mounted further attacks against the Germans at Gueudecourt during the Battle of Le Transloy.
October 19
French forces began a new offensive to capture Fort Douaumont at Verdun.
October 21
Austrian President Count Karl von Sturgkh was assassinated by Friedrich Adler, son of the founder of the Austria's Social Democratic Party.
October 22
Constanza in Dobrudja was captured by German and Bulgarian forces on the Eastern Front.
October 23
The British minesweeper HMS Genista was sunk by a German U-boat off the west coast Ireland.
October 24
French forces opened the First Offensive Battle of Verdun and recaptured Fort Douaumont.
October 26
The naval engagement, the Battle of Dover Strait took place when the German Empire launched flotillas of U-boats in order to disrupt the Dover Barrage and destroy all Allied shipping in the Strait.
October 27
By the time the Battle of Dover Strait ended the British had lost one destroyer, one troopship and several drifters while the Germans suffered only minor damage to a single torpedo boat.
October 28
Ernst von Korber was appointed Austrian President following the assassination of Count Karl von Sturgkh earlier in the month.
October 29
The Sherif of Mecca was proclaimed King of the Arabs.
October 30
Hermann von Stein succeeded Adolf Wild von Hohenborn as German Minister for War.
October 31
The Ninth Battle of the Isonzo was launched - the third of three short-lived offensives fought on the Isonzo front in the autumn of 1916. The battle started with an attack on Vrtojba and the northern and central areas of the Karst Plateau.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/17 10:22 PM

Warbirds Rising - February 1917:

February 1
Germany began a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.
February 3
President Wilson severed diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany.
In the Bay of Biscay, the German submarine U-53 torpedoed and sunk the US liner Housatonic which was carrying a cargo of wheat. The crew was later picked up by a British steamer.
February 4
Mehmed Talat Pasha replaced Said Halim Pasha as Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire.
February 5
A British armoured force won an engagement against the Senussi at the Siwa Oasis.
February 6
The Turks evacuated the south bank of the Tigris east of the Hal-Tigris junction near Kut.
February 7
The British passenger steamer SS California was torpedoed by the German submarine U-85 as she returned from New York to Glasgow.
February 8
The British destroyer HMS Ghurka was on patrol off Dungeness when she struck a mine laid by UC47 and sank.
February 10
A meeting took place in London between the British Government and members of the International Zionist Movement about a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
February 12
The American schooner Lyman M. Law was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Cagliari, Sardinia by the German submarine U-35. The ship was on a journey from Maine to Palermo in Italy when the Germans ordered the crew off the schooner before a bomb was detonated, setting fire to the 1,300-ton wooden vessel prior to its sinking.
February 13
Scandinavian Governments published a joint protest against German submarine warfare.
February 14
The British Government gave a pledge to the House of Commons that restoration of Alsace and Lorraine to France was an aim of the war.
February 16
Japan and Great Britain agreed that Japan should receive all German concessions in China and German Pacific islands north of the equator. Britain would receive German Pacific islands south of the equator.
February 17
An Australian War Government was formed.
February 18
The British steamer Asturian was damaged by gunfire from a German U-boat whilst en route from Liverpool to Alexandria.
February 20
Japan and Russia agreed that Japan should receive all German concessions in China.
February 23
The Second Battle of Kut was fought between Indian and British troops and Ottoman forces at Kut. The battle was part of the British advance to Baghdad which began in December 1916.
February 24
British and Indian troops recaptured Kut al Amara.
The Zimmermann Telegram was passed to the US by Britain, detailing the alleged German proposal of an alliance with Mexico against the US.
February 25
The Cunard ocean liner RMS Laconia was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-boat U-50 while returning from the United States to England.
The Germans began to retreat from front line positions on the Ancre as part of the withdrawal to the Hindenburg line.
February 26
President Wilson addressed Congress requesting powers to arm US merchant ships following the unprovoked sinking of the American liner Housatonic and the schooner Lyman M. Law.
February 27
The German Chancellor justified the country's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare and proclaimed it to be a great success.
February 28
The American press published the German proposals for an alliance with Mexico against the United States.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/03/17 03:27 AM

Colin Urquhart changes squadrons...

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)


Part 9

My Halberstadt from the previous day was never confirmed.

And so began November 1916. I wonder how many people would have thought 27 months ago that the war would have lasted this long? On the morning of the 1st Landon and I accompanied F/Comdr Draper and F/S/L Armstrong’s machines back to the Verdun front, this time to bomb an enemy aerodrome at Mercy Le Haut, well behind the Hun lines. There was a heavy ground haze and even heavier cloud, so it was a long and tiring flight. My eyes burned with the strain of keeping Armstrong, who led, in sight. We found the target and turned home. In the end it was two and half hours of exhausting boredom.
On landing at Ochey we went to the RO and gave our reports. I was about to ask if I could head for town to get a bath, but Lieut Higgins ordered me to go and see the boss before I got the chance to open my mouth.

I reported to Commander Bell-Davies’ office and saluted. “Flight Lieutenant Urquhart,†he said with a smile. “Are you used to that yet?â€

“I rather like the look of the extra ring on the sleeves,†I told him. “I was thinking of getting a few more sewn on.â€

“Before you go off on that, Admiral, read this.†He passed me a sheet of paper. It was authorization for a transfer to the “detached squadron.†I asked what that meant, thinking perhaps that I was bound for Salonika or Borneo or somewhere similarly remote.

“We have detached a unit to the RFC to help them in the Amiens area. The new Hun machines are hurting them badly. It’s a single-seater squadron. The new Sopwith scouts, I understand.â€

My heart gave a leap. The Sopwiths’ reputation had already spread. They were a true “pup†to fly, and so they had been nicknamed. I was to report at once, which meant a day-long drive by road. Bell-Davies told me I was to return a Breguet bomber to St-Pol-sur-Mer, and then get a drive down to join the new unit at a place called Vert Galant near Doullens.

I had less than a half-hour to get my kit squared away and pay my wardroom chits off. I’d never flown the Breguet. We had only two of the things, which were useless machines. George MacLennan was our resident Breguet merchant and he spent fifteen minutes teaching me how to avoid the many ways the thing could kill me. And with that I bid farewell to 3 Wing.

It was eleven at night when my driver finally found Vert Galant after a Cook’s tour of Flanders after dark. It was a large field – two separate fields actually – locating in a sloping hollow among low rises of land. There was a cluster of farm buildings at a road junction, a small copse, and hangars lining both sides of the Doullens-Amiens road. We were on the east side of the road, along with 13 Squadron RFC, flying FE2s. The west side was not currently occupied, although it was prepared for two more squadrons, and our side could have taken another one. One of our flights was accommodated in the Ferme de Rousel, on the east side of the road across from the larger farm at the crossroads. Two rows of newly-constructed corrugated iron huts housed the rest of the pilots. Some of the men were supposed to be housed under canvas until more new huts were ready, but the squadron had sent a boarding party to claim some wooden buildings across the road. As long as no other squadron moved in, the place was ours.

I met Squadron Commander Bromet, formerly of 1 Wing. He told me I was in B Flight, commanded by Acting F/Cdr Bob Little, an Australian. I told him how thrilled I was to get a shot at the Pup, but he said with a sigh that as the newest arrival I was consigned to fly a Nieuport scout until more Sopwiths arrived. He hoped it wouldn’t be for long.

The few fellows remaining in the wardroom at that hour seemed a pleasant crew. I met Bob Compston, a very young-looking Englishman, and Jimmy Goble, another Australian. I shared a drink with one of the flight commanders, a very nice fellow named Colin MacKenzie. He’d been a medical student and a probationary surgeon in the RN before learning to fly. Commander Bromet promptly christened us Colin and Semi-Colin. I, of course, became Semi-Colin.

Charles Booker, an English fellow who’d spent time in Australian, was an acting flight commander. He showed me the way to my cabin in the dark. The others were asleep, so I quietly laid my sea bag on the floor and bedded down for the night.

The following morning I flew a familiarization flight in a large triangle over to Doullens and south to the Somme. Compston led, with Danny Galbraith, me, and a fellow named Barry Hazard. Galbraith, interestingly, is a Torontonian and a good chum of Stearne Edwards from 3 Wing.

The Nieuport was a joy to fly, but its only armament was a Lewis with a 47 round drum mounted on the upper plane. To change it one had to stand with the stick between one’s knees and pull the silly thing off. I have no head for heights and it would be a simple matter for me to tumble into the void. I told myself that I would simply have to make do with 47 rounds. May the equipment gods smile on me!

The flight was uneventful and the weather foul, freezing rain pellets that stung like needles and gusts and bumps and crosswinds. To add to the joy, my little LeRhone engine started misfiring as I approached Vert Galant in a stiff breeze. I went around a second time and settled myself down. Because of the wind I had to land approaching from the north which meant a slightly downhill run. The machine seemed to take forever to settle down and for a few seconds I thought I’d introduce myself by trundling into a row of trees at the far end of the field, but at last the machine stopped. The engine was making terrible sounds so I shut it down. The ack emmas were not thrilled about pushing it four hundred yards back to the hangars. I explained to the irate petty officer that it was a bad case of cylindritis and shutting the damned thing down was to be preferred to rebuilding the engine tonight.


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/03/17 03:48 AM

Raine, as usual a great story. Just wanted to give you some information that you might want to use in your upcoming stories. In Arthur's story he took command of 8 RNAS as of November 5 and you can include him in your stories if you want. I think it's cool when we do that, but of course, you don't have to if you don't want to use him.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/03/17 04:11 AM

Banjoman,

Very cool. I have already introduced the historical squadron commander, but let me think about it. I merged my story with MFair's in the other DiD last year and it was great fun. He and I were planning to do the same at 3 Wing, but he lost his guy to a mid-air collision before we really got it going.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/03/17 06:57 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe, France


March 3, 1917.

Mission: Balloon Burst

T/O: B Flight 0810 Hrs
Load: Rockets and machine gun ammo.
A Flight : Divert Patrols to the east



Remarks: An Un tidy show. Our flight of 5 machines were coming off target , after getting the gas bag, when we ran into e/a. 5 Albatross Scouts. I had a merry time with 2 on my tail when 3 more got into the fight.. A regular Turn and Burn it was. I spotted 3 airplanes going down before I pulled a blue Max and did low level over the lines and thru the trees to scurry home. Counted 13 hits in my kite.

Sgn losses: 2 N-17's + all B flight machines damaged. Claims 1 e/a.

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Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/04/17 04:07 PM

Fantastic stories! I'll try to post a Berthier story soon.

I visit this site now only for this thread and any WOFF news. Otherwise I've moved back to the old Combat Ace forum. It looks good and works well. This one doesn't.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/04/17 06:09 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe, France


March 4, 1917.

Mission: Railyard
Loc: Between Loos and Lens
B Flt: 6 a/c
T/O: 0810 Hrs.
E/a: Sighted 2 3-6 a/c Patrols well above us. Albatross or Halb's

Remarks: Supply didn't have any rockets so it was off with machine gun ammo. We passed under numerous Huns but they did not attack why ? Our Intell said that we did some damage.



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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/04/17 08:22 PM

Banjoman,

Somehow I missed your last entry about picking up the pieces after Boelke's fall. Really well done! A great weekend breakfast read.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/04/17 10:51 PM

Raine, thanks for the compliment. Coming from you that really means something to me. I'm trying to learn from you and Hasse because in my mind, you guys are the real masters.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/17 10:11 AM

Raine, best of luck to Colin as a Nupe pilot! She's a fine machine, though the British version with only the Lewis gun is lacking in firepower. Bruno is also starting to have ideas about Nupes... smile2

Banjoman, please don't underestimate your writing skills! Your stories have been enjoyable reading ever since the first adventures of Abner in the old DID. Keep it up! smile2

1 November 1916.
Melzéville.


Dear Mama and Papa,

Thank you for your latest - its arrival truly saved my day. Terrible weather continues here and we are more often than not completely grounded, which leaves us with excessive amounts of spare time. Some of that we can spend in military matters, like improving our tactical and theoretical knowledge, or making sure our machines and living quarters are in tip-top shape. But at the end of the day, we’re military pilots, and our sole raison d’être is flying and fighting the boche! So you can probably imagine how not being able to do that because of miserable weather is enough to make us mad.

Speaking of flying (which we still manage to do occasionally), I recently had quite an adventure with my observer Vercingetorix. (Remember that his real name is Pascal Girard and we jokingly call him Vercingetorix because his moustache resembles that of the famous gentleman in Royer’s painting!) We were flying high above the trenches on a photographic reconnaissance mission as the escorts for one of our machines equipped with the camera when a German biplane approached us from their side of the lines. The fellow was alone and I recognized that he was flying a Fokker biplane scout. It resembles the infamous monoplane of the same company, which is now more or less obsolete and only rarely seen over the front. Well, this German aviator had a newer machine, and was clearly seeking to put it to test in a real fight, approaching as he was our pair of two-seaters in a very threatening manner.

Both of our crews had noticed the attacker and the observers were prepared to give him a fiery welcome with their machine guns (you remember our machines carry two such guns for self-defense). The German went after the plane with the camera, which was flying on our right wing. Only amateurs open fire from too great a distance, so we waited until the Fokker was about 150 meters behind us - and only then did both observers pull the trigger. The barrel of the gun is very close to the pilot’s head when firing backwards, and I could really feel the loud cracks and smell the powder! The German pushed his machine downwards and attempted to dive below us and then pull his nose up and fire at our exposed bellies. Our observer guns can’t be used against an enemy approaching from that angle, so the boche clearly knew what he was doing.

Quite instinctively I made a sharp turn to the left and then descended towards the Fokker, trying to give Pascal a good field of fire straight ahead. My maneuver must have taken the boche by surprise, because he was still aiming at our other machine. Pascal opened fire and we flew past the German so close that I could actually see the details of his cockpit! Our bullets must have hit the Fokker’s engine, because soon after our pass the boche turned his machine around and entered into a steep dive, leaving a thick trail of black smoke behind him. He then disappeared into a cloud several hundred meters below us and we could no longer see his machine. Only the smoke trail was left to remind us of our first combat encounter.

We returned to formation and flew safely back to base without any new adventures. After landing, we were still quite excited about our experience and attracted a big crowd to listen to our report. Although we hadn’t actually seen the Fokker crash down, the case was so obvious that we wrote an official claim of victory to the headquarters for further examination. Alas, the next day we received word from them that observers in the forward trenches had witnessed that same German machine diving down very close to the ground, but then the pilot obviously managed to straighten his course and soon the plane disappeared into the distance, leaving a trail of smoke behind it. So we had definitely hurt him, but not enough to bring him down! We were of course disappointed, but such things happen in war.

Our captain was nevertheless very pleased with our offensive spirit, though he did remind me that I’m not flying a Nieuport and one can also be too aggressive for his own good in a fight.

As strange as it may sound, I actually enjoyed my first air combat. It’s hard to describe the experience, but it feels like living your life to the full and then even beyond that. In that moment, nothing else matters. It’s just you or him. Everything else is insignificant and pales in comparison. I’ve seen combat on the ground, but it never felt like this, so it must be the element of flying that gives me this powerful impression.

In any case, the captain spoke wisely - one must try to avoid becoming reckless.

Still, I wonder: what could I do with that Nieuport?

As always, tell Marie and Sophie and Louis that I love them and always think about them. And please write often, especially during these bleak months of winter.

Your humble (occasionally) and obedient (rarely) son,

Bruno.

PS. Please tell Sophie that the new socks fit perfectly and that I greatly appreciate them. One can never have too many pairs of warm socks in my line of work!



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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/17 04:47 PM

Hasse,

What a welcome addition to a Sunday morning. I'm sitting in an airport coffee shop, and thought I'd check the forum. Great to see your Berthier and "Vicengetorix" in action. Please keep them alive for many more chapters.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/17 04:52 PM

Hope to see Vitalstatistix and Getafix as well.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/17 04:57 PM

Newly promoted Sous Lieutenant Dominique Urbain continues to learn his trade on the unsuspecting Huns over Verdun.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/17 05:02 PM

Meanwhile Flight Sub-Lieutenant Cyrus Gold does the same over northern Flanders with an added bonus of delivering eggs to the nearest enemy aerodrome. Mostly Ghistelles.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/06/17 12:04 AM

Here is the latest status report. Nobody died this week so it was a good week.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/06/17 02:34 AM

Banjoman, as always thanks for the report. Just a heads up: the C Sqn 1 Wing RNAS is now 3 RNAS. Cheers!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/06/17 04:20 PM

Good job guys and great pics.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/06/17 04:22 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
6 RNAS


March 6, 1917.


Weathered in for the last 2 days and it looks like more on the way..
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/09/17 10:18 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt. Lt.
6 RNAS


March 9, 1917.

B flight went up to the lines and back. No Joy. I did spot 2 sets of dots on the E/a side and chased a high flying speck till it nose over and disappeared into Hun Land. I was thinking of transferring over to RNAS 10 Sqn. They seem to get in a lot of scraps with the enemy.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/10/17 12:27 AM

Flight Lieutenant Cyrus Gold received his new toy this week following a promotion:
[Linked Image]

Sous Lieutenant Dominique Urbain will also fly a new N23 after his promotion this week:

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/10/17 03:48 AM

Hey Fullofit, how did you get those screenshots to post in your message? Did you use a photo sharing site?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/10/17 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Hey Fullofit, how did you get those screenshots to post in your message? Did you use a photo sharing site?


Hey Banjoman, no photo sharing sites necessary. I just followed CyBerkut's instructions in the other thread:
forum layout weird???
The only difference is where he says to copy the image link in preview doesn't work for me, so what I do is I post with just attachment (through the Attachment Manager. Copy the link once I see it in the forum, edit my post and insert with the "insert image link" button since now I have the link and then just repost. Hope that makes sense.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/10/17 02:39 PM

Thanks, that makes sense. I tried his instructions and I couldn't get them to work. I'll give your's a try.

Edit: Just tried your method in the WOFF Art thread and it worked great. Thanks, now we can sort of post screenshots again.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/10/17 09:39 PM

Glad it worked for you. Yeah, I was missing the full size pics.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/17 05:29 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt., B Flight
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe AF
France.

Mar 10th 1917.

Raining again no flights forcast is more rain. On the bright side, Turned in my N-11 for a Used N-17 Bis. Hope to fly a little bit and have more the be shown the taps of the kite.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/17 09:22 PM

Journal Entry: 11 November, 1916
Lagnicourt

The men have been pestering me relentlessly to have some kind of personal marking painted on my aeroplane so that they could easily recognize me in the air. So far, I have successfully resisted their efforts, but today I decided to succumb to their prodding. Their arguments really do have merit and if it will make us more efficient in the air then it would be foolish to not acquiesce to their demands. Of course, once I agreed then the men wanted to paint personal markings on their aeroplanes as well. I only reminded the men to remember we are pilots of the Luftstreitkräfte and so nothing too flashy. Here are a few photographs of my machine, just my initials and the colors of our flag, of course.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/17 11:04 PM

Banjoman, very tasteful and ... restrained. winkngrin
You will have to up the ante when the Circus comes to town.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/17 06:21 PM

yep :thumbsup Super paint job.:
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/17 06:33 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt Lt., B Flight
6 RNAS
Petit-synthe AF
France.



Mar 12, 1917.


The weather cleared so I was able to get up in my new ride. I was at 5000 ft when spotted Archie going off nearby so whiped over for a look-see. The Huns had 2 Recon types over the neighbors Aeropark so I had a go. My N-17 is not as fidgety as the N-11 I got close and got off 9 rds from the Lewis then it stopped firing. Thank goodness for the Vickers gun got 42 rds off. On the second pass got off two 22-30 rds bursts the the machine Jammed. Nothing to do but go home empty handed.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/17 07:40 PM

Carrick, good show! You must be happy with your new ride. Too bad about the gun jams. Try shorter bursts. I rarely get them jammed, but that's because I rarely have the enemy in front of me long enough for the guns to jam in the first place. 50cal
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/17 09:28 PM

Guys, here is the latest status report.

[Linked Image]

Guys, I also have started a thread in the CombatAce forum with this same information. I'm going to be posting in both places so that we can decide which forum we prefer. Here is the link to the CombatAce posting - Combat Ace Centenary DID

Attached picture ScreenHunter_173 Mar. 12 15.19.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/17 04:46 PM

reading

Fullofit:: I will try to use short bursts, but my Trigger finger does get itchy.

Banjoman: I am using a new computer and could not save pilot files from the old one. Should I ? Start a new pilot or continue with Dudley but zero Flt Time , 0 Kills, and O claims and sorties ?
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/17 05:22 PM

you know what ..... the older, other forum looks way better than this one now.
perhaps we should move the whole WOFF over there
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/17 06:38 PM

Carrick58, keep Dudley just start over with the flight hours and stuff. Are you using Robert's pilot backup utility? Lederhosen, I agree we should move.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/17 09:48 PM

No , Just getting all the games together re- installing ect
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/14/17 01:00 AM

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 10

The little Nieuport scout was as light as a feather and nearly as stable. I found that I needed to have a much lighter touch with the demoiselle than I’d been used to with the Strutter, especially in the wind and rain that seemed constant these days.

I’d written home, and my mother wrote back a short but dear note that accompanied a plum pudding and a blue balaclava cap that I immediately found indispensible. To my delight my father wrote a letter a day or two later that begrudgingly conceded that being commissioned in the Royal Navy was not the most dishonourable thing one could do, although he mentioned a friend in Ottawa who could arrange a transfer to the RCN and a nice desk job for me back in Canada. Perhaps, he suggested, the Navy would even support my medical studies after the war.

Back in reality, however, our new squadron continued to “work up†for service despite the foul weather. All through the first week of November we patrolled over the German lines, from Lens in the north to Péronne in the south. Things seemed to have finally petered out along the Somme after truly horrid losses since July. The weather limited activities on both sides to small demonstations. On 7 November, after a week without seeing a single Hun, we returned from shooting up an enemy rail junction and ran into two Rolands. One made off and the other put up a stiff fight. The cloud was so heavy that I became disoriented as I threw my little machine about. Suddenly the Nieuport made a sickening cracking sound. I could see not obvious damage, although the starboard wires vibrated oddly. I throttled back and planed down to a thousand feet, creeping my way back to Vert Galant.

Our base has become quite comfortable. I share a large hut with five others: Galbraith, Hazard, Simpson, Booker, and Soar. Only Galbraith is a fellow Canadian. Soar and Booker are the most experienced. Both have served out of Dunkirk since early in the year. Soar was in the Dardanelles before that. The fellows here were a little cool towards me for a few days. It was disturbing at first, but I learned from Commander Bromet that we had been sent a few poor pilots from other squadrons, chaps who needed got rid of. Things improved once it leaked out that I’d downed four confirmed Huns with 3 Wing. That made me the lead Hun-getter; Flt Comdr Gobel is next, having bagged three while serving with 1 Wing up on the coast.

On 8 November I got to lead a patrol up to the area near Monchy, where we shot up some Hun railroad carriages in a siding. The weather was still poor and we saw no other aircraft except for a lone Vickers or Airco that passed overhead on our way home.

I got permission to go into Doullens with Galbraith that afternoon. We splurged on baths and shaves, and had some very good white wine with a smashing omelette and roast potatoes in a little café off the market square. The table next to us was occupied by two Canadian doctors, one of whom was a French Canadian fellow who knew my father. They were delighted to know we would be flying overhead and shared a bottle of champagne with us. They were part of the advance party for a hospital that is being set up at the Citadelle just outside the town.

[Linked Image]




Attached picture Doullens citadel.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/14/17 04:15 AM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-snythe, France.



March 14, 1917.


Never a Dull day around here, They had a fire up at wing. IT seems that the Officer of the Day was shooting at some rats and hit an Oil Lamp and the whole shack went up. The fire took all our Sqn records of Kills, Flight time and Pay records. Hq send word down just to Do Over starting at zero on A/c Time, Pilot Times and Kills along with claims. As for Pay, they be giving us Part Payments till its all put right. I flew with B flight on Patrol this morning in Key's Keedle machine # red 3. Hes on leave in England.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/17 05:18 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-snythe, France.


March 15, 1917.

Mission: Patrol
B Flt: 6 A/C
Alt: 3200 meters
Loc: Just short of the Lines
E/A: 2 Recon Types
Claims: Both E/a
Loss: 3 damaged B flight N-17 Bis's

Remarks: We had a Row with the Huns this morning. By chance, I was the closest machine to attack. I got off 2 10 rd bursts of my Lewis then Jam. My vickers barked 32 rds then I Broke right as his wingmans gunner fired. The flight left 1 smoking and the other in a spin headed down. After landing, we counted 12 holes in my top wing.


Attached picture CFS3 2017-03-15 09-59-48-21.jpg
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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/17 01:29 AM

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 11

Over the next few days the same pattern repeated itself. We’d be off in the morning after the ground mist cleared, typically around 8:30 or 9:00. Each day we’d fly over the lines between Bapaume and Arras, but the weather was too poor to see much. We had heavy cloud, ground mists, and driving rain or sleet nearly every day.

I led a patrol again on the 9 November. We were ordered to attack a Hun aerodrome at Riencourt, about halfway down the old Roman road from Arras to Cambrai. I decided to take Le Prieur rockets to see if they could perhaps hit a fuel storage area.

Or so I told the equipment officer. My real thought was that I could fire them off and get away without expending ammunition from my Lewis gun. I have a deep fear of changing the drum on the gun. I’ve tried it twice on short practice hops near Vert Galant. You need to unfasten your restraining belt, stand up and grip the control stick between your knees, and heave on the empty drum in a 75 knot freezing blast. I’m tall enough that the side of the cockpit is below my knees. If I lose my tenuous grip on the control stick or if a sudden gust or Archie blast causes the little Nieuport to hop about, Flight Lieutenant “Semi†Colin Urquhart goes overboard and becomes a meat bomb! The thought keeps me awake at night. I’ve secretly vowed never to change the drum. I’m hoping that my Pup will arrive before I get in a real fight.

On 11 November the GOC visited us. I was duty officer and accompanied Squadron Commander Bromet with the Great Man. He has a brusque manner. Well, in truth, a terrifying manner. Not that he really talked to me, although he did once haltingly acknowledge my existence, but it left me with the impression that I was something he’d found on his shoe. General Trenchard’s aide was a totally different matter. Captain Baring is an older man, a scion of the famous banking family. He has a reputation as something of a renaissance man and I’m told he is a former diplomat and a published author and poet. Trenchard grunts things to him and he takes notes. Throughout it all he managed to keep up a quiet and humorous commentary for my benefit, mainly on the oddity of naval custom and terminology.

“Gudgeon pins. Make a note of that, Baring,†the GOC would grunt, and Captain Baring would dutifully take out a pencil and scratch down something in a strange hieroglyph which he called Pitman shorthand.

Our Technical Chief PO asked for the same gun oil as 32 Squadron (now installed across the road from us) used in their DH2s. “Far superior to our naval oil, sir,†he said to the OC. Trenchard nodded and Baring wrote. We were somewhat chagrined to learn that an hour later the boys at 32 Squadron were requesting good Royal Navy oil, “not the rubbish they send the army.†On closer examination both oils were found to be the same stuff!

On 12 November, Hazard and I were led by Booker over nearly as far as Cambrai. The cloud was heavy and we climbed to 12000 feet trying to break through. The Nieuport could scarcely hold itself level at that height. Suddenly Booker fired a red flare and dived through the cloud. I tried to follow. For an instant I saw a silvery-blue outline of a two-seater well below us, but I passed through more cloud and saw no other aircraft after that, friend or foe. I circled about for a while and, not fancying my chances alone 20 miles into Hunland, set course for home.

Booker and Hazard landed shortly after me back at Vert Galant. Hazard was whooping. He’d bagged a Roland, his first kill.

Photo: Sqn Cdr Bromet


Attached picture Bromet.png
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/17 04:50 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Petit-snythe, France.


March 16, 1917.


Mission: Escort 2 Be2;s from 6 Rfc.
Loc: Zeldemgem Area
Alt: 2300 Meters
A/C 6 N-7;s B Flight
Results Completed.

Remarks: A lot of enemy fire over target . Spotted numerous dots ,patrols, at lower Altitudes. No Joy.



Attached picture CFS3 2017-03-16 09-38-15-80.jpg
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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/17 05:32 PM

Some very nice reports gentlemen! I am enjoying them when I have some free time. Hope to get into some flying soon.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/17 06:38 PM

Robert, come join us, the water is fine. biggrin
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/17 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Robert, come join us, the water is fine. biggrin


Jumping in this late begs the question about what changes need to be done if any regarding the rules.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/17 06:54 PM

You could probably dispense with flight from the depot to the front if you wanted, but I don't see why the familiarization flights wouldn't need to still be flown. If I remember correctly, all of the other rules should still apply.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/17 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
You could probably dispense with flight from the depot to the front if you wanted, but I don't see why the familiarization flights wouldn't need to still be flown. If I remember correctly, all of the other rules should still apply.


I have no problem with the rules per se, just wondered about the starting date. I actually would enjoy flight training in England first and then deploy after arrival at St Omer.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/17 07:42 PM

Oh, ok. The Intrepid flyers are on 11/16/1916 and the Warbird flyers are on 3/16/1917. Is that what you were wondering?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/17 09:42 PM

Robert, come soon. Bring gramophone records and marmalade.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/17 09:03 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt
6 RNAS
Bellevue Aerodrome, France


March 17, 1917.


The Sqn's flyable machines re-located to Bellevue this day. All 8 flyable N-17's landed safely. The Baggage and unit personnel plus spare parts will arrive over the next few days.


Attached picture CFS3 2017-03-17 08-37-27-59.jpg
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/17 09:59 PM

Carrick58, Arthur saw a flight of three N.17 bis this morning and I wondered if Dudley was out and about.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/17 03:20 PM

Here is the latest status report.

[Linked Image]

I've also posted this in the CombatAce forum, but I don't think I'll continue double posting since it seems like people have returned back to this forum.

Attached picture ScreenHunter_174 Mar. 19 09.19.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/17 03:59 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt
6 RNAS
Bellevue Aerodrome, France


20 March 1917.


On the ground lately, due to pulling Officer of the Guard duty and Bad weather. The Met chaps say the sudden snow storm should let up by the 22nd.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/17 01:17 AM

A bad weather tale from Flight Lieutenant Colin Urquhart, 8 (Naval) Squadron's novice French teacher...

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator


Part 12

After a week of flying in foul weather, seeing nothing, we were blessed with three days of sheeting rain and hammering wind. A Flight lost a hangar and the south end of our field became a lake and a Nieuport blew over and fell apart and I slept in until nine. Better this than a sojourn on a South Seas island, says I.

We set our minds to basking in idleness or otherwise amusing ourselves. Reggie Soar practised shuffling cards like a Monte Carlo dealer and Booker and Simpson, having acquired some balsa wood and glue, engaged in a contest to see who could build the oddest model aircraft that would actually fly. Booker’s aircraft looks to take the prize, it being a preposterous five-planed thing with a biplane tail. He says he will find a mouse to be test pilot and set it aloft. Simpson swears he’ll shoot it down with his Webley.

Squadron Commander Bromet surveyed us at lunch on the second washout day, the 18th, asking who could speak French. Several of the lads were proficient. The French I’d learned growing up in Montreal was likely to be unintelligible here, but I suspected that the volunteers might be dispatched to Paris on some mission of interest so I made the mistake of raising my hand. The OC had decided to put on lectures, and basic French was on the curriculum. Grange and Squadron Commander Bromet would prepare lessons for the officers. Compston and I would teach those below decks.

My first lesson was memorable. Twenty sullen Ack Emmas and assorted other ranks gathered in a spare hangar across the way in 32 Squadron territory. Folding chairs were assembled in rows.

“You may smoke,†I began. About a dozen of the men were already on their second cigarette. “Today we’re going to go on about conversational French. What would you like to learn?â€

There was a great deal of interest in the proper phrasing of indecent proposals, but my own vocabulary was not up to the task. Nor was my personal experience. I began with basic foodstuffs and counting, the phrases needed for shopping. “What is the French word for beer? I asked.

“Bière,†replied twenty voices in unison. I’d clearly started with familiar terms.

“And how would one ask Madame Bossu for an egg?†I asked next, referring to mistress of Vert Galant farm

Now there was hesitation, except for one bulky, red-faced seaman, obviously from Glasgow. “Och, surr. Yon’s an easy one. Ye ask the missus fer an OOF.â€

“Very good...â€

“Dalgliesh, surr.â€

“Dalgliesh it is. The French for egg is OEUF. Now, Dalgliesh, how might one ask Madame Bossu for TWO eggs?â€

The ruddy face wrinkled in thought. “It’s like at hame in Glesga, surr. I allus ask the missus fer TWA oofs.â€

“Indeed,†I remarked. "And does that work for you, Dalgliesh?â€

“Aye surr,†he said. “But the daft auld wumman aye gies me THREE eggs. I just hand the spare one back.â€

I have much to learn.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/23/17 06:04 PM

Journal Entry: 23 November, 1916
Lagnicourt

Today, I broke a major personal rule of mine and I disobeyed a standing order of higher command. Fortunately, I lived and since I am the leading pilot in the luftstreitkräfte I was shown some leniency from command, but they denied my claim out of hand. They said you have to suffer some sort of punishment. You see, I am just so frustrated by the Nieuport's ability to out climb us and run away from any engagement they like. Our Albatros are as swift as the Nieuport in a level race and I proved that today, but in a climbing pursuit the Nieuport just pulls away. So what happened was we were attacked by two Nieuports and when they had tired of their fun they climbed away as is their custom. This time, my frustration got the better of me and I pursued. Once I had reached their altitude I began to close the distance on the trailing Nieuport. This poor fellow should not have trusted so implicitly in their tactics because not once as I was closing did I see him look back. Unfortunately for him, once in range I fired a good long burst and down he went spiraling to his death. Maybe just maybe, this will have some impact on their tactics in the future, who knows, but I do know that it felt good to finally catch one of those buggers and teach him a lesson.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture inattention_kills.jpg
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/17 07:49 PM

Raine, please have Colin teach Dalgliesh how to count to two. It would be a shame for all those extra third eggs to go to waste. Especially during the war time. Don't they know a returned egg has to be refurbished before being sold again? Even after it is discounted as an open box item it might never find a new home since the warranty is null and void.
Good story!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/17 09:13 PM

Thanks, Fullofit. The confusion between the Scots "'twa" (2) and the French "trois" (3) was inspired by a 1915 cartoon in Punch. Too good to pass up.

As Dalgleish would say, "I didna ken that oofs wur sae bluidy complicated. Yon officer wants tae refurnish them, the dafty."
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/26/17 11:01 PM

Robert has joined us so everybody make him feel welcome. Here is the latest status report from last week's combat patrols.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture ScreenHunter_175 Mar. 26 16.58.jpg
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/17 12:20 AM

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 13

As I write this I am lying on my bed in our cabin (a Nissen hut, actually). Out in the courtyard of the farmhouse, the afternoon watch has rung seven bells: 3:30 pm. The ship’s bell hands from a frame in the courtyard of M. Bossu’s farm, its rope ending in a carved white Turk’s head.

Simpson and Booker are playing ludo on a small table next to the Canadian stove that stands in the middle of the cabin. I have just finished writing a long letter to my mother, explaining (for my father’s benefit, mainly) why I intend to stick out the war on active duty in France and forego the opportunity to return home to a staff position.

Our detachment has begun to bind together nicely. Squadron Commander Bromet visits every part of the squadron almost daily. Unlike the RFC squadrons around us, we conduct all our own refitting and repair, and the men of the lower deck do a magnificent job. It is good to see the commander and his officers maintain a solid and trusting relationship with them as they do here. In that sense we are far superior to my old 3 Wing.

Danny Galbraith is lying in his bed, coughing roughly. He is not well, becoming progressively more withdrawn. I have enjoyed his company since my arrival here, but now he scarcely speaks. I worry about him.

We have flown every day since last Monday. The weather was close at the start of the week, and our patrols were long and monotonous, with nary a Hun in sight.

My first excitement came on Thursday, 24 November, when Colin MacKenzie led us of A Flight over the lines. We were playing nanny to a lumbering French Caudron on a photographic reconnaissance. We returned to Vert Galand after two hours, and when it was my turn to land I approached from the west northwest, lining up on the cloth wind markers that had been laid out. I blipped the engine of my little Nieuport and began to plane in over the line of poplars on the ridge overlooking our field. Suddenly my windscreen was covered in oil and the engine began to fail. I had not a moment to lose. It would be impossible to clear the poplars so I slipped sideways, turning parallel to them and making for a rough field just short of our aerodrome. I was forced to land slightly cross-wind, a bit fast, and downhill. I bounced the machine badly, and on settling back the undercarriage caught in the ploughed earth. The machine nosed over and the wings cracked and folded as the nose caught the stubble. I was catapulted out of my restraints and tumbled for a hundred yards across a beet field. When I finally came to a stop, the squadron ambulance and a tender were already pulling up at the edge of the field. I emerged from the ooze and muck, miraculously completely unscarred, and wiped the mud from my eyes and mouth. An amazed petty office ran up to me inquiring for my health.

“Ah, PO Garrison, good to see you,†I said. PO Garrison was the ship’s jaunty, or master-at-arms. “Would you mind cleaning up this mess? I think I need a drink.†The words came naturally at the time, but I have heard that they went about the lower deck all evening and that I have a bit of a reputation among the lads as a hard man. That’s not a bad thing for a young colonial officer.

It has begun to bother me that I have not bagged a Hun since arriving here. There has not been much opportunity with the weather as it has been. On 25 November, a fine day, I accompanied Flt. Cdr. Little’s B Flight escorting a BE. We ran into several Fokker biplanes and chased them off. On our return we saw and mixed up with two Rolands and two or three Fokker monoplanes. I fired at a Roland without result and Little bagged a Fokker.

This morning was a defensive patrol in filthy weather. Again we saw nothing.

I have come to dislike the Nieuport. Besides the need to risk falling out to change the tiny ammunition drum, it is slow and fragile. The Pups are far superior, even though they have only an 80 hp Le Rhone. The Vickers is belt-fed. The fellows complain about it jambing a great deal. Sub-Lieut. O’Hagan, RNVR, our armaments officer, does yeoman service on the guns, but such things can’t be helped.

Our detached squadron is soon to be designated as No 8 Squadron. We have three flights. My A Flight (under command of Flt. Cdr. Colin Mackenzie) was originally all Nieuports from 4 Wing, but a few Pups are now in place. B Flight is all 80 hp Sopwith Pups, drawn from 1 Wing. C Flight (Flt Lieut Wood) was originally all Sopwith Strutters from 5 Wing, although they are gradually being replaced with Pups. A and C Flights mess together in a wood-framed canvas hut with a good wooden-floored anteroom with a piano. B and HQ mess together in the Bossu farmhouse, which is smaller but considerably warmer. I occasionally cadge an invitation to their mess when I want to read by the fire. My latest read is The Real Adventure, which I shall send to my mother when done.

In other news, 32 Squadron has left for Mariueux, and 23 Squadron (FE2s) now share Vert Galant Farm with us. I haven’t got to know them yet, but intend to.


Attached picture Fokker.jpg
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/17 03:49 AM

Wonderful story, Raine. All of the details and references to contemporary items (Canadian stove) really makes your world come alive for the reader. I look forward to reading more tales of the adventures of Mr. Uruquat.

BTW, if you are flying in late 1916, please send me a PM.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/17 06:39 PM

Here is the completed Intrepid Flyers calendar for 1917 and 1918. If you look you will see that I have created tabs for each year.

Intrepid Flyers Calendar
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/17 09:46 PM

Nice reports folks. I'm looking forward to joining in on the 5th April. Out of town at the moment. Raine I paricularly enjoyed Colin's report while having a cool one on the beach in Curacao. It's hard work but someone has to support the island rconomy biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/17 11:30 PM

Banjoman, thanks for the calendar.
Robert, welcome to the new chapter. I know you've already finished this book once, but it never hurts to have another go. Enjoy your drink, 1917 is getting more interesting with each month and I have a feeling you'll need many more of those drinks before the War is over.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/17 11:47 PM

Flight Commander Cyrus Gold is doing well. He has been promoted and received a medal. The next day he received another medal and now is quite famous. Just the other day his engine failed and he made an emergency landing near a road close to the Front. A convoy of Tommies went by without stopping to pick him up and giving him a ride to the base. They were probably blinded by his bling. He waited for the Hun convoy that followed the Brits. At least they've stopped, thankfully they didn't pick him up either.
[Linked Image]

Lieutenant Dominiqe Urbain also has been promoted and received a medal. The next day another medal was presented to him as well.

It was probably because of his latest multiple victories against the hated Boche. All 3 columns of smoke made by three unfortunate Germans, all shot down singlehandedly by Dominique.
[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/28/17 02:55 PM

Excellent reports, as usual! I'm particularly enjoying Colin's encounters with the Scottish. biggrin

The Caudron continues to suprise me. I've now managed to shoot down two Hun planes in Bruno's career, though unfortunately neither kill was confirmed. As long as you can keep the enemy machine in your observer's sights, he will do a pretty good job at shooting it down. Obviously things will get harder as more Hunnish Albs enter service, but we're not there yet!

Bruno had an engine failure in one mission, so I decided to write a little story about it...

*****

25 November 1916.
Somewhere northeast of Nancy.


“Merde!†Sous-lieutenant Pascal Girard cursed loudly as he struggled to get up from his cockpit.

“Are you all right? The landing was a bit rough!†Sous-lieutenant Bruno Berthier was still seated and holding the control column of his Caudron tightly with both hands.

“A bit rough! Bloody hell, Bruno! We’re lucky to be alive. And I’m covered in this filthy mud!â€

“Better mud than blood. We barely missed that building back there!†Bruno let go of the stick, unstrapped his safety belt and carefully got up. The nacelle of the Caudron was partly buried in the wet mud of the field that had acted as their emergency landing place. The right engine was almost broken loose of its fittings and was hanging in an odd angle among a mess of struts and torn fabric from the badly bent wings.

Earlier that day, their escadrille, along with other units of Groupe de Bombardement 2, had been sent to attack the important Metz railroad junction. The mission had gone well for Bruno and Pascal, until their Caudron began having engine trouble during the flight back to base. Finally their right engine had lost all power and Bruno had been forced to leave the formation and try to make a landing somewhere. Fortunately they were already flying safely behind friendly lines, so they didn’t have to worry about anti-aircraft fire or becoming prisoners of war.

Bruno had spotted a suitable field on the outskirts of Nancy and barely managed to direct his rapidly descending Caudron towards it. However, there were some buildings flanking the field, and Bruno had to pull the stick back with all his strength to avoid smashing into one of them. Their flight ended in a big wet crash, as the nacelle of the Caudron plowed into a field turned swamp by the constant rains of the past few weeks.

Pascal was already on his feet and helped Bruno out of the cockpit. The men stood next to their wrecked machine, trying to avoid sinking into the mud themselves and wondering what to do next. Their thoughts were suddenly interrupted by loud noises coming from the direction of the building they had barely dodged - horses and men, and lots of them!

Bruno and Pascal saw several horses galloping between the buildings, with men in blue uniforms running to and fro like a group of ants in a disturbed nest.

“Looks like we almost crashed into a stable!†Pascal said, wiping some mud off his face.

“And the horses panicked. Here comes the cavalry!†Bruno replied and nodded toward a small group of men running towards them. As they approached, Bruno saw they were led by a small but very muscular maréchal des logis (cavalry sergeant) with a strikingly red face.

“What the hell was that?! Are you crazy, flying here like that! You just scared the horses of the whole battalion!†The red-faced sergeant shouted at them and gestured wildly with his arms, trying not to fall down in the mud.

“Sergeant, I’m sous-lieutenant Berthier and this is my observer sous-lieutenant Girard. We’re sorry about your horses, but it was an emergency. Our engine failed and we had to land on the closest suitable field.†Bruno looked around and spread his arms before continuing. “And this happened to be that field.†His explanation didn’t seem to satisfy the sergeant who was still steaming with rage.

“Now please take us to your commanding officer, sergeant. I want to contact our escadrille about our accident. And nobody is allowed to touch the wreck without our permission!â€

The sergeant looked like he was about to say something very impolite, but managed to restrain himself (perhaps because of the higher rank of the aviators) and ignoring military formalities, simply told Bruno and Pascal to follow him to the stables. Then he turned around and began sloughing through the mud at a brisk pace.

As Bruno and Pascal reached the nearest building, they could see several men trying to calm the horses down and lead them back into the safety of the stables. Some of the animals were still nervous and protested their treatment by tossing their heads and whinnying loudly. A captain was waiting near the corner of the stable, and the angry sergeant reported the aviators to him.

“Thank you, Reynaud. You may return to your duties.†The sergeant gave Bruno and Pascal one last angry look before joining the men handling the horses. The captain turned to address the aviators. He was neatly dressed and sported a carefully trimmed moustache. Bruno saluted him and described their situation.

“Very well. I am capitaine Leclair. Maréchal des logis Reynaud appears to have already reprimanded you, so I won’t needlessly repeat his words. He doesn’t like it when our horses are harassed like that, and neither do I. But what is done is done.†The captain studied the muddy aviators for a second. “Do you require any medical assistance?â€

“No, mon capitaine. But we’d like to make a telephone call, and also put our wrecked machine under guard so that nobody fiddles around with it.†Bruno explained to the captain.

The captain gave orders to his men and then asked Bruno and Pascal to follow him to the office building. As the men walked across the courtyard, the captain told them that they had landed in the midst of the depot area of 68th Infantry Division and that he was the commanding officer of one of its supply columns.

Bruno managed to get through to his escadrille and made arrangements for the transportation of their wrecked Caudron. It would take several hours to sort it all out, so there was nothing left for them to do but to remove their muddy flying suits and enjoy the hospitality of the supply battalion, whose peace they had so dramatically disturbed by their crash.

TO BE CONTINUED…

[Linked Image]
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/17 02:12 AM

Hasse, congratulations on a safe landing in difficult circumstances. I thought for a minute that Bruno could follow a fine French tradition and start his own boucherie chevaline. Great to see you posting again. I'm looking forward to Robert joining us on 5 April!

Colin Urquhart has finally scored his fifth official kill.

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator


Part 14

The last two days brought enough break in the weather to get in a morning flight each day. Blissfully, ground fog and rain caused the cancellation of the earliest patrol, so the steward roused me at four each morning only to tell me that I could sleep in until seven-thirty, at which time he reappeared with steaming mugs of sweet tea and chocolate biscuits. The temperatures were dropping now and on the occasional morning a thin crust of ice formed over the water jugs. I poured a little into a white enamel basin and placed it on the stove to warm before washing and shaving. Reggie Soar shaved across the stove from me, singing an aria – usually from Tosca but always very, very badly.

On 27 November 1916 my shave was interrupted by the Recording Officer, John D’Albiac, who bellowed at Soar and I to drop everything and get our machines on the field with Flight Commander Goble. Goble was B Flight Commander, but this was an emergency job. Apparently Huns were seen heading towards Doullens or Marieux. I pulled boots and some corduroy trousers on over my pajamas, put on a bulky Irish knit sweater and grabbed by flying coat and gear. Soar headed for his hangar. My little Nieuport was already being run up by Leading Mechanic Black. Hazard was already aboard his machine.
The mixed formation of Pups and Nieuports took off line abreast and sorted themselves out, climbing westward through wispy rain squalls. I thought of my mug of tea, scarcely touched, and cursed the Kaiser. I looked behind and saw an unfamiliar Pup. It took station to my starboard quarter. It was Flt Comdr Huskisson, the Squadron Second-in-Command.

Over Doullens we began to patrol, four miles south, two miles west, four miles north, two miles east, and around again, passing over Marieux field on every north or south leg. On our third circuit I looked down and spotted three pale objects passing over a small dark wood southeast of Marieux. I pulled ahead and waggled my wings, but Flt Comdr Goble did not seem to notice. I fired a red flare and, not wanting to lose the unidentified aircraft, left formation. No one followed.

For a minute or two I had lost them, and then a flicker of movement caught my eye. Three pale brown machines were heading directly for Marieux. They were biplanes with square wingtips. At last I could make out the absence of bright colours on their markings, and second later the dirty black crosses – three Halberstadt scouts. It was a rare thing to find Huns this far over our lines. I glanced over my shoulder and, seeing nothing behind, dived at full speed on the trailing Hun. When I was about 300 yards he turned to meet me and we began to circle, drifting lower and lower over the woods and fields. The other hostile machines must have abandoned their mate, for it was just he and I. His Halberstadt could not out-turn the tiny Nieuport and at length I was able to hit him with a short burst. The Hun lost nerve and levelled out, heading east. I had the advantage of a little height and quickly got on his tail, closing to about 20 or 30 yards before I fired. He sideslipped away. I turned, but he was gone.

I circled a couple of times, searching above and below before spotting him. Now he was low, gliding unsteadily to a ploughed field about half a mile off. I approached and saw his machine touch down, and then begin to tumble “arse over teakettle.†The machine broke apart and caught fire.

D’Albiac met me on the field. Goble had already reported the kill; he had finally noticed the Huns and turned to join me. The Hun was down before he could get near, so he had turned and beaten me back to Vert Galant. The Halberstadt was my fifth official victory, my first with the Detached Squadron.

On 28 November Hazard and I were asked to join Goble’s flight to attack a balloon near Guillemont. I got the first run at it and fired my LePrieurs. I saw at least one hit and a few seconds later I looked back to see the balloon fall in flames. I put in a claim, but Flt Comdr Huskisson, who had again joined the party, had hit the thing after me and got the credit.

We returned home separately after the attack and the weather made the trip miserable. The cloud was nearly down to ground level and I thought I’d never make it. The Nieuport lacks a compass and for some reason by little prismatic compass was not in the pocket of my flying coat. It was a huge relief at last to emerge from a low cloud over the hills west of Doullens and spot the White Ensign flapping in the wind over our field.

Now am off for the rest of the day and heading for the bath house in Doullens!

[Linked Image]
"Now he was low, gliding unsteadily to a ploughed field..."


Attached picture 5th kill.png
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/17 03:59 AM

Raine you and Hasse are in fine form. You guys always motivate me to try and spin a better tale.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/31/17 01:00 AM

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 15

I returned from Doullens that evening to the sobering news that Barry Hazard had not reported in. The next morning brought no news. As had been the pattern of late, our first flight got away only at nine. Flt Comdr Goble led three of his B Flight Pups, and I was instructed to tag along with my Nieuport. The Pups climbed so much better. It was difficult to keep station. Our task was a “close offensive patrol†in the Arras-Monchy sector. We saw nothing and turned towards home after the appointed time. I signalled to Goble that I would patrol alone – I had cleared it with him before.

The Nieuport was fully fuelled. There was enough remaining for about thirty or forty minutes, so I headed south over the lines to Miraumont and then turned north. Just as I was about to give up three Halberstadt scouts passed close overhead. I had completely missed their approach, but they were oblivious to my presence. Seized by a moment’s madness, I decided to stalk them.

I was behind the rearmost Hun and only 400 yards off when one of his mates spotted me and turned. The others must have been dud fellows, for they made off and the lone Halberstadt jockey and I turned and twisted without result for nearly ten minutes until I managed to hit the hostile machine during a head-on pass. He snapped about and headed home. I closed on him and emptied the rest of my drum into him from very close range. I was certain that my rounds splashed all about his cockpit. The Lewis stopped, its bolt to the rear, and I turned away. My Hun put its nose down and dived eastwards, still under control. I landed at La Bellevue, where I got a splash of petrol before setting course for Vert Galant.

At lunch Lieutenant D’Albiac told me that I should gather up Hazard’s things if we had no news by tea. We didn’t, and Soar helped me. There were letters from a girl at home, which we burned in the oven. One never knows what such things contain. He had a few personal items: a good pocket watch, a Waterman safety pen, a cricket bat, and a book of Blake’s poetry. His flying gear was spread out on his bunk. It was apparently the norm that any personal flying gear was up for grabs. My feet were too big for his sheepskin thigh boots, but I claimed a nearly new felt face-mask. I was nearly undone going through his drawers where I found a ragged stuffed dog under his singlets. It had likely been his since infancy. It went in the box we prepared to mail to England. I lost an argument with Soar about that decision; I was certain it would shatter Hazard’s mother to send it.

Hazard was our second loss. FSL Hope had gone down on 23 November. I did not really know him well.

The next morning high winds, low clouds, and sleet prevented all flying. I taught French to the lower deck instead. My star pupil, Dalgliesh, was clearly in love. His hand waved continually above his unkempt vacant head as he sought in vain to retain basic phrases to support his courting with local farmgirls. I scarcely got the chance to answer him, as there was always some wag ahead of me:

Dalgliesh: “Surr, how wud ye ask a wee French lassie ta gae fer a stroll, surr?â€

Evan (a transport driver): “You mean how would you get the poor thing to stop screaming and running away, don’t you?â€

Dalgliesh (obviously hurt): “Awa’ and bile yer heid, ye numpty. Yer no a romantick, see?â€

After dinner on the 30th, Squadron Commander Bromet informed me that I was up for leave starting 12 December. With luck the bad weather would continue.




Attached picture Stalking.jpg
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/01/17 08:05 PM

[Linked Image]
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/17 12:51 AM

Lederhosen, very gruesome picture, but where is all the blood? I suspect this guy is just sick from all the rocking of the plane when you were evading the enemy. Well done OBD, no other sim has vomiting observers! (Could also be hangover)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/17 12:53 AM

It is that time of the month already. News of the world for Intrepid Fliers - November:

November 1
French forces recaptured Fort Vaux near Verdun.
November 4
The Ninth Battle of the Isonzo ended with a limited Italian advance. 1916 had seen five Isonzo operations on top of four undertaken the previous year.
November 5
Germany and Austria declared an "Independent State of Poland".
Although the Battle of Le Transloy officially ended on 18 November, a final attack was made without success. The battle ended with no significant gain along the Transloy Ridge.
November 6
In the Sudan operations against the ex-Sultan of Darfur resulted in his defeat and death near the frontier of Wadai at the Affair of Gyuba.
November 7
Woodrow Wilson was re-elected as President of the United States of America.
November 8
The American Steamer Columbian was sunk by German submarine U-49 near Cape Finisterre.
November 9
An aerial battle took place between British and German aeroplanes near Bapaume in northern France.
November 11
The Battle of the Ancre Heights ended with a British victory over German forces.
November 12
British forces occupied Shiraz in Persia.
November 13
In the final significant phase of the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of the Ancre saw a renewal of the Allied offensive; British troops finally captured Beaumont Hamel.
November 15
An Inter-Allied conference was held in Paris to discuss ways to counter German mobilisation of Belgians and Poles.
November 16
The Battle of Targu-Jiu began in Romania.
November 17
Germans broke through the Romanian front at the Battle of Targu-Jiu in the Jiu Valley.
November 18
After four-and-a-half months of fighting the Battle of the Somme ended with enormous losses on both sides. Allied forces had pushed back the German line but the offensive cost more than 1 million casualties.
November 19
French and Serbian forces captured Monastir in Serbia.
The Entente Governments presented another ultimatum to King Konstantinos of Greece demanding that all representatives of the Central Powers be expelled.
November 20
German diplomat Gottlieb von Jagow resigned as German Foreign Minister.
November 21
German forces occupied Craiova in Romania on the Eastern Front.
The British Hospital Ship HMHS Britannic sank after hitting a German mine in the Aegean Sea.
Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria died and was succeeded by his great-nephew Charles I.
November 22
German and Austrian forces captured Orsova in Hungary.
November 23
The British hospital ship Braemar Castle was damaged after hitting a mine in the Aegean Sea.
The Provisional Greek Government at Salonika declared war on Bulgaria and Germany.
November 24
Boris Sturmer resigned as Russian Premier and Foreign Minister was succeeded by Alexander Trepov as Premier.
November 26
A German naval raid took place on Lowestoft on the east coast of England during which the naval trawler HMT Narval was sunk.
November 27
Two Zeppelins were shot down during a German airship raid on Hartlepool and Great Yarmouth on the east coast of England.
November 28
The first German daylight aeroplane raid on London took place. The Germans hoped that by making raids on London and the South East, the British Air Force would be forced into protecting the home front rather than attacking the German Air Force.
November 29
David Beatty was appointed to replace Admiral Sir John Jellicoe as Commander of the Grand Fleet.
November 30
Allied forces began disembarking at Piraeus in Greece.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/17 12:55 AM

News of the World for March - Warbirds Rising:

March 1
The British hospital ship Glenart Castle was damaged by a mine whilst en route from Le Havre to Southampton.
Arz von Straussenberg replaced Conrad von Hotzendorf as Commander-in-Chief of the Austro-Hungarian army.
March 2
A Russian offensive reached and occupied Hamadan in western Prussia.
March 4
The Armed Ship Bill was filibustered and defeated in the US Senate.
March 5
US President Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated for a second term. President Wilson's Democratic Party controlled the House of Representatives while the Republicans dominated the Senate.
March 6
On the Western Front the British line extended south of the Somme to the neighbourhood of Reims- twice the length of a year before.
March 7
British and Indian forces crossed the Diyala in pursuit of the Ottoman forces towards Baghdad.
March 8
Police fired into crowds as protestors and striking workers took to the streets in Petrograd.
March 10
British troops captured lrles near the Ancre on the Western Front.
March 11
After a two year campaign, British and Indian forces captured and occupied Baghdad.
March 12
The Russian Revolution began and a Provisional Government was formed.
President Wilson ordered the arming of American merchant vessels in the war zone.
March 13
The Russian Premier Prince Golitsyn and Minister for War General Byelyayev were removed from office by the Revolutionary Party.
March 14
German forces began their withdrawal from the Somme sector to the Hindenburg Line.
March 15
Tsar Nicholas II abdicated in favour of his brother Michael.
Prince Georgy Yevgenyevich Lvov replaced Prince Golitsyn as Prime Minister of Russia.
March 16
Nicolas' brother refused the throne until a Constitutional Assembly was formed to invite him formally.
A mutiny broke out in the Russian Baltic fleet after the sailors received word of the Revolution in Petrograd.
March 17
On the Western Front the British occupied Bapaume and nearby villages; French forces advanced to reoccupy Roye.
A public disagreement with members of his cabinet over war policy precipitated the resignation of French Prime Minister Aristide Briand. He was succeeded by Alexandre Felix Joseph Ribot.
March 18
German destroyers fired on Ramsgate and Broadstairs on the Kent coast of England.
British troops occupied Peronne in the area evacuated by the Germans while the French occupied Noyon.
March 19
The French battleship Danton was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Sardinia while en route to aid a blockade.
March 20
The first meeting of the British Imperial War Conference was held to co-ordinate governance of the British Empire during the war and prepare for the post-war situation.
March 21
The British hospital ship Asturias was attacked and torpedoed by a German submarine on her way to Southampton after landing her wounded at Avonmouth.
March 22
The Provisional Government in Russia was recognised by Britain, France, Italy, USA, Romania and Switzerland.
March 25
Forming part of the Samarrah Offensive, the Battle of Jebel Hamlin saw a British-led force attempt to encircle 15,000 Turkish troops retreating from Persia.
March 26
The First Battle of Gaza was fought during the first attempt by the Egyptian Expeditionary force to invade the southern region of the Ottoman Empire territory of Palestine during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. Fighting took place in and around the town of Gaza on the Mediterranean coast but the attempt to capture the city failed.
March 27
The Petrograd Soviet (workers' council) issued a proclamation in favour of self-determination and peace.
March 28
The British steamer Cannizaro was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-24 on its way from New York to Hull.
March 30
The Russian Provisional Government acknowledged the independence of Poland.
March 31
The United States formally took possession of the Danish West Indies. Renamed the Virgin Islands, America purchased the islands from Denmark because of their strategic location in relation to the Panama Canal.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/17 01:10 AM

Dominique Urbain has fallen ... victim of an April Fool's joke.

Let me start from the beginning. March 30, 1917. Verdun. End of mission. Bad landing. A hit on the noggin, lost consciousness. Dominique wakes up in hospital with his head bandaged - sentenced to stay in this hospital bed for 20 days. 1 April comes and with it rounds by the main surgeon, who looked at his chart and mentioned "mal a la tete" and then he ordered Dominique to get out of bed and return to duty. Apparently Dominique's wingman wrote the additional zero on his chart for a good chuckle. One day Dominique will return the favor. One day.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/17 02:23 AM

Dudley Nughtshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Bellevue, Air Field



1 Apr 1917.

Returned from TDY as Air Advisor to a Vising General over at II Corps. Good Wine and fine food. The General didn't have much to ask about Air Machines. He only paid attention to the Arty and Infantry types talking Tactics. Posted to the afternoon , Show the Flag flight. The 9 of us went over the lines and chased the huns, No Joy for me as guns jamed,



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/17 05:45 PM

Dudley Nughtshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Bellevue, Air Field


2 Apr 1917.


Re-assigned to # 3 machine and went up on a soggy patrol in the rain. No Joy.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/17 07:39 PM

Fullofit, back to work, you malingerer!

Cheers!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/17 09:09 PM

Here's the latest status report.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/03/17 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by Raine
Fullofit, back to work, you malingerer!

Cheers!


Raine, despite the apparent language barrier Dominique's unnamed wingman and Dalgliesh could become good friends based on their numerical interests.
Banjoman, thanks for the new report.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/03/17 05:00 PM

Dudley Nightshade
Flt, Lt.
6 RNAS
Bellevue, Air Field


3 Apr 1917.


I say bit of a flap, It seems like after a fight with the Huns, Old Fletch went Bonkers. Climbed up a bloody tree and shot his revolver at anyone approaching him. We got him down ,but only after he ran out of bullets. Bloody sad, because I can confirm his kill. a recon type over by Vaast. The C.O. said to take his machine as mine,but not the Wine in the footlocker that the belongs to the Mess.






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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/03/17 06:00 PM

Journal Entry: 4 December, 1916
Pronville

Today we transferred to Pronville, which just happens to be where my good friend and old wingman Manfred commands Jasta 1. I have not seen him since I was transferred to Jasta 2 and I am really looking forward to hearing how he has handled the transition to command. I was not anticipating any action today since Pronville is only about 5 kms away from Lagnicourt. It should have only taken us around 30 minutes to make the flight, but of course, I had not accounted for the cheekiness of the Tommies in their Nieuports. As we were approaching Pronville, I saw two Nieuports flying along as it they were on a Sunday stroll. I realized at once that this time we might catch them since they were so far over our lines. I signaled the attack and immediately one of the Nieuports must have realized they had been caught because he quickly turned and began to flee with three of my flight in hot pursuit. The other actually turned to engage me in what was a hopeless gesture. On one hand, I admire the British for their willingness to fight against all odds and then on the other hand, it disgusts me for their wanton disregard of their lives and the lives of their men in pointless attacks. We twisted and twirled with neither getting an advantage. I fully expected him to break off and climb away as they usually do when they grow bored with an engagement. This Tommy was different and that ultimately was his undoing. Eventually due to my superior machine, I was able to deliver a burst that obviously damaged him because that was when he decided to disengage, but it was too late by that point. I settled in for the coup de grace and after I fired I could hear a loud crack, even above the engine and wind noise. I watched mesmerized as half of his top left plane detached itself from his machine and fluttered past. The enemy pilot had a panicked look on his face and fortunately for him, did not have far to fall.

Upon landing, I was greeted by Manfred with a huge bear hug and congratulated on such a wonderful victory. Unbeknownst to me, they had watched the entire engagement from the ground. It was wonderful to return to the comrades that I had shared such hardships and victories. It distressed me just a little to see that they are still flying the outdated Fokker biplanes. Manfred clasped my arm and as walked to the Adjutant's office, asked me to tell him of my victory. It is good to be with Manfred again.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Macklroy

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/03/17 11:45 PM

Salute gentlemen.
I would love to get involved with this campaign. I had a blast in Olham's DiD revival campaign. I read up on the rules and think I understand them.

If I was to create a new pilot today, would I be starting on April 3, 1917?
Could I run the first couple of 'training' missions within QC to avoid losing squad mates due to landing and exiting the sim while they are out and about on mission. Or is that part of the danger?
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/04/17 03:42 AM

The exploits of Albert Earl Godfrey

22 Nov 1916 @ 08h17 Arrival at Auchel airfield and Orientation flight

Arrived early today at Auchel after a short hop from Choques, and was quickly greeted by a Capt. displaying a rather unusually chipper nature towards a man of lower rank such as I. Charles Henry Chapman Wooven Capt., showed me to my quarters and asked of my background.

I explained I was from Vancouver, Canada, practiced as a gunsmith there, and spent my idle time building an aeroplane and racing motorcycles and that seemed to prick his interest even more. I told him I had joined the local militia, The Duke of Connaught’s Own Rifles in 1904 as a drummer and bugler and gained a rank of sergeant when the War broke out. “A lad of many useful talents it seems†said he. “Where have you served since?†he asked, and I replied that I had come overseas with the Canadian Mounted Rifles and then switched to the Pioneer Corps where I gained some reputation as being somewhat of an expert with machine guns, having made several improvement suggestions, although none of them bore fruit in production. I then gained a transfer to 10 Sqn as observer in BE.2c’s “I dare say we may find some practical use for your skills when you are not flyingâ€. Get settled in here, and then come over to the briefing room and we shall have you shown the place, and at that he stepped sprightly off towards the briefing room.

Shortly there after, I arrived at the briefing room door knocked, and entered, to find Capt. Woolven in conversation with a number of officers who I was to soon be introduced to as the “New Ladâ€. The Capt. Waved me to come forward and immediately drew me to the attention of Lieut. Mark Everard. “Mark, this lad is apparently skilled in the use of the bugle and drums and just may fit nicely into our squadron band. What say you?â€. Mark, with a two fingers to his mouth and a frown on his face said “We could use the talent for sure, as long as he is not inclined to practice early in the morning†at which point he looked directly at me and fingered the flap on his holstered webley. The Capt. Broke out in a hearty laugh, patted me on the shoulder firmly, and looking at me said “that is highly unlikely isn’t it Sgt.?†I replied “Formal military use of the bugle has never really been a great interest of mine Sir, but the band does sound like a fine diversion!†They both broke out in laughter along with the other two Lieut’s. in the room. “Sgt. Godfrey here, says he has worked on aircraft building, engine work related to motorcycle racing and apparently a gunsmith with considerable familiarity with maching guns.†Says the Capt. “Lieut. Whitney here, will take you on the rounds of the hangars and introduce you to the mechanics and fitters. It is my hope that there will be some shared knowledge exchanged over the coming days in those fields you are experienced in. Hopefully the squadron as a whole will benefit Sgt., but for now, I would like you to go up for a spin with Lieut. Green here and get the general layout of our area set into your noggin. If all goes well today, I will take you on as my observer for a short mission to the front tomorrow morning.†“Yes Sir!†says I. That is all for now Sgt. You may now accompany Lieut. Green on his rounds.

It seems that my arrival at Auchel has left a positive impression of me with the officers. That is something I hope to cultivate further, for I have my mind set on flying scouts, and to do so, I would need recommendations to gain access to flying school back in old blighty. Woolven had recently made quite a name for himself, having been gazetted for the MC, for an attack on a train on the 14th of this month, which was followed up by downing an Albatros DI on the 16th. I expected I could learn a few things from the Capt. that could help me achieve my goal.


Youtube Video:

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/04/17 05:34 PM

Macklroy, I'll be happy to answer any of your questions. If you wanted to start a pilot in the Intrepid Flyers group then the start date would be 12/5/16 or if you wanted to start a pilot in the Warbird Flyers group then you would use today's date of 4/4/17. Both groups started on June 1, 2015 but the Intrepid group was dated about six months before and that's why the difference in the dates. There are a couple of us that have pilots in both groups and you would be welcome to do that as well. In answer to your second question of using QC to fly your training flights, that is how we all flew them so it would be fine for you as well. I hope I answered your questions to your satisfaction and if you have any more please feel free to ask. Welcome to the group and I'm sure you will enjoy yourself.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/04/17 05:41 PM

Robert, I'm so glad you've joined us. Your videos are also so enjoyable and now we should get a steady stream of them.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/04/17 06:59 PM

Dudley Nightshade
6 RNAS


4 Apr 1917.



MIDAIR COLLISION PILOT DECEASED.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/04/17 07:00 PM

Sorry to hear that, I think sometimes you have the worst luck.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/04/17 07:04 PM

Eckheart von Hammer
Staffel Flieger
FA 13



4 April 1917.


Used a DfW for a Recon this morning. A nice stable Bus for spotting.


Attached picture CFS3 2017-04-04 11-32-57-00.jpg
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/05/17 01:33 PM

Great stories folks. Sorry to hear of your loss Carrick. Midair collisions have doomed many a pilot. We have some fantastic story tellers here! Someone should be writing a book.

December 5th, 1916
Dudley "Ducky" Duckett
Detached Squadron RNAS
Vert Galant

Had a miserable flight in weather not fit for dogs patrolling enemy lines southeast of Bapaume. The Huns were sitting in there warm quarters laughing at us. No contact. All of flight A and B back home safe.
You all did not think I was going to let you have all the fun did you?!
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/05/17 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Robert, I'm so glad you've joined us. Your videos are also so enjoyable and now we should get a steady stream of them.

He's flying a Fee so it will be interesting to see if he stays with us for long. Brass balls though flying a Fee in Bloody April.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/05/17 07:48 PM

just some shots of the last few missions


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/05/17 09:03 PM

Eckheart von Hammer
Staffel Flieger
FA 13


April 5, 1917.


I flew Recon today long ride in the rain.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-04-05 13-30-01-56.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/05/17 09:05 PM

Thanks Guys. There are times when I think if not for bad luck, then I would have none at all. popcorn In real life, my luck is more like when it rains it pours. No one thing at a time its always a lot at one time. However, I do endeavor to persevere.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/17 11:32 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

25 Nov 1916 @ 09h01 Patrol to Furnes and east to De Blankaart Lake

Today we had an OP flight up to the lines between Poperinghe and Diksmuide and hence to Furnes before heading home. Capt. Emmerson lead the flight with Capt. Cleaver and myself on wing. We had gusting wind between 7 and 9 kn from the SSW with periods of significant buffeting. Approaching Poperinghe two Rolands passed over head about 1500 ft above and ignored us. Half way between Poperinghe and Diksmuide we again encountered two Rolands headed east well above us. On the return flight we again encountered two Roland CII’s passing over us headed NE and appeared to be ignoring us. In no short order I heard machine gun fire and we took a couple of hits. Carlson handled the craft deftly allowing me an opportunity to return fire and then again on a head on pass slightly lower and on the Rolands port side. He passed us by without exchanging fire and headed directly east. I could see that Emmerson was engaged with the other Roland at the time. Carlson swung us back on course and we headed to Ste Marie Cappel . I could see we took a few hits to our port wing but it appeared no serious damage hade been inflicted. There was no sign of Cleaver or Emmerson on the return flight. When we landed at Ste. Marie Cappel, I noticed Cleaver had already arrived. We all converged at the RO and reported in. Cleaver, not having been engaged in the conflict had noticed that Emmerson had sent the Roland down smoking and that Emmerson’s craft shortly thereafter crashed. Later that day reports came in that there were no survivors.

I hardly knew Emmerson, having only just arrived in the Sqn, but I observed his loss had a significant impact on the rest of the men. We stayed at Cappel for a day while our FE was repaired and then headed back to Auchel. Although my encounter with the Roland was indecisive, I was satisfied to know I had driven him off. I was beginning to feel an itch to fly my own plane and have control of my destiny.

Youtube Vid: No vid capture of combat sequence due to accidental vid capture turned off and discovered too late. Some good demo scenes of wind mod though, activated in Mission Editor.


Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/17 03:02 PM

Sub Flt. Lt. Dudley "Ducky" Duckett
Vert Gallant
Dec. 6 1916

I thought today was my last! We had a morning patrol of the front. While patrolling our lines the flight of 4 scattered and I knew some Huns were about. I stayed in trail of the flight leader but could not see anything. After what seemed a lifetime of searching for the enemy bullets slammed into my machine and I went into a spin to get away. Coming out of the spin my controls were sluggish and fortunately was on our side of NML. I made for Bellevue which was in sight and noticed a DII after one of ours over the field. When I tried to line up a shot my engine sputtered and quit. Too low to make the airfield I made a hard landing in a field close to the aerodrome.
We claimed 1 machine but my port wing was a mess.

Robert, Wish we could have seen the combat footage! Hope it works for you next time. Nice Report.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/17 03:14 PM

I have been hard pressed for flying time but hope to get some in over the weekend. Have to say, some very fine reports coming in and I am enjoying the read when I can get the time.
Carrick, seems you are due for some of that long string of good luck! Don't give up the ship! Perseverance is the word for sure!

MFair; after that last loss of combat I changed my key settings for my trackIR. My centering key is adjacent to my vid on and off key! Duh!

What is interesting in the vid is the effect of the wind gusting. I used JJJ65's ME and implemented the Wind feature which uses OldHat's wind mod built in. I was flying with wind between 7 and 9 knots and still had some extreme effects. Possibly a little more than should be there IMHO but still a desirable effect.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/17 04:48 PM

Eckheart von Hammer
Staffel Flieger
FA 13

KIA Deceased KIA


Jumped by N-23s over NML My pilot got the axe on the 1st Burst after he got on the tail. KIA DECEASED.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-04-06 09-36-32-50.jpg
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/17 05:35 PM

Bad Mojo Bud! Hope you choose a scout to start with next time. You will live longer.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/17 05:54 PM

Please disregard. This is just my screenshot test.

[Linked Image]


And it works! And no, this is not a WOFF screenshot.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/17 09:15 PM

I was going to say, what version of WOFF are those from, wow!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/17 09:19 PM

Stolen from the WOFF art thread. winkngrin
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/17 10:55 PM

Damn...are there thieves among us? charge
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/07/17 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins


What is interesting in the vid is the effect of the wind gusting. I used JJJ65's ME and implemented the Wind feature which uses OldHat's wind mod built in. I was flying with wind between 7 and 9 knots and still had some extreme effects. Possibly a little more than should be there IMHO but still a desirable effect.

Yep, I agree that 7 - 9 knots is rather too much for this kind of wether. I always made manual adjustments to wind speeds and fill in values at least 2 - 3 knots lower than recommended (prefilled). In your case I would use 4 - 6 knots.
Just my 2 cents.
Anyway, I am glad you have tested it.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/07/17 07:14 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey's third mission

29 Nov 1916 @ 08h01 Patrol to Koksijde airfield, Dunkerque, and home

Another grey day with rain and snow with 3kn winds.
Ltn. Green led the flight with Gnr Jones on board. I was on wing with Carlson manning the gun and Sgt Leith with Capt Cleaver on board was on the other side of the V.

We were expecting a rather quiet flight being that we were well behind the lines, and that is how it turned out until we approached Hondeschoote airfield, at which point all hell broke loose. Carlson started pointing anxiously to our starboard side high at 10 o’clock. I could see nothing and noted that Green and Leith were staying in formation. I saw Carlson quickly rise up to take the overhead gun. My immediate reaction was to bank starboard keeping the nose down slightly to offer him a decent angle to shoot as we took several hits. As I came around I spotted three Halb DII’s coming our way. Two shot on straight passed us but the other jockeyed for position on our stern. My visibility was pretty much nil in the FE so I looked to Carlson for direction and we banked hard in an effort to give him a frontal shot. We danced the jolly reel for some time taking hits occasionally as we drifted NE and loosing altitude in an effort to gain a faster turn.
On several occasions I had him locked directly in front of us offering a dandy shot for Carlson but it was not to be. He was fumbling with the drum which must have been jammed for I could see his lips cursing as he pounded on the drum to loose it.
Our only hope was to fend him off long enough to reach Furnes which we were getting close to as we drifted each in circles. The ground came up fast and the controls were extremely sluggish. The Halb made one more pass hitting us with several rounds. I was sure we were for it and I had to straighten out and head for Furnes or we would be going in for sure. I kept waiting for the final rounds to finish us off and to my amazement they didn’t come. I soon spotted the Halb out in front of us a good distance away heading east and took some pleasure in the fact he was receiving greeting from our archie at Furnes.
I hobbled in to the airfield and set the FE down gently, taxied up to the hangar and got out quickly, noting the damage done to our planes and ailerons. Carlson didn’t move and as I touched him on the shoulder he slumped over. The ambulance arrived just in time to aid in getting him out of the pit but it was too late. He had gone west. I felt like a wet rag. In fact I didn’t feel much at all. I was unable to come to grips with it for several hours.
I later learned that Green was wounded, his observer Cleaver killed and their craft destroyed. Leith was also lightly wounded but his observer was ok. Their craft was also destroyed. It was far from a good day.

Youtube Vid:
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/07/17 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by JJJ65
Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins


What is interesting in the vid is the effect of the wind gusting. I used JJJ65's ME and implemented the Wind feature which uses OldHat's wind mod built in. I was flying with wind between 7 and 9 knots and still had some extreme effects. Possibly a little more than should be there IMHO but still a desirable effect.

Yep, I agree that 7 - 9 knots is rather too much for this kind of wether. I always made manual adjustments to wind speeds and fill in values at least 2 - 3 knots lower than recommended (prefilled). In your case I would use 4 - 6 knots.
Just my 2 cents.
Anyway, I am glad you have tested it.


Thanks JJJ65
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/07/17 12:57 PM

Dudley Duckett
Vert Gallant
Dec. 7, 1916

If Dudley does not improve he will not be long for this world. His flight was tasked with balloon busting this morning. Horrid weather but the flight leader found the balloon. Diving to it I felt that my speed was to great and pulled up. My two mates had the balloon smoking but it was still there. I made another dive and released my rockets but my aim was low.

[Linked Image]


Pulling out of my dive I could not see anyone and headed west. Finding Vert Gallant in a blinding snowstorm I circled to land. While on final approach I heard the air raid sirens go off and then tracers whipped by! A Roland out hunting and I was his prey.
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]





I pulled up behind him hoping to get my first victory and was immediately hit with a hail of bullets from the gunner. I put my machine on the field. It will take 3 days to repair. My mates did hit the balloon and returned safe. The CO reminded me that I had cracked up two planes and was doing more for the Huns than our side!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/07/17 05:46 PM

Fritz von Tarlenheim
FA 250


April 7, 1917.


Up 2 times on the 6th and now on the second flight we ran into Englanders flying 3 wing a/c. My old bus took a number of hits but we made it back.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-04-07 10-30-44-45.jpg
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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/08/17 11:07 AM

Cecil Vernen Gardner and 48Sqn ..7 April 1917



Another one of those WOFF moments, and thanks to the cloud mod that makes this happen.
Four of us took off on a line patrol to the NE. Told to get up to 4000m and look for trouble. Looking out of the cockpit I soon realized that
our view would be very limited but orders are orders. We climb and climb. Thank goodness that today we can see the ground most of the time.
We cross the lines and hang around Hun positions just north of Lens. Nothing but cloud and mist at various levels. 30min of this and I take the boys
southwards in the hope of finding anything. Those majestic clouds are just that, and very high too.

South of Arras and I'm thinking it’s time for home, and then, just for a split second, a dot crosses a large white cloud and then it’s gone.
By now I'll look for anything just to relieve the boredom. Clouds all over, it's quite easy to slip by the enemy. And just by chance, after minutes of circling, I find a lone DFW heading for home.
I'm hoping he's not able to spot us just yet. Give the waggle to attack, and down we swoop. Damn just before I get the first burst off he has noticed us and I have to dive under to avoid him.

The boys are blazing away, and they are more of a danger to each other at this point. I can now pull up in front of the Hun and my gunner lets him have it at 30m.
Down he went into a death spiral almost immediately, and crashed. Well done lads.
Archie is very upset with us and lets us know it too. Home for tea is the order.
One of the lads had a fuel tank puncture and landed in the fields nearby.

I could not as put in a claim (which the sim gave me) as another pilot also claimed him too. So, I scribbled down 1/2 a kill on piece of paper.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/08/17 12:20 PM

Nice shots, Mr. Lederhosen!

Just to be clear, "magestic" clouds are actually original WOFF clouds, not mine. However, I did slightly increase the odds that you will run into them in the campaign. They are impressive, though!

Cheers
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/08/17 03:52 PM

good pics.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/08/17 03:58 PM

Fritz von Tarlenheim
FA 250


April 8, 1917.

Double duty today. Bomb-em zee French troops in the line. Close calls avoiding flights of e/a to and from. Landed by our fighter escorts Sqn for Wine and lunch.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-04-08 08-47-34-46.jpg
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/08/17 10:05 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

2 Dec 1916 @ 08h01 Transfer to Pilot training at St. Omer, and Farnborough

This morning at 08h00 I was summoned to meet with FC Woolven.
Upon entering the office he told me to stand at ease. He stated that he would like me to consider transfer to England for scout flight training. As much as we need gunners here, we need pilots more he said. I couldn’t believe how this was playing into my hand. “When am I to leave Commander?†I asked. “I would like you to get your kit ready and take one of the FE’s this morning to St Omer. It’s a little worse for wear but there is a replacement on the way and that pilot will be picking up another of our FE’s for the return run. When you get there you will spend a few days getting oriented with the Sopwith Strutter, which you will take to Calais airfield and hence to Farnborough in England. Your training on scouts will begin there. Your background as a gunsmith and your experimentation with aircraft design has somehow come to the attention of the RAF at Farnborough. They have indicated an interest in what you might have to offer, so you will be doing double duty there. Any questions Godfrey?†“None Sir!â€. “Here are your detailed orders. I wish you the best of luck and hope I can have you re-assigned to us on your return. I dare say you will likely be privy to some interesting information upon your return. You are dismissedâ€. With that I saluted sharply, turned on my heel and marched out the door. My heart was pounding with excitement. Finally my chance had come.

I rushed off to get my kit together. There wasn’t much as I hadn’t been here long enough to accumulate things. I gathered all my essentials and had the rest sent on to St Omer by one of the supply lorries. Hustling off to the hangars I found the FE already pulled out and being run up. The fitter came over to advise me not to put her through any strenuous paces and she had pretty much seen her best days. “She’ll get you there Sir, if you take it easy on her.†“Right you are then†I replied and clambered aboard, somewhat apprehensive. The thought ran through my head that the papers would read, “Promising young lad dies in crash on his way to training in Englandâ€. I wiped that from my mind as quickly as possible and ran up the engine, tested the controls and taxied out to the runway. I hoped the Huns were not active on my route today.

I set off at 09h35 and no sooner did I reach my staging area than it began to snow. Heavy wet flakes hit me in the face and I was only happy that the flight would be a short one to St Omer. I arrived there and landed at approximately 10h16. The airfield was quiet and I suspected all flights had been cancelled. I noticed some activity in the hangar when I pulled up and a couple of mechanics hustled out to help me. I received directions to the RO and was assigned temporary quarters. I dumped my kit and headed off to the mess for some hot tea and some breakfast if I could get some.

Youtube Vid:
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/17 01:19 AM

Great reports everyone!
Lieutenant Dominique Urbain along with his entire Escadrille was transferred from Vadelaincourt in Verdun sector to Lhery in Marne. Upon arrival, they were greeted by their new machines. They've traded in their Nieuport 23's for the significantly faster, but less maneuvrable SPAD VII's. Soon Esc. N 57 will need to be rechristened to SPA 57 and new aerial tactics developed.
[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/17 02:50 AM

Oh, how I hate the SPADs!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/17 03:01 AM

Banjoman

The spads aren"t half bad as far as performance goes. It's just that cockpit visibility is the pits!!
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/17 03:38 AM

It's weird that a plane with such a thin airfoil has maybe the worst view in the entire sim. From the cockpit, it looks like a cheese wedge!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/17 02:53 PM

Robert, I guess that's true. but isn't that sort of like saying, "kidney stones aren't all that bad, it's just the pain." biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/17 03:34 PM

Here is the status report from last weeks action. Looks like it was a difficult week for everyone, we lost a pilot and had two others wounded. One thing Robert, you don't have to put anything in the duration field unless you are wounded or captured.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture ScreenHunter_177 Apr. 09 09.31.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/17 05:17 PM

Fritz von Tarlenheim
FA 250


April 9, 1917.



The morning flight went fine, but the afternon one was a mess. Our 2 a/c ran into a few French fighters N-17 s ? Both the gunner and I took hits so its off to the Medics for 7 days off.



Attached picture CFS3 2017-04-09 08-44-37-56.jpg
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/17 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Oh, how I hate the SPADs!

Banjoman, do you mean flying them, or flying against them? wounded
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/17 12:11 AM

Thanks for the latest stats, Banjoman.
I'm wondering if I may be so bold as to make a suggestion? In the heading, where it says when each group started, perhaps it would be more useful now to state which week are these stats for. Example - Period: Apr. 2-8, 1917. This way, one needs only to refer to your stats screen to know which week they're supposed to be flying.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/17 02:06 AM

It's great to see many of the DiD diehards posting again. Welcome back, Robert and MFair. Carrick, keep up the great photos. Lederhosen, wonderful illustrated story! Fullofit, best of luck with Urbain's new Spad! And Banjoman, thank you for your constant support and contributions. I hope you're getting some flying time while you're away.

And Macklroy, I hope to see your stories here soon. Welcome!

I'll be away in England for two weeks visiting my son and his family. So Colin Urquhart has this big catch-up story and then he's off on leave. With luck, he's seen the last of his Nieuport Bebe!

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator (Colin Urquhart)

Part 16

With the beginning of December the weather turned foul again. I wanted to join the others in the cabin for a jaunt into Doullens and dinner at Quatre Fils, but I was duty officer and had to stay back while the fellows took off. I spent the afternoon of the first preparing for my role as French language instructor to the lower deck. The classes were going well, and my special project, AB Dalgliesh, was actually picking up on a few phrases and grammatical concepts, although to hear his Glaswegian tongue bludgeoning the language of love was a Hunnish bit of torture indeed. He was most interested to learn phrases that one would use while courting, things like “I picked these flowers for you.†It was disconcerting. Dalgliesh was a scruff, as my father would say, big and brutish-looking, with a broken nose and a scar over one eye that split his eyebrow. And I’d learned that he’d left school at nine to work with his uncle in a forge. Here in the squadron he followed his old calling; he worked as a helper to the squadron blacksmith. I should point out, in case one day someone reads this, that we did all our own maintenance, unlike the RFC boys across the way. They sent anything complicated back to an aircraft depôt.

Dalgliesh was not the only one who harboured thoughts of love. There was a lovely young maid named Marie-Paul, a farm girl from down the road a way. Every morning she brought a hand-cart of produce and milk to the wardroom and messes. My cabin-mate Simpson was besotted with her and insisted on walking her home whenever he was not on duty.

Galbraith reported ill. It may have been nerves, but he seemed to lose all ability to focus. He was sent away for a rest. Squadron Commander Bromet made a little speech about him that night in the wardroom, praising his aggressive fighting spirit and example. I shall miss Galbraith, as he was the only other Canadian I knew well in the squadron. There was another Canadian, Trapp, in A Flight, but he was a very quiet type.

On the 2nd we sent the tender into Boulogne to shop for the messes and I managed to get D’Albiac to assign me to lead the foraging party. The city was a marvel. In two years we had managed to turn this French seaside resort into a bit of England. The Union flag flew everywhere and nearly all the signage was in English. The docks were a thrill to see. Cranes swung horses from ships to dry land. Sergeants-major bellowed. Two Scottish pipe bands vied with each other. And tens of thousands of soldiers marched or paraded or loitered about. The haul of the day included twelve bottles of Scotch whiskey for the wardroom, three barrels of beer, a case of champagne, and a half case of gin. I bought a pound of Stilton and a bottle of port, and then wondered how I would ever manage to get some for myself once I unpacked it back at Vert Galant. My work party were energetic, as I promised their PO that they could have an hour to themselves, no questions asked, if we got everything bought and on the tender by two o’clock. When they returned their sly looks and sheepish grins betrayed their debased pastimes.

The rain continued through the 3rd. A replacement arrived and set up in our cabin – a Canadian too! His name is Luke Edmund, from somewhere in Alberta.

Plans are underway for a Christmas Revue. WO Brice, the stores officer, and Leading Mechanic Black were the impresarios in charge. The squadron commander reminded us that the wardroom was not to be undone by the lower decks, so an “all-girl†revue of Wood, Jenner-Parson, and Thom was put together. Such affairs are difficult balancing acts. One has to find material raunchy enough to suit the audience, yet tame enough not to embarrass the commander in front of his assembled, brass-hatted guests.

4 December 1916 dawned a beautiful clear day with scarcely a breeze and we put up many patrols. For some reason I was given only one job, a line patrol south of Arras to be led by Compston. We tooled about for more than two hours without seeing a single Hun. Strangely, Goble and Little escorted some Fees from 32 Squadron in nearly the same area an hour later and were in no fewer than four scraps! Little bagged a Halberstadt, although he got back late, only after we’d nearly given up hope.

Corbett, a friendly fellow I hadn’t yet got to know well, fell that afternoon – our second loss.

I found my nerves beginning to bother me. It was a combination of two things: I no longer trusted my little Nieuport to get me back if we ran into any half-decent Huns, and I knew I was up for leave on 12 December. I’d made up my mind to go to England, although I fancied getting out of London and seeing the countryside. Soar kept on about the countryside. I needed some time alone and I wanted to see bits of England without aerodromes and classrooms.

5 December 1916 – Asquith stepped down today. They say Lloyd George is in as PM. Can’t say it means much to me. They’re probably all as idiotic as ours back in Canada. Grange led a line patrol. West of Arras I spotted two Hun observation machines about two thousand feet above us. I pulled ahead and signalled, and then began to climb. After twenty minutes I gave up. The Nieuport just didn’t have the guts to catch them. But when I turned about the others were already gone. I patrolled the line alone for a half hour. It’s a strange feeling, being all alone. My neck ached from looking about. But I’m glad I did. Just as I was turning back west near Monchy I looked back and spotted a lone Roland two-seater diving on me. We tangled for nearly five minutes, and to my surprise the Hun two-seater handled better than my machine. He put about eight holes in the Nieuport and I spun out of the combat and headed home. When I landed, Air Mechanic Evans told me that I’d stretched the airframe badly and it would take at least two days to repair the thing.

On the 6th we attacked an observation balloon near Courcelles. I was first in and emptied my drum into it and let loose my rockets. The LePrieurs were impressive things. They fired electrically, one after the other, with an intense whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! You had to dive rather steeply at the balloon to have any chance of hitting the thing. And then you had to continue straight on to let the last rocket clear your machine before turning. Inevitably you missed the balloon by inches as you banked vertically and hauled back on the stick. So far, I have not got the knack of the things. Compston, however, hit the balloon.

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I have been gazetted for the Distinguished Service Cross! I will get the ribbon up and have my picture taken in uniform while on leave. I want to send it to my father.

I had a day off on the 7th. The Navy term is a “make and mend†– a chance to relax, sort out your kit, and pay visits to nearby squadrons. But the day was called for when the RO, John D’Albiac, told me I’d be “prisoner’s friend†for a summary trial. And I’d been specifically asked for by the prisoner!

Of course, the man under close arrest was Dalgliesh. The damned fool had head-butted a local farmer. I went to see him. He was detailed to clean the lower deck cabins and I brought him over to the squadron offices in the Bossu farm, where we found a place to speak in private.

“It’s no bluidy fair,†he protested. “The froggie had it comin’. He’s a bluidy theif, he is, see?†Amidst much swearing and nose-blowing, Dalgliesh told his sorry tale. It seems the object of his affection was one Marie-Paul Renard, the same milkmaid that Flight Sub-Lieutenant Simpson walked home.

“Yon Mister Simpson, he’s a right numpty, him. He thinks wee Mary’s fond of him, but she’s no. Wee Mary lives wi’ her auld mum, an’ her faither’s aff tae the war and disna write. He’s prob’ly deid, the auld sod. But Mary’s right fond o’ me, see. An’ I think she’s smashin’. I ken how t’ fix things on her fairm, and I’m good wi’ the coos and her wee duggit likes me. I help oot there when I can.â€

Dalgliesh, it seemed, was the squadron Casanova. I asked him about the assault.

“Wee Mary’s best coo got oot the gate on Wednesday. An’ the manky auld sod that runs the fairm across from her found it and kept it, see? Said it was his, but it’s no. It had all the same marks, an’ it had a pink patch under its belly, next to the udder, see? I ken that coo, ‘cause I’ve helped tae milk the thing a hunnert times. So I go to the fairmer, a big bawfaced lout, him. An’ I tell him tae gie wee Mary her coo. But he says something in French, see, something ye haven’t taught me yet, surr. An’ it was no nice, because he does this with his hand.†Dalgliesh made a Gallic gesture of contempt.

“And?â€

Dalgliesh puffed out his chest. “Well surr, I pit the heid tae him.â€

“You did what?â€

“I gave him a Glesga kiss. Whacked him wi' ma heid. Broke his nose, surr. An’ I took the coo back tae Mary an’ her mum.â€

“So you plan to plead guilty to assault, then?†I asked.

“No sir,†he said. “See, the squadron pays Mary at the start of the month for all the milk it needs. An’ the milk’s in the coo, see? So when that #%&*$# of a fairmer stole the coo, he stole the squadron milk. An’ I stopped the theft of squadron goods, surr. An’ Commander Bromet should be told that.â€
“And you want me to present your defence?†I asked.

“Aye surr. Yer a fine one wi’ the words, surr.â€

I stood in awe of this brilliant bit of argument. For a moment I imagined Dalgliesh in a powdered wig and black robe, clutching his lapels and addressing the court. But then he was convulsed with a smoker’s cough and hacked up something into a stained handkerchief and the image was lost.

The case was heard that afternoon. Dalgliesh told the story and I explained to Squadron Commander Bromet how this blacksmith’s helper risked life and limb to reclaim the squadron’s milk. He was given two days’ stoppage of grog and the duty officer, Booker, was dispatched to warn the farmer to leave Marie-Paul and her mother alone or risk the wrath of the Royal Navy.

On 10 December we flew an offensive patrol deep into Hunland and ran into three Albatri near Pronville. I got a crack at one, but it pulled away. The others in the patrol had Pups and carried the burden of the fight, which proved inconclusive. That afternoon, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Trapp crashed his Pup and killed himself. We were losing our Canadian contingent.

The next day we aborted a reconnaissance when the snow and low cloud threatened to blind us completely. We were lucky to get back to Vert Galant. We buried Trapp at Beauval that afternoon. I was detailed as a pallbearer.

And then came the day I had waited for so long. On the morning of the 12th I picked up my papers from the RO’s office and got a tender to Calais. I would embark on the destroyer HMS Laforey and be in Dover by one in the afternoon...






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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/17 02:14 AM

Fullofit, that's a great idea and I'll make that change for the next report.

I meant flying them.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/17 03:21 AM

A fine farewell to arms from Colin, Raine. I daresay we will miss those reports for a spell.
He and you enjoy your leave, and if by chance you have the time, try to get to Stow Maries. It is the only remaining WW1 airfield left. It is currently in the process of restoration and there will be a full re-enactment there this year.

Stow Maries airfield link
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/17 03:27 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

3 – 4 Dec 1916 Sopwith Strutter familiarization and flight trials

After a hearty breakfast at St. Omer in the NCO mess, I was taken on rounds of the airfield. I was impressed by the immensity of the facility. It is the main aircraft depot, assembly and repair area, and is massive. There are very large fuel and munitions storage on the base and an extremely large conglomerate of Squadron Hangars and Barracks for several squadrons Two separate intersecting runways for incoming defunct aircraft and outgoing replacements to the squadrons. There is also a separate adjoining runway for active squadron use. Attention must be paid on approach, that the proper runway is utilized. or one could easily come a cropper.

The rest of the morning entailed instructions and orientation on the Strutter and in the afternoon my instructor took me up for a spin. I was impressed with the handling and stability of this two seater craft and it seemed very nimble and stable in flight. On top of this she could handle 4, 25lb bombs. I only wished I had been in one when we had to deal with the Huns back at Auchel. When we came down he handed over the operation to me and told me to take her up for a spin, and practice takeoff and landing a few times. It was a rather thrilling afternoon. Upon completion of my practice session I commented that this craft was an outstanding performer and would make a good scout. The instructor laughed and said, “If you think the Strutter is top notch, wait until you step into the Pup lad. You will undoubtedly be trying one back in old Blighty at Farnborough. They are testing all sorts of new stuff there.â€

I had the rest of the early evening off and was invited to join some members of 35 Sqn for a jaunt into St. Omer. The lads indicated that the Café Vincent had a waitress called Jeanne who kept most of the mens hearts fluttering. She was described as having the comely look of an Angel and the eyes of a wanton woman. Descriptions of her other attributes followed and I was quick to jump into the Karrier lorry and head to town. The Café Vincent was the local watering hole for the airfield staff and any other squadrons within a reasonable distance. It was very busy every night.

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It was a rather rowdy evening and except for my recollections of the accuracy of the description of Jeanne, I can’t much recall anything else of the night. I know I was feeling rather under the weather the next morning.

Youtube Vid:





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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/17 03:28 AM

Robert,

I'm not sure if I can get to Stowe Maries since we'll be heading to Cornwall for much of the time. But my son lives about 15 minutes from Hendon and the RAF museum.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/17 06:48 AM

9 April 1917 and Cecil finally pays a visit to FA13 and his counterpart

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/10/17 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Fullofit, that's a great idea and I'll make that change for the next report.

I meant flying them.


Thanks Banjoman!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/17 02:02 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

5 Dec 1916 Sopwith Strutter B1 familiarization and flight trials

The morning was spent in course learning some basic combat manouvers and techniques.
In the afternoon I had the opportunity to take up the Strutter B1, a single seat scout. A darling of an aircraft. I at once fell in love with her. She had all the handling characteristics of her sister but without the added weight. I would be pleased to be in a scout squadron with her as my mount. I spent an hour putting her through the paces and applying some of the manouvers from the morning class. Regrettably, I had to bring her down. The boys were again, heading in to town for a night at the Café Vincent. I however thought better of it since I had to fly out to Calais and then Farnborough early next morning. I accepted the lift explaining my situation and told the boys I would be taking a leisurely dinner at the L’Hotel de Ville, which I had been told served some fine meals.

Arriving at the Hotel I was shown to a table and presented the menu. I chose the fois gras torchon as an appetizer, followed by Canard au romarin et à l'orange with Pommes de terre et épinards. A bottle of Châteauneuf Du Pape and for dessert Poires Belle Helene.
As I was leaving the hotel, I noted a dispatch rider stopping at the entrance. I asked of transportation back to base and he indicated that was his next stop and would I be interested in riding in the side car.
I indicated I was for it for sure. He said to hop in he would be right back and so I was back at base within an hour. I cleaned up and tucked in for the night.

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Youtube Vid:





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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/17 02:41 PM

Great reports and screenshots gents! Glad to see you are in a Pup Robert, I was getting worried after your last flight.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/17 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Great reports and screenshots gents! Glad to see you are in a Pup Robert, I was getting worried after your last flight.


Tnx MFair. Actually it is a Strutter B1 single seater, and Albert is on his way to Farnborough for pilot training. Hopefully he will get a Pup one day.
Posted By: AceMedic88

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/17 04:35 PM

Great reporting, everyone. Scanning the reports while drinking coffee has become a daily routine for me.

Everyday I tell myself "Tomorrow I'll join DiD" but then I see a shiny thing outside and I forget.

Great stuff, guys.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/13/17 11:04 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

6 Dec 1916 Transfer from St. Omer to Farnborough

I had a good sleep last night, having avoided the usual high jinks that take place at Café Vincent. It was damn cold as a result of not attending to the tent stove, and I could see my breath forming wispy trails as I exhailed. Climbing out of my bed I felt the cold hit me and plunging my feet into my flying boots was no relief. It felt like they had been stored in the deep freeze. I broke the ice on the water jug and quickly washed my face in the cold water. The experience so far, was an encouragement to make it over to the mess as soon as possible for some hot tea and warm food. This would likely be my last warm meal before arriving in Farnborough. I made a mental note to pack some food for the flight and fill my thermos with hot tea. Approaching the mess I could hear the jaunty laughter coming from within. Seems 41 Sqn was in fine spirits. I trudged in with my flying gear and made my way toward the stove, flinging my coat and pants over a couple of hangars and set them nicely above the stove to warm up. My boots, I set close the side of the stove and placed my hands just above the red hot surface. It felt heavenly. I stood there for a time, alternately warming my hands and then rubbing my face with them. I felt the heat penetrating to my legs and in no time I was ready to take a seat and have a nosh.

I had just finished breakfast when an orderly stepped in to inform me the Strutter was ready and waiting on the field. I hurried to dress, picked up my kit, haversack with my thermos of hot tea, biscuits and sausage sandwiches, and headed out to my kite.

The flight to St. Inglevert field west of Calais was an easy jaunt if not a cold one and once there. I took advantage of the moment to relieve myself and have a hot tea while the Strutter was being refueled to the max. There would be no stopping from here until I reached Farnborough.

I headed west just after takeoff and soon was over the coast. Cloud cover was from 3000 to 6000 ft with big fluffy cumulus. I was in and out of cloud cover and coming down to break free of it when I spotted Folkstone just ahead of me. My course was true. I picked up the road heading SSW which would lead me Aylesford, and hence Guildford, at which point a change of direction WNW would soon have me at Farnborough. The flight was rather uneventful if not exceedingly long.
Cloud cover had forced me down to 2000 ft so I enjoyed some of the scenery along the way and filled my boredom with my thermos of hot tea, sausage sandwich and biscuits. It helped to divert my mind from the bitter damp cold that was setting into my bones.

I has just tucked my haversack away behind my seat when I passed over Guildford. In minutes I spotted Farnborough in the distance. One could not mistake those airship hangars.

I circled the field and started my approach nice and easy. The Strutter touched down nicely and then I spotted a dog running across the field directly in front of me. Damned dangerous situation but fortunately the dog was well out of the way when I crossed it’s path. I made a mental note to comment on this but not to be too forceful. There was no way to know if the dog belonged to an officer and it would be my luck to get off on the wrong foot.

I cut the engine, unloaded my kit and headed to the Reporting Office. It felt great to stretch my legs.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/13/17 01:01 PM

Dudley Duckett
Vert Gallant

Dudley is finally in the war! On a DOP his flight encountered some Halbs over a Hun airfield. Diving in into the fray he latched on to the tail of one with an "F" on his fuselage and saw him go into a spiral and crash into a field northeast of the aerodrome. Upon his return he was congratulated with his victory and then raked over the coals for following an EA low over an enemy airfield.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/13/17 01:05 PM

Drago Duntz
My new German pilot scored his first victor over a Strutter on the same day. Attacked them over the lines near their airfield. One of B flight saw it all!

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/17 02:25 AM

MFair;

How do you find time to run two campaigns?? Amazing!
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/17 10:38 AM

Wahhhhh... not a good day for the Kaiser. (April 1917)

Two of us (FA13) with two DIII esorts asigned to bomb a dump some 10km over. Well not good news me thinks.
However, as we go over at 2200m the sky is clear and things look pretty good.
I can now see the dump. We line up and just before I release my bombs the rear gunner warms his MG up.
Crap!! looks like the whole RFC has moved in behind us to cut off our retreat. My Wingman is miles distant and, of course, our DIII's are making for the hills.

Nose down and pray we make it to the lines. I now have N17's, Se5's and Spads all getting in the way of each other trying to line me up!
My gunner is going mad with his gun and I'm trying to give him a shot while not slowing down. Now ground fire is being noticed....gota reach our side.
And low and behold, 200m, and our ground pounders are firing all they have at the EA.
I can't realy decide who is the worst threat..the enemy or our own small arms or the bloody Royal Artillery.

An Se5 try's his luck but the gunner wards him off. Then a N17 (Ball) hangs onto me and we are turning while being thrown around by 105mm shells.
A Spad appears out of no where and dives straight into the ground...must of been a newby. A second N17 takes a shot from my gunner and his dive also ends the same way.
The last N17 (Ball) I can't get any bead on him, and as by mutual concent we go our own ways.
My engine has been hit and I am forced to land by some ruins, where we take cover and wait.

I got the claim for the Se5

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/17 01:26 PM

Lederhosen, that was a white knuckle ride hoss! Glad you made it.

Robert, How do I find time? One, being somewhat retired helps tremendously. Two, having a very understanding wife is crucial!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/17 02:56 PM

Nice report Lederhosen. I enjoyed it emmensely!
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/17 03:06 PM

Jeez Lederhosen, might be time to buy a lottery ticket.
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/17 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Nice report Lederhosen. I enjoyed it emmensely!

+1
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/17 08:00 PM

Jara, when are you going to join us?
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/17 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Jara, when are you going to join us?

I am very sorry Banjoman, but I am not able to write such amazing stories (my English is very limited) and my stick time is almost zero, because I spend the most of my WOFF time by coding, modding and testing wink
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/17 08:50 PM

Sorry to hear that, especially since you aren't getting paid for all of your work. If you ever change your mind you know you are more than welcome.
Posted By: Macklroy

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/17 11:32 PM

Armande Arquette: My first entry into the DiD centenary event.

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Posted By: Macklroy

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 12:20 AM

April 10, 1917:
"I arrived today at the aerodrome at Souilly. I had been assigned to escadrille 23 and being in desperate need of replacement aircraft I was excited to be delivering my very own craft personally to the field. However, dreadful weather today made the cross country trip much less of a sightseeing tour as it was a dreadful calamity. I touched down just after 1400 hours and was given a brief tour of the field and her accommodations before I was instructed to take my newly delivered Nieuport 23 up again. The chap that would be assigned as my wingmate, Maurice Camplan, was an accomplished flier, with 4 victories already under his belt. He was also one of the higher ranking officers in the escadrille. Probably assigned to try and keep me alive long enough to be useful.

April 11, 1917
My first flight was a large circuit around the surrounding area, including a fly-over of the City of Verdun which sits just a stone's throw from our field. I was horrified at the sight. The city was half reduced to rubble, with hollowed out shells of buildings that once stood. A testament to the destructive power that had been unleashed on the continent for the past 3 years.

April 12, 1917
Maurice took me up again this morning for a patrol just our side of the lines. He pointed out the major landmark of the Meuse river. When we returned to the field Maurice walked up along side of my craft as I was shutting her down... "if you ever get yourself into trouble", he said to me, "be sure you put your craft down on OUR side of that river, if you don't....well, you probably won't be around for me to tell you a second time". With that, he turned sharply for the mess hall.

Tomorrow we go up again. Our patrol will take us a little further East and South to the city of St. Mehiel. I've been told that there is almost nothing left that even resembles a city there. The Hun are total in their destruction of the territory that they take."


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 02:12 AM

Macklroy, glad to have you join us. Just remember to update your status every Saturday, you can find the link to the Google form on the front page of this thread. By doing that, I can include you in my weekly status reports and everyone can follow your progress. Once again, glad to have you aboard.
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Sorry to hear that, especially since you aren't getting paid for all of your work. If you ever change your mind you know you are more than welcome.

I do not complain, Banjoman, not at all. I found I like coding/modding as much as flying. It is really addictive too.
Thx for invitation, Banjoman. I truly enjoy reading outstanding mission reports here and I am not going to spoil it with my "hodgepodge" smile
Posted By: AceMedic88

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 12:38 PM

Is there a way to join the campaign in a scout or is it mandatory to start two-seater? Sorry if it's a dumb question.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by AceMedic88
Is there a way to join the campaign in a scout or is it mandatory to start two-seater? Sorry if it's a dumb question.


Ace

According to the rules, you should start him in a two seater. You can transfer him to scout after a few missions. From two seaters there is not a lot of scout sqn you can choose from but once in a scout sqn you can tranfer again to the scout sqn of your choice. This is just one of the draw backs of available units in transfers. I

Best Regards
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 03:41 PM

AceMedic88, the rules don't specifically state that you have to start in a two-seater. When we started this campaign that was all that was available. I don't have a problem with you starting in a scout since one group is in 1917 and the other is almost there.
Posted By: AceMedic88

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 03:50 PM

Thanks Banjoman...I'll let you know when I'm ready to start
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 03:57 PM

I don't know if any of you are in the same boat as me but I've never been good at making up fictional names so I use this website to generate them randomly:

http://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/

It occurred to me that some of you may find it useful, all you need to do is go to the real names sub header and you can choose between different nationalities, it's a really great site and I use it a lot.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 04:31 PM

Journal Entry: 15 April, 1917
Auchel/Lozinghem

The absurdity of the brass hats never ceases to amaze me. Today, I received a urgent telephone call from wing informing me that as of this moment I was ordered to no longer fly combat patrols. Of course, I was shocked and asked for clarification of my orders. I was told that information would be forthcoming, but did I understand completely that under no circumstances was I to fly. I answered that I did and the line went dead. To clear my head, I took a stroll through the countryside. Springtime in France is amazingly beautiful and one can almost forget there is a war going on, except for the constant rumble of the distant guns. After about an hour and feeling refreshed, I returned to my office just in time to hear the telephone ringing. I quickly answered and this time it was Wing Commander Vaughan-Lee himself. He is never one to mince words so he got right to the point, "Ethelstan", he barked, "since you have just scored your 100th victory you are much too valuable for Britain to lose, so you will immediately pack your things and take command of the Advanced Pilot Training squadron at Eastchurch." He continued, "tell your second that he is now in command until further notice. Any questions?" Before I could answer the line was dead. Much too valuable, what rot, what rubbish! The fact that I have managed to survive somehow makes me more valuable than the sum total of all of the men I've lost. What an outrageous thought but if I have learned anything in the navy it is this, arguing with the brass hats accomplishes nothing, so I called my adjutant into my office informed him of the new situation, asked him to make my arrangements to Calais, and finally told him that when Askew returns from the morning patrol to send him to me right away. I can only imagine the horrors of trying to teach clumsy, heavy handed students the fine art of handling a machine in combat. Oh well, we shall see and it can not be any worse than actual combat.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 04:34 PM

Ace, that site is cool, but remember your first name of your first pilot has to start with an 'A', your second 'B', and so on as you progress through the war. That is how we keep track of how each person is doing.
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/17 04:49 PM

I'm not playing just posting here for others. I'm aware of the rule though, you can generate as many names as you like until you get one that starts with "A", it's free. smile
Posted By: Macklroy

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/17 06:56 AM

Armande Arquette:

April 13, 1917
Today our flight took a trip east of Verdun to patrol the front near St. Mehiel. Maurice Camplan, Phillipe Taxieres and myself made up the patrol. We were only just arriving when Maurice spotted 3 enemy scouts below us. Albatros DIIIs with their noses painted solid blue. He motioned for me to hold altitude and he and Phillipe dove into the attack. The skirmish was over in just a few brief moments, with the boche machines making a run for their lines. I dropped down and rejoined my wingmates and we made for home.

April 14, 1917
Today we were tasked with escorting a flight of 3 Sopwith strutters from RNAS 3 who were flying a recce patrol over the lines west of Verdun. Lucien Belocq was leading our flight of 4, Maurice, Phillipe and myself. We caught up with the British two seaters just west of our field and headed for the front lines. The weather was finally agreeable for flying but the Hun were not so agreeable. Very shortly into the patrol, Lucien signaled that the recce flight was in trouble. Sure enough, a pair of Albatros scouts were harassing our British comrades. Without hesitation, all three nieuports dove into the attack and in a blink the fight was on. I was a little slow in engaging and as I started my dive I noticed another group of German scouts joining the fight. I picked one out and followed him down. His craft had a distinct emblem painted on it's side. A black and white symbol swirling around itself. I put my nose down and gave him a long burst. He peeled off his attack and dove away.
By now the fight had spread itself all over the sky. Everywhere I looked there where planes buzzing around each other. I picked a group and headed toward them. It was a lone nieuport being pursued by three albatros DIIs. But before I could reach them to lend a hand I was buzzed by a Hun two seater...a roland! Where did HE come from. No time to wonder. I whipped my craft toward him and we passed nearly head on, both of our guns blazing away. Somehow we managed to miss each other but it was enough for him to decide to head for home.
I desperately scanned the sky for any sign of that lone nieuport. "Where has he GONE?" I was screaming, knowing no one was listening. Off to the south I spotted two lone aircraft, flying together and heading for our side of the lines. I pointed myself in their direction and caught up with them quickly. Two of the British strutters were making for home. With no sign of any other machine, friend or foe, I joined up with the two recce craft and made for home.
Upon arriving at the field, Phillipe Taxieres was waiting for me. "Thought you might have bought it." he said almost half surprised to see me. "Maurice got pretty banged up. His engine gave out just our side of the front lines. Made a pretty ugly mess of his nieuport, They took him to the aid station, besides a nasty scar he should be good to go in a couple days. Lucien wasn't so lucky. Picked up three enemy machines while trying to save one of those blasted British chaps. Saw him go down over no mans land. No mistaking it..."
Before I could even get a word out Phillipe looked back up and said, "but I hear you bagged your first Hun!" Congrats on the paperwork newbie! Before he left for the aid station, Maurice said he saw you put an albatros into the ground, said it had some fancy emblem painted on it. Don't spend too much time filling out your claim...we go back up in a few hours."

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/17 08:06 AM

Macklroy,

Great story and a solid start for Armand. Happy Easter, everyone.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/17 09:44 AM

Welcome to the campaign Macklroy. Nice write up! We seem to have another good writer in our crowd. Congratulations on your 1st victory.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/17 06:10 PM

Here is the latest status report for last week's action. Make sure you guys say hello to the new guys that have joined us, finally the status report is filling out. biggrin

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/17 09:49 PM

Fritz von Tarlenheim


April 16, 1917.

Posted to a Transportation Battalion for the trip back to camp from the hospital. I should have a nice rest rain is forecast.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/17 10:28 PM

Drago Duntz
Jasta 1
Vaviase Airfield, Marne
April 16, 1917

My mood is very low. It has become perfectly clear that most of the pilots in the Jasta cannot fly! Twice a day we are sent out to patrol and one or two never come back. On the 13th I bagged a Nieuport in the morning and another in the afternoon, both confirmed. I should be in high spirits but my last mission has put me in a dreadful funk. Having taken it upon myself to try and protect my squad members we took off today for balloon defense southeast of St. Mard. While circling at about 11,000' we were attacked by Spads. It was 4 against us 3. My last meeting with with the Spad, also my first, I gained a lot of respect for it. I was on defense the whole time. This time was no different. One latched on two me and the dance was on. Lower and lower we went. I finally got a telling burst on him and he started to leave a vapor trail. Got his fuel tank! I dove in for the kill and oil splattered on my windscreen. In all the excitement I had not enriched my mixture! I hit full rich and gave him a burst. Parts flew from his machine but he kept on flying. I cannot print the words that exploded from the cockpit as I turned north and watched my prey fly south.

I landed near an army base east of St. Mard in the rain. Returning to my field I learned both of my flight had been killed. We are at half strength now.

Dudley Duckett
RNAS8
Vert Galland
Dec. 19th, 1916
Most of our missions have been quiet lately. Yesterday we escorted a BE to bomb Riencourt. As soon as the eggs were dropped our flight leader dove on a lone DII and I followed. Pulling in behind it and giving it a long telling burst it rolled over and crashed. Climbing up i spotted my wingman and as we were forming up we were attacked by DII's. I got behind one and he went down but i did not follow. Alone, I headed for home. No one from my flight returned. We learned 2 had landed with shot up planes but were ok. My wingman, Kincaid, made it to a friendly field but was in a bad way. He died that night. I put my claim in anyway.
Today was a balloon busting mission. All went well and returned to hardy congratulations from the CO. I also learned that Kincaid had confirmed my Albatros before he died. I should feel good but it was a bitter sweet victory.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/17/17 06:19 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

7 Dec 1916 Training at Farnboroough

Today after being called into the office, I was informed that since I had a background and practical experience with vickers and Lewis guns, had already completed the observers course previously and had some practical flying experience, I was informed that I would be participating in the Advanced Pilot Training course. “Just what exactly is that Sir?†I asked. “Things have changed considerably since you were last here Godfrey. In essence we have discovered that the previous training was somewhat inadequate in many areas. I shant cover them all, but basically here is the gist of the more important factors.

New to the curriculum are three hours of practical and three hours of in-class training dedicated to bombs and bombing techniques.

The in-flight minimum requirements are twenty hours of solo time, composed of two solo landings, one cross-country flight of at least sixty miles,
and the ability to climb to 8,000 feet, descend, land, and then bring the aircraft to a stop in a circle fifty yards in diameter. I doubt this will be a problem for you and your instructor will evaluate just how extensive this training needs to be.

Similarly, all those flying Sopwith Pup and Vickers aircraft (classified as scouts) require twenty eight hours in their aircraft of choice. This is because it is thought that pilots require additional time in these aircraft before heading overseas because of their powerful engines, their increased manoeuvrability, and the dangers associated with scout flying versus observation. One practical feature is that one must learn to use his craft as a weapon and the fixed machine guns require you to learn how to point your craft to shoot effectively. So, on that note you can get yourself over the the Advanced Pilot Training course and begin. You are dismissedâ€.

I snapped to attention, saluted, and left the office. I was already calculating in my mind, 48 hours practical training, possibly 8 days there, plus the other training material possibly another 8 days. Barring any inclement weather cancelling the flights I figured I could be back in France in 16 to 20 days, or so I hoped.

I sauntered over to the Advance Pilot Training hut and introduced myself to one of the instructors, asking specifically if there was any manuals for the basic training. I wanted to brush up on what might have changed since I went through the course. He handed me a revised course manual which I took to my billet to peruse. I noted the following changes:

It was after basic flight training that a pilot.s regimen in 1916 began to differ from the instruction of earlier years. After being certified in basic aerial operations, a potential pilot was now sent to the advanced flying schools, also called gunnery schools. These advanced schools were established in 1916 to accommodate the expansion of the RFC and the changing nature of the war in the air. Recon Photo sim., Gun Camera for machine gun practice in shooting enemy., Stunt flying (turns, loops, dives…)

The first requirement was that a pilot pass a series of written exams, as in earlier years. These written exams included six papers on the following subjects: the rotary engine, the stationary engine and signalling, rigging, theory of flight, and instruments, crosscountry-flying, meteorology, astronomy, artillery direction, bombs, and photography.

I noted there was no mention of combat training or defensive/offensive manouvers. Something that the pilots back at RFC-25 were always discussing and sharing their hard gained knowledge. I suspected that the front line experience was not making it back into the training program.

I put down the manual and decided to have a nap before lunch and the beginning of my first class in the afternoon.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/17/17 07:30 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

18 Dec 1916 Training at Farnboroough

It has been a rather Hectic eleven days. I thought I had it made when the instructor was satisfied to have me do a single takeoff, circle the field and land, upon which he stated “that’s fine Godfrey, We can dispense with any further solo and orientation work. The fact that you made it here by air from St. Omer, gives me confidence in your standard flight and orientation skills, but since you have armourer skill with Vickers and Lewis guns, you will be able to provide very useful tutorage in the basic training course. You can volunteer your time there until the next phase of this course which will be familiarization with the Scout planes.â€. So from the 10th to the 18th my time was split between giving and receiving training.
I learned much about the Sopwith Pup which I grew to love for it’s characteristics, and I spent many hours in the craft learning all it’s handling idiosynchracies, of which there were few. We all practiced gunnery and dropping practice bombs onto a ground target circle. I much preferred the guns to the bombs. Accuracy with bombs was proving somewhat challenging and I couldn’t see that 4 twenty five pound bombs would do much damage. Nevertheless, I was determined to pass all the tests and worked hard on my weaknesses of sighting on the target and judging the distance before bomb release. Visual acuity and allignment was difficult when the target disappeared under the fuselage.
I was however having more success with the bombs than most of the men.

While exploring the base one day, I spotted what I deemed to be a new scout plane being tested. It had a stationary engine and a rather squarish snout on it. It was not a particularly pretty profile by my judgement. It was the latest product of the Royal Aircraft Factory and Major F. W. Goodden was assigned as the test pilot. I was not able to get close to the scout as it was under extreme security.

I closed my personal logbook, shut out the light and turned in for the night.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/17/17 07:42 PM

MFair / Macilroy;

Thanks for your reports! Very enjoyable reading!

I suspect the Albatros pilot was Heinrich Kroll of Jasta 9. He has an emblem that seems to match your description.
Posted By: Macklroy

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/17/17 11:02 PM

Thanks RW. I never think to toggle the labels on briefly to identify my attacker / target. I may do so in the future.
Posted By: Macklroy

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/17/17 11:31 PM

Armande Arquette

April 15, 1917
Phillipe is dead. It happened so quickly. One minute we were in formation, dropping in to put some lead into a boche aredrome, the next minute he was slumped over in his seat before smashing his nieuport into a german hangar. I can't be sure, but I think it was a good few minutes before I even acknowledged what had just happened. I have been with the escadrille less than a week and already two of the men who had once greeted me so warmly and took me in as one of their own are gone...and it happens so quickly...

April 16, 1917
We were tasked with escorting another group of British two seaters over the lines today. With the loss of Lucien, Phillipe and with Maurice still on leave due to his injuries, I was instructed to lead B flight today. "Stick close to "A" flight and you will do just fine." I was told just before climbing into my nieuport. The problem was, it was so blasted cloudy today. High, towering cumulous clouds, as far as the eye could see. For a brief moment I spotted our charge, a flight of 3 strutters. But then I lost them in a cloud bank. When I turned to see what A flight would do, I was horrified to realize that I had lost them too! Tristian and Claude were sticking tightly to me. Any tighter and I felt like we would risk colliding. I signaled that I had lost visual on the strutter craft and decided that I would fly a patrol of the designated route in hopes that I could spot them again amongst the clouds.
SUCCESS! I spotted a group of three craft, in tight formation, heading along the planed scouting patrol route. I signaled to my wingmates and made due haste to link up. Then...three more craft appeared out of the cloud bank just behind the original three aircraft. "A" flight was only a pair of nieuports...this can't be them...I froze...and realized that these aircraft were not heading towards the German lines, but FROM the German lines. Albatros! To my guilty relief there were not six, but three, and they were harassing a group of strutters! I imagined the two seater pilots screaming "Where is our bloody escort?" To which I replied "On our way boys!" I signaled the attack and dove in to the melee. Blue noses! The same group that Maurice had tangled with just days prior.
With the fresh memory of Maurice bloodied and the loss of two of my comrades I pressed my attack with unrelenting tenacity. My first pass scored hits and one of the Albatros scouts broke away and dove North for his side of the lines. A second scout passed directly in front of me following a strutter whose engine was belching black smoke. I lined up directly behind my prey and emptied my machine gun. The Hun bucked and kicked, rolled over and burst into flames as he plummeted to the ground below.
Totally alone in the sky now, I made my heading due south and set down at Souilly. Tristian and Claude were already at the field waiting for me. They had returned with the other two british two seaters. I got word from one of their observers that the strutter I spotted with the smoking engine had made a successful landing near one of the reserve camps and was telling the tale of the flight of 3 nieports who materialized out of thin air to fight off the Hun. Hopefully he can also corroborate my second victory as well!

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/17 01:00 PM

Nice stories Robert and Macleroy. I appreciate your time with the stats Banjoman, great Job!

Just a pic from Drago's last mission. He thought he saw a spec low over one of our airfields but could not see it again. He saw two more and they disappeared. It dawned on him it was Archie! Down he went and got behind a Tripe with a good burst. Barrel roll and behind it again and it was over in seconds.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/17 01:05 PM

Thanks for the compliment MFair. Re the bout with the tripe. Good thing you didn't get into a turn fight with it!!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/17 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Thanks for the compliment MFair. Re the bout with the tripe. Good thing you didn't get into a turn fight with it!!


At this point in the war the DII is getting a little long in the tooth already. Pups, Tripes, and Spads can fly circles around me. Or maybe I don't know how to fight with an Albatros but Drago is holding his own at the moment. I came down like a rocket on the Tripe and had all intentions of high tailing it out of there but got a good burst on him and crippled it. The second pass was a piece of cake. Just glad he didn't have some mates around.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/17 02:44 PM

Ahren is still enjoying the D.II. I personally like the D.II over the D.III.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/17 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Thanks for the compliment MFair. Re the bout with the tripe. Good thing you didn't get into a turn fight with it!!


At this point in the war the DII is getting a little long in the tooth already. Pups, Tripes, and Spads can fly circles around me. Or maybe I don't know how to fight with an Albatros but Drago is holding his own at the moment. I came down like a rocket on the Tripe and had all intentions of high tailing it out of there but got a good burst on him and crippled it. The second pass was a piece of cake. Just glad he didn't have some mates around.


Yeah, that's the trick of it! Use the DII as an energy fighter. Dive, hit, and climb away. Of course the SPAD plays the same game but with the SPAD you have a turning advantage in your bag of tricks.

Best Regards;
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/17 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Thanks for the compliment MFair. Re the bout with the tripe. Good thing you didn't get into a turn fight with it!!


At this point in the war the DII is getting a little long in the tooth already. Pups, Tripes, and Spads can fly circles around me. Or maybe I don't know how to fight with an Albatros but Drago is holding his own at the moment. I came down like a rocket on the Tripe and had all intentions of high tailing it out of there but got a good burst on him and crippled it. The second pass was a piece of cake. Just glad he didn't have some mates around.


Agreed, they're a death sentence after 1917 if you ask me and subsequent variants offer nothing terms of improved performance either.

I grew to loathe the Albatros while flying it, it's slow, sluggish, heavy and insolent at the worst possible times during turns. So far as I can tell the only difference between a D.II and a D.III or D.V is the added weight from the extra paint it takes to add a "I" or a "V" to the airframe. Switching to the Pup afterward almost felt unfair, it was like turning on God Mode. The only good thing I could say about the Albatros in general (and this goes for the ones in Rise of Flight too) is that its' utter mediocrity makes it just barely good enough to keep you alive if you know what you're doing in it.

Unfortunately Ze Germans don't have many options in 1917. You can always try your luck in a two seater until the Fokker D.VII arrives I guess. smile
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/17 04:40 PM

Or fly the Pfalz D.III. In WOFF, it's better in every way than the Albs, which for some reason become progressively worse with each new variant.

I haven't had time to fly, but I've been following the reports here, so keep it up gents!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/17 06:37 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

19 Dec 1916 Training at Farnborough


I awoke today to heavy rains. So far this month we had rather unsettled weather for the first week. Very cold with mostly overcast skies and some snow on the second week but after the 17th, it became milder again and quite wet.

The coke stove was blazing hot thanks to my roomie and I quickly washed, shaved and dressed to join the men in the mess for breakfast.

Flight time today was cancelled so I spent most of the day in classroom training, as an intructor’s assistant, demonstrating the dismantling and reassembly of the Vickers and Lewis guns, with particular attention paid to the loading and unjamming of the breach.

After evening mess, I went back to my billet to go over my notes, paying particular attention to my personal observations of my performance on the practice bombing field. Tommorow, if the weather holds out, I will have my final run in bombing practice, after which I will be assigned a Nieuport scout to practice combat tactics in. We have been studying the operational aspects of the Nieuport 17 for some days now. I am anxiously looking forward to it. The light was fading quickly, so I put my notes away and prepared for turning in early.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/17 09:44 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
FA 250
Menen, AF

April 18 1917.


The weather people were right this time Rain.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/17 10:53 PM

Busy start of the week. Just had a little time to catch up on the stories. Excellent reports everyone. Keep them coming.
Newly promoted Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold has recently transferred to 1 RNAS stationed at Furnes. He is now learning to handle the Tripe.

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Capitaine Dominique Urbain in Marne region is getting used to the SPAD's handling, or more precisely lack thereof.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/17 11:29 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

20 Dec 1916 Training at Farnborough


Today I had my last bombing run test. I aced it, although I very nearly voided my effort, when landing back at Farnborough, I came in a little too right on the runway and narrowly missed a parked Fee as I passed by. A little luck or an angel on my shoulder, and I was fortunate that it went unnoticed.

I parked the single seat strutter and headed over to the hangars to pick up a Nieuport 17 for my first training flight in a proper scout. Today begins my combat training and if all goes well, I will earn my pilots wings.

I hear they are likely sending us to 60 Sqn to fly N17’s. Seems they are forming up the squadron to full strength. That’s good to hear as I will lkely soon be back in France if I do well here.


Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/17 10:10 PM

I like the way you are going through the training Robert. Sure glad Albert missed that Fee! Would be an inglorious end to such a promising career.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/17 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
I like the way you are going through the training Robert. Sure glad Albert missed that Fee! Would be an inglorious end to such a promising career.


Yes, well....There was a pounding in my heart and a lump in my throat and I think I stopped breathing for a moment! jawdrop


Fullofit; Those are some great screenie's you made Sir!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/17 10:43 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

21 Dec 1916 Training at Farnborough on N17 lewis flight tests


Today I took an N17 lewis up for my first spin. It was exhilarating to finally be in a scout. First order of the day was a couple of gunnery practice runs on an old abandoned farm which I used in bombing practice yesterday. The nimble scout was no problem to aim at the target and I felt I had done well.

The next step was to perform some rate of climb tests, stall speed tests, turning and diving tests. All went well considering the stress creaking I encountered in tight turns and pulling out of a dive. I suspected I would have to watch the G-forces as being the culprit causing the creaking. I had heard of the N17 shedding it’s wings in a steep dive and in over G’s pulling out. I was very conscious to listen to her complaints and ease off when I heard them. I landed back at base safely and headed back to training.

I had heard that select pilots might get a chance to take up the new RAF development, The Sopwith Pup. That was all the encouragement I needed. Indeed, I wanted to be one of the select few.

I flew the N17 twice more today with much success, doing barrel rolls,
split –S’s, loops and dead stick landings. Everything went beautifully.



Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/20/17 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Fullofit; Those are some great screenie's you made Sir!

Thank you Robert, I do enjoy your videos. Always catch myself trying to change the point of view by moving my head and realizing too late that it is only a video. duh

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/20/17 12:36 AM

Fritz von Tralenheim
FA 250
Menen, AF


April 19, 1917


Posted to a recon flight all is well.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/20/17 01:05 AM

Fullofit;

Ha Ha! yeah I know what you mean.

That last pic of your, the SPAD is damn close to the Alb but it looks like you haven't shot it up yet. Is that correct?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/20/17 10:30 AM

Robert, it was a bad case of too much speed, no brakes, bad aim and the Hun evading all rolled into one. You're right, no damage this time around.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/20/17 03:08 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
FA 250
Menen, AF


April 20, 1917.


Bombardment of the lines. Spotted e/a in flights, but we were able to avoid and slipped on by them. I put in for a transfer to a Jasta

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/20/17 10:23 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

22 Dec 1916 Training at Farnborough on N17


I stepped out of my quarters this morning to a bright clear day. The air was crisp and fresh on my senses. A slight chill ran through my bones and I decided the best way to deal with it was to Jog towards the mess taking a circuitous route around the field. I spotted one of the new Pups being run up for what obviously was another test run. I paused just before entering the mess and turned to watch it takeoff. Several other trainees were standing by doing the same. One of them known as Red, spoke up “I wonder how she handles. They always seem to take her well out of our site for their testing.†I responded “I suspect we will all find out soon enough. If she is any good, we will see plenty of her over in France.†We all turned to head into the mess and Red piped up to say “I suspect some of us will find out sooner than that. It seems the three of us with the highest marks have been told we might take her for a test flight if all goes wellâ€. I responded saying “I hope you are correct on that one. You know how it is for the rank and file, promises, promises.â€
One fellow named Will jumped in to say “You are too much of a realist for my liking Art. I daresay hope is what pushes us all to the limits. I do much better when the candy is dangling in front of my nose.†Red responded with “Yes, Will, I saw some of that candy in the Pub last week.†We all broke into laughter and entered the mess.

Following breakfast, it was the standard routing, course training, flight testing, more course training, more flight testing and so it went on for the day.

The highlight of the day for me was that I did manage to acquire a couple of jars of Cooper’s Marmalade from one of the supply truck drivers who recently had made a trip to London. I planned to take those with me when I went back to France. A close friend of mine George, had introduced me to it and I must say it was a bloody good Marmy! It’s something not to be missed. Nice coarse cut rind and a sweet tangy orange/lemon taste. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/20/17 11:42 PM

I continue to enjoy reading your stories, Robert. Keep up the good work! And good luck to your man Godfrey, he's about to be in the real thick of it. Fun time at Farnborough is over!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/20/17 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
I continue to enjoy reading your stories, Robert. Keep up the good work! And good luck to your man Godfrey, he's about to be in the real thick of it. Fun time at Farnborough is over!


Not just yet! Godfrey has one more thing to do before departing!
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/21/17 12:00 AM

I think Godfrey is about to come down with a bad case of either Puppy love or Pup envy!

(I'll see myself​ out). exitstageleft
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/21/17 05:21 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
FA 250
Menen, AF


April 21, 1917.


My motor quit while over the lines and had to put her down in a field. A/C is a write off and will take a few to get back to the aerodrome. In short we will be with the Arty people till getting a ride back.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/17 12:18 AM

Journal Entry: 21 December, 1916
Pronville

Today we finally were able to fly. We have been snowed in for the last 5 days and tempers were getting short. The break in the weather could not have come at a better time. The frogs have been harassing our railroad networks and stations, so this morning I led the dawn patrol over to fly a defensive patrol over a station that has recently been getting a lot of attention. As luck would have it, the Tommies and Frogs either were still snowed in or had decided to sleep the day away because we saw nothing. The morning was beautiful but it was bitterly cold at 4000 metres, sometimes it takes over 30 minutes for the feeling to return to my feet.

Something I shared with the men after the noon meal, was the news that since September we have downed 86 enemy machines for losing only 10 of ours. I further shared with the men that Leutnant General von Hoeppner was most pleased and wanted me to express his gratitude and praise for their wonderful work. I also praised and congratulated the men and expressed my pride and admiration for their devotion to their duty. I had one final bit of news that I knew would please the men immensely, and that was to tell them that officially we are now known as Jasta 'Boelke'. I think some of the men were surprised that I was as pleased as they were at the name change. I have nothing but admiration for Boelke, and the fact that I am commanding his old Jasta gives me nothing but pride. I imagine if he could see what we have accomplished since his leaving us, he would be as proud as I am.

It was so beautiful this morning that I am including a few photographs.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/17 12:59 AM

Nice report and shots Banjoman!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/17 01:08 AM

Oooooo, pretty!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/17 01:16 AM

Thanks guys. There is one thing that sort of bothers me about WOFF. Have you guys noticed that it can snow for days and then when it stops there isn't any snow on the ground? That kind of bothers me.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/17 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Thanks guys. There is one thing that sort of bothers me about WOFF. Have you guys noticed that it can snow for days and then when it stops there isn't any snow on the ground? That kind of bothers me.

Banjoman, I'm actually experiencing excellent weather representation since the new update with the historical weather revisions. It snows and there is some patches of snow on the ground, more bad weather and there is even more snow until there is full cover.

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Before that I was getting exactly what you're describing. One winter I had snow for a week maybe and then spring arrived. This time around I feel the winter will stay around for a while.


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/17 03:49 AM

Thnks for the info., I'll keep an eye out to see if I notice the lingering snow. I am running the latest version of WOFF so I should see what you are describing.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/17 04:58 AM

As the person responsible for the Historical Weather mod, I think that I may be able to answer your question. Yes, you should see more realistic depictions of snow buildup during the winter months after the 4.15 patch. In fact, that was one of the reasons I started working on the mod in the first place.

During the fall months, however, the CFS3 engine is limited in how much snow you can see on the ground. So, even after several days of heavy snow, all you will see is a dusting of light snow. For example, compare the snow on the ground on 31 December 1916 with 1 January 1917 and you will see what I mean.
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/17 05:18 AM

I recently had the chance to see the snow clearing in the period from March 1916 to April 1916, the appearance of the map matched up beautifully with the changing weather. First the snow stopped and, presumably the temperature increased, making the snow thin on the ground and then the rain began and the snow withdrew to small piles underneath trees and on fencelines. It was all very convincing, great work!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/17 08:50 PM

BuckeyeBob, that's good to know. It's toward the end of December but I think in game terms that's still the fall so I shouldn't see much snow.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/17 09:54 PM

Yup, only light snow on the ground in November and December.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/23/17 04:15 AM

Fritz von Tralenheim
FA 250
Menen, AF



April 23, 1917.

Up on a Arty Spot today.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/23/17 10:53 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

23 Dec 1916 Training at Farnborough on N17


Today we practiced formation flying. That is to say it was the instructors intention. What we actually did was described by the instructor as an expletive!!

By the end of the day we were actually getting the hang of it. We were told we would be “doing the same tomorrow until we get it right!!â€

Red, Will and I were commended for our performance by the instructor but the fact is I owed my performance to having acquired a better understanding of the process from my experiences in France. Many of the trainees had never seen action. The pilot of my Fee, had made a point of giving me personal lessons when time permitted and had taken me under his wing. He felt that having a gunner who could fly might come in handy if he ever suffered an injury and was forced down.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/23/17 08:34 PM

Here is the status report for last week's action.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/23/17 11:43 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

24 Dec 1916 Training at Farnborough on N17


Today at class, the instructor singled out Myself, Red and Will as the three best in class in formation flying so He asked the three of us to take up three N17’s and form a vic circling the field three times staying in formation. He stated he would remain on the field with the rest of the class to dialogue with them on what he observed.

We broke for lunch before starting the formation demonstration.
This was the best news I had had for a few days. In my estimation, if I didn’t screw this up, all three of us just might be the select few to have a chance to fly the Pup. I could only hope. I spoke with Will and Red on the way to the mess, explaining my views and they both agreed that we would keep our senses alert for this flight. We dialogued and planned our takeoff, where and how we would form up, the cruising speed we would maintain during the circuit and our positions in the flight. I being a little more skilled than Red and Will, we decided should be flight leader to keep the circuit rather large to lessen the throttle compensation required to maintain formation. This would make it easier for Red and Will, off my wings, to maintain correct distance. Red was to take up the inside of the circle where control was more difficult and Will on the outside. We went over the plan several times during lunch. As we arrived back at the classroom, the instructor told us to suit up and head over to the hangars to get our mounts, while he assembled the rest of the trainees on the field to observe.

Our engines running, Will gave the circle signal and began his takeoff, I was next and then Red. I flew onlead and Red was on my right, with will on the left, as we formed up at the end of the field. We did the required three circuits maintaining good formation. I kept the circuit rather large as planned and Will had no difficult maintaining position. Red had the more difficult part having to throttle down without stall or height loss. The wide circle made it easier for him. It wasn’t perfect by any means but in my opinion quite adequate given our flying hours.

Upon landing the trainees and instructor approached us. I heard the instructor stating to the trainees. “That is what I mean by formation flying. Well done lads, although there is room for improvement. There always is in this game, so don’t get swelled heads. Nevertheless, a very solid performance. Well Done!â€

Up until he spoke I was feeling beads of perspiration forming on my forehead from the stress of waiting for the instructors response. I now felt considerable relief and my temperament fell back to normal.

The instructor called us all into the classroom and stated that tomorrow morning our ratings would be listed on the board. Those who passed would be receiving their wings. The top three in the class would be given a twenty minutes of flying in a circuit around the field in the new Pup.

The class was dismissed and I headed back to my quarters to assemble all my gear. Either way, I would be going back to France on the 25th, with or without my wings. I knew I surely would not get much sleep and thought of what my mates back in France would say if they knew I would be flying a new scout before it even made it’s debut in France.


Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/17 02:53 PM

Robert, great story. Looking forward to seeing your pilot at the front! Banjoman, Thanks for the chart Bud!, those were some beautiful screenshots. Fullofit, I do believe you get the screenshot award. Absolutely gorgeous! Carrick, glad to see you back in the skies.

Drago Duntz
April 22, 1917

Drago's frustration with his squadron almost cost him his life today. Last night he learned his Tripe was not confirmed even though he shot it down within sight of our airfield. Each day they go on patrol and one or two pilots do not come back. Moral is low and Drago's mood is not good.

Flying in a flight of two on balloon defense near the lines we were attacked by Nieuports. Drago sent one packing and looking for his flight leader and saw him being chased by the other Nieuport at low altitude. He dove like a demon and soon got on his tail. His flight leader's plane was smoking. Firing a short burst and pulling up before colliding Drago crippled the Nieuport. The EA started climbing out to head home but Drago was back on his tail. With my prop almost touching his rudder I hit the trigger and......nothing. Gun jam. I beat on gun till I was blue in the face with my nose just yards from his rudder. I finally cleared the jam but with him climbing better than me, I had lost my opportunity. I pitched down a bit to gain some air speed and coming up below him misjudged my attack and had a mild collision him. I brought my crippled plane down in a field while I watched my victim head over the lines. 2 days rest in the hospital with a bad headache! To add insult to injury, my flight leader was killed trying to land his crippled machine.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/25/17 12:45 AM

MFair, thank you for the compliment. What did I win?

You shouldn't complain too much if there is enough pilots and planes for the next mission. I remember one of the Jastas had very limited number of planes and pilots and if something happened to one or the other, I had to skip days until replacements arrived. WOFF was telling me there were insufficient numbers to fly the mission.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/25/17 01:08 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
MFair, thank you for the compliment. What did I win?

You shouldn't complain too much if there is enough pilots and planes for the next mission. I remember one of the Jastas had very limited number of planes and pilots and if something happened to one or the other, I had to skip days until replacements arrived. WOFF was telling me there were insufficient numbers to fly the mission.


Yep, been in that situation before. I have been surprised Jasta 1 has not been in that situation. If I get to 5 kills Drago might transfer to a Jasta with decent pilots. I must say it is a bit of a challenge, and a good one, flying with a squadron that when you see a mate go down, he ain't coming back!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/25/17 02:59 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

25 Dec 1916 Departure from Farnborough to Savy


I awoke early as usual, freshened up and headed over to the mess for breakfast.
I had tossed and turned most of the night, finally falling asleep at 2am.
I felt surprisingly refreshed for only 5 hours sleep but that was probably due to my excitement to find the results of my efforts here. The Hot tea and warm biscuits with sausage helped to drive the cold dampness out of my body, and I was soon feeling rather chipper. I could feel the tension in the air as the men rushed down their food, anxious to get over to the training room to see the postings. I was akin to that mood myself.

Feeling rather sated, I pushed back my chair, and made an exit in the direction of the classroom. You would think there had just been an air raid drill as all the trainees were quickly on my heels. We all arrived at the door jostling for access to enter. There on the far wall was the course results and the postings. I spotted my name on the list stating “passed†and posting to 60 Sqn at Savy. My pulse ran high as I read it again. I mumbled “60 Sqnâ€, and Red responded “lucky sod. That’s a good unit. I’m assigned to 54 Sqn.â€

The instructor bellowed “Ok lad, that’s enough, take your seatsâ€.
For those of you who have passed your course, you will have the rest of the morning to get your things together and prepare for movement to your new
Squadrons. Those that didn’t, better luck next time!

Now, it seems that three of you will get your chance to try out the new scout from Sopwith, following a personal introduction to it by Harry Hawker, himself.
The following three men are to follow me over to the test site and the rest of you are dismissed. Godfrey, Red and Will follow me.â€

I looked at Red and Will who both looked like the cat that swallowed the canary.
“This is the icing, mates†I said and they both chuckled with excitement.
“Considere it as our Christmas present!†I said. Red and Will gave the thumbs up back at me.

We were introduced to Hawker and he proceeded to explain the nature of the new scout to us. He then told us “Take it very easy and not exercise any extreme manouvers. This craft and quite a few more have been allocated for delivery to 54 Sqn and I don’t think they would appreciate any heavy handedness by freshly qualified pilots.†I looked at Red and said “who’s the lucky sod now?†Hawker said “You might wonder why we are extending you this opportunity given that you are green. Suffice to say we need to confirm that fresh pilots can easily adapt to this new scout. All my personal experience dictates that this is no problem but your flights here will document the fact. So let’s dispense with formalities lads and get down to it. Albert you are up first. Red, second, and you last Will.â€

The new scout was a dream to handle, a real turn fighter, with great visibility with a transparent section in the upper wing as well as a synchronized Vickers on the cowl. She was well instrumented and had an altimeter to boot. It was difficult to accept that I would now be going to a squadron outfitted with Nieuport 16’s and 17’s. Being the new man in 60 Sqn, I suspected I would be relegated to the older N16 unless they had finally replaced them all. Such is life, beggars can’t be choosers. All three of us finished our flights with no damage to the scout and I could see the flat look, turn into a smile on Hawker’s face.

All of us new pilots were called out and placed into various groups for departure to the front. I was assigned to a transport taking me to Dover, Where I was to pickup an N17 at 50 Sqn’s base, to be shuttled to 60 Sqn. The hop across the channel would be short, and from Calais I would make my way to St. Omer again. I would refuel there and then fly on to Savy, my new home, hopefully in time for Christmas dinner.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/25/17 07:22 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
FA 250
Menen, AF


April 25, 1917.



Flew my last Arty Spot mission. Upon landing, I got orders to report to Jasta 8 as a Scout Pilot.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/25/17 09:25 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

26 Dec 1916 Patrol to Senlis le Sec airfield


I awoke this morning somewhat fuzzy in the head. The boys here out done themselves with a Christmas bash. Someone had acquired some local Geese, apples, potatoes, celeriac, Salsify (a local root vegetable), and some local wine and some beer.
I was more than glad I had arrived at the field in time to partake of the festive season fair.

Flight Lieutenant Greaves introduced me around the mess. I was surprised that there were only 2 Lieutenants comprising A and B flights. The rest of the men were Sgt’s like myself, albeit many with far more scout experience than I had. Flt. Lieut. Cole piped up and asked “So what juicy news have you brought with you from old Blighty, Albert?â€. I hear you were stationed at Farnborough and that is a field where all sorts of new things are being developed.â€
I smiled, and said, “I suppose you are correct Lieut. Cole, but anything being developed within the RAF structures was totally off limits to us trainees.â€
I can say, that I did see a new scout outside their hangars that looked rather interesting.†Cole’s eyes raised. “and, and, don’t hold back now. Enquiring minds want to know!†I replied, well, I am very parched at the moment Sir and this talking is greatly irritating my throat. “Damn†he said, “Give the lad a pint so as to free is tongue some.†I thanked him and then having taken a few gulps, pausing for effect, I stated “well, I wouldn’t want to be shot at dawn for revealing classified information Sirâ€. He looked at me with a frown and stated. “You may very well be shot at dawn, either way! We have a patrol over the lines tomorrow!†I was just swallowing a large mouthful of beer at the time and nearly sprayed it all over the bar when he said that. A hearty laugh rang out among the men at this exchange. Regaining my composure, I stated, “well, she is a fine looking little pup, she is. From what I could see, she climbs exceedingly well and has a turning radius like a dog chasing it’s tail. She looks to have great cockpit visibility based on what I could see.†Cole, put his clenched fist up to his chin, rested his chin on his thumb with his forefinger up along side of his nose and in a curious questioning tone stated. “Is there more?â€. I stated that there were rumours that 54 Sqn would be getting a batch of them soon. Draining the last dregs from my glass I stated, that I did have some additional first hand knowledge but I felt that I would have to whet my wistle to continue. Cole was now catching on to my routine. “You Sir, are obviously quite skilled in more ways than one Albert.†I feel my leg is being stretched to the limit here. I laughed and piped up. “Well, actually, myself and two other lads on the pilots training course were lucky enough to win the opportunity to take said Pup up for a spin. I can only say that having to go back to flying N17’s after that was somewhat of a set back.†The night went rather long as did the servings of beer and the exchange of information. My little experience with the Pup made me the center of attention for a few days and made my blending into the squadron all the easier.

I managed to get a couple of strong tea’s into my body along with some hot porridge, all of which settled my stomach and warmed my soul a great deal.
The night had been cold but not as damp and bone biting as it was at Farnborough.

I joined the men in the briefing session where I was informed that I and Bennet (the wing man), would be flying N16’s. The rest of the flight would be in the N17 Lewis. I was not surprised. Why waste a new machine on a new pilot.

There were five of us assigned to the patrol as “B†flight. Lieut. Cole was to lead the flight, with Sgt. Bennet on wing, me, Sgt. Pidcock, and Sgt. Fry.
Since Bennet and myself were the new guys the patrol was to stay behind our lines to Senlis le Sec airfield, then second leg to Marieux airfield, then back to Senlis and finally the last leg would be back to our base. We were to fly at low altitude of 2300 ft. We had 8 kn winds from the WSW with scattered clouds well above and clear weather.

The flight to Senlis was quiet and I focused primarily on staying in formation and scanning the skies for unfriendlies. Upon arrival at Senlis I spotted archie puffs high and off my port side. I struggled to see and thought I might have spotted two craft but couldn’t be sure. I kept glancing at Lieut. Cole to see if he intended to alter course but that wasn’t happening. I suspected he either didn’t see them or considered that they were too high to offer a reasonable opportunity.

We turned west towards Marieux and upon arriving there turned again back towards Senlis. Arriving there we again encountered archie and this time Cole made a move to climb up to investigate but soon gave up the chase and returned us back on course. I again suspected they were too high to chase.

We then turned back towards Savy and had a quiet flight home. I was pleased with myself for having stayed in formation. If we had engage the enemy I am not sure my N16 would be able to keep up and provide reasonable cover for the N17 pilots. I suspected that Bennet and I would have to fend for ourselves and provide protection for each other.

Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/25/17 11:38 PM

Albert's in the big boys club now, I hope he does well! Great story RW.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/25/17 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by Ace_Pilto
Albert's in the big boys club now, I hope he does well! Great story RW.


Tnx for the compliment Ace. It means a lot coming from someone with your writing talent.

Yes Albert will have his hands full flying the N16!
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 12:12 AM

Have you ever considered taking the plunge from first to third person Rob? I think you'd do just fine if you ever felt like giving it a go. (Not that you need to or anything, just curious to know if you'd toyed with the idea.)
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by Ace_Pilto
Have you ever considered taking the plunge from first to third person Rob? I think you'd do just fine if you ever felt like giving it a go. (Not that you need to or anything, just curious to know if you'd toyed with the idea.)


Yes it would work fine. It does for your report. I guess for me it removes the personal touch. I like to live through the role in first person. I guess I try to live as Albert rather than see myself as third person.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 05:57 PM

Just back from England, and looking forward to catching up with the war! Here is Colin Urquhart's leave story. I hope to get some stick time soon and to catch up with everyone else's sagas...


A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator

Part 17

My train from Dover brought me into Charing Cross Station, right in the centre of the city. And what a city! I’d been in London twice during my training in England, but had neither the time nor money to really see the place. I resolved to make up for some of that lost opportunity, so immediately flagged a taxicab to take me to the Cavendish Hotel.

I’d been told about the Cavendish by Flt Comdr Draper, who raved about the place and its formidable matron, Rosa Lewis. Mrs Lewis was considered one of the top cooks in Europe, and was a favourite of our late King Edward. According to Draper, the Kaiser had taken a shine to her before the war and had presented her with his portrait. The Cavendish was overrun with officers, many from the Flying Corps. I felt out of place for only a moment, for I had scarcely been handed my room key and seen my bag scooped up by a porter when the grand lady herself swanned up to me and welcomed me personally, saying it was a pity she had not seen more of the RNAS in the past while. I was also invited to her soirée in her sitting room on the main floor of the hotel. This, I soon learned, was a centre of London social life.

I cleaned myself up and had a brief nap, then changed into my best uniform and headed downstairs. The room was crowded with officers from every branch of the service, the piano tinkled away, and young and interesting ladies of every size and shape laughed and flirted. Champagne flowed, and waiters brought about snacks and treats of all descriptions. I’d never tasted caviar before and discovered a real taste for the stuff. Somehow, one of the RFC types I was chatting with let Mrs Lewis know I was keen on it and I was plied with the stuff all night. I’d been half-starved and looking forward to going out for a good meal, but by nine o’clock I was half-cut and stuffed to the gills so I made my way unsteadily upstairs, only to find another bottle of champagne and crock of caviar on ice waiting for me, compliments of the house.

In the morning I hunted down Mrs Lewis to thank her, but she brushed it off as nothing. “I’ll simply add it onto the bill of one of our wealthier patrons, Lieutenant. It’s the least he could do for the war effort,†she said.

I spent a few days seeing the sights – Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, the Tower, St Paul’s, and so forth. I ended the evenings by meeting with some of the RFC gang from the hotel at Murray’s on Bent Street.

My father had an aunt in Edinburgh whom I’d promised to visit, so I duly took the train to Scotland for a couple of days. As interesting as the city was, it was simply too wet and drear to enjoy in December. My aunt Emma was a lovely lady and she presented me with a beautiful pair of felt flying gloves with a sheepskin outer mitten-gauntlet with a separate index finger. There was a patch of wool on the back of each hand for warming your face or, if need be, wiping your nose. After two days of tea and small-talk, I caught the night train back to London, where I enjoyed one more day in the city before heading back to France. The leave had been an adventure, but I found the experience somewhat lonely and was looking forward to returning to Naval Eight.

On landing in Dunkirk, I received orders to pick up a new Sopwith Pup at St. Pol and return with it to Vert Galant. This, I learned, was to be my own aircraft. And a beautiful thing it was. The engine seemed remarkably well-tuned and the machine fairly jumped into the air. Within a half-hour I was looking down through the mist at that cluster of building straddling the Amiens to Doullens road. I blipped the engine and glided in over the bare trees, settling onto the frosted field.

I was home.

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The Cavendish, Jermyn Street, London -- Rosa Lewis was dramatised in the BBC series "The Duchess of Duke Street"




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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 06:06 PM

Glad to see you back Bud! Hope all went well on leave. Ya'll are costing me morning time with these great stories. To quote one of my favorite movies, "worth every penny!"
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 06:44 PM

Hi Raine, hope you had a jolly good trip OS. As always, I love the historical touches to your reports. It's not only entertaining, it's instructional!! Good one.
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 06:48 PM

It looks like Urquhart and my livestream pilot Harry Flashmann Jr will be sharing a mess at Vert Galland Raine, Harry's with 66 Sqn RFC, very detailed story, I like the addition of historical photography.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 08:03 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
Jasta 8
2 Kette


April 26, 1917.

Reported in this morning. Introduced to fellow Aviators and the Hauptmann in charge. I expressed an interest in the Albatross D-III that I spot parked by the maintenance Tent. He stated that only proven pilots get the newer machines. I will be assigned an older Albatross D-II Scout.
However, I would be shown the machine then off on a solo check ride . Also, be ready for a combat patrol sometime tomorrow I was assigned Yellow 8 a well worn machine.







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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by Ace_Pilto
It looks like Urquhart and my livestream pilot Harry Flashmann Jr will be sharing a mess at Vert Galland Raine, Harry's with 66 Sqn RFC, very detailed story, I like the addition of historical photography.


"Flashman"!!! Heaven help us and the Ladies!!
Posted By: Adger

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 09:32 PM

Love reading these reports guys,i keep saying to myself 1 day il join this merry band in the DID challenge.
Then RL and these 2 mad kids of mine pop up with something new for me to do biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 10:23 PM

Welcome back Raine!
Carrick, let's hope you won't be stuck with that duck for too long.

Today, Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold with his wingmen were to attack the airfield at Ghistelles. Once over the target everyone took turns at strafing the buildings and tents. Everyone except Cyrus, who decided that strafing the 3 Eindeckers ready for take off was a better idea. German pilots did not dare approach their machines for the fear of being cut down by the attacking machines. Cyrus spent all of his ammo on these 3 crates and thus failed the mission as the aerodrome was not seriously damaged.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 10:38 PM

Fullofit;

" Cyrus spent all of his ammo on these 3 crates and thus failed the mission as the aerodrome was not seriously damaged."

But you kept the enemy craft off of your mates tails and that speaks volumes!!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/17 10:55 PM

Robert, I actually wish they have taken off. It takes less ammo to shoot them down, than to destroy them on terra firma.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/27/17 02:27 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

27 Dec 1916 @ 08h00 Recce escort


Today at briefing we were advised we would be escorting two BE2c from 10 Sqn, along the lines from Thelus to south of Arras. We were to expect 8 to 10 kn winds from the WNW and variable clouds above 4000 ft.

Lt. Graves was to lead “B†flight with Bennet on wing, myself, Sawrey and Meintjes. “A†flight was to assist composed of Lt Cole, Pidcock, and Fry.

We formed up just north of the field at 3600 ft and then headed for our intercept point over Mont St. Eloi. We were there at approximately 08h30 and connected with the BE2c’s shortly there after. The gusting wind made formation flying rather difficult and we spread out a tad for safety sake. We made it over the lines with the BE2c’s above us and commenced our run towards Arras.

Approaching Arras, I saw Graves diving away, but for what I wasn’t sure. The rest of the squad followed as did I. I then saw Graves on the tail of an Albatros and Sawrey on the tail of another. They looked like DI types in the swift glance I had. I was more concerned as to whether there were more of them and I scanned the skies incessantly. Not seeing any further Huns, I returned my attention to Graves and Sawrey’s actions. Each dispatched their Hun pilots and we reformed.

By this time we were somewhat south of Arras and playing catch up with the BE2c’s. We caught up to them on the north side of Arras and all of us turned back across the lines on the return to our bases. The rest of the flight was quiet.

Back at base Graves and Sawrey were being congratulated and I was able to confirm that the two DI’s had crashed. Graves stated they had Jasta 2 markings, but we were unable to confirm this as they had gone down on the other side of the lines.


]
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/27/17 04:29 AM

Hey now, those were some of Ahren's boys. sigh
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/27/17 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Hey now, those were some of Ahren's boys. sigh


I'll tell Albert to raise a glass in their memory!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/27/17 01:48 PM

Carrick, hope you enjoy your scout.

Fullofit, Three burning aircraft! Never saw that before!

Robert, Nice to see you over here making ready to deal misery to the Huns.

Dudley "Ducky" Duckett
Vert Galant
December 26th, 1916

The foul weather and a month at the front has taken a toll on Dudley's spirits. It seems most of the time all that the squadron is doing is sitting by the fire getting moldy. Christmas day cheered him up a bit as there was a fine meal, the weather allowed a soccer match in the afternoon and a fine concert that evening.

His last few flights have been uneventful. Patrolling friendly territory or our lines. No EA have been sighted. With the cloud, rain and snow they could have been a half kilometer away and no one would have seen them anyway. Time to sip on a glass of wine and get some sleep. Maybe even dream of some pretty young debutante. Preferably a brunette.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/27/17 05:19 PM

thanks, Mfair
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/27/17 05:23 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
Jasta 8
2 Kette


April 27, 1917.


I flew my neuer Flugapparat on a Balloon attack this morning. My wing-mate brewed it up nicely .

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/17 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by MFair
Fullofit, Three burning aircraft! Never saw that before!

MFair, all 3 burning, but only one smoking. nope
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/17 01:33 AM

There has been some great reading and pictures here. It is good to see so many joining the campaign. Robert, I'm really enjoying your man's adventures and videos! Colin Urquhart is back in the air and really enjoying the Sopwith Pup after his struggles in the Nieuport 11, where he was afraid to stand up and change drums. You can only do so much with 47 rounds. His memoir continues...

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator

Part 18

The squadron has been going through a blue period when I was on leave. Poor weather kept flying to a minimum, with days of boredom following one after the other. Squadron Commander Bromet did his best to fill the idle hours with lectures and sports, especially rugger and football (i.e. soccer), at which we were rather good. Mr. Brice and Leading Mechanic Black were conducting daily rehearsals for the squadron’s Christmas Revue. My leave had excused me from any significant role in this comedic extravaganza, but I still got press-ganged into wearing petticoats, a silk kimono, and carrying a fan as part of the chorus in a risqué take-off of “Three Little Maids†from The Mikado.

We managed three or four flights before Christmas, but they were low-level, wet affairs, generally close line patrols. We saw nothing and the squadron had bagged no kills since Compston’s kite balloon on the 6th. In that time we had lost Trapp and wrecked four Pups and a Nieuport landing in strong winds. If there was one consolation, that was the last of our Nieuports. We were now entirely a Pup squadron.

I received a letter from Ray Collishaw at 3 Wing in Ochey. They were still active, although also hampered by weather. The Canadians, however, had built a rink in one of their hangars and were playing hockey regularly. He invited me to visit, but since I’d just returned from leave I replied that a visit would have to wait. I was glad to have transferred to the Detached Squadron as all the Canadians at 3 Wing were still Flight Sub-Lieutenants.

Christmas was enjoyable. We had church divisions in the morning, did the rounds of the mess decks, and staggered to the headquarters wardroom in the Bossu farm for and enormous and sumptuous mid-day meal. We wore off the food in an officers-versus-other ranks football match, which the lower decks won 6-4. There was a Smoking Concert in the Transport hangar that evening, which allowed a couple of our Christmas Revue acts to get an airing before the big show, which was planned for 3rd January. 23 Squadron lent a couple of acts, the best of which was a hilarious comic magic turn by one of their sergeant mechanics. He sawed a “girl†in half and there was blood everywhere!

We got off the ground on the 27th, seeing nothing yet again, but our luck changed on the 28th. That morning the cloud broke a bit and the sun peeped through. The rain let up and the wind abated slightly, so Booker led three of us to attack the Hun field at Bertincourt. Besides Booker and me, there was George Simpson and Reggie Soar. We climbed to 10000 feet as we headed east. This was the highest I’d been in a Pup and I was delighted with its nimbleness at altitude. Where the Nieuport had become sluggish and wallowed in the thinner air, the Pup’s light wing loading left it responsive and easy to handle.

We crossed into Hunland north of Bapaume and headed directly to Bertincourt, just a little farther to the east. At my suggestion, we armed with LePrieur rockets in the hope of flaming the Huns’ fuel dump. Booker was beginning his shallow dive to the target and was down to 6000 feet when suddenly he swooped up across my bow in a climbing turn to port. I followed and saw an Albatros break out of a dive with Booker on his tail. A quick glance showed me that the Hun had two or three friends coming at us out of the sun.

Booker’s Albatros turned beneath him, but gave me a chance at a quick burst. I thought I’d hit him, for the Hun turned about and dashed eastward. The others were fully engaged with the newly-arrived Huns, so I chased the Albatros and gave him several bursts from long range. Soon Soar joined me and together we followed the HA all the way back to Bertincourt. The Archie was a little thick, so I loosed my LePrieurs at the Hun hangars and turned towards home. Soar, however, pressed on and claimed the Hun as destroyed, although I could not in honesty say I saw his kill.

I headed back over Bapaume. In the far distance I could make out two specks heading west, likely Booker and Simpson. Then a flash of sun betrayed a lone Albatros heading homeward at low altitude over the town. In a flash I rolled and dived onto his tail. The Hun loomed up closer and closer, completely unaware of my approach. I fired a long burst from the Vickers. The Hun rolled onto its back and dived vertically into a wood just west of Bertincourt, exploding in a cloud of flame, smoke, and earth. Reggie Soar flew past me at that moment wagging his wings. He confirmed my kill, my sixth official victory and my first in a Pup.

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"At my suggestion, we armed with LePrieur rockets in the hope of flaming the Huns’ fuel dump."

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"The Hun rolled onto its back and dived vertically into a wood just west of Bertincourt, exploding in a cloud of flame, smoke, and earth."




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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/17 04:54 AM

Journal Entry 28 December, 1916
Pronville

Another Christmas has come and gone with no indication that this war will ever end. This was my second Christmas at the front and quite frankly, I had a little difficulty arousing any Christmas spirit. In the past, Christmas has always been my favorite holiday of the year with my mother fussing around the house decorating everything in sight. It is also the only time that father would venture into the kitchen to prepare his delectable goose with Aunt Margaret close on his heels trying to learn his secret recipe. I have very fond memories of this time of year, but sadly, I think those halcyon days are past. On the other hand, the men had no difficulty in celebrating and I made sure that my melancholy did not affect their festivities. I had arranged a special Christmas feast with all of our traditional specialties. The men performed songs and skits, which to be honest, were really very good. All in all, the men really enjoyed themselves and managed to forget the war for a short time.

Yesterday was my birthday, I am 22 years old. In the mess at breakfast, I was observing the men and I could not help but notice how much older I look and feel. I suppose that almost two years of combat flying does have a detrimental effect on one's health and appearance. After breakfast, I led the morning patrol down near Perrone. We were to orbit over one of our aerodromes that the enemy had recently been harassing and to provide some sort of protection if the enemy appeared. As we were flying to our patrol area, I spotted a flight of three of the newest Sopwith scouts way off in the distance. One of the men signaled to me that he had spotted the enemy and wanted to attack, but I waved him off and pointed forward to our assigned task. I sometimes think that the men chafe a little at my strict requirements for obedience to orders. I can imagine their frustration and that I am not allowing them to score victories, but this war will not be won by individual acts of valor. It will be won by obeying orders and doing our duty to the fullest. I digress, we continued on and began our patrol and after about 10 minutes I spotted two R.E. 8s approaching the aerodrome with the purpose of bombing said aerodrome. I signaled the attack and the lads quickly dispatched the Tommies. We completed the patrol and headed home. About halfway home, I spotted the same flight of Sopwiths and this time I released the men to attack. We had a nice little scuffle and then both groups decided to head home. I noticed one of the Sopwiths was chasing my men even farther into our territory so I began to pursue him. He began his attack over the Estree-en-Chasau aerodrome and would have bagged Leutnant Voss if he had not been prepared for the enemy attack. I had now closed the distance sufficiently so that I could begin my attack. I made one diving pass and fired a burst hoping to distract him from his attack on Voss. I must have either hit the pilot or shot away a control line because the enemy aeroplane immediately flipped over and dove straight into the ground. As a matter of fact, it almost plunged into one of the hangers on the aerodrome. We landed and of course my victory was confirmed. Apparently, my victory was one of the new Sopwith scouts called the Pup. The only thing I can say in regards to the new enemy scout is, it is like trying to shoot butterflies. You manage to get one in your sights and before you can fire they flit away. I have a sinking feeling that we have just met our new nemesis. Anyway, not bad for my birthday. Of course, the men had a celebration in my honor and or course I acted surprised even though I knew all along what was being arranged.

This war always reminds you that it is the master and yesterday was no different. In spite of the celebrations of our victories and my birthday, death was still present. I had sent Gefreiter Jung and Unteroffizier Rost up to the lines for a simple patrol to familiarize themselves with our patrol sector and they never came back. These are the kinds of deaths that haunt me, what happened? Did they meet the enemy? Did they crash? No one prepares you to lose me in this fashion, where they simply disappear.

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Robert, I added the loss of those two men to tie into your story from the 27th. So, now when you toast them you will have names.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/17 12:36 PM

Some GR8 reports to read today!

Glad to once again read of Colin's adventures. Raine you have a way of choosing the correct terms and lingo of the time thumbsup

Banjoman. Nice touch there, linking our two stories. I enjoyed Ahren's reflections and moods.

MFair. Excellent write up Sir. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Seems everyone is having poor weather!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/17 02:47 PM

Banjoman, crossing the lines with the stories! Nice touch.

Dudley Duckett
Vert Galant
Flight C
Dec. 28th 1916

Dudley was a little apprehensive about this mornings mission. As usual the weather was bleak. Snow and heavy cloud. They were to patrol around Riencourt, a Hun aerodrome that is a hotbed of trouble. The three machines lifted off and circled northeast of Doulens. Once at 11,000 ft. they headed almost due east to the patrol area. Robert Compston, whose father was a clergyman and joined the RNAS at 17 was the flight leader. Robert A Little, an Australian, was flying #3. He had learned to fly at his own expense at the Royal Aero Club at Hendon after being turned down by the Australian Army's Central Flying School. After gaining his ticket he joined the RNAS. Little and Compston were great friends and Duckett was relieved to be over Hun territory with 2 very good pilots.

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Duckett was jolted out of his thoughts when Compston signaled to head home. What did he see? Duckett could not see anything but turned in formation with the others. They flew in and out of the clouds, loosing sight of one another for a moment. In one break in the clouds Little pulled up in a wide turn. Not really knowing why Duckett followed but Little made a full circle and headed back to the formation. At that time Duckett saw an Albatros heading east about a thousand feet below. On full alert now he scanned around and saw another below. Staying with Little they joined back up with Compston as they entered the clouds again. Coming out of the cloud he had lost sight of his flight. The sight he saw when he looked behind made the hair on neck stand up. An Albatross coming in behind and gaining on him. He turned instantly and he and the Hun started circling. After 3 turns Duckett was gaining the advantage and on his first burst the DII rolled over and headed back home. Duckett climbed out and headed back to Vert Galant without further incident.

Everyone returned to base ok. Duckett received the usual ribbing from his flight mates about getting lost. "I was not lost in the least chaps! If you would have stayed the course we could have taken a Hun at our leisure this morning!" Duckett told them his story and off they went for dry clothes and some warm food.

Colin Urquhart was eating his meal and he and Duckett struck up a conversion. Urquhart was a good pilot and had just been awarded his 6th victory. "For someone who joined up because of one drunken mishap you seem to have found your calling old boy! Duckett said after Colin finished his story of how he had arrived at this point in his life.

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/17 03:23 PM

Nice stories, everyone. Very immersive.

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins


Seems everyone is having poor weather!


Sorry about that! wink
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/17 04:02 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
Jasta 8
2 Kette


April 28, 1917.


The Bad and the Good. My D-II caught fire on start up this dawn and burnt to the ground. The Mech's said it was oil leaks a big mess and a few burns. Assigned a Spare D-III and posted to the afternoon flight the kette ran into 5 Spad's I put one in the Bag. Fired 3 42 rd burst and stopped his motor forcing him down by our Zeppelin Sheds. Landed to check hits in my machine and a slight scratch .



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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/17 04:08 PM

Carrick

I'm not sure that Fritz didn't have a hand in on the destruction of the DII in favour of picking up a DIII!!

I hope he covered his tracks!!
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/17 04:37 PM

Spontaneous combustion and SPAD's, the life of an Albatros pilots is fraught with peril. smile
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/17 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Nice stories, everyone. Very immersive.

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins


Seems everyone is having poor weather!


Sorry about that! wink

Bob, we should all be sorry you haven't done that weather mod earlier.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/17 01:02 AM

wave

Mr Wiggins:


Although Fritz did barrow a lighter from the Mess the night before the fire., He swears it was for Spit Shining his boots. He did spend the afternoon re painting his new ride. An Early version on the D-III.



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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/17 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by carrick58
wave

Mr Wiggins:


Although Fritz did barrow a lighter from the Mess the night before the fire., He swears it was for Spit Shining his boots. He did spend the afternoon re painting his new ride. An Early version on the D-III.




Ah yes, circumstantial evidence. biggrin

Nice looking ride!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/17 01:43 AM

Fritz von Tarlenheim
Jasta 8


Late on the 28th of April. I was dressed down by Herr Hauptmann and informed that Jasta colors will be used so I did a little re painting with White and Red. He also said my Frenchman was confirmed by Army.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/17 04:42 AM

Ah simplicity, it's always the best.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/17 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Nice stories, everyone. Very immersive.

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins


Seems everyone is having poor weather!


Sorry about that! wink

Bob, we should all be sorry you haven't done that weather mod earlier.

What's that saying, "Everyone complains about the weather, but no one ever does anything about it?"

Now, I guess, everyone can blame me! duck
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/17 04:42 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
Jasta 8
2 Kette


April 29, 1917.

The Jasta's 9 a/c got into a fur ball with 5 Sopwith's 1 and 1/2 er'swith 2 Pups as escort it was Turn ,Boom and zoom. My guns hammered away, but nothing fell. One English machine got on my tail and turned into a fireball going right pass me. Thank goodness for my wing-man.
The Kette got 2 machines, but we had 1 wounded.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/17 11:34 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

28 Dec 1916 08h22 Attack on ballon west of Lens


Lt Graves called me out at briefing today to identify I would be leading the flight for the attack on the Hun balloon. I wasn’t prepared for this event so early after joining the squadron. This was a chance to show that I was capable and not one I wanted to mess up. He stated that Bennet would be on my wing accompanied by Sawrey, Fry and Hill. “You boys are quite familiar with this sector now and it is a relatively short run there and back. See if you can make a bang up job of it!â€

We were advised the wind would be 8 kn from the WSW with variable cloud cover and sun up to 10,000 ft. Our craft were outfitted with Le Prieur rockets for the event.

On the line, I gave the signal to run up the engines and did my normal check of control surfaces response. Sawrey jumped the gun and was out in front of me slightly as we took off.

We all got away cleanly and I formed up the flight just north of the field. We were in and out of the soup but cleared above most of it when we reached 9500 ft, at which point I took the flight NE towards Bethune. We reached it within 6 minutes or so. Taking the flight East towards Lens, we crossed the line at 08h51 and soon approached the balloon. Raising my hand I gave the signal to attack, and decided to stay up high to watch for any sign of enemy scouts while the lads made their pass at the balloon. I saw Bennet go in first and then watched as Sawrey and Fry let loose on the gas bag. It went up in flame and smoke. I kept circling, watching and waiting for the boys to rejoin and form up. Black puffs of smoke from the enemy guns burst around the lads as they regained altitude and I was thankful that there wasn’t much of it to deal with. While checking our formation I spotted two dots well above us and far out on our six. They were probably huns and the fact that they were not closing probably indicated they were going home.

We crossed back over the lines with little fuss from the Hun gunners and soon were approaching Savy. I was exceeding happy to know that we had destroyed the balloon without any losses to the squadron. We submitted our report to the RO crediting Bennet and Fry with joint claim for the balloon. Lt Graves stepped in, gave me a quick slap on the back and stated “Good job Godrey. I knew you would make good.†We all headed for the mess for some breakfast.
I had a warm feeling in my gut and I could tell the lads were in good spirit as I listened to their recall of the days events.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/17 03:38 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
visefeldwebel
Rumbeke. Aerodrome
Kette Zwei. Jasta 8.


April 30, 1917.


Long flight, down towards Lens defending Balloons. No contact.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/17 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Fritz von Tralenheim
visefeldwebel
Rumbeke. Aerodrome
Kette Zwei. Jasta 8.


April 30, 1917.


Long flight, down towards Lens defending Balloons. No contact.


Fritz seems to be having a rather quiet time these days.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/17 07:55 PM

Here's the latest status report for last week's action.

Guys, I will be going back to the States tomorrow and will be gone for a month. So, for the next month there won't be any status reports. I hope this doesn't cause anybody any undue stress, but please continue to enter your data and when I return I will post a status report for the entire month.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/17 10:58 PM

Banjoman, thanks for the stats. It'll be tough but I think we'll manage somehow. Have a good trip!
Posted By: Macklroy

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/17 05:13 AM

Armande Arquette:

April 29, 1917
While engaging a pair of German two seaters, Armande was shot in the head and killed instantly. His nieuport nosed into a vertical dive and exploded upon impact just a few short miles from his home field at Souilly. He will be sorely missed within Esc 23.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/17 12:36 PM

Banjoman, I hope you have a wonderful trip. Enjoy the time stateside.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/17 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
Banjoman, I hope you have a wonderful trip. Enjoy the time stateside.


+1 on that.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/17 04:16 PM

wave

Banjo: Have fun back in the States.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/17 04:21 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
visefeldwebel
Rumbeke. Aerodrome
Kette Zwei. Jasta 8.


May 1, 1917.

On Patrol, ran into 7 Fe2b's. The Kette knocked down 3, but none were mine. Finally got behind one and his gunner holed my tank. I managed to let down in no mans land and made it to our trenches.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/17 10:52 PM

For you, Ace-Pilto! (Third Person)

Albert Earl Godfrey

2 Jan 1917 @ 07h18 Patrol over the lines to Bapaume-Cambrai road north of Havrincourt wood.


Get your ass out of bed!

Ah, just a few more minutes mom!

WHAT!!! Just then Albert felt a cold wet hand strike him on both cheeks!
Startled, he sat bolt upright blinking his eyes and trying to focus. He heard the familiar gravelly voice of Bennet blurt out “I suppose you would like me to dress you and cook your breakfast for you as well! Thought you were home, snug as a bug in bed, did you! Far from it lad, get dressed and meet me in the mess asap as we have an early patrol to the front! Albert heard his laugh as he left the room and slammed the door. Jesus! He suspected he would bear the brunt of the story as it went around the mess this morning!

Dressing quickly in the biting cold, he remembered he forgot to stoke the furnace last evening. His boots felt clammy so he stuffed some brown waxed paper around a pair of dry socks to hopefully insulate his feet from the dampness.

Opening the door and stepping out he noted the bitter cold, biting wind and the squishy sloshing sound of his boots in the wet snow. How dreary it looked. The air was socked in with heavy cloud and wet snow was falling. How in hell they were to patrol in this weather and hope to see any enemy machines was beyond his comprehension. In the breaks between the clouds, he saw higher layers of the same nature, that seemed to go on forever.

He was glad he had a personal compass in his pocket. Hopefully if lost, he could get down low enough to make out landmarks and roads. With the compass he would at least have a chance to get back close to base if he lost contact with the flight.

Breakfast was hot porridge plus tea with some sausages and biscuits.
The hot porridge filled his belly and radiated warmth throughout his body.
He closed his eyes for a moment noshing on the sausages and biscuits, when he heard Bennet shout out, “Thinking about Mom again, are you Albert?†followed by a mixture of laughter and guffawing.

Albert thought, it didn’t take long for Bennet to get the story out. “Ok, OK, you’ve had your fun!! I’ll make sure to stuff a sock in my mouth when I go to bed tonight so you don’t have any fodder for tomorrow’s story!!â€

“Would you like me to tuck you in Albert†stated Bennet and Albert just shook his head from side to side and once more looked down at his plate to finish his breakfast.

Leaving the mess, Caldwell, Sawrey, Pidcok and Bennet crowded around patting Albert on the back and jostiling him somewhat. Bennet playfully jostled Alberts hair, and said “Thanks Albert! You have put a nice glow on what looks like a terrible day for flying. At least I’ll have something to divert my mind from the dreariness when we are up there.â€

Albert retorted “Don’t be too diverted, there are Huns out there that would love to wake you up just before sending you to Valhalla Alex.â€

At the flight was advised to expect Bitter cold weather, wet snow, poor visibility, and overall socked in cloud cover. Wind would be 8 kn from the NW, so flight time to the lines would be improved. Albert, in his mind, retorted, “and flight times back to base would be worsened!â€

The men left the briefing hut and made their way to their Nieuports. It wasn’t long until the sound of the Le Rhone 9J engines broke the air. Soon they were all roaring and blipping like horses at the gate waiting for the start signal.

One by one they roared on down the field taking to the air, their wings glistening with the wet surfaces. The nauseating effect of the castor oil was worse due to the heavy air. Higher and higher they climbed just north of the field in continuous circles, forming up to an altitude of 2000 ft. If there was a break in the clouds it was only covered by another layer slightly higher.

When Caldwell, the flight leader was satisfied with the formation and the height, he gave the signal and they set out for the Baupaume-Cambrai road just north of Havrincourt wood. The flight climbed up to 6700 ft just over Arras by 07h36. They crossed over the lines at 07h38 still climbing to 7700 ft. with no clearance in the cloud cover. Once in awhile they would see a piece of earth below but not long enough to make out where they were. It was a flight based solely on conjecture of time and compass readings by Caldwell.
At 07h45, Caldwell began a wide circle westward, stopping the circle when he felt he had reversed direction. Caldwell again reversed direction and headed back towards Arras, arriving there at 07h45. It was a very good piece of work by Caldwell. Albert knew this to be the case as he was able to get a brief view of Arras through a break in the cloud cover that only lasted for seconds.
Caldwell again reversed direction back to the Bapaume-Cambrai road, arriving in the approximate vicinity by 08h07. It was pretty much as Albert had expected. There was nothing to see but Cloud and wet snow. It was pretty much a wasted flight. Even if they had seen some Hun scouts or two seaters, there was little hope of attacking them in the dense cloud cover. The only thing the flight achieved as far as Albert was concerned, was that it gave him considerable confidence in the navigation skills of Caldwell and this eased his mind greatly.

Back at Savy, all the flight members returned safely and reported in, rather glad to be down on terra firma, given the weather conditions. The rest of the day was considered a wash out an no further flights were to go out. It didn’t take long for the flight members to shed their soggy flying suits and change into something drier. They would all meet in the mess in a short time to refresh themselves and cajole around.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/17 11:30 PM

Since there is only one German pilot in the first group, I've decided to add another.

[Linked Image]

Meet Aldi Schwarzkopf, a very young Prussian who has just been posted to Jasta 18. It is 1 January 1917 and Aldi was forced to take the train and a transport lorry to get to Halluin, since flying was out of the question due to the severity of the weather with a snowstorm just around the corner.
He reported to the CO by the name of Karl Heino Grieffenhagen, who upon seeing him announced that the Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel is no kindergarten and if it were not for his father who had some kind of pull with the brass he would still be in kindergarten. The Oberleutnant took another look at him, said that up until today they've all been flying the Albatros DII, but as it happens all of them are going to the rear and a batch of brand new Albatros DIII has just arrived. He would gladly make him fly the old model, but he didn't have any, so a new Albatros DIII it is. "Don't you dare get any holes in it on your very first sortie" he said and dismissed him grumbling under his breath what to Aldi sounded like "snot-nose". Aldi couldn't believe his luck: a new Albatros DIII - he has not even seen one of those machines before and on top he will be flying along Ltn. Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp, who joined Jasta not too long ago! Aldi has heard of him and his adventures. The entire air service knew the aristocrat simply as "Jonny Bülow". Aldi couldn't wait to meet him, let alone fly alongside him. This would have to wait as the snow started to come down hard.

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Halluin

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/02/17 01:07 AM

Fullofit, I'm delighted to meet Aldi. I just hope that Colin doesn't meet his DIII for a while. Here is the latest from Colin Urquhart...

A Journal of the Great War

Part 19

I have filled my first notebook with recollections and am still in one piece so I suppose I can count myself lucky.

Since my last flight on 27 December we have had nothing but low cloud, very strong winds, and rain or wet snow. We brought in the New Year across the way with 23 Squadron, the Fee jockeys. I enjoyed a few drinks with a fellow Canadian, Eddie MacKay, whom I was told was under attack by the famous Boelke at the time of the German’s collision and death. I was not in a raucous mood and spent much of the later evening smoking by the fire and chatting with a new boy, Duckett. He is a public school type, son of a banker, and is finding the whole business of war “topping†and “ripping.†But I sense he is a learner and will do well if he gets through the first two weeks of real flying weather.
The New Year’s Promotions List is in and MacKenzie has made substantive Flight Commander, a well-deserved recognition. Booker and Compston and Grange are all substantive Flight Lieutenants, and our ever dutiful Armaments Officer, O’Hagan, is promoted Lieutenant, RNVR.

The weather wore on us. My efforts as a French teacher continued, but has become a drudgery. I fear my star student Dalgliesh will soon speak the language better than I do, as he is rumoured to be getting extra lessons from his “wee Mary,†the milkmaid from up the road. The man is a troglodyte, and it stuns me that any pretty thing could tolerate the sight or smell of him for long, but let me not to the marriage of true minds (or at least one mind and a lump of Glasgow pavement) admit impediment, as the Bard says.

After a couple of days without the Canadian Mail being delivered, on New Year’s Day I received a lovely package from home. No tobacco or alcohol, of course, but a tin of biscuits, a couple of decent books, and – joy of joys – a real Hudson’s Bay blanket to add a dash of colour to my cabin and to keep out the chill and dampness.

2 January 1917 dawned blustery and dull, with heavy snow driven by a northeast wind. I planned to sleep in under the new blanket and appear only for lunch, but Lieut D’Albiac himself rousted me out of bed at quarter to eight, shouting that a flight of marauding Hun scouts had been seen flying west over Bellevue and that I was to lead a patrol on a line from Doullens to Albert, “just in case the blighters are adventurous.â€

I threw on a fleece pullover and my old cable-knit sweater and pulled a pair of corduroy trousers over my pyjamas, then I added two pairs of woolen socks and my boots, and finally I grabbed my leather flying coat, mitts, goggles, and scarf and waddled out to the hangar. Booker, Little, Compston, and a new fellow we already in their cockpits. It was a thrill to see the streamers affixed to the trailing struts of the Pup.

Leading Mechanic Black was doing the honours for me this morning. The cylinders were primed. “Switch off?†he shouted.

“Switch off. Suck in,†I shouted back.

LM Black pulled the prop against the engine compression. “Contact!†he called.

“Contact!†I replied, and closed the switch. The Le Rhône burbled into life, its rumble becoming quickly more forceful and steady. I waved my arms to the sides and the chocks were pulled away. The Pup’s tail rose quickly and the wheels banged on the frozen, snow-crusted earth. The falling flakes whipped past, stinging like needles around my goggles. I’d come away without my balaclava and I’d had no time to grease up. I huddled low behind the small windscreen. A glance behind showed that the flight of five Pups were already up and straining to gain formation. I throttled back and climbed at 75 knots eastward towards Doullens.

I did not have to wait long. Three minute after take-off, the houses of Doullens emerged from the snowy half-mist. The buildings themselves did not stand out so much, as the snow on the rooftops blended with the snow on the roadways and gardens. It was more the smoke from the chimneys that made the town noticeable.

There was movement! Dead ahead about a mile, and perhaps a few hundred feet below. Seven specks moving across the white-grey background. They were turning from a westerly to a southerly heading. I waggled my wings and opened the throttle, tingling with excitement. We were still too far away to identify the machines when two of the specks broke away eastward and the others turned towards us. They were definitely German machines. The two were probably rookies, under orders to head for safety at first contact.

We closed quickly and I could make out the pok-pok-pok of machine guns as we met. I held fire, waiting for a better shot. A brown and green machine passed close to startboard, banking hard. It had squared wing-tips and a tapered snout: Halberstadt scouts, they were. I threw the Pup into a vertical bank and turned to give chase.

The Pup was a joy in a fight like this. There was no hint of wanting to stall, and it could follow the Halberstadts in a climbing turn where my old Nieuport would have fallen out of the sky. There were aircraft everywhere. A Pup climbed directly in front of me, so close I nearly flew into its belly. I banked in the opposite direction, for I’d lost my Hun.

“Thwack! Thwack!†Rounds hit my port wings, although I could not tell where they came from. I continued to turn as tightly as possible. A Halberstadt was climbing across my bow and I fired. From 150 yards out, my tracer showed that I had raked the full length of his fuselage. The Hun turned quickly eastward and dived away. I spotted another Hun low down, about 400 yards off. There were two Pups giving chase, but both were a distance away. I dived on the Hun and pulled up less than 30 yards away firing my Vickers in a continuous burst of 100 rounds. God bless Lieutenant O’Hagan RNVR is all I can say, for this time the gun did not jamb despite my abuse. The Halberstadt banked and turned beneath me. It seemed in control and I turned to follow. I would not fall for the Hun’s ruse.

But it was no ruse. The enemy scout glided downwards, apparently under control, until it flew directly into a row of barren trees and broke itself into a thousand flaming bit. It had fallen about two miles west of Beaumont-Hamel. Booker took station on my starboard side and waved his fist in the air, then pointed down at the former Hun. This one would be confirmed as my seventh official victory.

1917 had started properly.

[Linked Image]
"The Halberstadt banked and turned beneath me."


Attached picture 7th kill.jpg
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/02/17 10:26 AM

Just had a look a Cecils logbook. Seems the chap joined June 1916 and now its May 1917...without leave !!
I wanted to get him to transfer back to Blighty and home establishment but I can't????? anyone know why?
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/02/17 11:03 AM

And his alter ego had a good run today.

Easy foto run to the south, with escourts. HA, they left us as soon as we crossed the lines.
Anyway, just as KARL said to himself, "hey, that wasn't so bad" when three Frenchmen in N23's decided to ruin his day.
1 went for the wingy, and the other 2 went for Karl.
Tight spiral lefthand turn and I heard a loud bang. Look back and yippy, pitty I can't claim them though.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/02/17 11:20 AM

Lederhosen

WOFF won"t let you transfer to Home Establishment. It will remain a Wish List" item until such time as the Devs address it if they can.
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/02/17 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
For you, Ace-Pilto! (Third Person)

Albert Earl Godfrey

2 Jan 1917 @ 07h18 Patrol over the lines to Bapaume-Cambrai road north of Havrincourt wood.



Great stuff, the details about dampness, wax paper in the boots and castor oil were especially compelling! How did you find writing in 3rd person compared to 1st? About your squadron mates, are "Paget" and "Caldwell"
Evelyn Paget Graves and Keith Logan "Grid" Caldwell by any chance?

It looks like the writing bug had been busily chomping at quite a few people today. Some people are going to need two coffees this morning to get through all the great stories.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/02/17 03:54 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
visefeldwebel
Rumbeke. Aerodrome
Kette Zwei. Jasta 8.


May 2, 1917.


Mission: Patrol

Spotted: 1 Flight N-17,s Attacking 3 Dfw's Plus 1 N-23 attacking Kettte Eins Jasta 8.

Remarks: What a furball, we lost 2 D-III,s for 1 N-17 and a N-23 ( I saw the crash. None for me as I was always on the wrong side or to far away.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-05-02 08-21-01-82.jpg
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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/02/17 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Ace_Pilto
Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
For you, Ace-Pilto! (Third Person)

Albert Earl Godfrey

2 Jan 1917 @ 07h18 Patrol over the lines to Bapaume-Cambrai road north of Havrincourt wood.



Great stuff, the details about dampness, wax paper in the boots and castor oil were especially compelling! How did you find writing in 3rd person compared to 1st? About your squadron mates, are "Paget" and "Caldwell"
Evelyn Paget Graves and Keith Logan "Grid" Caldwell by any chance?

It looks like the writing bug had been busily chomping at quite a few people today. Some people are going to need two coffees this morning to get through all the great stories.


Ace;

Glad you liked the details. It really adds to the story when you have something like that to put in. Writing in third person was quite natural, however, I still think first person conveying the time frame in the present adds to the "being there now" feeling. Third person is after the fact. Both have their place and I guess it is up to the reader to determine his preference. In reading and creating, both are acceptable to me. I guess in creating a story after a mission, I feel like I am more in the present than in the past and hence why I seem to write in first person without giving it any consideration. Thanks for suggesting I switch it up!

Best Regards
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/03/17 12:36 AM

Time for the news.
Intrepid Fliers - December 1916.
December 1
The Battle of the Arges began along the line of the Arges River in Romania between Austro-German forces of the Central Powers and Romanian forces.
The Greek Government refused the Entente demands of 19 November.
December 2
Russian premier Alexander Trepov announced that the Allies acknowledged Russia's right to Constantinople and the Dardanelles.
December 3
German submarines entered Funchal Harbour in Madeira, sank three ships and bombarded the town.
December 4
Admiral Sir John Jellicoe was appointed as First Sea Lord, replacing Admiral Sir Henry Jackson.
December 5
Prime Minister Herbert Asquith resigned.
December 6
German forces captured Bucharest in Romania.
December 7
David Lloyd George replaced Asquith as British Prime Minister.
December 8
The Allied naval blockade of Greece began.
December 9
The new British War Cabinet was formed replacing the War Committee which had held its last meeting earlier in the month.
December 11
The two month long Battle of Cerna Bend between Bulgarian forces and French and Serbian troops ended in a tactical victory for the Entente powers.
December l2
German, Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian and Turkish Governments all delivered a Peace Note to their respective United States embassies stating they are ready to negotiate for peace.
December 13
British forces in Mesopotamia began operations to recapture Kut-al-Amara.
December 14
Allied powers sent an ultimatum to Greece demanding the removal of all forces from Thessaly.
December 15
The Greek Government accepted the Allied ultimatum.
December 16
The United Kingdom recognized the Sherif of Mecca as King of Hejaz.
December 17
The Greek Government issued a warrant for the arrest of Eleftherios Venizelos on a charge of high treason.
December 18
The longest battle on the Western Front, the Battle of Verdun ended with huge losses but no tactical or strategic advantage had been gained by either side.
US President Woodrow Wilson issued a Circular Note, asking all belligerents to state their war objectives, as a first step towards peace.
December 19
The British Government instituted National Service.
The British Government formally recognised the Venizelos Government of Greece.
December 20
Count Heinrich Karl Clam-Martinic replaced Ernst von Koerber as Prime Minister of Austria.
December 21
British forces occupied El Arish in their advance across the Sinai.
December 22
The British Government formed new Ministries of Food, Pensions and Shipping.
December 23
The Battle of Magdhaba took place in the Sinai peninsula during the Defense of Egypt section of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. After a day long battle, Turkish troops surrendered to the British.
December 25
King George V sent a message to the troops on the third Christmas Day of the war.
December 26
An Anglo-French conference met in London to discuss the German and US Peace Notes as well as the campaign in Salonika and the division of forces on the Western Front.
December 27
The German colony of Togoland was divided into British and French administrative zones.
December 29
Two relatives of Tsar Nicolas II, Grand Duke Purishkevich and Prince Felix Yusupov poisoned the confidant of the Tsarina, Father Grigori Yefimovich Novykh (Rasputin) at Yusupov's home in Petrograd. After this attempt at murder failed, the pair shot Rasputin and dropped his body through the ice of the River Neva.
December 30
The Bulgarian Government accepted President Wilson's proposals for peace negotiations.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/03/17 12:38 AM

Warbirds Rising - April 1917.
April 1
French troops drove German forces back to Vauxaillon, north-east of Soissons on the Western front.
April 2
President Woodrow Wilson delivered a war address to Congress asking for a Declaration of War against Germany.
April 3
The torpedo gunboat HMS Jason was sunk by a mine near Coll Island off the west coast of Scotland.
April 4
The US Senate voted in favour of a Declaration of War.
April 5
German forces finished their withdrawal to the Hindenburg line.
April 6
The United States of America came out of neutrality and declared war on Germany.
April 7
Cuba and Panama declared war on Germany.
April 8
Austria-Hungary severed diplomatic relations with the USA.
April 9
The Battle of Arras began when British, Canadian, New Zealand and Australian troops attacked German defenses near the French city of Arras on the Western Front.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge formed part of the opening phase of the Battle of Arras fought mainly between Canadian and German forces as a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive.
April 10
The British hospital ship HMS Salta hit a mine laid by the German submarine UC-26 off the coast at le Havre.
Bulgaria severe diplomatic relations with the USA.
April 11
In a flanking operation during the Arras offensive Australian troops attacked the village of Bullecourt and pushed German troops out of their fortified positions and into the reserve trenches.
April 12
Canadian forces completed their capture of Vimy Ridge near Arras.
April 13
Bolivia severed diplomatic relations with Germany.
April 14
A British attack made gains east of Monchy-le-Preux as the first phase of the British offensive at Arras came to an end.
April 15
German forces penetrated the Australian front line and occupied the village of Lagnicourt but counter-attacks from Australian battalions restored the front line.
April 16
The Second Battle of the Aisne, also known as the Nivelle Offensive, began when French forces attacked the Germans along the front from Soissons to Rheims.
April 17
Three weeks after the failure of the first offensive, the Second Battle of Gaza began when British forces attacked Ottoman forces during Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
April 18
The French advance continued east and north-east of Soissons.
April 19
The Second Battle of Gaza ended when Ottoman forces resisted the British attack leaving the city firmly in Turkish control.
April 20
During a German destroyer attack on Dover, HMS Swift and HMS Broke engaged a force of six enemy destroyers and fended them off although both ships were damaged.
April 22
The Battle of Istabulat took place in Mesopotamia.
April 23
The Second Battle of the Scarpe began when the British launched an assault towards Vis-en-Artois on the Western front.
April 24
British and Indian forces captured Samarra in Mesopotamia.
April 25
Alfonso Augusto da Costa succeeded Antonio Jose de Almeida as Prime Minister of Portugal.
April 26
A second German naval raid took place on Ramsgate on the Kent coast of England.
April 27
Guatemala severed diplomatic relations with Germany.
April 28
British and Canadian troops launched an attack towards Arleux and captured the village.
April 29
General Philippe Petain was appointed French Chief of General Staff. He replaced General Robert Nivelle, whose failed offensive earlier in the month had provoked widespread mutinies in the French Army.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/03/17 03:44 PM

Fullofit, Thanks for the news. Always nice to know the whole picture. Nice stories and pics Gents. Good reading all!

The last calendar I downloaded ended in December 1916. Is there another Intrepid Flyers calendar for 1917?

I am a little ahead me thinks but here goes.

Dudley Duckett
Vert Galant
January 5, 1917

The last few days at RNAS 8 were dismal. Heavy snows had cancelled all but a few flights since Christmas. The new year was celebrated with the usual drinking and shenanigans. Duckett was not impress with the whole show. Not being much of a drinker he thought the whole matter was foolish.

Duckett had not slept well as he was on the board to lead this mornings flight if weather permitted. He was awake when the call came. "Briefing in 30 minuets Lt." he heard. He was up in an instant and dressed. After Briefing and a quick breakfast the four pilots were ready to take off into the frigid air. Little gave Duckett a wave to let him know they were all ready. He switched to half power and started bouncing and skidding down the field as there was solid snow as far as one could see. Switching to full power the Pup bounced a few times and was airborne. Duckett felt the knot in his stomach ease a bit now that they were underway. He took the flight to 6000' and headed toward Arras which was the first way point to Riencourt which they were to attack.

Duckett was gaining a whole new respect for responsibility. Making sure the flight was on course, watching to insure his flight was in position and looking for hostile aircraft. It kept his mind busy which was a relief. Just south of Arras he changed course and headed south southeast toward Riencourt. Crossing the lines a few puffs of Archie came up to greet the the flight. Once Duckett had crossed the 3 roads he had memorized from his map he looked over the sides of his cockpit to try and pinpoint Riencourt. "There it is!" he thought. "Just off the port quarter. Not bad navigating old Boy" he proudly said to himself. He signaled 2 of his flight to attack. As they started their decent , he and #3 followed behind. Duckett scanned the sky for HA but saw none. He chose the second hanger and while bliping his engine fired four long bursts into it. Pulling up and to starboard tracers whizzed by his machine. Ground fire. He looked around again for HA just to make sure. Making his second pass on the hanger he saw smoke starting to rise from from the tented hanger. 2 of his flight had just pulled up from their attack. As he pulled up to follow he was startled to see a DII directly above and ahead of him. He followed the Hun up and was about to give it a burst when a red, white and blue roundel on the underside of a Pup filled his vision! Nosing down and banking to port they just avoided a collision. Not that the other Pup pilot, whoever it was, had any idea they almost died! Duckett saw the DII again and the other Pup bearing off. He dove in again planted himself on his tail. He must have emptied half his ammo into the Albatros. He saw pieces fly off of it and it was smoking heavily and went into a gentle glide. Bullets smacked into Duckett's machine and he realized how low he was over a German airfield. He immediately pulled up into a slow circle. He could not see his Albatros. Climbing out he made a long circle over the field and could not see any of his flight so made his way west. Archie was fully awake now as it escorted him all the way to the lines.

Circling Vert Galant he had a sinking feeling as none of his flight was there. He landed and blipped his engine to the hanger. Colin Urquahart was walking by as Duckett pulled himself out of the cockpit.

"Seems you had a bit of action" Colin said as he examined the holes in Duckett's starboard wing.

"You might call it that! I bagged one over Riencourt. Any word on the rest of the flight?" Duckett asked.

"Seems they put down at Bellevue. Everyone is OK but a bit shot about. They should be back after having their machines checked out" Colin replied.

Duckett filed a claim on the DII. The next morning the call came in that it had been rejected. Duckett was livid! "I saw it go down. It was a kill!"

Colin gave him a long look, "Sorry old Boy, but unconfirmed means unconfirmed."

Duckett straightened himself up and stated, " I don't suppose you ever had and unconfirmed kill."

"Oh but I have! I have had six!" Colin replied. "Next time you must have witnesses!"


(OK folks. I could not help myself. I watched the Blue Max last night!)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/03/17 07:06 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
visefeldwebel
Rumbeke. Aerodrome
Schwarm Zwei. Jasta 8.


May 3, 1917.

We cut cards to see, would go after the balloon. The Jasta would cover me. The balloon popped nicely.

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Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/17 12:27 PM

.

Greetings All,

I have had some actual free time in the early hours of the mornings this last week or so to bring my Centenary Campaign pilot back to the front, and it has been an honest-to-god treat. I’d nearly forgotten how wonderfully immersive this sim is. I also enjoyed several cups of coffee just now as I caught up a bit on all of your adventures here as well – superb stuff as always Gents and many thanks for sharing. I am hopeful I will have a bit more time for a while to call my own and I can spend some of it flying this campaign. Fingers crossed.


(4 January 1917, Sacy-le-Grand, Marne region)

Capitaine Allard Tremblay was still in the process of settling in to his new office at Sacy-le-Grand despite it having been nearly a week since his arrival. The past nine months had seen him serving as a lead flight instructor at Pau and while it had been a fairly agreeable assignment he had none-the-less longed to return to a combat squadron. Repeated requests for such had fallen on deaf ears until at last his wish was granted, in all likelihood because the powers-that-be simply grew tired of his unwavering persistence. So it was that, four days before Christmas of 1916, Capitaine Tremblay was informed he would be commanding Escadrille N81, a new squadron currently in the process of being formed. He was to report to the field at Sacy-le-Grand no later than the 29th to take charge of the group. Released from his duties at Pau on the 22nd Allard determined that, as he would be passing directly through it, he would visit Paris over the holiday before continuing on to his new assignment. With his gear and belongings packed and sent on ahead he was able to travel light, carrying with him nothing more than a canvas valise.

The “City of Lights†at Christmas time was grand even with the war going and the Capitaine enjoyed himself thoroughly. As he walked about the Île de la Cité and strolled along the Champs-Élysées he cut a smart figure in his crisp blue uniform adorned with aviator’s brevet, Légion d'honneur, Médaille militaire, and Croix de guerre with palms; and numerous mademoiselles were most attentive to him because of it. On la veille de Noël he attended services at Saint-Étienne-du-Mont and afterwards ate far too much at a late Christmas Eve meal that a nearby restaurant was providing for les soldats who were sans families. Christmas Day he continued to tour about the city and in the evening lingered for over an hour on the bridge in front of les Fontaines de la Concorde, simply allowing Paris to embrace him - it was so very different from his home village of Flers. Two more days of sightseeing and eating and drinking, as well as escorting a comely pair of young ladies about, and the Capitaine was done in. By the time he boarded the train on the morning of the 28th he wanted nothing more than to sleep the entire way to Sacy-le-Grand.

The weather upon his arrival at the aerodrome was cold and wet and as the place was in a state of transition, with two squadrons moving out as N81 and another new squadron were moving in, things were a fair mess. Men and machines had all shown up more or less on schedule and the Capitaine found himself in command of twelve officers, sixty-three enlisted men, eleven Nieuport Scouts, (6 N17s and 5 N11s), and a clutter of miscellaneous equipment and supplies. In addition, (though not solely in his charge), were forty-odd Chinese laborers assigned to help with the manual tasks about camp. Allard got to work immediately and by late morning of the 30th things were far enough along that he was able to lead his flock aloft for their first tour of the area. However, heavy rain set in shortly after take-off and the Capitaine had to abbreviate the sortie. He tried the same the following day but managed only a few kilomètres farther along before the weather forced the flight back yet again. As it was New Year’s Eve and as it was unlikely there would be any flying the next morning the Capitaine suggested a soirée in celebration, to which all agreed heartily. Despite it being makeshift and last-minute the party went splendidly, continuing on into the first small hours of 1917.

As luck would have it New Year’s morning saw a temporary end to the rain, (with “luck†being deemed either good or bad depending on one’s physical condition following the festivities). Shortly after 9:00 Capitaine Tremblay was informed by HQ that he should immediately take a flight across to Reims and patrol the lines in that area. As he studied the map he wondered if those in charge could have found somewhere farther away to send them. Never-the-less a short while later four N17s and two N11s of the fledgling Escadrille 81 lifted off into a cold winter’s sky and flew for over two hours on their first combat sortie as a group. It was an uneventful outing with the only excitement involving their return on nearly empty tanks. One of the N11s actually ran out of fuel and its pilot, Sergent Doumier, landed it dead stick in a pasture just to the east of the aerodrome, and the young fellow did it most adeptly at that.

The next two days were complete wash-outs as the rain came down in torrents grounding everything in the area and bringing outside work to a near halt. Which brings the world to this day, the 4th of January, 1917, where Capitaine Tremblay finds himself continuing to sort out his new office and quarters at Sacy-le-Grand, in command of a new escadrille, at the start of a new year. It was also the third year of this godforsaken war, he wondered if it would be the last.


[Linked Image]
The newly-formed Escadrille N81 at Sacy-le-Grand, preparing for their first combat sortie.





Attached picture WOFF UE Allard Tremblay Esc 81 001.jpg
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/17 01:14 PM

Glad to see you back in the skies Lou! You have been missed. I hope your pilot does well with his new command.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/17 01:25 PM

I missed your stories and presence here immensely. Glad to see you back and hope you get more personal time from your hectic schedule.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/17 02:32 PM

.

Thanks Robert and Mark, it feels good to be back in the WOFF skies.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/17 02:57 PM

MFair, Lou,

Loved your detailed and entertaining stories. Great start to a busy day!
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/17 03:05 PM

.

Thanks Raine, I feel the same way about your wonderful stories!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/17 03:20 PM

MFair;

Nice touch pulling Colin into your story. I enjoyed the read immensely! Maybe next time, if opportunity presents itself, Dudley can stip the tail canvas off of his kill and send it in with his claim! biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/17 03:48 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
visefeldwebel
Rumbeke. Aerodrome
Schwarm Zwei. Jasta 8.


May 4, 1917.

Mission: Balloon Defense
Alt: 2000 meters
E/A 9 Sopwith Pups.


Remarks: The Jasta's 8 machines chased 2 Englander machines and engaged. It was during the fur ball that 7 or more English machines joined the fight. I saw 2 of ours fall. I dove on one and his motor stopped forcing him down. The Jasta claimed 3 kills on that flight One is mine.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/17 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
MFair;

Nice touch pulling Colin into your story. I enjoyed the read immensely! Maybe next time, if opportunity presents itself, Dudley can stip the tail canvas off of his kill and send it in with his claim! biggrin


It's a cruel world Herr Hauptmann, you said so yourself! thumbsup
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/05/17 05:41 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
visefeldwebel
Rumbeke. Aerodrome
Schwarm Zwei. Jasta 8.


May 5, 1917.


Up 2 times today. Chased by Sopwith Pups then by Tri planes. The Jasta claimed 1 each time with a pilot wounded.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/05/17 11:36 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

6 Jan 1917 @ 10h05 Recon escort duty to Lines west of Lens


Today we were called to briefing with a request from RFC-42 to escort 3 of their BE2c’s to the lines west of Lens. Although it was very cold with snow expected and considerable cloud from 2000 to 7000 ft, it was expected to have clearer skies over he lines, with light winds of 8 kn from the north.

Graves led “B†flight with Bennet on wing, Sawrey, Pidcock, Hill, and Godfrey.
“A†flight was composed of Caldwell, Fry and Meintjes providing top cover support.

Both flights formed up north of the field and at 4900 ft began heading to the intercept point for the BE2c’s. At 10h20 they were spotted just ahead and above “B†flight. Following some jostling for position, all flight began the run toward the lines west of Lens, climbing to 7100 ft. Visibility was less than desirable and keeping formation strenuous as they climbed in and out of the clouds. They reached the lines at 10h30. True to the forecast, the cloud cover had some significant breaks in it and the BE2c’s began their run south along the lines towards Athies. It was damned cold and Albert kept rubbing the exposed portions of his face with the fur pads on the back of his flying gloves, trying to stimulate the circulation. He cursed himself for having forgot to grease up his face before the flight. There was no sign of the Huns about, but their archie sent some greetings, periodically.

Looking down one could make out the patchwork effect of snow and earth below, and the dark ominous clouds floating in the grey skies did not help to keep the spirits up.

The BE2’s did not waste any time hanging about, and that suited “A†and “B†flight to no end. It wasn’t long before the BE’s headed back across the lines to home, and the Nieuports were right with them all the way.

“A†and “B†flights parted ways with the BE’s just over Mount St. Eloi, and there was much hand waving as they separated. The BE’s made their way north to Bailleul Town airfield.

“A†and “B†flights arrived at Savy at approximately 10h57 and all aircraft landed safely.

Everyone huddled together heading for the R.O. to report a successful mission. Following that there was a hearty soup and hot tea for lunch. “Albert reflected on his time at Savy and considered himself lucky to have survived this far. He was learning the ropes and felt quite familiar with the territory. His Nieuport 16 was untested in combat and he hoped that it would quickly be replaced with an N17 before things got too hot.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/06/17 02:24 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
visefeldwebel
Rumbeke. Aerodrome
Schwarm Zwei. Jasta 8.


May 6, 1917.

Up today on Airfield Defence, None for me. Our Schwarm tangled with 2 N-23,s knocked down 1 for no losses although I got shot up.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/06/17 04:22 PM

Hang in there Fritz!

No flights for Albert until the 11th, due to heavy snows.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/06/17 04:43 PM

I had high hopes for Dudley Duckett but it was not to be. He was last seen on the tail of a DII giving it what for when the Alb went nose up and Dudley collided with it. His Pup went down in a fireball near Arras.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/06/17 05:03 PM

Another empty chair to contend with!! I wll mis Dudley's reports!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 12:07 AM

Offizierstellvertreter Aldi Schwarzkopf
Jasta 18, Halluin
Jan. 5, 1917.

The snow has not stopped falling ever since Aldi arrived on Jan. 1. It gave him a perfect opportunity to get to know all the personnel on the base. He literally was this much from a hart attack when he accidentally ran into Walter von Bülow who was walking his dog. They spoke on numerous occasions and Aldi got to hear all the stories from the man himself. He found out Walter was the eldest of the 3 brothers at the estate of Bothkamp in Holstein. He speaks fondly of his younger brother Konrad, who one day, he says, will join the Staffel. He told Aldi all about his tour of England, describing how English differ from Germans, let alone Prussians. He heard how after the war began he joined one of three famous "death's head" hussar regiments - the Braunschweigisches HusarenRegiment Nr 17. He then transferred to FFA 22 in the Champagne, after being promoted to leutnant. He was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class after downing a French Voisin and a Farman the next day in October of 1915. In 1916 von Bülow achieved 2 more victories while flying as part of the expeditionary Pascha I Corps supporting Turkish Suez Canal offensive. At the end of 1916 he was posted back to the Western Front and this is how he arrived at Jasta 18. Aldi couldn't get enough of the stories Walter was recounting. With 4 victories under his belt he was the highest scoring pilot of the Staffel. It'll be a tall order to match this achievement Aldi thought to himself as he watched von Bülow walking his dog again near the choicest stumps, cart wheels, posts and bushes.

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Finally the weather cleared enough to make a test flight in their new machines. The flight was led by the Staffelfuhrer Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen, himself, Aldi's wingman Unteroffizier Paul Mondschein and ... Leutnant Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp! This will be a treat, thought Aldi. The mission was the near balloon defense. So off they went into the snow bearing clouds mostly covering the grey sky. The front was so close to the aerodrome that some of the enemy soldiers took pot shots at them as they were gaining altitude. The mission proved to be thankfully uneventful as they all had their hands full just trying to stay in formation due to the heavy gusts throwing their crates left and right. Finally it was time to get back when Grieffenhagen gave signal and started descending trying to gain as much speed as possible. Aldi looked around and noticed some specs descending on them at an alarming rate. 6 or 7 Nieuports 17's (as he learned later) were about to pounce on them. Aldi followed the rest of the Kette trying to get away, but the Nieuports were upon them in a matter of seconds. They had to fight from a disadvantaged position. Thankfully the little French machine gathered so much speed that it was simple to evade him as he overshot the Albatros and continued chasing the rest of the flight in front. Aldi could not believe his luck, something happening to him very often lately. He aimed and squeezed the triggers. The two Spandaus shook the entire airplane and Aldi could not tell if any of the shots connected with the foe in front. He had no time to find out as bullets started flying all around him. In his excitement Aldi forgot to check his six, which now was occupied by another Nieuport. By now everyone was scattered with Paul - his wingman nowhere in sight. It was just him and the Frenchman behind. Aldi yanked the control column in a desperate attempt to lose his pursuer. The lead kept coming and only luck saved Aldi's hide from certain demise. It was von Bülow, who during all this frantic maneuvering was able to keep up with the two of them and positioned himself perfectly behind the enemy. His guns started singing and the pursuing Nieuport had to evade. Aldi made sure he gave von Bülow enough space to continue his fight and tried to match their moves. The French pilot realized that he is now outnumbered and outgunned, decided to make a run for it. With a sudden turn that surprised both Germans, the Nieuport was heading towards the lines and extending the distance between himself and the Albatrosen. Von Bülow and Schwarzkopf attempted to follow but were being outdistanced. Aldi kept an eye on the Nieuport and the other one on his friend. First sign von Bülow makes a break and starts his way home, he will do the same. As soon as he finished this thought von Bülow was turning and heading in the opposite direction. Aldi followed. They both landed at the base with everyone else standing and waiting for them. When his engine stopped, Aldi realized he was wet all over. The sweat was now chilling him to the bone. He quickly dismounted, made a few steps, kneeled near the tail section and started to retch. This will be the flight he'll never forget.

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Staffelfuhrer Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen led the flight

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by MFair
I had high hopes for Dudley Duckett but it was not to be. He was last seen on the tail of a DII giving it what for when the Alb went nose up and Dudley collided with it. His Pup went down in a fireball near Arras.

Nooooo!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 02:11 AM

Originally Posted by MFair
I had high hopes for Dudley Duckett but it was not to be. He was last seen on the tail of a DII giving it what for when the Alb went nose up and Dudley collided with it. His Pup went down in a fireball near Arras.

No! Rotten luck.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 10:29 AM

.

MFair, say it ain't so! Sorry to learn of Dudley's fate, his stories will be missed here.

Fullofit, great entry for Aldi, and a gripping account of the go round with the Nieups. Well done.

Robert, it's unfortunate that in January of 1917 Albert should still find himself saddled with an N16. He must have cheesed off someone in charge.

Carrick, whose white Alb is that in Fritz's zwei?
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 12:47 PM

.

Snow and wind has kept flying to near nil for the last couple of days at Sacy-le-Grand so time has been spent getting things squared away at the new squadron. The poor weather also gave Capitaine Tremblay time to sort out his personal livery. He changed it a bit from his last mount as Escadrille N81's group emblem is the greyhound and his own is a cat, and he wanted to use the two together. He was quite pleased with the final design he came up with.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 04:36 PM

Fritz von Tralenheim
visefeldwebel
Rumbeke. Aerodrome
Schwarm Zwei. Jasta 8.



KIA D E C E A S E D K I A D E C E A S E D K I A

The kette ran into a Flight of N-24's so it was a 5 against 7 fight. After the 1st turns a N-24 dove on Fritz. The Albatross got hit and went into a uncontrolled Spin . Eating Dirt.
I guess empty chairs run in pairs.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 04:58 PM

RAF Louvert:

Hi there good to see ya back. The White Albatross belonged to Walther Gottsch of Jasta 8. thumbsup

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 05:08 PM

Fullofit;

Nice report with supporting historical photos Sir, very enjoyable read. I finally had some time to catch up.

Lou, very creative logo and I like the font choice.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 08:55 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Sgt, C-104
Rosnay, Marne.



May 7, 1917.


I arrived to the Bombardment Esc on the 5th. Had an Orientation flight up to the lines with 3 other Caudron G-4,s I went home they went on to recon and never came back. The Commandant said we will have replacement machines by the 9th t hen I will be posted to combat.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 09:50 PM

Carrick, sorry to hear about the demise of your pilot.
Lou and Robert, thank you for the kind words.

- "Here, drink this" said Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen pushing a green looking drink in a glass across the desk he was sitting at. Aldi looked around and realized he was sitting in the Staffelfuhrer's office and still could taste the vomit. The drink tasted of anise and was very strong.
- "Better?"
- "Yes, Herr Oberleutnant!" he lied. He was still feeling queasy, but the stiff drink started to warm the pit of his stomach right away.
- "Not bad for your first fight." Griffenhagen continued. "when I looked back and saw that Nieuport on your tail I was sure we'll be soon scraping you off that frozen landscape below, but you didn't lose your head and didn't freeze like most neophytes do. I've seen it over and over again." He looked at Aldi and smiled. "Off you go, we'll make a Jagdflieger out of you yet!"

That night Aldi dreamt of a green girl with butterfly wings and very little else to cover her femininity. In the morning he made a mental note to ask the Staffelfuhrer the name of the drink.
The weather held and the mission for today was aerodrome defense. There was no contact with the enemy apart from a flight of Vickers high above. Von Bülow, who led the flight didn't even attempt to chase them. They were simply too high up. There was a bit of commotion during landing as the enemy shells started to fall very close to the aerodrome. Who knows how long they will be able to hold on to this position? Only time will tell but for now snow started to fall again.

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Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen with MvR

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/17 10:08 PM

Thank you all for the condolences.
Fullofit, great story Hoss!
Lou, good writing as always. Nice paint on your machine.
Carrick, be safe with your new pilot. I feel your pain!

Will be away for a short time. Evan Everheart will join you soon.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/17 04:33 AM

Some really great stories in this campaign now! Fullofit, I'm really enjoying Aldi's tale. That green girl with the butterfly wings would look great on the side of his Albatros. Robert, thanks for the great stories and videos. The work you put into these is really appreciated. And very big thanks to you for your help in skinning Colin's Pup "Sheila." Lou, it's a real pleasure to have you flying and posting again. I hope your cat's tribulations are not too taxing! Finally, MFair old pal, PLEASE take care of Evan. Who will he fly for?

Here is Colin Urquhart's latest account...

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator

Part 20

My seventh confirmed kill was deemed bingeworthy, and as luck would have it, a combination of events supported that noble end. On 3 January we had a heavy snowfall in the morning which cancelled all flying. In the afternoon we paraded the entire ship’s company to trample down the snow over the airfield, and then staked out a pitch for a rugger match against 5 (Naval) Squadron, which we won handily. Our squadron concert party had long been scheduled for that evening. The stage was set up in the transport hangar, and Colonel Longcroft was the guest of honour, along with most of Naval Five and officers and men of 23 Squadron. The highlight of the evening was a ventriloquism act by A.C. Clare, who had made up his dummy to look like General Trenchard. It passed ribald comments on the senior officers in the front rows while barking orders to “Make a note of that, Clare!â€

The show was followed by a wonderful dinner in A and B Flight Mess, at which Squadron Commander Bromet read a congratulatory telegram about my latest kill which had arrived from General Trenchard himself. The General went on to praise the support we had all given to the RFC during a difficult period.

Franks, the steward, had done up a devastating punch, which he styled “Punch, generals, for the disabling of, Mark I.†It was a steaming hot concoction of rum, brandy, curaçao, mixed liqueurs, and lemons. Captain Walker, the Brigade Major, was quite undone by it. I, too, was – in naval parlance – “overserved.â€

I was transferred to Robert Little’s Flight. Little, who prefers to be called “Alexâ€, is a brilliant pilot with three Huns to his credit. He is Australian, although he told me his father came from Canada. Over punch, Little ordered me to name my Pup. Many of the fellows have taken to painting names on their machines, usually girls’ names. Little has “Veraâ€, Booker has “Maudâ€, Simpson has “Binky’, Jenners-Parsons has “Angel’, and so on.

“Isn’t there anyone you think of every time you fly?†Little asked me. There was. Not exactly a love interest, but I often thought with amusement about how I’d ended up flying in France. I recalled that night I’d gone over the wall from Upper Canada College with my pal Matty Novak, and how I’d shared a flask of bootleg whiskey with a girl named Sheila who’d spoiled the romantic evening by throwing up on the two of us.

And so my Pup was christened “Sheila.â€

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We flew twice to Riencourt on the 5th and 6th to shoot up the Hun aerodrome there. Little let me lead both flights. I nearly bought it on the 5th when bullets from a ground machine gun severed the petrol line. I managed to get up to 2000 feet before the engine coughed and died. It was a long and tense glide over the lines, with Hun Archie and machine guns reaching out for me the whole way. I managed to put “Sheila†down in a rutted and shell-holed field just behind our lines. Fortunately the machine was sheltered from observation by a low rise, so after a long cold day in a forward supply area the recovery team arrived just before nightfall and I walked four miles to Bapaume, where I arranged a drive back to Vert Galant. We revisited Riencourt the next morning, and this time shot the place up properly. Flt Sub-Lieutenant McNaughton, a recent arrival, did not return from the flight on the 5th and was being written off strength when he turned up just before dinner on the 6th. He'd been hit by Archie and crashed not far from where I'd come down, but had spent the day in a shell hole under fire. The squadron commander has given him 48 hours' leave.

I was deeply affected to learn that Dudley Duckett, the young English schoolboy I'd recently got to know, collided with an Albatros in a scrap and his machine was seen to break up.

And then the snows returned.




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Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/17 05:33 AM

Cheap booze and a messy ending, sounds like a fairly standard Saturday night here Raine. Well written smile
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/17 12:27 PM

Raine;

Nice one!! I really liked the part about the Trenchard Puppet. I could almost hear the routine going down. I would have loved to hear it all!

Glad you like the skin.

Cheers!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/17 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Ace_Pilto
Cheap booze and a messy ending, sounds like a fairly standard Saturday night here Raine. Well written smile


Thanks, Ace! If you want to catch up on the original messy story about Sheila's role in how Colin ended up in the RNAS, it's at page 191 of this thread.

And thanks again, Robert. I feel more like one of the gang now that the Pup has a name!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/17 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
Fullofit, I'm really enjoying Aldi's tale. That green girl with the butterfly wings would look great on the side of his Albatros.

Thanks Raine, that's a great idea, although I'm not sure how well green goes with blue. Will need a white background. But even before that, Aldi will have to down 5 opponents. Cheers!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/17 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Originally Posted by Raine
Fullofit, I'm really enjoying Aldi's tale. That green girl with the butterfly wings would look great on the side of his Albatros.

Thanks Raine, that's a great idea, although I'm not sure how well green goes with blue. Will need a white background. But even before that, Aldi will have to down 5 opponents. Cheers!


Would this do? If so, I can send you the skin.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 12:42 AM

You are quick Robert. Man, that's green! Send it away! Thanks! clapping
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 12:46 AM

Oooo, just googled the green fairy. Wonder what's Green Fairy in German? I think I'm going to stick with this one.

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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 06:26 AM

Grüne Fee
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by lederhosen
Grüne Fee

Thanks Lederhosen. Is that "Die" or "Das", or no need?
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 11:09 AM

.

Carrick, sorry to learn of the fall of von Tralenheim. Another brave flieger gone to Valhalla. Here’s hoping Gilbear makes it through.

Fullofit, Aldi best look out for absinthe, it can sneak up on one in some rather nasty ways. By the way, I did a fairy emblem on one of the OFF Albs a long time back. I’m sure I still have the artwork if you’re interested. I won’t be able to look for it though until I get home Friday night.

Raine, congrats on Colin’s seventh confirmed victory, and it must have been a lucky number for him given that forced landing he pulled off. Looks like “Sheila†will fly again soon.

Robert, that is one snazzy-looking bright green fairy, but I fear it may serve as an unwanted beacon to those pesky Nieups.

Glad you all like Allard’s new livery. It took some time to get the cowl sorted out as well as the empennage, thanks to those tricky little wrap anomalies.


Now I am off to meetings in Elkhart, Indiana, but I’ll check back tomorrow morning.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 11:56 AM

"Die"

you can leave it out or in.
as a a logo I'd leave it out

but I'm not German so maybe someone else will add his komment
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 04:29 PM

wow super looking Albatross Skin.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 04:38 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Sgt, C-104
Rosnay, Marne.


May 9, 1917.

Up and down 2 times today, there were foul ups in both. On the morning flight, no escorts showed up so the flight leader cancelled and back to the barn. The afternoon flight had a solid overcast down to 300 meters over the lines. The 2 of us tried going in but took rife hits so canx and returned home.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 04:56 PM

wave

When Fullofit asked about a Green female, I thought it was one of these two.
:neaner

:

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by RAF_Louvert
.
Fullofit, Aldi best look out for absinthe, it can sneak up on one in some rather nasty ways. By the way, I did a fairy emblem on one of the OFF Albs a long time back. I’m sure I still have the artwork if you’re interested. I won’t be able to look for it though until I get home Friday night.


Lou, Aldi looked on Wikipedia: "Recent studies have shown that absinthe's psychoactive properties (apart from that of the alcohol) have been exaggerated." loaded-santa
Also, thank you for the offer. My hart is set on this fairy. salute

Originally Posted by carrick58
wave
When Fullofit asked about a Green female, I thought it was one of these two.
neaner


Carrick, that's a bit too far into the future, heh heh! transformer
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/17 10:53 PM

Now for the sad part. Capitaine Dominique Urbain was following an Albatros with a dead engine, which he earlier "switched off". Instead of using the speed of his "brick" he followed his prey at just above the stall speed. They were approaching Saint Mard when a gust of wind buffeted his SPAD, the left wing stalled and he plummeted to the ground desperately trying to recover. There was not enough distance to get it done. The brick hit the ground to the amusement of the Hun still sailing towards safety. Incroyable!

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Otherwise everything is good. Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold is enjoying his Tripe. Germans are not.

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Offizierstellvertreter Aldi Schwarzkopf is waiting for the snow to stop while trying to find out the name of the green drink.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/10/17 12:00 AM

One more thing. Just before the fateful flight Dominique was given a new toy: Nieuport 24, but just 5 minutes later it was taken away and the old SPAD was thrust back into his hands, with the explanation that it is new now (again). What gives?

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Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/10/17 05:42 AM

The high brass apprehended the fate of Dominique and saved new airplane wink.
My condolence to you for the lost of Dominique.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/10/17 04:53 PM

soapbox

I have had that same thing happen in a Spad. Low, Slow, Stalled and fell out out the sky of course being too low to recover didnt help at all. reading
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/10/17 05:02 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Sgt, C-104
Rosnay, Marne.


May 10, 1917.

Hq had the Esc 2 a/c bombing the lines today from 1500 meters. The bombs fell all over and I dont think they hit anywhere close to the target. One machine was forced down Eng ? Shell fire ?. After landing, the C.O. said here's your orders to Report to Spa 81 of GC 15 a N-23/ Spad Esc.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/10/17 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by JJJ65
The high brass apprehended the fate of Dominique and saved new airplane wink.
My condolence to you for the lost of Dominique.

Triple-J, this is the most logical explanation I've heard so far.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/10/17 09:25 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

11 Jan 1917 @ 09h10 Balloon attack west of Lens


The morning was very cold and Albert noticed the partly cloudy sky giving him home for less dreary times ahead. The sun was breaking through periodically as he and the others headed towards the morning briefing.

The squadron commander indicated “B†and “A†flight would be up for an attack on a Hun balloon just west of Lens. “B†flight was tasked to take out the balloon while “A†flight kept watch from above to fend off any Hun scouts that might come to hamper the operation. We were advised that we would encounter broken cumulus clouds from 4000 to 9000 ft. but generally operational weather conditions. The wind was rated as 6 kn from the west, a slight bonus in time to reach the balloon, and as usual, a hindrance on the way back.

Albert remembered to properly grease up for the flight and make sure his sidcot was properly fitted to keep out the biting wind.

“B†flight was lead by Hill, with Meintjes, Pidcock, Sawrey, Godfrey and Bennet in tow. “A†flight was composed of Graves, Caldwell and Fry.

The flights formed up just north of the Savy field, attaining a height of 8500 ft after having climbed in and out of cloud cover during the process.

At 09h18 the flight headed east and were soon south of Loos at 09h23, and approaching the lines. Hill began the descent and crossed the lines at 09h28 at approximately 4500 ft. The Hun archie was quiet and it appeared we had gone over un-noticed.

Albert could see the vague outline of the gas bag in the distance and kept glancing over towards Hill’s N17, looking fof the signal to go in. That gas bag loomed larger and larger and Albert was beginning to think Hill had not sighted it. No sooner had Albert thought this, than he noticed Hill raise his hand to signal the attack run. Albert did not hesitate and quickly pushed his stick forward. He soon was ahead and making the first pass on the balloon. He fired a few tentative rounds and then loosed his Le Prieur rockets at the bag. Quickly pulling up into a climb, he banked to port looking back to see Sawrey’s rockets connect. He watched the bag smoke heavily and then burst into flames, sinking quickly below. Checking his watch, he noted the time as 09h30.

“B†flight formed up again during a wide circuit of the balloon site , and headed towards home at approximately 2500 ft. and climbing for altitude.

Scanning the skies, Albert noticed a couple of specs on the port side, high and at 9 oclock. They appeared to be in a dogfight with three other craft and he suspected that “A†flight might be involved as they were nowhere closer to his flight. Albert made a mental note that if indeed it was “A†flight up there, we would make sure that they got their just rewards back at the mess that evening.

At 09h38 they were crossing the lines at 6000 ft. with no interference from enemy scouts and only the occasional burst of Hun archie. “B†flight landed at Savy at 09h44 with all craft accounted for. Sawrey had taken some light damage that would require two days to repair and was probably the result of Hun archie during his attack on the balloon.

Approximately 20 minutes later, the sound of three N17’s approaching, caused the men to rush out from the reporting office and just in time to see Graves, Caldwell and Fry returning. Everyone rushed out to the field to greet the returning flight. Albert noticed a few holes in Graves and Caldwell’s crafts and it became clear very quickly, when both men announced that they had dispatched three Albatross DIII’s from Jasta 18. Graves claimed two and Caldwell the other. Fry had in fact been more the observer than the antagonist on this mission and had confirmed all that had occurred. It seemed that Albert would in fact me buying some rounds this evening, as would the rest of “B†flight.
He suspected that Graves, Caldwell and Fry would be a little worse for wear the next morning.

Murphy's Law struck again!! During some video captures while creating the "Green Girl" for the Alb pics I posted, I must have deleted my previous capture of Albert's mssion. When I decided to post it today with this report, it was nowhere to be found! Ahhhh! cuss
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/10/17 10:15 PM

Robert, no one Aldi knows personally I hope?

Sorry about the video cock-up. I feel partially responsible.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/10/17 10:28 PM

Dominique Urbain's replacement arrived today. Sergent Etienne Valois from Le Mans isn't one to mince words. He got right to business. Climbed into the rickety N23 that was assigned to him and followed all the rest of the flight on a patrol. The N23 was left far behind the SPAD's but that suited Etienne just fine. Loner on the ground just as much as in the air. He noticed a fight breaking up ahead of him between his flight and a Kette of Albatros D.III's. By the time he and his wingman got there the fight was coming to an end. The SPAD's were returning home as were the Albatrosen. One or two were straggling behind and that was just the prey Etienne was counting on. He swooped down on one of them, introduced himself to the German with a few well placed bursts of his Vickers and waved "Good-bye" as the Hun was spiraling down towards the earth. His wingman witnessed the entire encounter and the first victory has now been confirmed.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/11/17 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Robert, no one Aldi knows personally I hope?

Sorry about the video cock-up. I feel partially responsible.


I have no idea who was flying in the DIII's, and the error was all mine for sure and in no way related to work I was doing on the green girl. I failed to pay appropriate attention to what I was doing> Kind of like failing to check six!! Human error!!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/11/17 04:09 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.



May 11, 1917.



I took a spare N-23 up for area orientation. a nice little ship as long as you dont dive steep. During the 2nd time up, my section ran into 3 Albatross Scouts and we banged away at them. I shot off 200 rds of Vicker's and never hit a sausage. My flight claimed 1 destroyed. The commandant said that I would be given a Spad 7 to fly as the N-23's are being turned in.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/13/17 12:03 AM

Fullofit, sorry to read of Dominique's passing. Best of luck to Etienne. He's off to a fine start. Robert, great reading. I'm looking forward to meeting Bishop and getting your take on his personality. Carrick, best of luck with the N23!

Here is Colin Urquhart's latest. He had a close call on the 11th.

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator

Part 21

From the 7th to the 10th of January the weather closed in again: intense cold, high wind, and driving snow. The poor fellows in the trenches have it much worse than us, of course, but the forced idleness made us morose and very sorry for ourselves. We have had a few casualties and four days of sitting about and playing cards and talking about the war did us no good at all. Commander Bromet did his best to keep us busy with lectures and sports and such, but we were getting rusty and we knew it.

Finally on 11 January we had a fine morning. I was assigned the job of taking a patrol of six Pups up to the lines just north of Arras. It was a splendid morning. I decided to forego the usual routine of gaining altitude near Doullens before heading for the lines. Instead we climbed steadily all the way from Vert Galant to Arras, reaching 10000 feet before we arrived there. The morning sun was blinding against the snowy fields, and visibility to the south was difficult. My neck was beginning to ache from search the clear blue sky when, over our lines to the southwest, six or seven specks appeared. I turned towards them.

The unidentified aircraft turned south. If they were ours they would likely be heading to a field, but they were over showing no signs of heading for an aerodrome. I angled to the east to cut them off from home if they were Huns. We were within a mile when suddenly they turned to meet us – seven Halberstadt scouts. I climbed and slipped away as they approached, machine guns blazing.

For some reason, three of the Huns managed to occupy our entire patrol except me. I was a little ahead of the others after the chase, and I ended up with four Halberstadts all to myself! My little Pup twisted and turned, and I got the odd quick burst away. But every few minutes I would have to turn away from three Huns while a fourth peppered poor “Sheila.†Two rounds smashed my instrument panel. One likely hit the interruptor gear, for the Vickers seemed to fire slowly and erratically. With every hit the little Pup handled a little more sluggishly.

[Linked Image]
"I ended up with four Halberstadts all to myself!"

I panicked. None of the Huns were tiring, and I thought that another good burst would do me in. I threw the Pup into a spin and prayed it would hold together. We were close over our trenches. The machine did not at first respond when I tried to come out of the spin and for a terrible three or four seconds I saw the ground approaching and knew I was dead. Then, for no clear reason, the Pup slowly began to respond, one wing down. I picked the nearest snow-covered field and put down, smashing the undercarriage and port lower wing but thankfully not turning over. As luck would have it, I was close to one of our forward emergency fields and soon had a guard from 8 Squadron at La Bellevue and a ride back to their comfortable mess. They insisted on pouring whiskey into me and I gratefully obliged.

PO Dawson and his fellows worked through the night to repair my Sheila, and on the following morning I joined Colin MacKenzie’s flight on another line patrol, but shortly before reaching Arras there was an almighty bang up front and the LeRhône began to shake. I shut off and began a long glide to Soncamp Farm field.

On the 13th I made the third unscheduled landing in as many days. I was again given the chance to lead a flight, Compston’s, but a connector rod broke and I dropped in to visit La Bellevue again.

Rumour has it we are to be relieved from our detached duty in early February. There is great speculation that the squadron could be split up into its original components, but most agree that we will likely remain a formed unit with a formal designation.

I have acquired a semi-permanent companion – a white, black, and brown wirehaired terrier who wandered into the aerodrome one day and took up residence in our cabin. He has taken to sleeping on my bed, burrowing under the fine Hudson’s Bay blanket I received from home. He is muddying the creamy white wool of the blanket, but it is a fair price to pay for his skill as a ratter. Our Nissen was crawling with vermin, but now it quite free of them as long as the dog is about. I have named him “Pincher†and the others have agreed that the name suits him. Kris McNaughton, one of our newer fellows and a Manitoban, has acquired some blue twill, brass buttons, and braid. He plans to make a jacket for Pincher and kit him out as a flight lieutenant.




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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/13/17 01:45 AM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.

May 12, 1917.


The Bosche was out in force today. Both flights mixed it up with Rumplers and Albatross Scouts. No score for me, I am firing to far away ? The flight claimed a Rumpler. I can only say that I saw one smoking then go into a sprim, but I did not see a crash. The flight had 3 machines damaged.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/13/17 02:00 AM

Great story Raine, looking forward to a picture of Pincher one day, also you should have a talk with your mechanic. All those break downs seem suspicious. Is he perhaps spending too much time with the French widow?


- "It is mine! I shot it down!" Aldi was furious and Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen was not phased by it, not one bit.
- "Flak battery claims it was them, who shot down that Niueport 12. It is your word against theirs and the pencil pushers will believe many over one. Don't worry, you will still have your Ehrenbeher." Aldi insisted something be done about it.
- "But that's outrageous! I demand justice. I ..."
- "OFFIZIERSTELLVERTRETER SCHWARZKOPF! Are you an officer of the Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel or should I call the wet nurse in here to calm you down? I will have order either way!" Oberleutnant's authority in this moment was indisputable.
- "Now sit down, calm yourself and start from the beginning." Oberleutnant lit his pipe and looked at Aldi the way his father used to when he needed consoling.
Aldi sat across from Grieffenhagen, who was in the process of adjusting his rigid posture and making himself comfortable behind his desk, the way one does when getting ready to read his favorite book.
- "Well, as Herr Oberleutnant knows, this morning we finally had a clear break in weather. I was assigned patrol duty along with Ltn von Bülow, Ltn Strähle and Uoffz Mondschein.

[Linked Image]

Visibility was excellent and we were on our last leg of patrol flying along the NML when we noticed a flight of Nieuports crossing over. We gave chase and each of us picked one victim. Mondschein was there first not realizing these were 2-seaters and he was damaged right away. He turned back to base and that was the last we saw of him."
- "Yes" Grieffenhagen interjected "the poor sod crash-landed it at our field. There wasn't much to pick up. Continue."
- "Once we realized these Nieuports fought back we came up from below. Ltn von Bülow got one on the first pass. I took a position behind one and made sure the observer couldn't aim at me from where I was. When I was very close, I pulled up and open up with both guns. The wing came off and he spiraled down among bursts of Flak. I know I got him!"
- "Now, don't start that again. Keep performing as you have up until now and you are certain to be rewarded with a confirmed kill. Now, go get something to eat and then rest. You'll be flying soon. We have to take advantage of this good weather."

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/13/17 02:15 PM

.

Fullofit, I had a few moments this A.M. to locate that fairy artwork I put together for OFF a number of years back. If you are interested in using it just let me know.


Gents, I have to run for now but I will be back to catch up on everyone's latest adventures. Cheers!

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/13/17 04:25 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.

May 13, 1917.


2 section's 5 a/c flew a close escort for 2 Sopwith's over the lines this morning. no contact for us but high and off to the East our cover flight played with 3 Huns. No Claims but we had 2 damage. The afternoon Patrol by 2 section was Glorious We mixed it up with 2 Two seat a/c and shot down both. I finally got close but couldn't fire. The e/a was already going down so left it alone.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/13/17 08:48 PM

Lou, many thanks for looking. I will be using the image I've posted previously, but before that happens Aldi needs to get some kills on the score board. We'll see if he survives that long. The skies are not friendly. (Besides, your fairy seems to be overdressed behindcouch )
Carrick, looks like you have your hands full. Good luck!
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/14/17 12:40 PM

.

No problem Fullofit, just thought I would put it out there. Condolences on the loss of Dominique. And I just caught up on your other pilots' latest exploits, very enjoyable. But I don't know how you manage to run multiple fliers in a DID campaign, it's all I can do to find the time for one.

Carrick, I see Gilbear is keeping busy and staying on the good side of the sod. I hope he can continue to do so.

Robert, Albert did not make the same mistake twice about greasing up - smart lad. I don't envy him that balloon attack, even with rockets. Tricky business no matter how you go at it. Too bad about the loss of the video.

Raine, Colin is having quite the rough patch. I hope his "Sheila" can continue to hang together and that his luck will improve. Perhaps "Pincher" will turn out to be a charm for him.


Wonderful reading as always Gents, many thanks for sharing. Capitaine Tremblay has managed a couple of sorties despite the uncooperative weather. This morning's outing was actually quite a treat with blue skies and high clouds, albeit bitterly cold. Here are a few pictures to recount the mission.

(right-click on an image and open it in a new window to view it full size)

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A break in the weather at last, Capitaine Tremblay of Esc N81 prepares to lead B Flight on a morning patrol of the front lines between St-Quentin and Pinon.


[Linked Image]
Climbing into a beautiful winter sky as an icy Gibbous moon hangs amid the clouds.


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Over the lines, near the rail yard at Vivaise, Allard spies a low pair of Halberstadts and signals his crew to dive in and attack.


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The Bosch are woefully outnumbered and outmatched and are quickly split up.


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Capitaine Tremblay latches on to one of the poor fellows as he attempts to run away.


[Linked Image]
Two short bursts into the enemy plane and Allard watches as it suddenly spits a trail of black puffs then tumbles to earth. This will be the Capitaine's first claim since returning to combat.


[Linked Image]
The patrol is completed with no further excitement and the victorious French fliers return to Sacy-le-Grand.


[Linked Image]
Allard parks his mount in front of the hangar, happy to be back in the action.



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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/14/17 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by RAF_Louvert

But I don't know how you manage to run multiple fliers in a DID campaign, it's all I can do to find the time for one.


Hey Lou, as Homer would say: I don't know.
I'll try to keep up. After a day's work and the commute, WOFF keeps me sane. It's therapeutic and cheaper than any other treatment, including booze. We'll see.
Very nice photo-report. Keep them coming.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/15/17 12:02 AM

Lou. glad to see you squeaked one in! Take care mate!

Raine, nice touch adding in Pincher! I do believe he will provide some interesting highlights to your stories. Can't wait to see a pic of his new suit!!

Carrick, some tough luck getting so close and still not being able to bag one! It will undoubtedly come.

Fullofit, some really nice pics there. Thanks for posting!

I have one more mission under my belt but no time yet to process the vid and post the story...
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/15/17 03:56 AM

reading
Wow, good stories and pics. thumbsup
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/15/17 04:03 AM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


May 14, 1917.


Posted as the wingman to the C.O., the Section of 5 flew high. No e/a spotted. However, on landing the #4 a/c landed short of the field the machine was a write off. The pilot a Lt. de Berry was mortally hurt. I was off during the rest of day so painted my machine.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/15/17 07:33 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.

May 15,1917.


Attacked a Rail Yard deep into the enemy side of the lines and tangled with 2 Albatross Scouts. I stayed high with the leader while the other two machines shot up the target. I banded away until my gun jamed and stayed in the fight till the leader was shot down. Then it was time to say Au revoir After
we lost 2 a/c that day for Zero enemy machines.


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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/15/17 11:16 PM

- "Well Offizierstellvertreter, are you going to make me wait?" Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen's gaze was preoccupied with packing his pipe with tobacco. Aldi liked the aroma of pipe tobacco. It always reminded him of something exotic, yet simple. He disliked the smell of the tobacco burning, be it pipe or cigarette.
- "Yes, Herr Oberleutnant. I mean, no Herr Oberleutnant, I will not make you wait." Aldi, wasn't sure where he should start and even if he remembers the events of the past hour.
- "The weather over the patrol area was not the greatest. Heavy clouds and visibility was minimal. Our Kette was flying a circuit over the front lines and we honestly did not expect to encounter any other flights. As luck would have it, 2 large pushers were trying to sneak by overhead ..."
- "Ah, so you've met our friends from RFC 20 squadron? Only they fly the Fee's around here." Grieffenhagen was lighting his Bavarian porcelain pipe. Aldi wanted to laugh first time he saw it. "This thing belongs in a museum" he thought to himself.
- "Yes, Herr Oberleutnant. They were flying a few hundred meters above us and didn't seem have noticed us. We caught up with them and Ltn von Bülow along with Ltn Strähle had one burning and falling out of the sky in no time. I stalked the other one and started to shoot from close range."

[Linked Image]

- "The pilot didn't have enough time to react. The gunner was hit and I saw him slumped over the front of the cockpit. After that it was like making a Strudel - very easy. Half the wing came off and the machine went into a spin. We followed it down to make sure, but that was unnecessary. He crashed near Furnes."
- "You know you're not supposed to go that far over the lines?" Grieffenhagen looked at him, but didn't expect an answer.
- "Very well. That will be all. Congratulations on your first confirmed victory Offizierstellvertreter Schwarzkopf. Your Ehrenbeher should arrive in a few days."
- "Thank you, Herr Oberleutnant!"
- "Good job. Now get some rest and call Ltn von Bülow to see me in my office at his convenience."
- "Yes Sir!" Aldi was already on his feet, with a click of his heels he saluted and turned around in one smooth motion. This probably was lost on Grieffenhagen, who was again fiddling with his pipe.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/16/17 02:24 AM

Lou, good to see you flying again. I love the livery on Capt Tremblay's Nieuport! Carrick, best of luck with Gilbear. And Fullofit, those are some great photos. I'm really enjoying Aldi's adventures. Congratulations on the first kill.

Meanwhile, Colin Urquhart has a new engine and another confirmed kill.

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator

Part 22

14 and 15 January were flying days, despite heavy gusts of wind and intense cold. The 14th, at least, was a clear day. A piercing blue sky welcomed us. The sun, bringing no warmth, reflected on the snow as if on a mirror. I was ordered to stand by for defensive patrols, together with FSL McNaughton and FSL Thom. About nine in the morning, just before church divisions, the klaxon sounded and we rushed to the hangars. Squadron second-in-command Flight Commander Huskisson joined us, as did our magnificent Australian flight commander Rob Little. HA north of Amiens, we were told. I climbed over the trees and turned south, throttling back to let the others catch up. The LeRhône purred nicely. After my recent engine failures, PO Dawson and his men had worked through the night to mount a completely new engine and Lieutenant O’Hagen’s team had synchronised and sighted the gun. I had planned to take the machine up to test it, but the call to action had come too quickly.

We passed over the Somme in about ten minutes, already up to 7000 feet. The field at Allonville showed up alongside a distinctively-shaped wood. South of Allonville, the rooftops of Amiens glistened with snow. We turned west for three miles, then north back to the Somme. Just before reaching the river, I headed east. My plan was to patrol all the way to Cappy and then loop back to Amiens. I slowed again, the formation having become ragged on the turn. Thom suddenly cut the corner and passed quickly to starboard. I cursed him for a fool momentarily, but he waggled his wings and banked away. Huns!
They were behind and below us, Roland two-seaters. I spotted two of them immediately. Then a third passed by, surprisingly close. This one must have been stalking us when Thom noticed them. I levelled off around 5000 feet and turned towards the nearest of the first pair. The German banked sharply and came directly at me. I had heard that Rolands could be dangerous but I was not prepared for a two-seater handled with such aggression. We passed within feet of each other. I heard the Hun’s Spandau chattering, but in my surprise I failed to fire at all.

I climbed and turned. So did the Hun. We came at each other again. I skidded to port, firing as the Hun passed. Some rounds must have hit him. Our two aircraft repeated this show, turning and passing head on. With each pass I rolled out of the way and down, seeking to avoid becoming an easy target for the Hun’s gunlayer. After about four or five of these jousts, the Hun suddenly fell into a spin, his nose level with the horizon. The machine fell like a leaf for four thousand feet while I circled, ready to note where it fell. And then, just before it hit the ground, the Hun got the nose down, regained control, and headed east.

“Not b---y likely,†I thought, and dived on the Roland. I levelled off behind him and below, closed to 50 yards, and nosed upward. I fired long bursts from the Vickers until I rose high enough I could see the Hun gunner straining to bring his weapon around to bear. I dived under the Hun again, closed the distance, and again climbed under the Roland, firing. Pieces of Roland were fluttering away behind it and a stream of white smoke or steam emerged. Thom was approaching from above. I hadn’t bagged a two-seater before and I wanted this one all to myself. One more dive and zoom did it. The Hun gunner got a shot at me and punched holes in my wings, but the Roland at last began to tumble earthward. I saw it crash near Corbie, and Thom was able to confirm the kill – number eight.

The most dangerous engagement of the day, however, was our collective attempt to wash Pincher the terrier. He took a good nip out of both Simpson and Booker but mercifully left me intact although he growled fearsomely. We scrubbed for an hour to get the filth of a hundred barnyards and middens out of his matted fur. I finished him off with some Yardley’s Lavender Soap that I’d bought for my aunt in Edinburgh but had forgotten to send her. Pincher needed it more, I figured. Finally we brushed him with a curry comb from the stables. He was a new dog, ready for the shows. Simpson’s illegal camera came out and we took his picture. That night we brought him to the A and B Flight mess and gave him a place of honour in a straw-lined open crate near the stove, where he chewed on a mutton bone and enjoyed a beer poured into a wooden bowl.

[Linked Image]
"He was a new dog, ready for the shows."


The next day, 15 January, I led a close offensive patrol from Vimy down to Monchy. We took off in light snow and climbed to 13000 feet before seeing sunlight. It was an uneventful first hour. We paraded up and down the lines until my neck ached from checking. The towering clouds made for an easy ambush, and the southern part of our patrol area was not far from the sector where the Bad Baron was reputed to hang out.

I was just about to give the signal to head home when two observation machines appeared from under a cloud on our starboard quarter. We turned and dived on them – Rolands again. The Huns put up a good fight. I bagged one with the same dive and zoom from behind and below that worked the previous day. Colin McKenzie, whose flight I had been permitted to lead, bagged the other Hun. Unfortunately mine was not witnessed and counted as a mere “driven down,†although I had watched it fall nearly to the ground without a hope of recovery.

[Linked Image]
Closing on the Roland that was "driven down". McKenzie's Hun is already going down in the distance.

Nonetheless, eight official Huns is not a bad record. I was particularly proud to receive a congratulatory telegram from my father, who had received from the studios of Christina Broom in London a photograph I had taken whilst on leave of me with my DSO ribbon. He has had it framed and hung in his office at the Royal Victoria Hospital back in Montreal.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/17/17 04:10 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


May 17, 1917.


Big fight with the Zee Bosche today. Our 6 a/c were Patrolling the aerodromes when we spotted a mix up 500 meters above us. The turning and firing a/c didn't take long to come down on us. N-24's ( about 5) and Albatross Scouts ( 8 -11) along with 2-3 Dfw 2 seat machines chasing and twisting all over the rain swept sky. It was pot shots till I could dive on a D-III going under me. I got in a lot of hits then the next time I made a pass his motor had stopped. Leaving him alone, I climbed to rejoin the Fur ball ,but everyone was going home so RTB. My flight claimed 4 destroyed for 1 lost and a pilot wnd ,but HQ only confirmed 1 made by the Esc Ace. ( mine and the others were rejected ) 1st Section also had a good day knocking down a 2 seat. The N-24 Sqn lost 2 machines.


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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/18/17 02:38 AM

Colin Urquhart continues to have claims rejected...

A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator

Part 23

On 16 January 1917 Squadron Commander Bromet sent for me while I was enjoying a breakfast of toast and tea, thanks to a ground mist that delayed the early patrol. I had been once again assigned to lead this show, an attack on the Hun balloon line near Monchy. Corps was relieving a number of units in the line and the weather was clearing, so we had to put Jerry’s eyes out for the day.

I walked briskly over to the office in the farm house and saluted. Bromet smiled and motioned to a chair.

“Well, I am very pleased to inform you that you are a Temporary Flight Commander, effective immediately. Stan Gobel hasn’t shaken his poor health and will get a rest. You’ll take his place leading B Flight.â€

I stammered my thanks, and considered the extra five shillings a day as good as spent. It would bring my pay up to about 220 francs a week, enough to live quite comfortably as long as some fool didn’t go off and end the war.

By the time I got to the B Flight hangar the news was already out. McNaughton and Soar offered congratulations, and Compston and Huskisson announced that they were joining the patrol “to make sure I knew the way back.â€

The flight to Arras and beyond was pleasant and uneventful, although painfully cold. Soar had to turn back with a dud engine. Not a big believer in dawdling around balloons, I led us straight in and straight out. My LePrieurs seemed to hit, but as I looked back the gasbag was still there. Jenner-Parson was the last man in and was firing when the thing finally caught fire, so he got the credit.

That night, Compston, McKenzie, Soar, and McNaughton showed up with a Crossley tender, obtained from 23 Squadron in an exchange the nature of which was none of my business, I was told. We were off to Amiens to celebrate. McKenzie had arranged the passes.

First stop was the Hotel Carlton, near the station, where we went through several bottles of champagne. McNaughton played the piano in the bar, badly but loudly. Dinner followed, a splendid affair despite the shortages. We were served carbonade – a beef stew made with onions and beer and serves with potatoes and turnips. There was more wine. Finally it was suggested that we visit Pierrette’s, a blue light establishment.

I feigned enthusiasm, but in honesty I had attended too many “personal hygiene†lectures to relax about this plan. One part of my brain told me that the war was long and dangerous and this was simply something that had to be got out of the way. Another part worried that one day I would meet someone special and this night would be something to regret. I chose the elegant solution, and ordered a bottle of port to bring with us. By the time we arrived at Pierette’s house I was quite incapable. I remember only a yellowish sofa with flowers, a cracked mirror, a battered piano, and some shabby framed photos of nudes. One or two girls tried to rouse me, but I awoke in pitch darkness in the back of a freezing and lurching Crossley and finished the evening being sick over the tailgate.

Snow in the morning delayed our first patrol until ten, so I had some time to recover. I was to lead B Flight to escort three BE2s to bomb an assembly area east of Monchy. On the return flight we encountered two Halberstadts and, the BE boys being nearly home, we took them on. I got behind one of the Huns and drove him into an out-of-control spin. But the fellow pulled out at about 1000 feet and made a run for it. I dived on him, stressing the airframe badly, and with one firing pass I downed him. The kill, unfortunately, was not witnesses and therefore not confirmed.

There are rumours we will be moved back north any day. I want to get two more Huns so that I can have ten before we return to a quiet life.

[Linked Image]
"I dived on him, stressing the airframe badly, and with one firing pass I downed him."





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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/18/17 10:40 AM

[Linked Image]
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/18/17 11:31 PM

That's a nice ride, Lederhosen!
Raine, white knuckle ride down like that! I don't know? Seems like Colin doesn't value his life anymore and then he worries about some harlots. I suppose it's better to die in a burning plane than die from a burning sensation in you pants.

Jasta 18
14 January 1917
Offizierstellvertreter Aldi Schwarzkopf dismounted his Albatros D.III and began his walk towards the barracks. Near one of them, despite the loudly crunching snow underfoot Ltn Strähle snuck up behind him and grabbed him in a friendly headlock.
- "So, you are getting good at this. You got another one."
Aldi was surprised. - "How did you know? I've just landed."
- "Well, the observation balloon near which all this happened called ahead with the news and the confirmation. Are you going to tell me all about it voluntarily, or do I need to tighten my hold on your neck?" Strähle was unrelenting.
Aldi started to gasp for air.
- "Ok, ok! Just give me some breathing space. Leutnant released his grip and they started walking together to Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen's office.
- "We were escorting the 2-seaters over the front and were just about to leave the formation to get back to base when 3 Sopwiths showed up out of thin air. One of them went for the bombers, another tangled with von Bülow and I got saddled with the last one. This machine could turn on a Pfennig and the pilot was very experienced as well."

[Linked Image]

- "Oooo, you've met the new Pup" Paul Strähle commented knowingly.
- "No, I'm telling you, the pilot was an old dog."
- "I was talking about the new plane, you silly Fledermaus! They call it Pup." The older pilot explained.
- "I see. In that case I'm afraid we'll be in need of Albatros D.IV soon because what we have is not good enough." Aldi replied.
Strähle looked sideways at him and responded: - "I think you'd better write a letter to Der Kaiser explaining that our new planes are not good enough for Offzstvr Schwarzkopf and that he should order new and better machines post haste."
They both laughed. Aldi continued:
- Seriously, initially I was in for it, getting clipped from all angles, but as we came down to the deck he started to make mistakes and eventually I was able to get a few rounds into him. He started to climb in circles, but I was able to keep up with him. They seem to think we're still flying the D.II model and I think that's the only reason I'm here and he's there."

[Linked Image]

- "Don't worry about him. The pilot was able to get back over the lines after he crashed. We'll have to get him next time." Strähle was starting to walk in a different direction.
- "Where are you going? Aren't you going to walk me to Herr Oberleutnant's office?" Aldi stopped.
- "Nah, von Bülow is there right now talking to Grieffenhagen. It'll take a while. I'm going to the mess hall, I hear we're having Schnitzel for supper. I'm sick of duck a l'orange. Congrats on your victory! See you later?" And with that Ltn Strähle turned the corner and disappeared. Aldi was left there standing trying to decide if he should follow and get some food, or go and wait outside the office.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/19/17 03:47 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


May 19, 1917.


2 section was sent off to due an Airfield attack. However, 3 a/c couldn't due much.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/20/17 05:14 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


May 20, 1917.


The Esc was chasing 2 seat machines all morning over the lines. They would spot us then dive for home. During the afternoon flight 2 sections 4 a/c ran into two very good Hun pilots. I tuned twisted and zoomed firing off 357 rds of ammo for nothing. ( my sights are off ) They took out 1 Spad then headed for home so did we then my motor caught fire. Found a little flat sport and made a hard landing. My face bounced off the machine gun and panels a few times so will be in the hospital till the 27th. A good day for zee Bosche.


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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/20/17 06:17 PM

Carrick, do you use the gun sight view?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 12:21 AM

1 RNAS
January 21, 1917 Furnes
Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold is doing well and currently is in the process of conducting active action against German 2-seaters.

[Linked Image]

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N 57
May 20, 1917 Lhery
Sergent Etienne Valois has been promoted to Adjutant and given Nieuport 24 to fly his escort patrols.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 02:05 AM

Jasta 18
18 January 1917, Halluin

A few days have past since Aldi Schwarzkopf's latest victory over the Pup. These days were relatively quiet and not much has been happening during that time, especially from the enemy's side. Also, the weather seemed to improve during that time, but now dark clouds cover most of the sky with only a few patches of blue sky visible here and there. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the bitter cold, which is currently trying to burrow its way under Aldi's flight gear. Sitting in the cockpit of his Albatros at 2000 m and keeping his head on a swivel during today's patrol is pretty much all he can do as he keeps the machine in formation along with von Bülow and Strähle. Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen is leading Kette Eins further away over German held territory. He is evaluating the 2 new arrivals and Aldi can only imagine what Herr Oberleutnant must be calling them under his breath right this moment, as the Albatrosen behind him aren't doing a good job of keeping the formation.
Suddenly his reverie was interrupted by staccato of machine gun fire coming from above. A flight of Nieuports gray as the sky managed to ambush them. As they flew by Aldi noticed black bird on their fuselage. Von Bülow and Strähle were already engaged and Kette Eins was nowhere in sight. Aldi found his assailant making a turn for a second pass. Thankfully there was only one of them attacking him this time. He banked his Albatros and pulled hard on the stick, the machine groaned in protest but obeyed and Aldi was now pointing his guns at the Nieuport, which was in the process of doing the exact same thing. The Spandaus momentarily drowned the roar of his Mercedes engine. Hit! The Nieuport changed direction and started to dive, but Aldi was already on his tail pounding the unfortunate sesquiplane to a pulp. His Le Rhone stopped turning.

[Linked Image]

The twin guns had the last word and the Nieuport was now a large smoking crater in no man's land. Aldi checked his six and then looked for other blue and red machines around him. There were none to be found. He adjusted his course for home and started to climb when he noticed a silver machine crossing the lines. Aldi gave chase and was soon behind the unsuspecting Frenchman. He was still too far to make an effective attack. Aldi told himself to be patient. The range started to decrease and the little plane started to grow in the rings of his gun sight. Finally, the Newport was close enough and Aldi waited long enough. His guns started to shred canvas again and the Nieuport attempted evasive maneuvers. He banked and dove to avoid the lashes from Aldi's guns. Aldi followed and nearly froze on the spot. The bloody Nieuport took him for a ride right into the middle of his A-flight. Four new enemies were staring in his face. Aldi flew directly through the middle of the formation with his guns set to "whatever you do, don't stop". The formation scattered around him and he didn't think twice to turn his machine around while they were regrouping, point his Albatros straight at the frontlines and dive, dive, dive. He looked back - all 4 of them were behind following like a pack of wolves gaining, gaining. The trenches were now in sight. He crossed them with only about 1000 m of altitude. They were still there, out of range but getting closer. Suddenly he noticed specks to his left. Is it us or them? Aldi decided to take the chance and bring his entourage that way. If they're friendly - he's saved. If not, well ... they better be friendly! The specks started to become larger, gaining shape and finally he was able to see the colour of the oncoming machines. Red and blue! Of all the luck! That's Kette Eins! Grieffenhagen with his 2 pupils won't engage. They're already turning away! Scheisse! Newports are now only one bullet length away from being in range. Aldi dove steeper and aimed for the nearest balloon. Fingers crossed the boys down there are awake. Maybe he can drag them from balloon to balloon hoping for lucky hits and trusting in balloon defense's proper training. A tall order. The balloon came at him unexpectedly fast. At this altitude everything happens faster. Where is the next balloon? There's none in sight. He looked back, one of them turned around. Good old Flak! If he survives, he must remember to send these boys a case of Schnapps. Aldi looked around. There's an airfield really close by. He'll end up with a hole in his back if he attempts a landing now, but maybe the anti-aircraft machine guns can even out the odds? He dragged them across the airfield. Good. 2 more have left. Only one remains. Aldi realized he now has a smile on his face. The Albatros banked and turned as if the machine also wanted some payback for being put through its paces. Few more twists and turns and Aldi was on the N17's tail, already limping from hits inflicted by the airfield's anti-aircraft batteries. Aldi squeezed the triggers with relief, watched the Nieuport nosedive into the patch of frozen ground just outside the airfield and reduced the RPM's on his motor.

[Linked Image]

He was on the ground in no time. Hopefully Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen won't be too sore for sending a French Nieuport welcoming committee his way.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 02:46 AM

Great account, Fullofit!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 12:03 PM

Thank you Raine, I appreciate it.

Aldi's dream about the girl with butterfly wings was interrupted by familiar voices of his two close friends, Walter von Bülow and Paul Strähle, bickering with each other. He was still groggy and did not understand what the two of them were doing at his bed.
He could hear von Bülow's resigned voice: - "Paul, please stop playing with that sponge. You've obviously never been to hospital before."
From the tone of Strähle's defensive voice it appeared he was coming up with a lie, but was interrupted by a quick observation.
- "Look, he's waking up!" Paul's face appeared uncomfortably close to Aldi's.
- "What time is it?" Aldi asked.
Ltn. Strähle who was leaning over Aldi responded in a gentle, hushed voice: -"Never mind the time, do you know what day it is?"
- "What kind of a question is that? It's Sunday!"
- "Ha! I told you, amnesia!" Paul Strähle's voice was triumphant, discarding his previous soft tone, immediately catching himself and covering his mouth. He added in nearly inaudible voice: - "I knew it!"
Von Bülow rolled his eyes. - "He was hit in his arm, not his head."
- "What's the last thing you remember?" Walter looked at perplexed Aldi.
Aldi gathered his thoughts and tried to put together his most recent memories.
- "We were escorting the 2-seaters. Grieffenhagen had to drop out of formation with a dud engine, or was he hit by ground fire? I'm kinda foggy on that one. We were returning when the Strutters showed up. I was hit by the observer, but managed to shoot the crate down before landing and passing out."
- "That you did and along with the two Nieuports you took out the day before that makes five." Von Bülow announced.
- "Herr Grieffenhagen put you up for a medal and now is hunting for a case of Veuve Clicquot to seal the deal. You are Kanone now! Paul, give him his medal."
Ltn Strähle leaned over Aldi again and with great care and reverence pinned the Iron Cross 2nd Class to Aldi's pajamas.
- "It's Tuesday" he said in a soft voice.

[Linked Image]
Ltn Paul Strähle

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Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 12:35 PM

.

I’ve just spent some quality time this morning sitting back and enjoying a cuppa whilst catching up on everyone’s latest exploits.

Fullofit, wonderful accounts for Offizierstellvertreter Schwarzkopf, Squadron Commander Gold, and Adjutant Valois. Still don’t know how you hop from one mount to the next and keep things straight but more power to you for managing it. Congrats to Aldi on earning his first Ehrenbeher, his subsequent victories, and now the Eisernes Kreuz II. I must say though he’s been pressing his luck in his latest encounters, he needs to remember that discretion can sometimes be the better part of valour.

Carrick, Gilbear’s lot is certainly having a tough go of it there in Verdun. Five machines lost, one pilot dead and two others wounded including Gilbear, and all in less than a week. I guess I know what Capitaine Tremblay has to look forward to, provided he lasts until then.

lederhosen, Cecil’s new mount is a pip!

Raine, great episodes for Colin Urquhart. Well done on his bump to Flight Commander, temporary or otherwise. His handling of the visit to Pierrette’s was elegant indeed, better to be thought of as one who can’t hold his drink than risk bringing home the gift that keeps on giving. By the way, Pincher is precisely how I had him pictured in my head.


Over the last week Capitaine Tremblay has managed another three sorties between bouts of ill weather and his tasks as Commander of N81. His latest mission ended in a go-round with a Roland that saw the EA crashing and Allard making a dead stick landing in a field east of camp, his engine being shot through in the tête-à-tête. Ah well, c'est la guerre, it wasn’t such a bad day for a walk.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 01:11 PM

Lou, it isn't easy. And as I've said it before, I don't know how long I can keep it up. (my wife hears it all the time). For me the hardest part is the report. It takes too long for me to write it. I'm not good with them words.
Capitaine Tremblay is a lucky man to survive such a close encounter with that Roland and only end up with a few holes in canvas. It could have been much worse. He could have ended up in hospital and be given a medal. I really like the skin on that Nieupe.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 02:18 PM

.

Fullofit, don't sell yourself short on your writing, it is first rate stuff.

Yes, the Capitaine was lucky despite having seen that the rear gunner suffered a jam after their initial engagement. Allard took advantage of the situation and came in close for his next pass which was successful as it sent the Roland down, but the Hun gunner managed to get the jam cleared and got some shots off at the last second. That's when the engine on the Nieup started coughing and rattling.

Glad you like the livery on Tremblay's mount. The cowl took some time to sort out as did the stripes on the wing due to the wrap distortions inherent in the OFF/WOFF models.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 03:42 PM

Lou, thank you for the compliment. I'll try to keep up with Aldi.
You are correct about those skinning issues. Just a simple band across the fuselage tests my patience. Do you antialias your lines or keep them crisp?
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 03:56 PM

.

Fullofit, I often will "fuzz" the edges slightly as they tend to look too crisp is you don't. But that can vary and I usually just do what I need to in order to have it all look as it should. Trial and error, as you've no doubt discovered yourself, when it comes to skinning in this sim.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 05:56 PM

Thanks Lou, that has been my experience as well.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/17 08:26 PM

So many fine reports in this thread! It's going to take a while to catch up with everything. I'm glad to see most of the veterans from the original DID campaign are now participating in this one with their great stories and pictures and videos.

Unfortunately a combination of computer troubles and other real life stuff has effectively put a stop to my DID flying, at least for now. I haven't made any progress at all with Bruno's career. Sorry about that.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/17 03:23 PM

Sub Flight Lt. Edgar Everheart
Naval 8
Vert Galant.

A tender pulled up at Vert Galant field. It was spitting snow and a right dreary day. As the tender stopped Edgar opened the door and jumped out. His feet hit a solid patch of ice and he hit the ground with a thud. Not a very glorious entrance to his new home. A pilot trudged over and helped him to his feet. "Lets hope you can fly better than you can walk my good man!" the pilot said. "New replacement?"

"Yes, Lt. Everheart Sir. Thank you for the leg up." The pilot wrapped his scarf a little tighter against the blowing snow and pointed to a building at the far end of the field. "You will want to report over there," With that he walked off.

Everheart was shown the CO's office and saluted smartly. "Flight Sub Lt. Everheart reporting for duty Sir!"

The CO's eyes went from Everheart to the file in his hand. "At ease Lt. So you are Commodore Everhearts son." Edgar did not know wether it was a question or a statement. He hated it either way. He was tired of being "the Commodore's son" as they say. "Yes Sir" replied Edgar, "Commodore Everheart is my father."

"Pulled a few strings to get you here, Yes?" the CO stated or asked. Again, Edgar was not sure. "Not that I am aware of Sir" Edgar Replied.

With that the CO dropped the file on the desk and eyed Edgar for a moment. "Lets hope you are not as naive about flying as you are about your station in life Lt. You could do a lot worse. The Commodore is a good man." With that the CO said "Dismissed. The stewerd will show you to your quarters. You will be with C Flight. I suggest you get something to eat. You will get an orientation flight this afternoon, weather permitting."

[Linked Image]

Edgars 1st flight to learn the immediate area went well though it was bitterly cold. On his second flight which was a line patrol he was given strict orders to avoid combat. It was very cloudy. Approaching Arras flying #4 in a 4 machine flight Edgar was alternating flying with his left and right hand. Whichever one was free he would bang on the side of the fuselage to get some feeling back into it. Suddenly a machine came out of the clouds directly in front of them! It was a Roland. The formation scattered with a few shots fired but he was gone in the clouds as fast as he appeared. The flight reformed and finished the patrol. Edgar was happy to see the signal to return as he felt he would be frozen solid it they did not land soon. Approaching Vert Galant Edgar was eyeing the approach when he heard Bang....Bang....Bang. He then saw the Archie bursts. "Why in gods name are the fools shooting at us!" he thought. In an instant it dawned on him and as he looked behind he saw a sight that he will never forget. A Roland, very close, on his tail. He immediately pulled up and hit hard rudder and was on the Rolands tail in an instant. He opened fire and saw pieces come off the Roland. At almost the same instant he heard the clang of metal striking his machine. He disengaged and as he came around for another go his engine coughed and died. He was less than a 1000' up. No time to be picky about a landing spot! He chose a field and made a rough landing skidding into a fence at the end of it.

[Linked Image]

Edgar felt as if his stock in the squadron had dropped and was more quiet than usual at mess that night. Bob Little smacked him on the shoulder, "Good show mate! Most new replacements would have froze in that situation and paid the price. A bit of advice, never attack those two seaters from behind and above. You were lucky. "Thank you " Edgar replied, " I shall remember that."

The next few days were escort mission or patrols of no significance. On the 17th, while patrolling friendly territory the flight tangled with some Albatros scouts near Cachy. He saw one getting on the tail of his flight mate and quickly rolled in behind him. The Hun never knew what hit him. He crash landed near the field.

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The pilot of the Albatros was unhurt and turned turned out to be Erwin Bohme, who had sent down 9 planes. Unbeknownst to Edgar, he was also the pilot who had collided with Boelke, the great Hun ace, and caused his demise.

The 18th saw his flight on a balloon busting mission. After all the planes had loosed their rockets the balloon was still up but smoking so Edgar made another pass and with 3 long bursts it exploded. He made a claim for the balloon back at Vert Galant.

There was a big celebration on the 20th as Edgars victory over Bohme was confirmed. That night, laying on his cot, Edgar felt as good as he had ever felt. Maybe finally he would be someone other than "the Commodores son."

The 21st started like any other day. Edgar felt on top of the world. He was leading a flight to bust a balloon near Vimmy. Little got the balloon on the first pass. While forming up they were jumped by DII's and DIII's. It was a massive fight. Near collisions. Fleeting bursts as a machine passed in front. It was all act and reaction. Edgar heard bullets hit his machine but from where he did not know. While on the tail of one Albatross he felt and heard bullets strike again. He dove out and west with sluggish controls. Behind him he could see the mass of swirling machines but it would be suicide to try to fight in his damaged machine. Looking behind him he was horrified to see one come after him. He kept an eye on the machine. Surely he will give up and not cross the lines. No such luck. This Hun smelled blood! Once across the lines with the Hun gaining on him Edgar gently turned and engaged in a head on pass. Turning again the Hun tried to dive away and Edgar racked him from stem to stern and watched him spiral down near the trenches. Once back at base the whole flight had claimed a Hun with no losses. Another celebration was in order but Edgar was in no mood as it seems the word of machine gunners in the trench were worth more than his!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/17 03:26 PM

Well, I have finally caught up on everyone's exploits. Great stories and pics as usual. I still say these stories are as good as any book!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/17 04:20 PM

Drago Duntz
Vavaise aerodrome
Jasta 1


Drago is coping with his sorry squadron. He has tried his best to keep his flights safe but every flight sees empty chairs at the mess. He currently has 7 victories.

Note: After flying the DII for a while I am beginning to like it. Once you learn how to fight with what you have it is not a bad bird.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/17 10:57 PM

Welcome back MFair. Good luck to Edgar. Congrats on first victory, looks like he has big shoes to fill in.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/17 12:26 AM

I have just managed to get some time to read all the report posted in the past week. Great stuff folks and extremely good quality.

I hope to get caught up on my own posting in the next couple of days. Albert Earl Godfrey is still alive, still flying the N16, and praying for a better mount! If he doesn't get one, he may have to borrow Lou's helmet!!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/17 01:16 AM

MFair -- great to see you back again! I'll PM when I'm off the road with the background info on the "Detached Squadron" for your stories. And I hope to see our pilots collaborating once again. Hope you had a great anniversary trip to Savannah!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/17 03:49 PM

Thanks Gents! Its good to be back! Looking forward to more stories and will see you all in the skies!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/17 11:14 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

12 Jan 1917 @ 09h01 Patrol to our lines S.E. of Arras

At briefing we were advised to expect scattered high cirrus clouds and a wind of 3 kn from the WSW. We were to be on watch for some Hun two seaters that our chaps had observed running back and forth across the lines in the vicinity of Arras, generally annoying our boys in the trenches.

Hill lead “B†flight composed of Mentjies, Pidcock, Godfrey, and Bennet on wing. Graves lead “A†flight composed of Caldwell, Fry and Sawrey. “A†flight was tasked to provide top cover for “B†flight.

The whole flight lasted one hour, in relatively good visibility, and not one hostile aircraft was seen. While walking to the RO, Hill was heard to mumble something about “â€Cheap liquor†and “hallucinationsâ€. It had been damn bitter in the sky that morning and all the boys hustled quickly to the mess for some warming beverages and a nosh.


21 Jan 1917 @ 08h38 Attack on Emerchicourt aerodrome

At briefing, “A†and “B†flights were informed that winds of 8 kn from the SW, and Heavy cloud cover from 2700 ft to 90000 ft was to be expected with intervals of clear breaks between layers. Fog and snow was also likely and of course it would be damned cold.

Caldwell was to lead “B†flight composed of Meintjes, Fry, Roxburgh-Smith, Godfrey and Bennet on wing. “A†flight was to provide top cover, lead by Graves with Pidcock, Hill and Sawrey in tow.

The flights formed up just north of the field, attaining a height of 6100 ft, at approx 08h54 at which point they headed ENE towards Vimy on the first leg of the mission.
They proceeded to descend to 4400 ft at 09h00, at which time they passed by Vimy, and reset the course to ESE as they headed to the lines. Godfrey was glad that he had taken the time to fill his thermos with hot chocolate that Bennet had brought back with him following his 48 hour pass.

They crossed the lines at 09h04 at approximately 3500’ in order to maintain ground visibility and soon were able to make out the Arras-Douai road in the near distance. Light amounts of flak greeted them as they proceeded towards their third leg marker just north of Epinoy aerodrome.

Approaching Epinoy, Godfrey pulled his thermos out, flipped the top, and lifted it to his lips. Tilting back his head he took a long sip and in the process, spotted 4 specs at 1 O’clock high. He quickly stashed his thermos away and kept an eye on them. They were likely Huns looking to land and either paid no attention to the Nieuports or did not see them. This was no time to be fiddling about while so near to Hun aerodromes.

At 09h10, the flight turned NE towards Emerchicourt aerodrome. At 09:20, Caldwell gave the signal for “B†flight to begin the straffing of Emerchicourt with their Le Prieur rockets. Peeling off, one by one, they went in. Godfrey loosed his rockets on two large hangars. Pulling out of the dive, he glanced back to see a huge billowing black smoke rising from the hangars and felt he finally had visual proof he had hit something with those damned rockets. Having climbed out to 3000 ft, Godfrey could see some of his flight lower down and scattered but heading west and that seemed like a good idea to him as they were deep into enemy territory and in a region of high concentration of aerodromes. Where “A†flight was he knew not, and he was of no desire to spend time looking for them. Turning west he headed for the lines, occasionally looking down for sign of the rest of his flight and checking his six for any sign of hostile aircraft.

Godfrey noticed one spec in the distance following him. It could be one of his flight or a Hun scout but elected to stay the course and head for the lines. Better to be in allied territory than on the Hun side of the lines, if engagement was necessary.

He crossed the Arras-Douai road at 09h29 and the spec was still following him.

At 09h30 he crossed the lines and began to climb circling and waiting for the spec to make his identity known. It didn’t take long for the black crosses on the wings, and the shape of the fuselage to announce the craft as a Halberstadt DII or DIII. Godfrey’s Nieuport 16 was hard pressed to gain any advantage in the turn fight, and pressing the point forced him to loose altitude. At every chance when distance provided an opportunity, he would nose down to gain airspeed and then climb out to gain some height. It was enough to weary the Hun of the game so that he gave up the sport, spiraled down feigning damage and turned for home. This was an opportunity the Godfrey was not going to pass up. This could be his first kill, and it was on his side of the lines at the moment. He anxiously dove on the Hun and sent continuous short bursts at him but from too far a distance. Finally some hit home and the Hun broke into a starboard climb. Godfrey stayed with him and repeated the attack but again did not wait to get properly close and waisted more ammunition. When he finally got in close and pressed the trigger, there was nothing. He was empty. He climbed and turned west glancing over at the Hun who would be going home. Godfrey had learned a valuable lesson from an experience he would not again repeat.

Youtube Vid:
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/17 11:56 AM

CO wanted a new paint jobby


[Linked Image]
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/17 12:44 PM

ooooooooh Lederhosen! I like it, and that all red fuselage is almost a beckoning call for an escort by the one and only red baron!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/17 11:24 PM

Lederhosen, that's some paint job! One that every Entente pilot would like to soot down and place on their wall as a trophy.
Robert, I know the pain. Running out of ammo when the enemy is yours for the taking is almost as bad, if not worse, than having your wingie expend one bullet to finish off your kill.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/17 02:37 PM

lederhosen, that skin should strike the fear of God into anyone.
Robert, At least you were not low over enemy territory with no ammo! Sorry he got away.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/17 03:18 PM

Tnx Fullofit/MFair

Actually, I was pleased to be able to hold out flying the N16. Better tactics next time.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/25/17 10:32 PM

awesome stories and skins, keep em flying
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/17 01:05 PM

Drago Duntz
Marne

Drago is still trying to keep the squadron whole and fighting a loosing battle. Day after day they go out come home to more empty chairs. He is getting the attention of some well known people and it seems the "Baron" might want him for one of his squadrons. He scored his 8th victory yesterday claiming a D5.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/17 12:14 AM

MFair, congrats on your latest victory.

Jasta 18
25 January 1917, Halluin

- "Are you sure you're fit to fly? You've just been released from the hospital." Paul Strähle was walking beside Aldi and putting on his headgear that has seen more than one winter.
- "I'm fine. It was just my arm and I've rested enough." Aldi would do anything to avoid boredom in the hospital bed, despite his friends' frequent visits.
- "We'll be flying line patrol just north of Halluin. Keep your wits about you. I'm expecting company." Ltn Strähle was all business. - "Von Bülow is flying with us."
Their machines were already running, getting their engines warmed up and being checked if all lubricating and cooling systems are operating correctly. Standard practice before any flight.

[Linked Image]

They've reached their cruising altitude in no time and were following their flight plan in a wedge formation. After 20 minutes of patrolling the front lines Strähle gave signal and the formation followed him into a climb. Aldi finally located what his friend was after. There were some puffs of smoke from Flak explosions to the north, complete with many specks floating around. There had to be some enemy action but they were still too far away to tell if they were attacking or defending. They've finally gotten close enough to realize what was going on. 3 or 4 Sopwith Triplanes were engaging 2-seaters. Escort must have already been dealt with. It was a good thing that the Albatrosen showed up when they did. Tripes disengaged and went after Aldi's flight. Aldi braced himself for a tough fight, but the Brits made only one pass on their way back to base. Each of the German fighters picked a target and began to pursue. Aldi picked one with a zig-zag pattern on the fuselage.

[Linked Image]

It must have been already damaged as he was able to close the distance with ease. After a few bursts from his twin Spandaus, one or two of the wings on the Tripe came off and it careened down topsy-turvy and crashed into NML.

[Linked Image]

Aldi levelled his machine after following his victim and looked around. To his starboard Ltn Strähle was chasing another Sopwith. Aldi followed them to make sure no one sneaks up behind them. They chased the Englander for a few good kilometers before Strähle gave up and they all returned to Halluin.
At the base Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen listened to their reports and when Aldi was about to leave he stopped him and said - "You're an ace now. Have you thought how you're going to mark your plane?"
Aldi smiled and answered: - "I know exactly what I'm going to do."


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/17 12:29 AM

Nice report Fullofit! I guess we soon get to see the new paint job!!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/17 01:25 AM

Thanks Robert.

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
I guess we soon get to see the new paint job!!

Not exactly, there is an event happening very soon that will keep Aldi from finishing his new livery. seehearspeak
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/17 04:37 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


May 27, 1917.

Mission: Patrol

Alt: 2,000 meters

B Flt. 4 Spad 7,s

E/A: 2 Dfw at 2,300 meters

Claims Both 2 seat types, Esc losses were 1 pilot mortally wnd.

Remarks: Spotted and engaged 2 e/a 2 seat types . I made a climbing pass and fired off 47 rds then a turning pass and popped off 68 rds. On my final High side pass , some of my next 81 rds must have hit the pilot. The big e/a went into a tail spin and dove into the ground just short of NML. I didn't see the other e/a after the initial attack.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/17 01:29 AM

Jasta 18
26 January 1917, Halluin 18:34

- "We were outnumbered and height disadvantaged." Was Aldi's answer when Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen asked for report.
- "Herr Oberleutnant, after you've left the formation with what I assume was engine trouble, Ltn von Bülow, Ltn Strähle and I continued to Ghistelles on our patrol.

[Linked Image]

Once we arrived on station we were ambushed by a flight of Nieuports coming out of the clouds above us. I was hit on the first pass and had to keep the rudder full to port to stay level. Both Leutenants were doing great job of keeping the enemy off my six as I was trying to reach the safety of the antiaircraft artillery of the aerodrome below. One of the Nieuports blew by me heading for the deck and I was able to send a burst his way, but I don't know if any of it found its mark. He kept going west and that was the last I saw of him.

[Linked Image]

By the time I landed, Strähle and von Bülow were on their final approach as well, all with minor damage. We had our machines stitched up and returned back home for dinner."
- "Very well, Offizierstellvertreter." Oberleutnant was puffing his pipe. - "There is one more thing. I've noticed you started work on your personal insignia..."
- "Yes, Herr Oberleutnant. It is not finished by any means, but..." Aldi begun explaining but Grieffenhagen cut him off. - "Don't bother. Albatros D.III's are grounded. IdFlieg's orders. Tomorrow we'll be receiving replacements."
- "Oh boy! We're getting Albatros D.IV's? So soon?" Aldi's excitement was swelling.
- "What? No! There is no such thing! We'll be getting our old D.II's back." Grieffenhagen didn't look pleased with this announcement, while Schwarzkopf appeared to be frozen in time with his mouth wide open, trying to make some sort of a sound.
Oberleutnant continued, - "The good news is that since you have never flown your own D.II, you will be getting my old mount. It served me well, so take care of her."
- "But Herr Oberleutnant, we stand no chance in these relics!" Aldi protested. - "We were mauled in much better machines on our last mission!"
Grieffenhagen looked at Aldi the way he always did when he needed to make a point. - "If you prefer, Offizierstellvertreter Schwarzkopf, we can arrange to assign you one of the Halberstads we keep in the back of the hangar."
- "No Herr Oberleutnant, Albatros will do just fine!" Grieffenhagen's point made its way home.
- "Dismissed."
Aldi saluted and left the office.

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Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/17 05:40 AM

Hehe Fullofit, a conundrum we can all relate to smile
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/17 03:46 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


May 28, 1917.


Mission : Escort 3 Sopwith for bombardment of lines .

2 Section: 3 a/c Close Escort
1 Section : 3 a/c Top Flight.
Alt: 1500 meters.
E/a: Spotted 3 flights Engaged the 1 flight Albatross Scouts passing underneath.
Losses: 1 Spad + 2 Sopwith also my a/c heavy damage.
Claims: 1 e/a scout.

Remarks. Dove on e/a passing under popped off 43 rds no hits ( my gun seemed to be shooting left of the fire ring ) Then 2 were on my tail took over 20 hits and a bullet hit my leg. Manged to outrun them and RTB
Medical Rpt: Hospital till Jun 1.

Intell Rpt: Scouts maybe from Jasta 22 and Jasta 36 reported to be in the Sector using Albatross D-III,s


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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/17 10:23 AM

Both pilots out today. Cecil had a bad one and lost 2 of his men.
Horst was lucky that heavy cloud allowed his flight to escape the tripehounds again.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/17 12:59 PM

.

Some most entertaining reading to go with my morning coffee.

MFair, I thoroughly enjoyed your reports. Edgar’s first days with Naval 8 seem to be going generally well apart from that rough landing; I hope the young fellow’s luck holds. And he may as well lean into the fact that he has a well-respected Commodore for a father, never hurts to have such connections when it comes to the Brass Hats.
As for Drago, perhaps with eight victories and the interest of the Baron now directed his way he can get himself moved to a Jasta that actually has some pluck to it. Also, I personally love flying the D.II and find it far more forgiving to tour about with than some of the later Albs.

Robert, wonderful write-up and video concerning Albert’s latest adventures. Well done with the rockets, I find it’s quite the trick to destroy anything of actual worth with them apart from the odd balloon. As to Godfrey’s go-round with that Halb, I agree, he does need to close the gap considerably before firing on his prey, elsewise it so much wasted lead.

lederhosen, that is a formidable looking pair of creatures on the sides of the CO’s new mount, well done. And what can I say about Cecil’s Airco other than that I love Guinness Extra Stout!

Fullofit, another great series of Aldi episodes. He and his crew had a tough go of it there with those Nieups. And what rotten luck on the new D.IIIs being grounded, no doubt do to wing issues. Ah well, as I said earlier, the D.II is still one of the better Albs to fly, or at least I find it so.

Carrick, from the looks of it Gilbear and his crew are in a bit of a rough patch as well. I hope their lot improves for them sooner rather than later. You know though, a few days recovery in hospital being look after by the sisters of mercy can be a welcome break.



As for my pilot's latest exploits:

A week ago on Monday the 22nd, during lunch, a courier arrived from Beauvais with a message from l’Grand Quartier Général for the CO of N81, Capitaine Tremblay. When the distances were short headquarters had taken to sending out important communiques via such couriers due to the increasing number of Boche spies that were purportedly listening in on the phone lines emanating from Paris and her surrounding communities. As Allard opened the dispatch he wondered just how effective such precautions really were when it came to keeping information from an enemy intent on having it.

Tremblay, upon reading the note, uttered a single word under his breath, “merde.†He then instructed the courier to inform GQG that preparations would begin immediately. He also instructed him to take a couple of sandwiches along for his return trip.

“Oui, mon Capitaineâ€, the young lad replied with a smile and a crisp nod of his head, then turned and headed for the kitchen.

As the majority of the Escadrille was already in the mess the Capitaine chose to expedite matters by making the announcement to those assembled: The group was being ordered to Fontaine, their assistance required by the 7th Army in the Alsace. “Before any of you begin asking questionsâ€, Capitaine Tremblay declared loudly above the mutterings and grumbles, “let me just say that, as of right now, you know as much about this as I do. Now I realize we’ve all just gotten settled in here but such is the lot of a combat squadron in war, we go where we are needed. So pass the word, we start packing.†Allard took a sip of his café crème before continuing, “Let me add that we have been directed to fly any and all planes that are airworthy to our new home while everything else is to go by trucks. I will post the travel route GQG has included in the dispatch and we will fly out tomorrow morning on the first leg of our journey, weather permitting. As we currently have douze pilotes but only onze functioning aircraft, one of you will have to ride along with the gear. I will allow you gentlemen to sort out amongst yourselves who the lucky one shall be.â€

The following morning proved to be wholly unfit for flying with high winds blowing the snow about everywhere. However, by early afternoon things had quieted down long enough for the aviateurs at Sacy-le-Grand to begin their sojourn to the southeast. Their first fuel stop was to be the old airship field at Trilport near Meaux. It was barely fifty kilometres away, and with a helping breeze at their tails it took them just shy of an hour to reach it. But upon landing the weather began to deteriorate again rapidly and by the time the tanks had been topped off it was evident there would be no further flying that day. The commandant of the facility kindly offered to put up Capitaine Tremblay and his men for the evening, providing them with comfortable accommodations in an old manor house in Trilport. They also enjoyed a fine evening meal at the local restaurant before retiring.

At dawn the next day the group was ready and took to the air shortly after sunrise as the winds were calm and the snow had stopped. But again, just as the day before, they’d no sooner reached their next fuel stop, this time at Villeneuve-les-Vertus, when the storms renewed. And again, they became guests of the local officer in charge. This pattern was repeated for the remainder of their trip: from Villeneuve-les-Vertus to Bar-le-Duc on the 25th; from Bar-le-Duc to Toul on the 27th; from Toul to Darney on the 28th; and finally from Darney to Fontaine on the 29th. While accommodations and the local fare changed daily, the weather remained constantly dicey. After a week of such travels Capitaine Tremblay and his crew were feeling like a band of gypsies and by the time they at last reached their new home they wanted nothing more than to settle in. Of course only time would tell just how long this spot at the southernmost reaches of the front would actually be their home.

(Note: I didn't even bother to snap and post a screenshot of Allard and his men landing at their new digs as there was nothing to see but snow blowing about all over creation. I am hoping the horrid weather breaks soon.)

Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/17 02:42 PM

.

Banjoman should be back from his trip any day now and will no doubt post the latest stats chart, and with that in mind I have put together a new version of the DID Medal that could be used for the Centenary Challenge. Just as in the previous DID campaign the medal would be presented to a pilot after surviving the first 25 hours of combat flying, with the bar attachment being updated for every additional 25 hours thereafter. In addition a gold star would also be added above the bars for each 100 hours the pilot survives. I am attaching a couple of examples showing the new medal and how it would appear based on the system I've outlined.

Let me know folks if this is something you would all like to see implemented in this campaign.

Cheers!

Lou

(click on an image to view it full size)

Attached picture WOFF_DID_Centenary_Medal_25_Hours.jpg
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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/17 03:35 PM

yep
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/17 05:10 PM

Lou;

Another spiffing gong Sir!! Damned fine art work to boot!!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/17 06:32 PM

Lou,
I am sure any contribution you make to the Campaign will be enthusiastically endorsed and appreciated by the group! You have my vote and a to second to Roberts post.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/17 11:21 PM

Lou, great idea! Now, can we get some German-friendly medals? Iron-Cross edition?
Originally Posted by RAF_Louvert
.

Banjoman should be back from his trip any day now and will no doubt post the latest stats chart, and with that in mind I have put together a new version of the DID Medal that could be used for the Centenary Challenge. Just as in the previous DID campaign the medal would be presented to a pilot after surviving the first 25 hours of combat flying, with the bar attachment being updated for every additional 25 hours thereafter. In addition a gold star would also be added above the bars for each 100 hours the pilot survives. I am attaching a couple of examples showing the new medal and how it would appear based on the system I've outlined.

Let me know folks if this is something you would all like to see implemented in this campaign.

Cheers!

Lou

(click on an image to view it full size)


Lou, great idea! Now, can we get some German-friendly medals? Iron-Cross edition?
Also, when Banjoman comes back perhaps he can remove the Belgians and replace with Americans in the Google survey? Doesn't look like anyone flies for the plucky-ones.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/17 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by RAF_Louvert
Fullofit, another great series of Aldi episodes. He and his crew had a tough go of it there with those Nieups. And what rotten luck on the new D.IIIs being grounded, no doubt do to wing issues. Ah well, as I said earlier, the D.II is still one of the better Albs to fly, or at least I find it so.


Lou, going back to Alb D.II from D.III is like going back to eating lemons after enjoying a lemonade.
BTW, you may as well have taken the transport to your new airfield. It would have been quicker!

Jasta 18
30 January 1917, Halluin

Aldi was removing his leather overcoat and placing it by the stove to dry. Ltn Strähle was lying on his back with his arms under his head and his feat sticking out of his bunk to reduce the distance between his toes and the stove. Aldi mischievously dropped some snow on his bare feet and the distance to the stove increased dramatically.
- "What's the idea?!" Paul protested while wiping the snow from between his toes.
- "Just making sure you don't forget what the world is like, while you sit here making yourself comfortable." Aldi responded.
- "It is not my fault they didn't have enough of those death-traps ready for all of us to fly." Strähle sat up on the bed rubbing his toes with his hands.
- "So, how was the morning flight?" Paul started to pull his thickest socks on.
- "Did you manage to convince our fair-play enemy to leave us alone, because we don't want to fight with inferior equipment?" Strähle was looking around for the second pair of socks to put on.
- "No, this time we've met some Nieuports with the head of an Indian on the fuselage." Aldi responded. - "They didn't seem to care what we fly as long as they do the shooting."
- "Oh, do tell!" Strähle was now on his stomach looking under the bed for his shoes.
By now Aldi had taken his flight gear off and sat down near the stove holding his hands above it.
- "We were returning from our patrol when we run into a formation of 4. They seemed to be minding their business and we decided to do likewise, but as we got closer they decided to go for our 2-seaters. As they commenced their attack we slipped behind them and caught them in crossfire with the rear gunners. Soon the whole affair turned into a fur-ball, with the 2-seaters all but forgotten."
- "So how do you like your new machine? Was it giving you any trouble?" Paul was wrapping a wool scarf around his neck.
- "Trouble? No, no trouble at all. It purred like a kitten and it behaved like one. Except this was a dogfight! I could not stay with any of those Nieuports. They simply climbed and sped away. No chance of catching them in a level fight."
- "So, you didn't get any?" Strähle had his hat on.
- "That's where you're wrong. Once my dance partner sped away I looked around and saw the same thing happen to von Bülow's target, except they were much lower than me. I had enough altitude to convert into speed and catch up to him. One good burst and he crashed into NML. We came back home right after that."
- "That's great! Congratulations! Can you pass me your gloves?" Paul was at the door. Aldi threw his gloves to Strähle and asked. - "What do you need them for?
- "It's rather cold and I need something to keep between my butt and the toilet seat." With that he slammed the door and was gone.
Aldi was too tired to go after him. Instead he decided to figure out how he's going to get new gloves and better yet, how Paul is going to pay for them.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]


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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/17 02:29 PM

Fullofit, Congrates on ace status. And yes, you need a new pair of gloves!
Carrick, still alive! Enjoy your stay with the pretty nurses.[/b]
[b]Lederhosen,
I would think it would be hard to escape in such a conspicuous bird as the dragondile.[/b]
[b]Lou,
I hope the Escadrille enjoys their new digs. I feel sorry for the Huns in the area.

Edgar Everheart
Vert Galant

Edgar carefully placed his flying kit under the bottom blanket on his cot. It was a trick he had learned from the old timers in the squad. Come morning it would be warm and toasty for him to climb into. It was a bitter cold night and he needed a rest. As he lay on his cot and pulled his blankets over him he felt dead tired but as usual could not fall asleep. The days mission had been relatively easy compared to the past few. He and two other machines had been tasked with taking down the balloon southeast of Monchy. His flight had hit it so many times he felt the machine would fly itself there. On their first pass, they had all missed with their rockets so Edgar had come back around and machined gun the balloon. It blew up just as he passed over it almost sending him and machine into oblivion! [Linked Image]
The flight had returned home with no damage and Edgar filed a claim on the balloon even though reports had come back that the balloon was undamaged. "That black soot on the bottom of my machine didn't come from a campfire" was Edgars reply.

A few days ago they had hit Athies Junction. It was Edgar's first railway strike and he could tell this was not something the others in the flight looked forward to. Everyone in the flight was pensive. Approaching the Junction they all dived one after the other. Edgar choose a big fat warehouse for a target. Approaching the warehouse he opened up with his machine guns. At the same time a hail of bullets came up to meet him. He could hear them striking wood and fabric as he pulled up just above the building jinking as he flew up and away. Looking back he could see the warehouse smoking. He turned around for another pass, steeling himself for the hail of bullets that would surely greet him. To his surprise, the ground fire was not as bad as his first pass but he still heard a few bullets hit home. This time the warehouse was smoking heavily and he could see a few holes in the roof. He pulled in behind Schelldon to make a third pass. As they were turning back toward the Junction their was a loud bang made his machine shudder! Archie! He then felt the pain in his leg and could smell the faint odor of petrol. He immediately pulled out and headed west.

Climbing west with the hope he would have enough fuel to make it home, Edgar felt totally alone and vulnerable. He did not like this feeling. At 4000' approaching the lines his engine sputtered and died. All he could hope for was that he had enough altitude to make it across. Lower and lower he went, trying to keep flying speed. He crossed over the German trenches low enough to be met with a machine gun and rifle fire. Edgar felt as if the whole German army was shooting at him. Bullets smacked his machine on all sides and there was nothing he could do but make himself as small as possible and hope he was not hit. His machine just made it over his lines when it sat down on rough ground, skidded around and came to rest near a group of soldiers. He sat numb in the cockpit. He could not believe he had survived.[Linked Image]

The pain in his leg was more of a bad bruise and even though he walked with a slight limp he could fly. The day after the Railway strike his flight had escorted 2 BE's to bomb a supply depot. Just over the lines they were attacked by two Rolands. It was the usual twisting and turning affair until he saw Schelldon collide with one of the Roland's. Edgar was frozen for a moment at the sight but tracers whizzing by his head brought him out of his shock as he pulled up and over to find a Halb on his tail. He quickly turned the tables and sent it crashing down into No Man's Land. He had landed with his starboard wing riddled with bullets. His flight had claimed 3 planes but every time he closed his eyes he saw Schelldons Pup exploding into a million pieces.

His claim for the balloon and the Halb had been denied but he did not much care. The realization that he would probably not survive this carnage had hit home hard.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/17 06:50 PM

.

MFair, I am also fearful that your Edgar may not survive this affair. But then the fates are nothing if not fickle, so who really knows.



Originally Posted by Fullofit
Lou, great idea! Now, can we get some German-friendly medals?

As you wish.

(click on an image to view it full size)

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Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/17 06:56 PM

Great storytelling everyone! And those are handsome medals RAF_Louvert! smile

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/17 08:18 PM

MFair, such a dandy report sir! The reading just keeps getting better and better!

Lou, The kaiser's versions look extremely pretty!

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/17 08:21 PM

Hey guys I'm finally back from my extended stay in the states. I will get a status report just as soon as I can. I think there are over a 100 pages just in this thread that I have to read. It looks like RAF_Louvert has returned and it looks like he has brought his gongs with him. biggrin

edit: Ok, I exaggerated a little, there are only 13 pages to read. biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/17 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by RAF_Louvert

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Lou, great idea! Now, can we get some German-friendly medals?

As you wish.

(click on an image to view it full size)


Sweet! I'll take one! I know I'm pushing it, but it would be great to have medals for each nationality. This way you have to fly each one to collect them all. It's like Pokémon for WOFF! Thanks for doing this Lou.

MFair, now that you had your butt singed you'd better start being more careful.

Welcome back Banjoman!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/17 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Hey guys I'm finally back from my extended stay in the states. I will get a status report just as soon as I can. I think there are over a 100 pages just in this thread that I have to read. It looks like RAF_Louvert has returned and it looks like he has brought his gongs with him. biggrin

edit: Ok, I exaggerated a little, there are only 13 pages to read. biggrin


Welcome back Bud! I hope you had a good safe trip. Looking forward to seeing your pilots update.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/17 11:45 PM

Welcome back Banjoman!!

Albert Earl Godfrey

31 Jan 1917 @ 09h00 Attack on Phalempin aerodrome

Sitting at briefing, Albert heard the CO announce the mornings effort would be an attack on Phalempin aerodrome as this had been determined a vital effort by the red tabs. Albert could not help but wonder why then, they were sending N17’s and N16’s in on the attack with nothing more than LePrieur rockets.
What on earth were they thinking of! It seemed to him, a fruitless effort full of potential loss for the squadron, somewhat akin to provoking an elephant with a dart! What seemed to make it worse is that only “B†flight composed of 5 pilots, was all that was being put forward for the effort. The fact that Albert’s N16 was getting long in the tooth for the front line service was quite evident and the associated risks for such a mission was not lost on him.

Albert shook himself out of his funk, in time enough to hear the details for the flight.

The wind was 8 kn from the NNW with Medium density cumulus interspersed with clear spots from 3000 ft to 9000 ft.

Caldwell was to lead “B†flight composed of Hill, Fry, Godfrey and Hall.
As usual, the flight formed up just north of the field attaining an altitude of 4800 ft before setting out on the first leg of the mission.
At 09h18 the flight arrived south of Bethune and turned east for the second leg of flight path, descending to 3800 ft. They arrived just north of Lens at 09h23, just shy of 3450 ft. From this point they turned north east towards Phalempin, accompanied by sporadic flak and arrived there at 09h27

The flight began their attack approach, and Albert singled out two hangars to unleash his ordinance on. The aim seemed true and the two hangars were soon enveloped in flame, smoke and dust. No time was wasted in climbing out of the dive to seek relief from the ground fire. Banking slightly Albert noted the damage done to the hangars and the continuing attack by his mates. He continued to climb and observe the skies above, keeping a keen eye out for any Hun scouts and observing his mates fruitless strafing attacks on the ground targets at considerable risk to themselves.

As the flight broke off the attack and reformed, Albert rejoined and they commenced their return flight to base, chastened by Hun flak all the way back to the lines, while Hun scouts were conspicuous by their absence.

Upon arrival back at base and reporting in, Albert overheard the CO on the telephone receiving front line reports from two seat observers, that little damage had been done to Phalempin. “What did they expect†he thought to himself.
As the flight was leaving the R.O., the C.O. stepped out of his office and stated, “Looks like we will be paying a revisit to Phalempin to do the job rightâ€!
Albert looked at Caldwell, and stated, rather too loudly, “Maybe they will give us some appropriate ordinance to make that feasibleâ€. He immediately regretted his impatience as he received a dressing down from the C.O. The fact that the Commander went lightly on him was some consolation in that it was evident he understood the underlying issue himself but was unable to alleviate the problem.

Albert wanted desprately to prove his worth, but doing so with the N16, and in these kinds of missions, made it very hard to cope.

Video cut short this time to save upload time just keep some essentials:
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/17 02:57 AM

It's been a while. Work and real life in general has forced me to get behind on the story. At least there has been some great reading of late!

MFair, that was a very close call for Edgar. Let's try to keep him intact and have some fun with Naval 8. BTW, I really like Drago's livery. Did you make the skin yourself? Fullofit, wonderful job with Aldi's story. Too bad about the gloves. Lederhosen, you are the master of interesting skins. Love the Guinness Gun Bus. It's just too bad the Guinness toucan logo wasn't around in 1917. It would have made a great skin! Robert, nice job with the LePrieurs. I have yet to hit a thing with them. Carrick, best wishes for a successful return for Gilbear.

Lou, so Capitaine Tremblay is off to the Alsace. Please remember to pick a new emergency landing spot every five minutes. Your engine is your greatest enemy in the Vosges. And thank you for the DiD medal work. The gong fairy provided great immersion in Olham's DiD campaign. Thanks for all you do for this sim!

Anyway, here is the beginning of my effort to catch up with Colin Urquhart's story...


A journal of the Great War – By an Anonymous Aviator

Part 24

The weather closed in again for a few days before clearing late on 22 January. The dispatch rider’s motorcycle interrupted our evening mess and the Squadron Commander soon after sent for his flight commanders to join him in the parlour of the Bossé farmhouse. I was told to take B Flight at 8 the following morning to clear out a bothersome kite balloon near Monchy.

Being flight commander was a pleasant experience. I’d enjoyed my few chances to lead patrols in the past. Now, however, I could set my own program. I was blessed to have Bob Little, who was probably the best pilot in the squadron. McNaughton, the Manitoban, was on my wing. He was still new, but already had proved to be a keen Hun-getter. Reggie Soar joined us, and Colin MacKenzie came along for the fun of it since his flight had no jobs until mid-day. Volunteering for a balloon-busting show wasn’t my idea of fun, and I got the impression he did not think much of it when I briefed the fellows that we would go straight in, hit the balloon, and head straight out. I believed in reforming over the lines, not four or five miles deep into Hunland and within range on the balloon’s defending Archie.

The morning was icy cold but clear. If there were any Huns about we would see them a long way off, and they would see us. A few puffy clouds stood out against the sky like icebergs floating in a cobalt sea. I wore nearly every article of clothing I owned and it took the help of two men to stuff like a cork into the cockpit of “Sheila,†my trusty Pup. The new Le Rhône started on the first swing of the prop and we lifted off.

Over the target I led the way and fired about 100 rounds at the balloon, and then loosed the Le Prieurs. I thought I had the thing, but when I looked back it was still there. I saw MacKenzie get it with his rockets and watched the thing fall.

Not a Hun rose to bother us, although Archie kept us close company until we were over our own lines. Past Arras we contour-chased and I put the wind up a number of wagons and other vehicles along the Doullens road.

[Linked Image]

We escorted a French Caudron on the 24th. The flight, a reconnaissance deep into Hunland along the Roman road toward Cambrai, proved uneventful. We crossed back over the lines after about an hour and a half and noticed a large group of aircraft to the south over Wancourt. Waving farewell to our French comrades, we turned towards the distant specks and climbed to 10000 feet, positioning ourselves between the cluster of aircraft and the sun. The machines proved to be Halberstadts, seven or eight in total. We dived on them out of the sun, but their leader must have been good for he saw us in time to turn about.

Both formations charged into the fight head on. I got only a momentary shot at one of the Huns before I was past them, climbing and turning. I saw to my delight that two of the HAs had collided, evening the odds somewhat. It had been some time since I’d been in a real dogfight and the idleness of the past weeks of poor weather showed. Like a novice I failed to keep close to my flight. Within a minute of our first contact I was a half-mile separated from the nearest Pup and was entertaining three Huns all by myself. I fought defensively, but the Huns holed my machine several times. At length two of them broke away, and for about five more minutes I circled about the remaining Halberstadt. The machine had letters on the side of the fuselage, some sort of personal marking. The pilot knew his stuff. It was normally easy to get behind a Halberstadt, but not him.

[Linked Image]

Finally, the Hun turned under me and tried to break off. I was able to get behind him and fire a long burst. The machine entered a shallow dive, streaming white smoke. The dive steepened and I watched him descend. The Hun levelled out near the ground but crash-landed among the German reserve lines, destroying his machine. Unfortunately where he came down was not within sight of our lines and, my kill being unwitnessed, Wing recorded it merely as a “driven down.â€

[Linked Image]

MacKenzie failed to return from his patrol on the 24th. Squadron Commander Bromet was very upset and talked at length about Colin being our best flight commander. He dispatched C Flight to drop a message over the Hun field at Riencourt inquiring about him.

On 25 January we staged a ratting contest between my Pincher and Whiskey, an Irish terrier owned by the officers at 23 Squadron. Collectively they killed more than sixty mice and rats among the huts and farm buildings on both sides of the road. Pincher outscored Whiskey by six, which brought us all a free round in the 23 mess. I chatted a long while with a new English fellow, Edgar Everheart. His old man is an admiral or something, but Edgar himself is a nice, unassuming fellow despite having a name straight out of the Boy’s Own Paper. He's already picked up a wound stripe on a ground attack show the other day -- just a graze but it reminds me how lucky I've been. Everheart and Booker tried to button Pincher into his newly-tailored blue RNAS monkey jacket, but the pup would have none of it and bit Booker. Booker is now quite convinced that he is coming down with the bubonic plague and it took a good many whiskeys to disabuse him of the idea.

On 26 January we flew a line patrol in the Arras sector and jumped a large group of Albatros scouts. Little claimed one and I drove one down out of control, but again it was without a witness, for I’d again become separated from the others. Again Wing denied the claim.

We got a phone call from No 60 Squadron at Izel. An Albatros flew over late in the day after it had begun to snow. It had made a quick pass over the field and dropped a message saying that MacKenzie had crashed fatally and been buried with full military honours at Achiet, near Bapaume.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/17 12:15 PM

Raine as usual, very good reports, but i paericularly like that first pic! It's a keeper!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/17 01:29 PM

Robert, you hit more with that 1 rocket salvo than I have ever hit! Nice.
Raine, Nice report my friend. Glad we are all still here.

Edgar Everheart
Vert Galant
Detached RNAS

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday Edgar and 2 others had flown a DOP near Riencourt. Nearing the Hun nest they could see the lead flight engage some Huns. As they zoomed in to take part the sky filled with Pups and Halbs. The odds were about even and Edgar had latched on to one sending it spinning down but he did not follow. As soon as it started it was over and Edgar found himself alone at about 5000'. Looking around, archie told him some of the flight was headed home. Looking to the east and 1000' above he could see 2 machines circling each other and climbed to help out. It was Compston and a grey or silver Halberstadt. Seeing an opening he dove on the tail of the Hun and let him have it. Pieces flew off of the machine and it began to wobble. With his second burst it caught fire and plummeted to the ground crashing near Riencourt. Edgar was elated until ground fire made him realize he was low over a Hun airfield and not another friendly machine in sight! Immediately he climbed west with his head searching the skies.

Crossing the lines he could see his flight circling Courcelles aerodrome. He landed with the rest of his flight there. Compston greeted him as he climbed out of his Pup. "Thank you my good man! I was out of ammunition and trying to find a way to leave the fray when you saved my beacon!"

"Well glad I could be of assistance. Did you see it go down?" Edgar asked.

"As plain as the back of your hand old boy!" Compston stated.

That night there was a big celebration. One of A flight had claimed a Hun and Edgar's was sure to be confirmed. He was in a much better mood than before. Then came the icing on the cake. Squadron Commander Bromet sat down next to Edgar and told him that there had been some mix up with reports and his claim for the balloon a few days before had been confirmed. With a pat on the shoulder the Commander left and there were hardy cheers from those sitting at the table.

Edgar was in high spirits indeed!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/17 04:44 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


1 Jun 1917.

Mission: Patrol inside Enemy lines.

2 Sec. 4 Spads Full ammo
1 Sec 2 Spads " "
E/A 2 flights Albatross Scouts Type ( 10-11 a/c ) + 3 Rumpler 2 seat a/c
Claims 1 e/a 2 seat.
Losses 1 Spad missing + 1 Heavy damage with pilot wnd.

Only back from the Hospital last night and I was posted to a Long Range Patrol up to Rethel. The Boshe was thick as flees We had a flight of 5 or 6 e/a off our off to the left and 3 Rumplers slightly high to the Right. Added to this deadly brew was a flight of e/a scouts ( 3-5 ) low and to the right ( Going behind us ? )
I broke left and bounced the Scouts ( Breaking up the formation ) then headed home at full power being chased by three of them.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/17 10:38 PM

Great reports everyone.
Perhaps one of you fine Gentlemen can fly over Halluin and drop a pair of new gloves for Aldi?

News of the World for January 1917 - Intrepid Fliers Group:

January 1
The Cunard troopship Ivernia was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-47 off the Greek coast in the Mediterranean Sea.
General Sir Douglas Haig was promoted to Field Marshal.
January 3
German forces captured Focsani in Romania.
January 4
The Russian battleship Peresvet sank off Port Said, Egypt, after hitting a mine laid by German U-boats.
January 5
A conference was held in Rome between representatives from the British, French and Italian Governments.
January 6
The last Russian and Romanian forces evacuated Dobrudja in Romania.
January 7
The Allied Conference in Rome closed.
January 9
The day long Battle or Rafa completed the recapture of the Sinai Peninsula when Ottoman forces were driven back by British troops during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
The Royal Navy battleship HMS Cornwall was sunk by German submarine U-32 in the Mediterranean.
Prince Nikolai Dmitriyevitch Golitsyn replaced Alexander Trepov as Prime Minister of Russia.
January 10
The Allied powers replied to US President Wilson's Peace Note of December 1916 outlining their peace objectives.
January 11
Germany and Turkey signed a Settlement Treaty in Berlin.
German and Austro-Hungarian Governments issued a Note repudiating responsibility for continuance of the War.
January 14
A provisional Council of State was set up in Warsaw, Poland.
The Japanese battle cruiser Tsukuba was sunk while in port at Yokosuka after an internal explosion.
January 16
The German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann sent a telegram to his ambassador in Mexico, instructing him to propose an alliance against the United States with the Mexican government. Zimmermann believed that a war between Mexico and the United States would prevent American involvement in the European war.
January 17
An Inter-Allied conference convened at Petrograd to discuss war policy, finance and cooperation.
January 19
The Zimmermann telegram was intercepted and deciphered by the British.
A massive explosion in East London occurred when a large quantity of TNT exploded at a munitions factory in Salvertown.
January 20
General Reginald Hoskins succeeded General Jan Smuts in command of British forces during the East African Campaign.
January 22
US President Wilson addressed the US Senate and appealed for a settlement of the conflict in Europe on the basis of "peace without victory".
January 23
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Simoom was blown up by gunfire from German destroyers during action off the Schouwen Bank near Zeebrugge.
January 24
The Greek Government formally apologized to Allied Governments for refusing the Entente demands in December 1916.
January 25
German destroyers shelled Southwold and Wangford on the Suffolk coast in England.
A British attack on the Turkish salient at Hal met initial success but was beaten back by a Turkish counterattack.
January 26
British and Indian troops recaptured the trenches lost on 25 January at Hal.
January 27
The British steamer SS Artist was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-55 west of The Smalls near Newport in Wales.
January 31
The German Government announced that it would resume unrestricted naval warfare from the 1st February.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/17 10:39 PM

News of the World for May 1917 - Warbirds Rising Group:

May 1
The Polish Council of State presented demands to the Central Powers regarding the creation of an independent Poland.
May 2
The first USA destroyer flotilla arrived at Queenstown in Cork, Ireland.
May 3
The Third Battle of the Scarpe and the Second Battle of Bullecourt began during the Arras Offensive.
May 4
French forces captured Craonne on the Chemin des Dames ridge.
May 5
A major military engagement was fought between the forces of the Central Powers and the Entente near Vardar as part of the Allied Spring Offensive, designed to break the stalemate on the Macedonian Front.
May 7
With support from Australian troops part of Bullecourt was seized by the British.
May 8
Germans recaptured Fresnoy on the Arras front.
May 9
French, Russian and Serbian troops launched a coordinated offensive in Macedonia, but Bulgarian and German defenders repulsed them.
May 10
Major General John J. Pershing was appointed to command the United States Expeditionary Force.
May 11
British and French war commissioners paraded down Fifth Avenue in America to celebrate the United States' entry into the war. The slogan "Show your colours" brought forth a patriotic flurry of Union Jacks, Tricolores and Stars and Stripes.
May 12
The Tenth Battle of the Isonzo began when once again Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops battled each other along the Isonzo River.
May 14
The German Zeppelin L22 was destroyed in the North Sea by a British flying boat during a reconnaissance mission.
May 15
Fourteen British drifters were sunk in the Otranto Straits when British and Austrian naval forces clashed.
Philippe Petain replaced Robert Nivelle as Commander-in-Chief of the French Army. He was tasked with turning back an imminent German offensive and quelling the mutinies in the French army.
May 17
Honduras severed diplomatic relations with Germany.
Following fierce German resistance the Second Battle of Bullecourt ended. Few of the initial objectives had been met.
May 18
The Compulsory Service Act became law in the United States. All American men aged 21-30 had to register for the draft.
May 19
The United States Government announced it would send a Division of the US Army to France.
May 20
Thanks to the actions of the French Commander-in-Chief, Philippe Petain, a month of sporadic mutinies in the French army came to an end.
May 21
British troops captured the Siegfried line from Bullecourt to one mile east of Arras.
May 22
Brigadier-General Nash succeeded Sir Eric Geddes as Director-General of Transportation.
Count Istvan Tisza resigned as Prime Minister of Hungary.
May 24
The British Royal Navy introduced a newly created convoy system, whereby all merchant ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean would travel in groups under the protection of the British navy.
May 25
Heavy casualties were sustained in a German aeroplane raid on Folkestone, Kent on the southeast coast of England.
May 26
HMS Dover Castle was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UC-67 in the Mediterranean en route from Malta to Gibraltar.
May 28
An Anglo-French conference in London discussed the deposition of King Constantine of Greece and considered the occupation of Athens and Thessaly.
May 29
The French liner SS Yarra was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UC-74 near Kreta in Greece.
May 30
The South African military commander General Jacob van Deventer succeeded Major General Reginald Hoskins in command of British forces in East Africa.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/17 11:01 AM

Thank you for the news report Fullofit. They are always informative!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/17 11:23 AM

Carick;

It seems likely someone sent a notice to the Huns that your boy was coming for a visit! biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/17 02:18 AM

Originally Posted by MFair
Thank you for the news report Fullofit. They are always informative!

MFair, I also learn something new when I prepare the news.

Jasta 18
1 February 1917, over the Front

Two Albatros D.II's are flying side by side, bobbing slightly up and down, and front and back in relation to each other. The weather is good with some heavy clouds in the distance and above them. Visibility is better than what one would consider average. The whole scene would look serene if it weren't for the two large columns of black smoke behind them, where two enemy airplanes had just crashed. The two pilots in the biplanes looked at each other and even though their faces were bundled tight to fend off biting wind, they could each tell the other one was smiling. It was Offizierstellvertreter Aldi Schwarzkopf and Leutnant Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp and they had each bagged a Pup. No small feat in the death-traps they were flying at the present and to boot each one has witnessed the other's achievement.
It all started earlier this morning when the Staffel C.O. Oberleutnant Heino Grieffenhagen decided that Aldi will fly as his wingman. The mission objective was balloon defense north of their base at Halluin. Halfway to the balloon, as it now has become a habit, Grieffenhagen's machine started to cough and he had to leave formation to look after it. This left Aldi in lead and effective command of the flight. He had been over the balloon in question numerous times and was not afraid he'd get lost. Just in case, he looked around to make sure that he is where he thought he ought to be. He was reassured by the railway line below that led over a particular bridge, which was a well known navigation landmark. He looked back to check that von Bülow and Strähle were still in formation and led the Kette the rest of the way to the designated patrol area.
Once over the balloon all hell broke loose. 4 Sopwith Pups swooped down from the cloud layer above. One got on Strähle's tail, second went after von Bülow and Aldi got stuck with the remaining two. While jockeying for position, meaning diving in circles, Aldi could see that von Bülow was holding his own and was trading head-on passes with his opponent. Strähle wasn't so lucky. The Pup stuck to his tail and stayed there while the two of them maneuvered all over the sky. Aldi was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Any attempt at gaining advantage over one of the Sopwiths resulted in disadvantage to the other one. During one of those maneuvers Strähle's pursuer found himself in Aldi's sights. He squeezed the trigger and for one second a stream of bullets went through the Pup. This did the trick and Strähle was free of the chase and on the offensive. Von Bülow kept jousting with Pup without any of them gaining a clear advantage. Aldi ended up with one enemy behind and the other in front. He let the Spandaus do the talking again and the Pup in front was hit, he in turn was hit by the plane behind.

[Linked Image]

A violent maneuver later and both Pups were lost from sight. There was no sign of von Bülow nor of Strähle. A few desperate moments to regain visual contact. More unpredictable moves to confuse any potential stalkers. Searching. Searching. There! One Pup! The other one is nowhere to be found. "Let's take care of the immediate threat first and we'll worry about the other one later." Aldi was calculating his odds of survival. If the other Pup bugged out, then the odds have improved. If he is still somewhere around, hiding in the clouds, then the odds won't matter. The Pup definitely did not look comfortable after getting separated from the other machine and started moving toward the front lines. Aldi managed to get behind him and was slowly reducing the distance. Finally he was in range and started to pepper the British machine. He reduced the revs to minimum and was gliding behind his target. Just before getting too close he let loose another salvo and banked to make another run, but that was unnecessary.

[Linked Image]

As he turned he saw the Pup catch on fire. With a great plume of black smoke the crippled machine plunged downwards and into the ground just over the lines.
Aldi looked around and saw immediately von Bülow forcing down his opponent. The machine touched the ground, flipped over and exploded instantly. The 2 aviators saw each other, formed up and returned to base where Grieffenhagen with his dud engine and Strähle with his damaged bird were already waiting for them.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/17 02:54 AM

Here is the status report for the entire month that I was away. Sunday, I'll prepare the regular weekly status report.

[Linked Image]


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/17 03:02 AM

Hey guys, I've added the option to fly as an American with either the British or French. When the Americans actually get a separate air force then I'll add a separate section for them. Let me know what you think.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/17 04:09 AM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.

2 June 1917.


Mission : Intercept on the enemy side .

Loc: North East of our assigned sector.

E/A: 1 Dfw escorted by 4 D-III Albatross Scouts.

2 Sec: 5 Spads

Alt: 2100 meters then down to the deck

Claims: 2 E/a Scouts

Losses: 1 Spad + 3 damaged.

Remarks: The flt leader spotted the e/a flight at the end of or patrol before RTB point. I was zee the last dog on the chain in our flight so attacked the Dfw. As I swung around the Big Bus, just dove for home pulling away. I did a wingover and attacked the e/a scouts. Finally, I got on the tail and opened up at 300 meters then more at 200 meters. Firing in bursts, I pumped the last of the bullets in him. The lower right wing came off and he went down.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/17 03:48 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


June 3, 1917.


An Oil line broke shortly after take off ,but I found a dusty road to land on so much for the Dawn Patrol. My old create was patched up for the afternoon cover the Aerodromes flight. 2 Sections 5 a/c were going in between zee clouds when I spotted 2 Recon types maybe 500 meters below us. I waved to the flight but they couldn't see me in the white vapor so broke off and attacked. I was able to make 2 high side passes before my gun jammed. I think I only got 7 hits out of 291 rds fired so RTB.

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Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/17 08:53 PM

.

The DID Centenary Challenge Commendations Officer is pleased to present the following awards.


To pilots of the Entente Alliance

550 Hours Medal presented to: Banjoman, (Squadron Commander Arthur Ethelstan).
175 Hours Medal presented to: RAF Louvert, (Capitaine Allard Tremblay).
100 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold); Lederhosen, (Major Cecil Vernon Gardner).
75 Hours Medal presented to: Raine, (Flight Commander Colin Urquhart); Fullofit, (Capitaine Dominique Urbain); Robert Wiggins, (Sergeant Albert Earl Godfrey).
25 Hours Medal presented to: Hasse, (Sergent Bruno Berthier); Fullofit, (Sous Lieutenant Etienne Valois); Macklroy, (Adjutant Armande Arquette),


To pilots of the Central Powers

425 Hours Medal presented to Banjoman, (Rittmeister Ahren Auge)
25 Hours Medal presented to MFair, (Offiziersstellvertreter Drago Duntz).


Well done Gentleman, you make your respective countries proud! You may pick up your spiffing new gongs on the table below.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/17 09:04 PM

That's awesome. Thank you Lou. I really miss that award animation from Red Baron.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/17 09:24 PM

Lou

Albert thanks you profusely!!

Best Regards
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/04/17 05:13 PM

Gilbear du Bassy
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.
2 Confirmed Victory's


Jun 4, 1917.


Well, I go back to the Hospital. The morning flight went fine. 2 Sections 4 Spads ran into a Recon escorted by 3 Albatross Scouts at close quarters. Zee Bosche fought like mad dogs and we each lost a machine + one of my flight was wnd. All of us had holes in zee a/c. The Afternoon flight started well until my motor caught fire. ( Oil lines ? Gasket ? ) I cut the motor and fuel lines the found a level spot to land. Unfortunately, A fence also occupied the spot. The medics will have me for 13 days.


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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/17 12:44 AM

Jasta 18
4 February 1917 Halluin

It was loud and Leutnant von Bülow's words could barely be heard over the noise of the celebration.
- "Paul, please check on our new Leutnant. He has the early morning patrol and we need him to be awake."
Paul Strähle understood and his neck started to do the exercise of searching his surroundings that he knew so well. He spotted Aldi at the next table behind a row of bottles making most of the racket. He stood up and approached him.
- "Leutnant Schwarzkopf, you are needed at the next table." Paul yelled in Aldi's ear and pointed in von Bülow's direction. Aldi picked himself shakily up and wobbled to von Bülow's table.
- "Offizier ... I mean Leutnant Schwarzkopf reporting for duty!" His attempt at saluting failed miserably as his hand missed the general area of his head.
- "Sit down before you hurt yourself." Von Bülow offered Aldi a seat beside him. Aldi slumped down beside him nearly missing the chair.
- "Want me to tell you how I got thish pretty medal?" Aldi tried to point at his chest where a fresh Militär-Verdienstorden was hanging, but his hand only managed to go as far as his belly button.
Walter cringed as he was forced to listened to the story twice this evening already, but responded. - "If it'll keep you from drinking, by all means. Regale us with your latest exploits. Here, drink this. It's coffee." Paul Strähle was carrying two steaming cups of the mentioned brown stimulant-laxative. Aldi grabbed the mug and took a deep gulp.
- "Thash goot!" He announced wiping his mouth with his sleeve. The freshly minted leutnant put the coffee down and started his story.
- "We had line patrol that day over ... Paul, help me. You were there." Aldi turned to Strähle for the location of the patrol almost falling off the chair again.
- "Rumbeke" Paul offered the answer, helpful as always.
- "Yesh! We barely shtarted our patrol when five of the French machines showed up."
- "Four." Paul corrected. Aldi looked at Strähle as if he had just kicked a puppy.
- "We encountered FOUR Nieuportsh." Aldi continued. - "But theesh weren't any ordinary Nieupesh, theesh were the old N 10'sh ..."
- "N 11's" Paul interjected. Aldi dismissed the comment and continued.
- "They were shpeshal becaushe they were shlower than our Albatrosh and shooting them wash like shooting ..."
- "Fish in a barrel?" Paul tried to help again.
- "Like ducksh!" Aldi rejected Strähle's help on purpose.
- "But Aldi, ducks aren't easy to shoot." Paul tried to argue.
- "It ish if you have twin Shpandaush!" Aldi started a maniacal laugh which concluded with a cough when some spittle ended up down his breathe hole. Von Bülow slapped him on the back to help with Aldi's cough. Unfortunately the slap threw Aldi off balance which in turn caused an indiscrete sound come out of Aldi - a result of Aldi's recent indigestion. A pungent smell of rotten eggs hung in the air for a few moments. Aldi intent on disregarding the incident continued.
- "I wash able to hit the little bashtard on the firsht pash. He shtarted to shpin and went down all the way to the ground. I wash shocked and shurprised at the shame time. I wash already looking for the neksht target. I shaw Shträlhe being chased by one of them..."
- "I was chasing him, not the other way around. They were easy to shoot down, remember?" Paul was defending himself.
- "I wash too bushy to notishe." Aldi rebuked. - " I found the neksht Nieupe on my tail, sho I made my move like thish." He extended his hand with his palm down and then twisted his hand upside down and then made a swooping move and threw his arm behind him, nearly hitting Paul on the nose.
- "Then I went like thish." He made move with his hand straight in front of him.
- "And he went like thish." He made a slashing move with his hand nearly chopping off Strähle's head. Paul slowly moved away to avoid any further maneuver demonstrations.
- "And thatsh how I got on hish tail. I dove after him and finally shtarted to shoot. Rat-tat-tat!" Aldi made sounds with his mouth to mimic the sounds of his Spandaus. - "Boom!" and with that he lost his balance and fell under the table. He raised one hand to try and pick himself up, but abandoned the feeble attempt. He curled up under the table and started to snore.
Von Bülow and Strähle breathed a sigh of relief. Paul started to pick his inebriated friend off the floor to get him back to his room and sleep it off. While straining under Aldi's weight Sträle commented through clenched teeth:
- "I hope he doesn't get promoted too often. I don't think I could survive another one. He causes more damage than the French and British combined when he's not sober." With that he had Aldi on his feet, albeit unconscious, dragging him to his room with one arm over his shoulder.
- "Paul, give him two Aspirins when he wakes up in the morning. He'll thank you for it". Von Bülow yelled after the pair. Walter finished off his drink, got up to his feet, adjusted his tunic and added: - "And keep an empty bucket close to his bunk."

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/17 01:30 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

1 Feb 1917 @ 08h18 Attack on Phalempin


Well, Murphy has struck again! At briefing today we were informed we would be repeating the raid on Phalempin to hopefully do some significant damage to the Hun airfield. This announcement by the C.O. was followed by much grumbling from the rank and file. The C.O. ignored the noise and quickly announced that the weather forecast was for much heavy cloud from 4800 ft upwards with winds of 8 kn from the NNW.

Caldwell, Meintjes, Fry and Godfrey exited the briefing room in silence heading towards their mounts which were already being run out to the line. “A†flight consisting of Graves, Pidcock, Smith and Hall followed just a quietly.

The quietness in it’s own right said everything.

“B†flight was the first to leave the field, followed by “A†flight and they all formed up just north of Savy at 08h29, attaining an altitude of 3800 ft before setting out on the first leg of the mission towards Loos.

At 08h34 they arrived just north of Loos at 4600 ft barely below the heavy cloud cover. Caldwell a descent towards the lines coming down to 3400 ft as they crossed over. Godfrey noticed the shelling below and immediately thought how much more effective their mission would be if they could shed the LePrieur’s for some of those shells.

They were making good time and at 08h40 they passed just north of Lens at which point the Huns sent their usual greetings up in the form of thick black puffs of smoke and fire. Caldwell wasted no time in turning NE towards Phalempin, saying a hasty goodbye in the process.

At 08h43 Caldwell signaled the attack on Phalempin and the boys went in.
Albert stayed up high for a time observing the operation and keeping an eye on the sky for Hun scouts. He observed that the LePrieurs were making a spectacular show on the ground with smoke and flame but little damage was actually being done.

Albert finally went in to shoot up the scouts lined up nicely on the field and having strafed them he climbed out to join his mates. He spotted Caldwell just west of the field and headed towards him to join up. That’s when he spotted a nice fat sausage just hanging in the air less than a kilometer from Phalempin field. Being completely fed up with the effect the last two days of rocket attacks had on Phalempin, he set his mind to taking his frustration out on that sausage. It took three passes before it finally burst into flame but somehow that made up for some of the depression he had been bearing.

It was 09h04 when Albert noticed the boys forming up for their return to Savy, and he joined them quickly. The trip back across the lines was free from harassment by enemy scouts but Hun Flak continued to pester them all the way to the lines.

Back at Savy, reporting in to the R.O. it was made clear by the pilots that little damage had been done with the LePrieur rockets. Caldwell and Graves both spoke up requesting some decent ordinance to do the job right.

There was nothing left to do but wait to see how the brass hats reacted to the latest report of the attack. On the plus side, all the boys had made it back safely but four of the 8 aircraft would require two to three days repair as a result of ground fire from Phalempin.


Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/17 02:20 PM

Carrick, I feel you have grown too fond of the nurses! Hope you heal fast.
Fullofit, Congratulations on the promotion. Easy on the celebrations though![/b]
[b]Robert,
oh how I abhor ground attack!

Flight Lt. Edgar Everheart
St-Pol-sur-Mer
Flanders

The squadron had orders to transfer to their new aerodrome. They were to turn in their Pup's which would be sent back home for home defense. The squadron would be reequipped with the new Triplane. Everyone was in high spirits as they walked to their machines. Flight Commander Urquhart waved at Edgar as he climbed aboard his mount. Edgar was fond of the Flight Commander. He had informally taken him under his wing since joining the squadron and was always willing to share tactics that would save him time and again. Edgar smiled and waved back as Colin climbed aboard "Sheila" as his Pup was named.

At St-Pol-sur-Mer, Commodore Everheart was standing next to a hanger with his adjutant. He was at Dunkirk with the fleet and had come to see his son. They heard the distant sound of the radial engines as the Pups came into view high overhead. There were two Strutters already on final approach. "That will be your Edgar's flight there Sir" the adjutant said while pointing skyward. The Pup's started to descend in a circle as they entered their landing pattern. As the Commodore watched he saw one suddenly break off in a dive soon followed by the other 4 machines in the flight. Soon the staccato of machine gun fire from the air and the ground broke the monotone drone of the engines. Then the archie batteries started to throw their lead into the air also. The adjutant took the Commodore by the arm. "We need to get to cover Sir!" The Commodore flicked his arm away as he took in the scene. "We are as safe here as anywhere else" the Commodore replied. With that he stiffened and crossed his arms with his eyes taking in the mayhem.

An Albatros was chasing one of the Strutters as it was trying to land, its engine smoking badly. The Hun machine looked every bit the hawk after its prey. The Commodore was watching his helpless countrymen trying to land as the Hun sent burst after burst into him. Then he saw a Pup dive in behind the Hun and start to pour his deadly fire into the hawk. The hunted had become the prey. The Hun broke off but it was too late for the Strutter. It sat down on the field engulfed in flames. In an instant, another Albatros came in behind the Pup and sent a deadly burst into it. The Commodore saw the Pup shudder as pieces of fabric tore off the wing and into the slipstream. The Pup pulled up but it was clear he was having trouble controlling the machine. The Commodore kept his eye on it. The Pup turned, dipped a wing, and looked like it might stall and go into the trees before recovering to level out at low altitude across the field. One more turn, this time a bit more in control and the Pup just cleared the burning Strutter and sat down hard on the field. Above, machines were twisting and turning in a massive dogfight. The Commodore was spellbound by the sight. He watched as the Pup came to a rolling stop and the prop stopped with a jerk. The pilot instantly unbuckled and jumped out of the machine while tearing off his flight helmet. Commodore Everheart gasped and then composed himself again as he realized it was his son running across the field.
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Edgar ran to the nearest machine gun pit and helped the gunners any way he could. In just minutes, it was over with the Huns headed east and the rest of the Pup's landing. "Welcome to your new home!" Edgar thought.

The visit between father and son was brief but was a moment Edgar would never forget. As the Commodore started to climb into his staff car he turned to Edgar and placed his hand on his shoulder. "I could never be more proud to call you my son" he said with a smile. Edgar did not speak. He could not. There were no words. Then the Commodore said with a start "I almost forgot!" He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew an envelope to hand to Edgar. "Congratulations Flight Lieutenant!"
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/17 02:24 PM

Drago Duntz
Jasta 28w

Drago got the transfer he wanted, or at least he thought. His first flight with his new Jasta was almost his last.
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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/17 12:32 AM

Time to start over...

Flight Commander Colin Urquhart died in a collision with an Albatros on 7 February 1917. He closed out his time at Vert Galant with his 9th confirmed kill, a Halberstadt DIII on 26 January 1917. After that his flights were either uneventful or inconclusive, the latter category including two exciting mix-ups with well-flown Rolands. On 2 February, the Detached Squadron turned in its Pups for Tripes and moved to St-Pol-sur-mer, where it was renamed No 8 Squadron, RNAS (or simply Naval Eight). Urquhart had a day off and joined Everheart for lunch in Dunkirk with the Commodore. Dalgleish went AWOL but was picked up at "wee Mary's" farm and brought back.

Urquhart's riggers had "Sheila" painted on his Tripe. After several safe line patrols and defensive patrols, he led his first offensive patrol in a Tripe. They spotted two Albatros DIIs and gave chase. One turned to meet the Sopwiths and the fight turned dangerous as too many Tripes were going for a single enemy. Just as I thought it was time to leave the dance, the Hun turned towards me. I tried to dive under him, but lost the top wing in the collision and thundered into no man's land and an unmarked grave.

I'll be away for about a week and back with a new pilot and story...

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/17 01:52 AM

Raine

So sorry to hear of Urqhart's demise. Such a promising career and story line too soon ended and undoubtedly a personal loss as well.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/17 02:08 AM

Robert, thank you! I'm of to the Grand Prix race in Montreal this week, so a few days' leave with get me set for the next fellow. And Lou, thanks for the DiD campaign medals. I missed your medal work a lot, but am loving the aerodromes, Mossy Face, etc.!!!
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/17 11:42 AM

Lou, thanks for the beautiful DID medal! I'm glad to see you carry on the gong work in this campaign too. smile

Raine, I'm so sorry to see you lost your pilot! He had a good run and I enjoyed reading about his adventures. I can't even count how many pilots I've also lost to mid air collisions. Better luck with your next guy!

I'm finally able to continue the career of Bruno Berthier. Still flying Caudrons in Escadrille C 66, Bruno and his observer Pascal Girard have managed to score their first confirmed victory. More of that later...
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/17 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
Robert, thank you! I'm of to the Grand Prix race in Montreal this week, so a few days' leave with get me set for the next fellow. And Lou, thanks for the DiD campaign medals. I missed your medal work a lot, but am loving the aerodromes, Mossy Face, etc.!!!

Raine, sorry to learn of your anonymous pilot's demise. It's the unknown soldier's tomb for him.
I'm excited for you about your F1 trip. How much are the tickets, if you don't mind me asking? Don't tell me you have the pit-pass.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/07/17 12:56 AM

Thanks, Fullofit. The tickets I have are about $475 for 3 days. I bought them back in January, so I forget the exact figure. The price varies depending on where you are on the track and General Admission are quite reasonable

Our spot (not the most expensive, but still probably the best) is Grandstand 12. It is above the Senna Curve at the end of the start / finish straight. You see the start and the end of pit row and the pit exit, then the right kink before T1 left and T2 right (the 180 degree Senna) and then the cars rush uphill to your left. There are two jumbo screens in good view to pick up action at the other end of the track. At the end of the race, it's an easy jog to take in the podium celebrations. For several years we brought folding chairs and sat on the grassy hill below our grandstand, just feet from the track. But now my knees aren't up to the mad dash to get a good seating spot, plus we've managed to get seats at the base of the grandstand just a few feet from the old spot on the hill. So now I saunter in at a leisurely pace (it's a 25 minute walk from the Jean Drapeau Park Metro station), watch the pretty girls, and set up comfy stadium chairs on the grandstand. And unlike Austin, they let you bring food and wine into the track, so you can do yourself up well.

No pit pass, unfortunately.

I'll miss Colin Urquhart, but I think I'll try a German pilot this time. I'm working on a back story for Vizefeldwebel Demian Kraft, who is currently transferring from the Fliegerersatzabteilung in Hannover to the newly-formed Jasta 29. He'll begin operations on 12 February 1917 (12 June in RL).
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/07/17 01:32 AM

Looks like you're in for a good show (despite Lance Stroll). They're forecasting 30 deg. weather in Toronto for Sunday, so it should be a tad nicer in Montreal. Not sure if I should be more envious of the live race or the pretty girls. In any case enjoy yourself. driving

Just a heads up for your German pilot. DiD starts with ranks: (Luft.) Offizerstellverter; (Marine) Flugmeister.
I was hoping for a continuation of Dalgleish's story, but it looks like it'll be hard to incorporate him into a German career. Unless ... the only way to avoid the firing squad for going AWOL is to accept a spy mission behind the lines. copter
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/07/17 02:54 AM

I was thinking of Dalgliesh getting into a long wrangle with the CO after being refused permission to marry "wee Mary." If Colin had survived the war, Dalgliesh would have stayed in France and worked the farm, and Colin would have been their best man and a regular post-war visitor. Ah weel, as Dalgliesh would say. I love the Scots soldiers, so there will be another version of Dalgliesh at some point...

Oh, and I'll correct the rank.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/07/17 10:35 AM

Say it ain't so Bud! The loss of Colin hit me like a thunderclap. He will be missed by the squadron and Edgar. Enjoy the races and looking forward to hearing of your Hun pilots exploits.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/17 12:23 AM

Gentlemen;

Albert Earl Godfrey has had four missions on four consecutive days between 3 Feb 1917 to 6 Feb 1917. He finally got a kill on a DIII on the 6th which was captured on vid but there has been no time to write up the reports for these missions and it will probably be next week before any headway is made on that matter.
Suffice to say Albert is very pleased with himself at finally having put one on the board, chased off another and freed two BE2c's which were being stalked.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/17 09:07 AM

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/17 11:52 AM

Lederhosen sorry to see Cecil go.

I must say I really enjoyed seeing the official casualty report form.
VVery nicely done Sir.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/17 11:36 PM

Lederhosen, sorry to hear about Cecil. Better luck with "D".

Jasta 18

6 February 1917, Halluin

Leutnant Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp has just landed, parked his Albatros D.II near the hangar and turned the engine off, when he noticed that Kette Zwei has already landed as well. He flew the lead for Kette Eins.
- "Something must have happened." He thought to himself as he was climbing out of the cockpit. His mechanic was already looking for any damage that may have been incurred during the latest scrap with the Strutters.
He walked into the barrack that housed Jasta 18's C.O. office. Leutnant Paul Strähle was already there sitting on a chair by the office door, looking very uncomfortable, nervously wringing his cap in his hands.
- "What's the matter?" von Bülow asked his friend.
Strähle put a finger to his lips and jerked his head in the direction of the door and said quietly. - "Aldi's already in there."
They both looked at the door, approached it as silently as possible and began to eavesdrop.
- "I DON'T CARE THAT THE STRUTTERS SHOWED UP!" Grieffenhagen's booming voice could clearly be heard without resorting to subterfuge.
- "THAT WAS NOT YOUR MISSION. YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO ESCORT THE RECON PLANES OVER THE LINES. WE DON'T HAVE INTELLIGENCE BECAUSE YOU FAILED TO PROTECT THE OBSERVATION MACHINES."
There was some inaudible voice and then much louder response.
- "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR SIDE OF THE STORY, LEUTNANT. NOR STRÄHLE'S. I'LL GET TO HIM NEXT! IT SEEMS HE WAS THE FIRST ONE BACK. PERHAPS HE DOESN'T LIKE TO FLY ANYMORE. I'LL FIND HIM A NEW JOB - PEELING POTATOES!"
Paul shrank down in the chair outside the door.
- "AS FOR YOU," Griffenhagen continued, "YOU DID NOT SHOOT DOWN TWO STRUTTERS. JUST THE ONE OVER OUR AIRFIELD. NO ONE HAS SEEN THE OTHER ONE. NOW THAT'LL BE ALL. DISMISSED!"
Aldi walked through the door with a bitter expression on his face. He looked at his friends staring back at him. Von Bülow opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it. Aldi walked out. Strähle still sitting on the chair with a mess of a hat still clutched in his hands declared to von Bülow in a rather shaky voice: - "I like flying."

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/10/17 04:54 PM

To: Comandant
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, Fance.



From: Ward # 7 , Bed 5.
1 st Field Hospital
Boulogne, France.

Dated: June 20, 1917.




I do hope the Esc is doing fine against the Bosche. I am up and around so should be returning to the unit shortly.

Regards, Gilbear du Bassy
B Flt. Esc 81.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/10/17 09:55 PM

Lederhosen, my condolences. We're dropping like flies these days! Best of luck with the new recruit.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/11/17 02:17 AM

Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold still operates from Furnes with 1 RNAS in February 1917. Currently getting into rather large scraps with the enemy.

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Etienne Valois in June 1917 flying his Nieuport 24 has been promoted recently to Capitaine and is now flying a SPAD.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/11/17 02:23 AM

Jasta 18
7 February 1917, Halluin

- "Scheisse, Griffenhagen's not going to like this!" Aldi thought to himself as he watched a formation of Nieuports get ready to attack the DFW's he was charged with protecting. He placed his Schwarm between the assailants and their prey and braced for a tough fight. Yet again he found himself leading the flight after Staffelführer Griffenhagen's machine was hit by ground fire while climbing to altitude after take off. Halluin is just too close to the front lines to make a safe climb. He pointed his Albatros directly at the French machines with von Bülow and Strähle in tow.
- "Here we go!" Aldi murmured to nobody in particular as he leaned into his gunsight and placed his thumbs on the triggers of his twin Spandaus. The distance between combatants decreased rapidly. Aldi squeezed and the machine guns let loose deadly projectiles piercing air, wood, canvas, metal, flesh and bone alike. He flew through the enemy formation and banked hard to starboard to reengage, but there was no one to engage. He looked around. The Nieups were gone, the Albs were also not in sight. Aldi searched for the two-seaters, who by now had turned around and were heading for home. He found them near the lines at a lower altitude. All of the Nieuports were on their trail with a few being occupied by Strähle and von Bülow. Aldi aimed for the group and dove picking up speed. He finally caught up with them as the Frenchmen began engaging the DFW's. Aldi fired at the closest silver plane. Nieuport seemed to freeze in place for a second as if someone was preoccupied with looking back to asses situation and then rolled away and dove. Aldi did not follow, he kicked the rudder and slipped sideways to the next target in line. He shot again and this French machine also rolled and dove. Aldi switched to the last Nieuport following the reconnaissance machines, knowing well that now there could be two enemy planes on his tail. He felt a sense of urgency to get to the last one of them and bug out, leaving the observers free to continue home unmolested. He looked quickly back to check what's happening behind him. It was clear for now. He concentrated on the target in front of him and begun pumping lead into him. Unsurprisingly this one rolled and dove as well, but this time Aldi followed with quick glances back to make sure he's clear to continue his attack. They dropped all the way to the deck. German guns in the trenches engaged giving Aldi additional level of confidence. More rounds found their mark as Aldi zeroed in on the Nieuport and then it was all over. Nieuport lost its wing and spiraled down to hit the forward trenches. If not for the growl of his Mercedes engine, Aldi would hear cheering and jubilant shouts coming from the troops in the trenches, who had just been treated to a show in the sky. He flew over the troops and waggled his wings to show them his appreciation. He turned east and made his way home. The two other leutnants joined him shortly and they all circled the airfield and landed as one.

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/17 12:35 AM

Thank you, Raine, Fullofit, lederhosen, Lou, Carrick, Robert, Adger, Arup, and anyone else who has contributed stories to this "immersive" thread. We have some excellent writer's on this forum. Keep up the good work!

Sorry to hear about the recent loss of so many fine aviators, and just as I was getting to really know them. Ah well, war is hell and all that rot.

I look forward to hearing the back stories and adventures of our new arrivals.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/17 02:26 AM

Here's the latest status report.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/17 03:15 AM

Journal Entry: 11 February, 1917
Pronville

30 days of furlough spent at home, what a blessing! It was my first time home since I enlisted and it was a much needed rest. My precious mother scrapped together enough food to prepare a Christmas dinner for me even though it was in January and so we celebrated as if I had been there in December. What a shock it was to see how much my parents have aged since I left. I was so selfish to think that only I carried the burden of this horrible war and now that my younger brother Kurt is following in my footsteps, I can only imagine the toil that the additional stress will take on my dear mother. Father seems to be handling the burden much better than mother, but he has his work to occupy his mind. Thank God that darling, little Elsa will stay safely out of this war. I was surprised to hear that Kurt had applied and been accepted into flight training. I had no idea that he even had any interest in flying. I certainly hope he isn't trying to follow in his older brother's footsteps, I would hardly recommend this life to anyone. Mother and Father invited the Jüngers over for tea one day and much to my surprise, little Marta isn't so little anymore. As a matter for fact, she has blossomed into quite the beautiful young lady and if I survive this war I will have to pursue this more closely. As usual with pleasant times, it came to an end and it was time for me to go. Father stoically shook my hand, but mother's tears almost undid me and I was saved by the train's rapid departure.

I returned to Pronville on the 6th and found that the front had advanced to within 5 miles of our aerodrome. The constant thundering of the guns will take some getting used to, but the men say that eventually it just fades into the background. I guess a person can get used to almost anything. My adjutant introduced me to the new faces in the mess, but thankfully the old crew was still around. Rather than taking a few days to readjust, I insisted on flying a patrol up to the front to see how things were progressing. That rash decision almost was the end of me because we were bounced by a pack of Sopwiths and there isn't much our Albatri can do against those cursed Pups. Fortunately, I was able to put down just inside our lines. The rest of this week with the exception of today has been uneventful, which has been perfect for me due to the large amount of paperwork I seem to have amassed during my absence. I thought today's patrol would also be uneventful, but as I was turning for home I saw three dots materialize out of the clouds. I quickly recognized the dots as Caudrons and I gave the signal to attack. Even though the Caudron has two observers, their fields of fire are very restricted and therefore they are as the men say, "easy meat". Today was no different and the three French machines were quickly sent spiraling down.

I am pleased to be back among my men, but I realize now what a terrible strain my service is on my parents. I will commit to sending my mother more letters about the humorous things that happen here and I will send a letter to Kurt and tell him to do the same.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/17 04:01 AM

Journal Entry: 11 June, 1917
Droglandt

The old saw that states, "It's not what you know, but who you know that's important" is in my case absolutely true. I have always hated people who used their connections to get what they want in life and I have pledged in the past to never do that sort of thing. Life is funny in a cruel sort of way because I found myself in a situation where I had to do just that. I was fully prepared to do my best as an advanced instructor but what I wasn't prepared for, was the wanton loss of life. In my time, which was two months, I lost ten student pilots. Each one of those students died in the most useless manner possible and at the end of two months I found that I just could not stomach another bright promising pilot ending his life because he forgot the most basic of instructions. I mean, how many times did we tell them that if you lose your engine at takeoff do not under any circumstances try and turn back to the field, and yet, we lost five pilots doing just that. It would be bearable if we could have taken the time to carefully train these young men, but with the latest losses the brass hats have pressured the instructors to rush the men through sometimes without even the most rudimentary training. After the last needless death I just decided enough was enough and I reached out to my father. My request was simple. I want to be sent back to a Scout unit. It is bad enough losing men, but at least in a fighting unit their loss can serve some purpose. It just so happens that my father went to Eton and is rather close to a certain someone who is highly placed in the Admiralty. I think that my father was actually pleased to help me, sort of gave him a purpose in the war effort, if you will. Anyway, between the machinations of my father's friend and the fact that I am the highest scoring pilot in the RNAS, I was eventually informed that there was an opening in the 10 RNAS scout squadron and I could have that assignment with one stipulation, that I fly no patrols over the enemy lines. That satisfied my situation perfectly and I agreed to the conditions and packed my bags for Droglandt. The 10th is a salty outfit and I already like what I see and hear from the men. As a matter of fact, one of my pilots is Flight Lieutenant Collishaw and I expect great things from him if he should survive. Just this morning, I flew a DOP with Flt. Lts. Collishaw, Harrison, and Gibbs down near Diksmuide. We ran into a flight of the newest model of Albatros and made short work of them. I am firmly convinced that the Huns do not have any machines capable of besting our Tripes. I never thought I would love a plane more than my old Pup, but the Tripehound has certainly won my heart. It is good to be back with men that are flying and fighting with a purpose.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/17 07:10 AM

Catchup posting for Albert Earl Godfrey

3 Feb 1917 @ 09h32 Patrol enemy lines near Monchy

At briefing we were told to expect 8 kn winds from the west with extreme cold, with fog, snow and heavy cloud cover from 6000 ft. I wondered why we were even going up.

Meintjes lead the flight with Hill Fry, myself, Hall and Mayall on wing.

“A†flight was to provide assistance composed of Graves, Pidcock and Roxburgh-Smith.

We completed forming up at 8000 ft. at 09h47 drifting in and out of heavy fog and cloud cover. Staying in close formation was extremely taxing, requiring constant attention and leaving little time to look about for Huns.

We were over the lines east of Arras at 09h59 just over 8100 ft. We were not able to make out the ground but for brief instances and the surrounding cloud and snow fall was so thick the Huns could have been close enough to shake hands and we would not have seen them. Meintjes led up back and fourth twice and then called it quits. We made it back to base at 10h38 and reported in to the R.O. The only thing we achieved was a little frost bite.


4 Feb 1917 @ 08h40 Patrol our lines near Athies

This was another day of extreme cold, fog and snow with heavy cloud cover beginning at 5900 ft.

Caldwell lead “A†flight composed of Meintjes, Pidcock, and myself. “A†flight was to provide top cover and was composed of Graves, Hill and Hall.
With the extreme cloud cover we never saw “A†flight again after forming up.

At 08h53 we had formed up at 8200 ft and headed first to Neuville St-Vaast arriving there at 08h58 at 9200 ft. We were still in heavy cloud cover most of the time with only occasional glimpses of the ground. We crossed the lines at 09h02, with Calswell leading us back and forth. I did manage to make out 2 BE2c’s and 2 Tripes during a short break in the clouds but that was all.

Caldwell lead us back to base and we landed at 09h39. Again we reported in that the mission was a washout due to the weather and we all headed to the mess to get some hot tea and sausage.


5 Feb 1917 @ 09h38 Patrol our lines near Monchy

At briefing today we were advised to expect Bitter cold with winds of 3kn from the WSW, but the skies would be clear and sunny. There was promise that if there were Huns at the lines, we would certainly have a chance to engage them.

“B†flight was lead by Graves and composed of Pidcokc, Roxburgh-Smith, Hill and myself. “A†flight composed of Caldwell, Fry, Meintjes and Hall were to provide top cover.

We formed up north of the field at 09h58 at 9800 ft and headed towards Etrun, arriving there at 10h00. We passed Arras at 10h03 flying at 11,800 ft and still climbing. By the time we reached the lines at 10h11 we were at 11900 ft. Graves lead up back and forth several times without sighting a single Hun in the sky. As we were heading back to base I spotted 2 DFW C.V. well above us heading east across the lines. Graves ignored them and we landed back at Filescamp at 10h39. I could hardly wait to get to the mess for some hot food and tea. I was chilled right through and shivering heavily.


6 Feb 1917 @ 10h57 Patrol enemy front near Vimy

It was another Bitter cold day but with Sunny clear skies. Wind was 3 kn from the NNW. Only “B†flight was tasked for the mission with “A†and “C†flights standing down.

Meintjes lead “B†flight composed of Hill, Pidcock, Godfrey, Mayall on wing and Hall. The flight formed up as usual, north of the field attaining an altitude of 11000 ft at 11h14 before heading out towards Vimy.

At 11h23 the flight crossed over Vimy heading for the lines at 13500 ft.
Some time shortly after, Godfrey spotted 2 BE2c’s closely followed by two other aircraft which seemed to be the target of our archie. The flight seemed intent on ignoring them and try as he might Godfrey was unable to make the point with the flight leader Meintjes. Godfrey took fate in his own hands, tossing jurisprudence out the window and broke formation. He headed down trailing the course of the two suspected enemy craft following the BE2c’s.

At 11h50 he caught up with what turned out to be two Halberstadt DIII’s. Just as he was gaining position they each broke into a turn in opposite direction, obviously intent on engaging the lone N16 on their tails. Godfrey wasted now time engaging the DIII that broke left, and managed to send several volleys into his port side. He again had an opportunity to drive him down in a diving attack. He then quickly climbed out seeking the other DIII that surely was trying for position on his six. He found it in short order and began an earnest attack head on, all the while taking short opportunities to ensure the first DIII was nowhere in the vicinity. It appeared to Albert that his first volley had disabled the second DIII in some way, as the DIII broke to run in a rather sloppy manner. Taking the opportunity that had been handed to him, Albert quickly swung on the the DIII’s six and moved in to finish him off. Remembering his previous experiences, he held his enthusiasm in check and waited until he was close enough to almost reach out and touch it. He sent several volleys into the DIII until he had to break off for fear of ramming him. The Hun began loosing altitude but clearly still in control and Albert was not going to lose this one. He dove down and sent several more volleys into the engine compartment, observing a smoke trail begin to appear. Albert climbed out and watched as the DIII began to spin down and hit the ground, leaving brown dust cloud where he slammed in. Albert felt sure he had driven down the first DIII and that it had either gone in or gone home. He climbed out and headed back to base to report his engagement and probably take a considerable dressing down for having left the flight. No matter, he was willing to risk it. The action had taken place on his side of the lines, very close to Neuville-Saint-Vaast and he was sure that confirmation of the kill would be possible, plus he was sure that the 2 BE2c pilots would be reporting that a lone N16 had driven off two Hun attackers. He hoped this would lighten the potential for a dressing down.

Godfrey landed back at base and reported in to the R.O. The rest of the flight had already cleared the office earlier and he was last to report. Confirmation of the kill had preceded him. Apparently the two BE2c pilots had reported on the lone N16, in addition to reports from the local Archie battery that had been harassing the Huns and had observed the action above them. As hoped for, Albert’s dressing down was somewhat as he had hoped for.

Godfrey's first kill:

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/17 11:19 AM

Well the RFC got a new Pilot today. How he passed the physical I don't know !!

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and his counter part keeps trying to up his score to no avail..


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/17 12:28 PM

Oh boy!! We are going to confuse the hell out of the Hun!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/17 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Thank you, Raine, Fullofit, lederhosen, Lou, Carrick, Robert, Adger, Arup, and anyone else who has contributed stories to this "immersive" thread. We have some excellent writer's on this forum. Keep up the good work!

Sorry to hear about the recent loss of so many fine aviators, and just as I was getting to really know them. Ah well, war is hell and all that rot.

I look forward to hearing the back stories and adventures of our new arrivals.


ByckeyeBob, glad you like the stories.

Jasta 18
9 February 1917, Halluin

Aldi was in good mood. The weather was improving, there was less and less snow on the ground and best of all they were finally free of escort duty and were charged with patrolling the front. The three leutnants: Schwarzkopf, von Bülow and Strähle were walking to their machines on the field singing "A Hunting We Will Go" as loudly as their lungs would allow them, which wasn't much compared to the roar of their mounts' engines being revved up. They formed up over the aerodrome and proceeded to follow their assigned flight path. On their return leg they spotted some distant specks crossing the lines into enemy territory. They were accompanied by a barrage of black puffs of smoke exploding and hanging in the air marking their position. Aldi and the rest adjusted their vector to intercept and checked their guns. He squinted in hope that it will help him see further but it didn't. They had to get closer. Finally the specks became shapes and the shapes turned into recognizable aeroplanes. These were no scouts. Aldi wasn't too keen fighting enemy scouts in this rusty bucket of bolts, but Fee's he could fight. Oh yes, he could indeed!
He has heard of the British bomber's defensive circling maneuver where each machine protected the one in front, but this flight was in standard vic formation, probably not aware of the impending doom. He got close to the tail of the machine closest to him and opened fire from below. The engine started to emit faint stream of light smoke, at the same time von Bülow and Strähle reached their intended victims. Aldi kept on pummeling his "Vickers" until the engine seized and the Fee begun to sail. The gunner in the front seat of the gondola was slumped over the side and the pilot was fighting with the controls to keep the crate right side up.

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He was helpless but Aldi knew they were high enough for the Fee to make it to the nearest airfield, be repaired and continue with the war effort. He was entrusted with preventing exactly that. The Albatros circled around and administered coup de grace. The wounded bomber began to careen out of control. Aldi followed him with his eyes for a while hoping to never be in such a position. He opened the throttle, pointed the nose of his Albatros below horizon and acquired the next target. They were getting close to La Gorgue and the anti-aircraft guns let them know they're not welcome here. By now the rest of Aldi's flight converged on the final target, but Schwarzkopf got to it first. Again, the attack came from behind and below. The bomber's engine exploded into thousand of pieces, damaging the plane and wounding the pilot.

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It started an agonizing spiral down with the gunner trying to reach over into the pilot's pit to attempt controlling the plane. He was not successful. It crashed into the airfield and turned over. Aldi and the company turned around and began their flight back, dodging angry white puffs of Flak, which might as well have been an equivalent of shaking an explosive fist at them and telling them not to come back. Aldi's imagination had only one answer to that: "Not bloody likely!"

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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/17 11:50 AM

Who the hell !!

He said his tail fell into a tin of paint Sir.

I think he's trying for a section 8, put that beast on charge!!!

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Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/17 05:07 PM

Quote
Who the hell !!

He said his tail fell into a tin of paint Sir.

I think he's trying for a section 8, put that beast on charge!!!


rofl rofl rofl

Jeff
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/14/17 04:03 PM

Nice reports Gents. Robert, nice video. Great job of keeping your altitude against those 2. You scared me in your dives! Kept waiting for the Nieuport wings to come off.

Even Everheart is an ace now with 5 kills. He was able to bring down an Albatros that was attacking the reccy aircraft he was escorting.

Drago Duntz is having a tough time with Jasta 28w. On his last 4 missions he has had 3 engine failures and took down a balloon that was unconfirmed because his wingman was evidently picking his nose.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/17 03:00 PM

Wow, good stories gents.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/17 03:06 PM

From: Ward # 7 , Bed 5.
1 st Field Hospital
Boulogne, France.

Dated: June 15. 1917.

Last couple of days on sick leave in Paris, I have been to dinners and Art Gallery's . However, its time to pack and head back to zee front.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/17 08:34 PM

I still need to get caught up on my reading here, but I'm back in the game. Here is the first chapter from my new pilot.

Memoir of Demian Kraft

Part 1


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My name is Demian Kraft. I was born in 1898 in the town of Sinsheim on the Elsenz River, not far from Heidelberg, the first and only son of Friedrich and Marthe Kraft. My mother had endured five daughters – Agathe, Marthe, Maria, Elsbeth, and Christina – ranging in age from fifteen to four when I came along to brighten my parents’ life. My father was ecstatic to have a son at last. My mother, predictably, was merely exhausted.

Father was a self-taught mechanic who, in 1908, began a small firm that built tractors. The tractor business did not succeed, but he had begun making various farming implements to pull behind tractors, and that business did very well indeed. By the time I entered the Realschule in Sinsheim we had moved into a fine house in the old town centre, close to the Rathaus. My three eldest sisters were married off by then – one to a doctor, two to lawyers – and life was good.

During the summers I worked in the company, where I learned to rebuild industrial equipment, or at least to follow directions while doing so.

When war came I was about to sit for school leaving examinations, after which I had to choose between attending the Berufschule to learn a trade, or to finish studies at a Gymnasium before attending university. Politics and literature were my passion. In this my mother was my main support, to the grave concern of my father, who expected me to serve my apprenticeship and take over the family business. But in twenty-five years of marriage had never won an argument with his beloved Marthe. Thus, in late June 1914 I left for my first trip away from home to stay in London with my uncle Max. Uncle Max was a grain trader, and I was to work as a waiter in a restaurant for the summer in order to improve my English before starting Gymnasium.

London was wonderful. But the highlight of the entire summer was a Saturday in mid-July when an English friend of my uncle drove me in his motor car – a first – to Hendon to see the finish of the London-Paris-London air race. I had never before been close to a flying machine and that afternoon I cheered myself hoarse as the American Walter Brock set his machine down a full two hours ahead of the valiant Roland Garros and became the first man to fly between the capitals and back in the same day. From that moment on I dreamt of nothing but flying.

My summer was cut short by rumours of war. Uncle Max stayed on, trying to place his business in trustworthy hands. I returned to Sinsheim just two weeks before Germany went to war. My father wasted no time in securing a contract to manufacture ammunition wagons and limbers for the army. I was recruited, not by the army but by the family firm. So many workers had rushed to join the army that we worked seven days a week (excepting Sunday morning) to meet our production quotas.

I turned 17 in June of 1915. A few days after my birthday I enlisted, requesting assignment to the Fliegertruppen. Already I had heard stories of the trenches and wanted nothing to do with the infantry. I was not fond of horses. So I explained to the Unteroffizier who interviewed me how I had been undertaking flight instruction at Hendon in England in 1914 when I was forced to return home. It was a blatant lie, but he seemed amused.

Only later I learned how unlikely it was that I would have been selected for flight training immediately on enlistment. Most others transferred from the combat arms. I reported to Fliegerersatzabteilung 7 at Köln. This was basically an assessment course, with much emphasis on fitness and smartness. I had much to learn, especially compared to the boys who had already served. I resolved never to complain, always to smile, and to take on the hardest tasks before being told. It paid off, and in December 1915 I was recommended for pilot training. I reported after Christmas to the Fliegerschule Schliessheim near München. I passed my first course here easily, finding the flying business a bit easier that was the case with most of my colleagues. When, on 15 May 1916, I was graduated from the school. After a short home leave, I was posted to a depot where I was tasked with making myself inconspicuous while awaiting assignment to an operational Kampfstaffel. At this I failed, because I attempted to get more hours into my logbook and while doing so I stunted a bit over the field. The Kommandant ripped me up for bum paper, then made me an instructor. I worked at this all the rest of 1916 while pilots with far fewer hours were posted to the front.

It was not until January 1917 that I received a posting to a Kampfstaffel. But before I could leave Schliessheim, everything changed. I was promoted to Offizierstellvertreter and posted to a Jastaschule 1 at Famars, just outside Vincennes and near to the front. This was unheard of, as I was to progress directly to single-seaters. Overjoyed, I made my way to France.

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Jastaschule 1 -- the chateau at Famars

At Famars we were introduced to modern machines, Halberstadt and Albatros scouts. They also allowed us to fly some captured British machines, including the latest Sopwith machines. Best of all, we were billeted in a lovely chateau and ate very well. My instructors included several decorated leaders like Oberleutnant Berr. Ostvr Reimann, another fine pilot, instructed my group until 24 January 1917, when his Albatros shed a wing in the air and he fell to his death.

Finally, on 12 February 1917, I was posted to a newly-formed Jasta – Jasta 27 in Ghistelles, near the Channel coast. In one sense I was relieved as this was generally a quieter sector for a novice like me. On the other hand, it was a sector patrolled by pilots of the British navy, who aircraft were among the finest.

My war was about to begin…




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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/17 11:12 PM

Raine;

Glad to see you back in the thick of things, and on the other side to boot! Quite an interesting background story there! I was quite enthused to see Demian being posted to Koln and was anticipating his flying training sessions there at Lou's new training field. Alas I was sorry to see that there were no pics. Promotion to Offizierstellvertreter with no actual combat and then planted at Ghistelles opposite RNAS will be a tough test for Demian as you are well aware. The following quote comes to mind "Out of the frying pan, into the fire!"

I look forward to more of his exploits.

Cheers mate!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/17 11:16 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

16 Feb 1917 @ 09h01 Patrol enemy front lines near Athies

Having spent considerable time over the past week drawing punishment duties for my errant ways in leaving the flight on the 6th, Albert managed to gain some time with the mechanics and work on trying to improve the engine performance of his N16. He had managed to squeak a bit more speed out of it but nothing he had hoped for. The engine design itself imposed limits. Never the less, he was anxious to take it up and mission to Athies would suffice to test his work.

At briefing they were told to expect winds of 8 kn from the NW with increasing thick clouds from 4300 to 8000 ft as the hours passed.

Graves lead “B†flight composed of Caldwell, Roxburgh-Smith, Godfrey, Rast on wing and Hall.

“A†flight was to provide protective cover and lead by Hill, with Fry, Meintjes, and Pidcock in tow.

The flights formed up just north of the field attaining a height of 9500 ft, just above the prevailing cloud cover, at 09h19. They then set out straight for Athies, climbing to 11500 ft at they passed over Neuville Saint Vaast, and then crossing the lines at 09h26. No Huns were visible in the vicinity and Graves turned the flight around to circle back for 5 km. At 09h27 he again turned towards the lines, and that’s when all hell broke loose for Gdfrey. His engine began to make a god awful grinding sound and he was forced to leave the flight. He cut his engine in an effort to reduce any potential damage and fire. Fortunately at 12,000 ft he had time to assess his position and decided that with luck he should be able to make it to Etrun airfield. If he came up short along the way he was relatively close to a number of roads that might offer a reasonable landing opportunity. He recognized the intersection of the Arras-Douai road with the Cambrai-Bethune road and quickly set a course due west looking for the Arras-Thelus road which would be directly in his line of flight. After several minutes which seemed like hours he was able to see it below with the tell take wishbone intersection leading north west towards Bethune. He followed the wishbone staying well west of it which should allow him to see the Etrun airfield on his approach. If things looked bad he could divert back to the road or turn south and catch the Arras-St. Pol road running just south of Etrun.

He was soon immersed in cloud which was a good indication he was below 8000 ft and loosing altitude as he approached the wishbone junction. It was like trying to peer through a bowl of French pea soup and adding to the tensions of the moment. Finally a break in the clouds came and he was able to see the wishbone junction just ahead. Staying the course and nursing every bit of energy from his glide he finally was able to make out Etrun in the distance and he still had about 5000 ft of altitude left. He circled the field approaching from the north where there was less tree cover to deal with and the assistance of the prevailing wind. Just as he was 500 ft from the ground he switched on the engine once more to give some added lift and security for the touchdown, and then quickly switched it off as his wheels settled on the grass. He drifted down field and just before coming to a stop he swung around into the wind.

He sat there much relieved and pondered the possibility that maybe he had messed just a little too much with the Le Rhone without properly testing it before the mission. He hoped that it wasn’t something that he had done.

I am sorry to say I have no video to post. I inadvertently deleted the video capture while removing my old ones banghead
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/16/17 02:55 AM

Good to catch up with Godfrey's adventures, Robert. I forgot that Lou had done Cologne airfield. Now I wish I'd flown a training program. I like to savour Lou's work (done with your help, I know), so I don't immediate plop myself down in the new terrain. I prefer to just come across in the course of a career. Unfortunately I haven't had much luck. After lusting for Mossy Face Wood, I haven't flown over it once. And since my last career was RNAS, I never got to St Omer. All in time, though.

Fullofit, great Aldi story again. I'm really enjoying it. Be careful with Cyrus and his Tripe. I keep colliding with other planes when I fly them. Banjoman, that goes for you too!

Lederhosen, love the graphic novel approach to storytelling!

Carrick, read those brochures the Medical Officer gave you and stay away from the dancing girls.

Here is the second installment in the Demian Kraft story:

Memoir of Demian Kraft

Part 2


I arrived at Ghistelles [Gistel] in the late afternoon of 12 February 1917 at reported to the office of the Jasta commander, Leutnant von Keudell. His office was in a whitewashed farm house on the main road next to a broad field ringed with hangars. He was immaculately dressed, a true Uhlan, wearing the cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. I saluted smartly and clicked my heels a little too loud. The Leutnant smiled and bade me sit. [1]

“Offizierstellvertreter Kraft, you have a stellar assessment as a pilot,†he began.

“Thank you, sir,†I replied. This was going well so far. The boss was smiling.

“Of course that means nothing here. To be effective you must also shoot well, think quickly, and be disciplined. We will soon see what you are made of. See Leutnant Bessner, the adjutant. He will assign you your billet and your aircraft. We have a bit of a mix of machines at present, but you should at least get one of the older Albatros scouts. Unfortunately the weather today will not permit flying, but it should break soon.â€

We chatted a few minutes longer, and I took my leave. While I was sitting with Ltn Bessner there was a massive bang and the window blew it. Fortunately neither of us was injured. The first explosion was followed by about a dozen others. Then it was quiet, except for the faint hum of distant engines. Bessner cursed. Apparently the British were very used to flying in filthy weather. [2]

“Probably a navy squadron,†said Ltn Bessner. They are frequent guests here.â€

I found my billet about a hundred and fifty metres down the road towards the town – a small brick house occupied by an ancient Flemish couple named Sloot. They had a young servant girl, very shy and a little plump, but pretty. I shared a room up the narrow stairs with another new pilot, OStv Alex Berse.
The next day saw snow and rain. We endured lectures and inspections. Finally on 14 February we flew. I was told to fly alongside Ltn von Keudell. OStv Berse and Ltn Willi Rosenstein also flew. Our assignment was a patrol inside our lines, a good chance to familiarize ourselves with the terrain. After spending about thirty minutes over Ghistelles and its surroundings, we flew south and got a chance to see the front for the first time, a long brown stain across the snowy landscape. You could see gun flashes clearly, even from three thousand metres height.

We had just turned north when the Jasta leader waggled his wings. Enemy in sight! To him perhaps, but not to me. I saw nothing and simply followed the boss’s tail. I heard his machine guns fire and searched but saw nothing except the stained white carpet of Flanders rushing up at me. The boss pulled up and I followed. Then I saw something only a short distance off – two tan-coloured monoplanes. I drew closer, but the things were two-seaters and the gunner of the rear machine fired at me. For the first time I heard a sharp slapping sound as bullets hit my wing. I kicked the rudder and slipped under its tail. I tried to fire from that position as I had been taught to, but within a couple of seconds I had drawn level with the Englishmen and could see the gunner pulling his gun to my side. I fired again and swept under the machine – a Morane type – and came up on its other side. I continued that dance two or three times, firing each time. I saw no damage. This game was harder than I expected. Then suddenly the English machine rolled and headed straight down. I had him!!!

Only then I noticed that despite the intense cold I was covered in sweat. In seconds I was shivering uncontrollably. We patrolled for another half hour and headed home. On landing I was so frozen that the mechanics had to help me out of the Albatros and support me while I stumbled to a chair in the hanger next to a stove.

I claimed the Morane, but Ltn von Keudell laughed. The Englishman had simply rolled under me and headed home, he explained.

On 15 February I flew the second patrol of the morning. This was to be a test of my navigation. I was to lead Berse and Rosenstein south to our balloon line north of Menen. We found the assigned area easily and circled for an hour before turning north again. Suddenly I noticed a cluster of spots in the clear sky only a kilometre or so ahead. Rosenstein had already pulled alongside me. I pointed to the spots and he smiled, nodding his head. They were Gitterrümpfe – lattice tails, probably Vickers types, I thought.[3] We gave chase.

I was not supposed to cross the lines but we began to come under fire from British Flakartillerie before we caught the lattice-tails. We each picked one. I fired at mine from very close range and it began to tumble down. I picked a second and fired nearly a hundred rounds at it. It too fell, but this time I turned away and watched as it hit the ground. In doing so I found myself alone and slightly over enemy territory, so I set course for home and hoped the others had sense to do so as well. I would have to report my two Englishmen and was sure that Ltn von Keudell would be upset with me for having strayed over the front. [3]

[Linked Image]
"I fired at mine from very close range and it began to tumble down."

[Linked Image]
"...but this time I turned away and watched as it hit the ground."

I need not have worried. While I was off chasing Gitterrümpfe, Ltn von Keudell’s patrol had run into a Nieuport two-seater over Boesinghe. He downed it, but was shot and killed in the process.

My two claims were rejected for lack of corroboration.

Historical notes:

[1] Ltn v Keudell had begun his career with Jasta 1 and had 11 victories as of this date.
[2] The RNAS raid of 12 February was later reported in The Telegraph.
[3] At this time of the war, many German pilots assumed that the pushers they encountered were built by Vickers, makers of the pusher FB5 “Gunbus†of 1915-16. Kraft’s targets were in fact FE2b types, built by the Royal Aircraft Factory.
[4] The Nieuport 10 was from 46 Squadron RFC. It was von Keudell’s 12th kill.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/16/17 12:08 PM

Raine;

I love how you add the historical data to your reports. I seldom take enough time to research the facts. I must work on this weakness.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/16/17 04:44 PM

Raine:

MMMMMMMMMMM Dancing girls ! They have such inquiring minds specifically one . I think she called herself Marta Harry or Marta Hardy ? or something like that. She was fascinated with zee Military She Asked all kinds of questions till closing time.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/16/17 04:55 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Adj, Second Section
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.

June 16, 1917.


I had much turmoil getting back to the Unit. Firstly catching a ride over to Chatau Thierry was almost impossible. But manged a ride from the Aero depot. I then caught a ride, after wasting most of the day, with a supply Truck. Finally near dark, I was able to get the Esc on the phone and they sent a motorcycle with a side car for me.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/17 12:00 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

16 Feb 1917 @ 09h01 Patrol enemy front lines near Athies

Having spent considerable time over the past week drawing punishment duties for my errant ways in leaving the flight on the 6th, Albert managed to gain some time with the mechanics and work on trying to improve the engine performance of his N16. He had managed to squeak a bit more speed out of it but nothing he had hoped for. The engine design itself imposed limits. Never the less, he was anxious to take it up and mission to Athies would suffice to test his work.

At briefing they were told to expect winds of 8 kn from the NW with increasing thick clouds from 4300 to 8000 ft as the hours passed.

Graves lead “B†flight composed of Caldwell, Roxburgh-Smith, Godfrey, Rast on wing and Hall.

“A†flight was to provide protective cover and lead by Hill, with Fry, Meintjes, and Pidcock in tow.

The flights formed up just north of the field attaining a height of 9500 ft, just above the prevailing cloud cover, at 09h19. They then set out straight for Athies, climbing to 11500 ft at they passed over Neuville Saint Vaast, and then crossing the lines at 09h26. No Huns were visible in the vicinity and Graves turned the flight around to circle back for 5 km. At 09h27 he again turned towards the lines, and that’s when all hell broke loose for Gdfrey. His engine began to make a god awful grinding sound and he was forced to leave the flight. He cut his engine in an effort to reduce any potential damage and fire. Fortunately at 12,000 ft he had time to assess his position and decided that with luck he should be able to make it to Etrun airfield. If he came up short along the way he was relatively close to a number of roads that might offer a reasonable landing opportunity. He recognized the intersection of the Arras-Douai road with the Cambrai-Bethune road and quickly set a course due west looking for the Arras-Thelus road which would be directly in his line of flight. After several minutes which seemed like hours he was able to see it below with the tell take wishbone intersection leading north west towards Bethune. He followed the wishbone staying well west of it which should allow him to see the Etrun airfield on his approach. If things looked bad he could divert back to the road or turn south and catch the Arras-St. Pol road running just south of Etrun.

He was soon immersed in cloud which was a good indication he was below 8000 ft and loosing altitude as he approached the wishbone junction. It was like trying to peer through a bowl of French pea soup and adding to the tensions of the moment. Finally a break in the clouds came and he was able to see the wishbone junction just ahead. Staying the course and nursing every bit of energy from his glide he finally was able to make out Etrun in the distance and he still had about 5000 ft of altitude left. He circled the field approaching from the north where there was less tree cover to deal with and the assistance of the prevailing wind. Just as he was 500 ft from the ground he switched on the engine once more to give some added lift and security for the touchdown, and then quickly switched it off as his wheels settled on the grass. He drifted down field and just before coming to a stop he swung around into the wind.

He sat there much relieved and pondered the possibility that maybe he had messed just a little too much with the Le Rhone without properly testing it before the mission. He hoped that it wasn’t something that he had done.


17 Feb 1917 @ 09h52 Patrol to enemy front lines west of Lens

At 9h30 A and B flights were in briefing familiarizing themselves with the objective of the coming mission. They were to expect 8 kn winds from the SSW with significant low cloud cover, possible drizzle and mist starting at 5000 ft. Clear skies were available above 9000 ft.

Caldwell lead “B†flight accompanied by Fry, Hill and Godfrey. “A†flight was tasked to assist and was lead by Graves, with Roxburgh-Smith and Hall in tow.

Both flights formed up at 9000 ft., having climbed through the prevailing cloud cover and then set out directly for the lines at 10h14. They continued to climb and when they reached the lines at 10h19 they were at 11,900 ft.
Caldwell swung the flight into a wide circle to port and then back across the lines towards Loos. They arrived just south of Loos at 10h24 cruising at 12,000 ft. Again, Caldwell turned the flight to port, making for the lines again. Arriving there at 10h35, Albert noticed “A†flight up ahead, in the process of a rather fast descent. He was convinced that they were in the process of attacking some enemy craft and wondered why Caldwell was oblivious to it.
He wanted dearly to join the fray, but did not want to incur the wrath of the commander by repeating his previous mistake, so he wiped the thought from his mind and carried on.

Caldwell again began to swing the flight into a wide turn to port and back again towards Loos. Once south of Loos, Caldwell began the descent towards Filescamp.

They landed at Filescamp at 11h05 and while making their way to the RO, they heard more N17’s coming in to land. It was “A†flight, all in tact, and they were waggling their wings as indication of a successful romp with the Hun.

Caldwell stopped to wait, as did all the rest of “B†flight, anxious to hear of the escapades. Graves and Hall approached them, with Rosburgh-Smith in the middle with his arms loosely hung over the shoulders of the pair.
“A round is in order for my two compadres†shouted Smith. They each downed a Halb DIII of Jasta 30.†His voice trailed away softly as he continued, “Mine got away!â€.

Both flights continued on to the RO to hand in their reports.

Albert wondered when, He would get a chance to earn a few free beers.

[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=NKZ8Jf2MNXI[/video]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/17 03:53 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.



June 18, 1917.

I was promoted to Sous Lt during the morning line up. Then it was into the air jr. bird men to attack the Verdun rail spur line nestled in the hills.. We made 3 passes doing very little damage . I landed at a Friendly Aerodrome to check for damage.


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/17 08:31 PM

Raine, come on man, footnotes! You're killing me. biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/17 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Raine, come on man, footnotes! You're killing me. biggrin

I know, he should have had it incorporated into the narrative. Slacker!
Great reports everyone, as always.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/17 08:45 PM

Here is the status report for last week's activity.

[Linked Image]



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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/17 10:02 PM

Banjoman, thanks for the continued stat support.

Squad Commander Cyrus Gold's RNAS 1 squadron has moved to Chipilly. He is getting used to the new surroundings.

[Linked Image]

Capitaine Etienne Valois in N 57 is getting used to his SPAD with incredible closing rate making close calls with the enemy planes.

[Linked Image]

Aldi Schwarzkop's wingman attempts to steal his kill. He crashes into the target and dies. No one cares about the retard. Schadenfreude all around.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/17 10:51 PM

Thanks for the stats Banjoman.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/17 11:37 PM

Thanks guys, as crazy as it sounds, I really enjoy putting together the status reports. I guess it helps me to keep track of everybody.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/17 03:40 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


June 19, 1917.


Airfield Security flight was a bust. Our flight of 6 went chasing around after numerous dots high in the sky only to lose them in the clouds.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/17 03:41 PM

Yea, Banjoman is back.
Posted By: Deacon211

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/17 10:02 PM

Thanks BJM!

I'm not out yet...just out of town as it were. Expect me to report again presently. salute
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/17 11:41 PM

Jasta 18
Third week of February, 1917 Halluin

The week started with bad weather.

All flights were grounded and Aldi felt very cooped up on the base having little to no duties that would preoccupy his mind and save him from boredom. He kept Walter von Bülow company on his dog walks and played "go fish" with Paul Strähle. Paul insisted this was the only honest card game that wouldn't lead him astray and into the clutches of gambling. Tuesday came and went and with it Aldi's promotion to Oberleutnant. He kept it low profile, still remembering his last celebration and what came after. The weather on Wednesday improved enough to conduct a line patrol, but no enemy contacts have been reported. Same story on Thursday. Friday was different. On Friday Kette Zwei encountered a flight of Vickers flying high above. Aldi ignored them, but kept one eye just in case. These pushers were just as outdated compared to the Albatros as the Albatros they were flying was to the Pups and Triplanes ... and Nieuports. There had to be some brave pilots, because two of them (just two) peeled away and dove on Aldi's flight of four. He was calm, he knew they had better planes, they had numerical advantage and they were over their own territory. He observed the attackers diving on him and positioned his plane to easily avoid the pounce. They flew by. Aldi pushed the stick forward and followed them. They split and he picked one ignoring the other pilot. It didn't take long to get on his tail and get in range. As he closed in, so did the pilot he'd ignored. Bullets started hitting canvas and wood. Aldi was completely surprised. He banked and kicked the rudder to throw off his attacker's aim. It worked. Aldi dove to pick up speed and watched as the rest of his flight took turns trying to hit the pusher. Aldi checked the sky for his original target and found him trying to get across the lines. Black puffs of Flak were all around him. Aldi corrected his flight path and re-engaged. Without his wingman, the pusher was a pushover and caught fire easily.

[Linked Image]

Aldi was on his way back when he noticed a shape trying to sneak by at a lower level. It was the wingman that nearly did Aldi in, apparently gave the rest of the flight a slip and now was desperately trying to return home. Aldi was not in a merciful mood. He parked his Abatros behind him and sent a burst into his target's engine. The propeller stopped spinning and the pilot and the wreck of his plane both went into an uncontrolled dive.

[Linked Image]

On the way back to base reflected and decided that there is nothing to complain about his current situation. His plane is not the fastest and not the most agile, but if other pilots can fight with machines even less impressive, then so can he. He will fly his Albatros D.II and like it.

The week ended with bad weather.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 12:45 AM

Thanks for Aldi's report Fullofit. It was a nice read at the end of my day.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 12:29 PM

[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


Claim in, but........
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 03:38 PM

Fullofit, I really enjoy your photos. Another great Aldi story too! Quick question: is there any way in WOFF to have a "free camera", or must you always use Spot View, or Player / Target View, etc.? Robert, more great action from Albert. I couldn't get your last video link to come up, though. Lederhosen, I absolutely love the Drogodile! And Banjoman, thanks again for the stats. My first entry for Demian Kraft will be made today.

Here is Demian's latest...

Memoir of Demian Kraft

Part 3

The weather remained cold and clear from Friday through Sunday and I flew once each day. On 16 February I was asked by our acting Staffelführer, Ltn Willi Rosenstein, to lead a patrol for the first time.[1] He told me that he wanted my older Albatros to set the pace, and he thought I had a good nose for navigation, which pleased me greatly. I was to take my billet-partner, Ostv Berse, Ltn Galetschky, and Ltn Korner on a barrier patrol along our lines and south to Menen. Ltn Rosenstein would come along and I was to give the lead to him if we got into trouble,My excitement was soon tempered by the extreme cold and lack of Englanders. We froze dutifully for two hours and I broke a wheel landing on the frozen field, nearly nosing over in the process.

On 17 February, Ltn Kampe led me, Berse, Ltn Rosenstein, and Vzfw Träger on a trip over the lines – my first. There was heavy snow falling over Ghistelles and the front, with clear sky at 2000 m. We escorted two observation aircraft to take photos of the British field at Veurne [Furnes]. We climbed to 2500 m and crossed over. The British Flakartillerie accompanied us, filling the sky with greasy grey cotton balls. Each one burst with a hollow-sounding “Whoompf,†unless it was close. Then the sound was a heart-stopping crack. The more experienced men laugh this off, but I found it unnerving.

We circled over Veurne and waited for the two-seaters to form up. Then we continued east towards the front. I peered over the side of the Albatros at the circular frozen lake at Blankaart, looking like a skating rink dropped in the midst of a battlefield.[2] I was startled when I looked up to find myself alone. I pulled the machine around in a tight turn and spotted Ltn Kampe and the others diving to intercept several white Nieuports that were approaching our two-seaters, so I opened the throttle and dived on the nearest Englander.

The fight was short. I was hit once by an enemy I did not see and was more concerned with turning and checking my rear than with scoring any kills. And then, just like before, I was suddenly alone. Searching the sky for friends, I spotted a lone Nieuport near the English lines, heading west at about 500 m. I searched the sky above for a trap and, seeing no other aircraft, dived on the lonely Englander. It took just a few rounds from my twin Spandaus for the English machine to fall out of control. I watched, suspecting a ruse, but the Nieuport spiralled into the mud below. I headed home alone.

[Linked Image]

Unfortunately without a witness my claim was rejected. “This makes four claims without confirmation, Kraft. You really need to stop claiming until you are sure your kill is witnessed. You will get an unwelcome reputation.†I was unsure if this was a friendly piece of advice or a sly expression of personal suspicion. For the first time since arriving at Jasta 27 I felt like an outsider. There was a pilots’ dinner that night in the large farm house that quartered the Jasta headquarters staff and Kette Eins. I avoided conversation and said nothing of the Nieuport. Ltn Kampe had just been awarded the Iron Cross, Second Class. I congratulated him after dinner and he commented that with luck one day soon I would get a kill or two and win a decoration. There was something in his tone that made me uncomfortable.

On Sunday, 18 February, the weather turned stormy. I attended lectures and visited the hangars, and then Berse and I went shopping in the village. There was a Feldpost there where I bought some suitably martial postcards to send home.

[Linked Image]

Berse is in love with Marenke, the little servant girl at the Sloot family house. He bought her a little ceramic dog. I teased him about raising a family of little chubby Flemish-speaking Berses. It is not a pretty language, very much like Plattdeutsch if spoken with a potato in one’s mouth. The Sloots insist that it is a separate language and not at all a dialect of German. But that is like saying Belgium is still a separate country when two German fliers are living upstairs!

Historical Notes:

[1] Known for his pre-war aviation exploits, Willi Rosenstein later flew as Hermann Goering's wingman. A Jew, Rosenstein eventually had a falling out with Goering over the latter's anti-Semitic comments. He left Germany in the 1930s to escape Nazi rule and moved to South Africa, where he started flying schools. Rosenstein's son flew Spitfires in Italy against the Luftwaffe and was killed in 1945.

[2] The De Blankaart lake was formed from 15-16th century peat harvesting.



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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 03:59 PM

Raine;

I fixed the problem with the video. The link was corrupt but now ok.

Nice footnotes to your story. Very interesting historical facts that I was not aware of. You do seem to spend a significant amount of time on the back story Sir and it is appreciated.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 04:01 PM

Since I seem to have screwed up the original link to the video for the following story, I decided to repost it here again.

Albert Earl Godfrey

22 Feb 1917 @ 09h09 CAS 3 BE2c from RFC-15 Marieux to Oppy for Ground Troop Obs


At briefing we were informed that this recce was of prime importance and that we must make every effort to ensure they get the job done.

We were informed we would encounter winds of 8 kn from the west, with cloud cover between 2000 and 7000 ft. The B.E.’s would be flying low for troop obs so that pretty much eliminated any effort to get above the clouds.

We formed up north of the field as usual and attained an altitude of 3400 ft at 09h16 before heading to our rendezvous point over Etrun airfield.

The B.E.’s arrived 09h27 and we climbed to 4700 feet to begin our escort duties.
We continued to climb to 5600 ft on the way to the lines, arriving there at 09h34 near Athies.

Crossing the lines, we continued to climb to 6600 ft, keeping a close eye on our escort as we approached Oppy at 09h40.

Two minutes later, I spotted 7 DIII’s at 7 oclock high on our port side.
I kept a close eye on them and soon noted one breaking off into a dive towards our B.E.’s. He passed right under my tail and I immediately broke into a port turn, banking and diving onto his six. Unfortunately he made a successful attack on one of the B.E’s causing it’s engine to smoke, before I was able to engage him and drive him off. I tangled with him for some time sending volley after volley into him from close behind and he would not fall. I could only assume my aim was less than adequate to finish him off and it wasn’t long before my gun w as empty and I was forced to climb away disengaging.
I cursed as I watched him fly away from the action. I noticed all the other DIII’s were engaged with my flight members and so I took the opportunity to run for the lines. Unfortunately my actions were observed by another DIII who soon gave chase. I had altitude on him and maintained it as I ran for the lines and I could see him falling behind. Crossing the lines I headed for the closest airfield, Etrun as I entered heavy cloud cover. I knew I must get down under the clouds in order to follow the Arras St. Pol road towards Etrun. I cut throttle and angled into a gentle dive all the while hoping I had given the persistent DIII the shake. I broke out of the clouds and could just make out Etrun below at 1 oclock. I began a circling descent and as I did I heard some bullets whiz by and hit some canvas. I jerked the throttle hard to starboard and scanning over my shoulder I saw a shadow above my head. I was directly below the very same DIII that had chased me over the lines. He was barely 50 ft above me and I could clearly see the Jasta 27 markings on him. I swung onto his six climbing and as he broke to port in a shallow dive I continued to climb away gaining as much altitude as I could while keeping him in my view. I refused to give him any advantage, keeping him in a tight circle while the gunners at Etrun worried the heck out of him with their puffs of while smoke. He finally tired of the game and broke for home. I could not help but feel that for the lack of ammunition and better gunner skills, I might well have had two more to add to my tally. On the other hand, I was lucky to escape the second DIII alive. I re-set course for Filescamp and arrived there safely at 10h10 with a slightly damaged machine requiring two days work to repair. The rest of the flight arrived a little later while I was in the R.O.

Graves accounted for one DIII, and Hall another two. Fry suffered 2 days worth of repair damage to his craft and Rast, the wing man, was killed in action.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 05:12 PM

Super pics and storys
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 05:32 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


June 20, 1917.


Mission: Escort 3 Sopwith 1B1 's on Recon

1 Sec: 3 Spad 7 High Cover
2 Sec: 5 Spad 7's Close Escort

E/A: 2 Flights of Albatross Scouts 11 A/C ?


Remarks: I saw zee e/a as they dived on us guns blazing. My flight was scattered while in a turn. I spotted a second flight of e/a attacking the Sopwith's they must have come up behind us. Diving and firing , I dove between two of them. Then zee Bosche was on my tail putting holes in my fuel tank. The devils took turns using me as a target putting in more holes then the motor stopped. I was able to break off from my tormentors and land just inside our lines. The airplane turning into crumpled up fabric and wood upon touch down.


Esc Endorsement: The story seems correct. Intell reports Jasta 11 in our sector has used split tactics in the past. Esc lost 2 machines destroyed + the forced landing machine in NML. No e/a claimed. Escorted Sopwith's lost 1 destroyed.



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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 06:34 PM

Great video, Robert! The Np11 drives me nuts. With the lack of gunsight and the low volume of ammo, I pretty much consign myself to enjoying the view and waiting for an updated model.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
Great video, Robert! The Np11 drives me nuts. With the lack of gunsight and the low volume of ammo, I pretty much consign myself to enjoying the view and waiting for an updated model.


Tnx for the acknowledge Raine. You are pretty much correct on your assessment. My only hope of early replacement of the N16 is promotion through kills and that is highly unlikely unless I get lucky. Over 87 hours and only one kill!!

It's going to be a long wait in 60 Sqn for the N16 to be totally replaced.

I had thought of transfer but then that would not be true to my characters historical placement. Most of the time I am focused on staying clear of danger and in hopes of some nice opportunities.

Cheers.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 07:21 PM

Which do you think is more difficult, Robert? Being stuck in a N16, or being stuck in a bad marriage? shedevil

My apologies to all of the happily married members on this fine forum!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Which do you think is more difficult, Robert? Being stuck in a N16, or being stuck in a bad marriage? shedevil

My apologies to all of the happily married members on this fine forum!

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Which do you think is more difficult, Robert? Being stuck in a N16, or being stuck in a bad marriage? shedevil

My apologies to all of the happily married members on this fine forum!


All I can say is "Been there, done that!" However let me offer another observation. Baring the potential cost, you can exercise your will power and get out of a bad marriage. As a pilot in the REC, there is no right to exercise your authority unless you are at the top of the heap, so, I am stuck in the N16 if I want to be true to the code.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/17 11:31 PM

Robert and Raine, thanks for the kudos. I am only trying to keep up with you fine Gentlemen.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/17 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by Raine
Fullofit, I really enjoy your photos. Another great Aldi story too! Quick question: is there any way in WOFF to have a "free camera", or must you always use Spot View, or Player / Target View, etc.?

Raine, nothing special - I use the chase view (F1) and then adjust zoom and angle with the directional arrows on the num pad. Take a bunch of shots from different angles and then pick the best ones. Don't know if the "free camera" control exists. salute
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/17 02:04 AM

Carrick, Gilbear was lucky to survive that one! Keep him safe!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/17 04:15 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


June 21, 1917

I led 6 a/c on an afternoon aerodrome security flight. We manage to find some Bosche Recon a/c in 2 flights of 2 machines each. I led in a turning low attack then we scattered into everybody for zem themselves. I saw a big Hun a/c roll over into a spin being followed by Spads. My next attack was on the other flight of 2. Firing as I climbed under them then a highside pass diving blazing away all the time. I just couldnt seem to hit them pulling up, I heard the sound of farbic ripping so eased off the power and carefully flew down to our field.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/17 11:22 PM

Robert, I'm with you about transfers. I applaud your will power and desire to 'stick it out' until better planes arrive, that's what the real fellows had to do and so should we.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/17 04:53 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


June 22, 1917.


We had a nice Bosche day today. I was up acting as Section Leader and attacked 3 Recon types over the lines. We were at Max altitude going about 75-90 mph, spotting the e/a the flight turned into the enemy. At that time my motor stopped. Fired off a long range burst then waved to my #2 to take in the attack. Dropped into a power dive and got the engine to restart. Re attacking the enemy I saw 3 airplanes go down 2 Huns and 1 of ours ( Midair ? ). The remaining Hun dove for home as I fired off Long Range bursts. ( 243 rds ). The second flight, my flight of 4 a/c managed to sneak up on a 7 e/a flight by coming up under them. 3 broke off to fight us the rest went home. Mine kept trying to get me into a scissors fight, but after he got on my tail. I used full power to run away and do a reversal into him. Repeated 2 times and the e/a started to wobble as my bullets hit. next time around a chandel and fired off the last of my 400 rds. He became more unsteady and was losing height heading fo his side of the lines. L ater my wing man Cpl Leps stated he saw the e/a hit the ground. Kill # 3,

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/17 06:36 PM

Congrats to Kilbear!!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/17 12:52 AM

Jasta 18
22 February, 1917 Halluin

It was like Christmas all over again. Jasta 18's CO, Oberleutnant Heino Griffenhagen was standing outside the door to his office holding his sides and letting a jolly laugh. Every pilot gathered in front of him was throwing his flight caps in the air, or shouting in jubilation. What brought this on? Only one sentence uttered by Grieffenhagen just a few second ago:
- "Gentlemen, Idflieg decided to give us back our D.III's!"
Aldi was ecstatic. Paul standing next to him grabbed his arm and started to jump up and down in place like a 3-year old. Walter let a sigh of relief, shifted the cap on his head to one side and jabbed Aldi in the ribs with his elbow:
- "Let's go see what they did do our kites!" von Bülow was already halfway out when Grieffenhagen announced:
- "Idflieg also ordered us to fly ... gently. This means shallower dives at reduced speed to avoid twisting of those lower wings. Now, get out there and be careful."
This last bit was lost on everyone. They were all filing out and proceeding to their new-old machines. Despite their bulky flight suits everyone seemed to be hopping and skipping towards their planes. Even the oily-fingered brethren warming up the engines appeared to wear a smile on their grease-smudged faces.
Aldi strapped himself inside the cockpit and the apparent comfort reminded him of the feeling when he was still small and sitting in his mother's lap. Even the smell of the plane was "nagel neu" - factory fresh. He made a mental note to spend more time painting his new insignia on the fuselage.
They were all up in the air and forming up above the airfield to begin their patrol when the air raid sirens started to sound their warning wail. Aldi looked up and immediately found the reason. The area of interest that drew his eye was marked by the bursts of Flak high above them. A flight of French Nieuports was preparing to dive. Everyone tried to gain as much altitude as possible before the nimble fighters were upon them. They spread apart and waited for the inevitable.
They came in full force diving and dodging Flak and airfield machine gun fire. Their plan was to divide and conquer. Divide they did, three went after von Bülow and Strähle and the other three came for Aldi and Ltn. Wiessen.

[Linked Image]

It's the conquering part that was problematic. The N17's quickly realized these were no ordinary D.II's. They could keep up with them and even fight back! Nieuports quickly changed their tactics and made a beeline for the front lines. Wiessen was already parked on one of the French scout's six when Aldi realized his dance partner deserted him. He followed the other Frenchman to the lines and beyond. He caught up with him over one of the enemy army bases and administered a series of Spandau lead transfusions.

[Linked Image]

The patient banked on its side and dove down smashing into the ground below. The operation was a success and Dr. Schwarzkopf swung his mount around heading for home. That's when the loud bang nearly deafened him. A stray blast of Flak hit his Albatros's fuel lines. Seeing his plane bleed Aldi tried to gain as much altitude as possible but the hemorrhage was rather serious and the engine, starved of fuel, begun to cough and died very quickly. Aldi started to glide and picked a good flat piece of land to land on. Everything started to happen quickly.
200 m - flight path still good.
150 m - field ahead is clear.
100 m - watch out for the trees on the right.
50 m - keep the speed up.
20 m - flare.
10 m - FENCE FENCE FEN...
Aldi caught the fence with his starboard wheel, it came off with a loud bang. The airplane stopped in place and came down nose-first and stayed that way.

[Linked Image]

Aldi hit his head on the coaming and apart from a large bruise was generally ok. He quickly, but carefully unbuckled himself and made a run for the near woods. He spent the next two days in hiding, only proceeding at night. Needless to say the story Aldi told everyone after he got back was of great bravery and extreme heroism marked by Paul's gasps, winces and looks of astonishment. The rest of the week was spent on R und R.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/17 04:24 PM

wow, good stories
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/17 04:44 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


June 23, 1917.


Mission : Dawn Patrol
B Flt: 6 a/c
E/A : Spotted 3 flts of Huns. 2 were much higher to the East # Three were a flight of 5 level and over 1600 meters West of us.
Engaged: 4 Albatross Scouts.
Height: 1800 meters.

Remarks; I led the section around turning into the e/a firing as we closed. The e/a scattered and I was able to do a scissors and get on his tail after 180 rds or so he fell off into a starboard sided spin and broke apart. Just luck that the other Bosche flights didnt dive on us. Kill #4

Esc Endorsement: Wingman confirmed the destruction of e/a.
Esc Losses: 1 Spad Missing + 2 damaged Claims 2 e/a.
Intell Rept: Crashes were confirmed 2 Albati Type a/c Paint jobs indicate they belonged to Jasta 19 or Jasta 36. Pilots KIA.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/17 07:35 PM

Fullofit,

Some guys will do anything to get their new paint job made a priority by the mechanics! You dodged a bullet with that fence, mate!
Posted By: hoongadoonga

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/17 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Don't know if the "free camera" control exists.


Yes - use the J key to activate it. Then use the stick to move forward and back. You can adjust by twisting the stick. Use the 8 and 2 keys to move up and down. I've found it easier to move vertically first and then forward/back.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/17 04:49 PM

Fullofit:


Oh the shame of it all, The things people stoop to for a new airplane or paint jobs.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/17 04:56 PM

Hmmm. This thread has given me food for thought!!
Do you suppose that if I crashed all the N16 in my Squadron, I might just get an N17???
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/17 04:59 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.

24 June 1917.
The morning patrol was a bust. No sightings, but the afternoon Wa laa.

Mission: Line Patrol

1st Section: 2 a/c cover Flt.
2nd 4 a/c
Alt: 2000 meters.
e/a: Engaged 2 flights of (2 a/c and 3 a/c) of Dfw types machines.
Claims: 2 Dfw's destroyed + 1 or 2 damaged.
Losses: 1 Spad Destroyed + 5 damaged.


Remarks: I confirm both Recon type machines went down 1 for each section. I got in long-medium range shots at the remaing flt of 3 ( 400 rds) but they flew on.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/17 05:04 PM

Mr. Wiggins :

With your luck, U would get a N-11.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/17 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Mr. Wiggins :

With your luck, U would get a N-11.



You are most likely correct! Guess I'll just leave well enough alone!!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/17 04:39 AM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


June 25, 1917.


Long range Aerodrome Raid. It was ok at zee start, but we ran into trouble. Sections 4 machines ran into 5 Bosche Scouts on the way out while still low. A wild fight and I only can confirm 1 e/a seen smoking. I lost 2 wing-mates that day also picked up a lite wnd with my Spad shot to bits,but did make it back to our side and landed on a road. The medics have me down for 3 days rest. will be down til the 28th.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/17 01:06 PM

Seems Gilbert is taking a beating as of late. No nurses to keep his spirits "up", so to speak???
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/17 09:07 PM

Here is the status report for last week's activity.

[Linked Image]




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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/17 01:21 PM

Edgar Everheart is doing well with 8RNAS
On his last mission he got his 7th confirmed victory after a circling fight with some Halbs.
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[Linked Image]
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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/17 01:23 PM

Drago Duntz is having a wonderful time herding cows with his DIII. Thanks to a little encounter with some Tripehounds.
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
Posted By: Hellshade

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/17 03:51 PM

I can't fly a DIII worth a hoot against stripes. If you figure out how, share the info please!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/17 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Hellshade
I can't fly a DIII worth a hoot against stripes. If you figure out how, share the info please!


Hellshade;

You may already know this but I will relate it just in case you don't.

The DIII must not be used as a turn fighter. It is out matched in this mode.
Use it as an energy fighter and exercise elliptical turn at the height of your climb and then diving down in shallow bank turn, try your attacking pass and if no good climb out so as not to give up altitude advantage.

Repeat ad infinitum!!

Hope that helps. It's the technique I use.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 12:14 AM

Banjoman, thanks for the stats. I haven't had a chance to read everyone's stories yet. I'll post this and then enjoy myself. Demian has PO'd the confirmation gods, I fear...

Memoir of Demian Kraft

Part 4

Snow and more snow. 21 February was payday,[1] and Berse and I managed to get a 24 hour pass and a drive into Ostend, where we prowled the shops and cafés for a long afternoon. We watched a naval band perform and had dinner at the immerse Royal Palace Hotel, spending more than a week’s pay in the process.[2] Afterwards we found lodgings in a small family inn, where we enjoyed hot baths and good beer, before returning to the airfield in the morning, just in time for parade.

[Linked Image]
Kriegsmarine band performing in Ostend

[Linked Image]
The Royal Palace Hotel

Our new Jastafuehrer had arrived that morning, 22 February. Ltn der Reserve Wieland had transferred in from Jasta 8. He had a kill to his credit from his time in two-seaters before that. [3] The new boss said he would interview each of us in turn, and if we were not up to scratch we would find ourselves hanging from a kite balloon somewhere.

I flew a mid-day defensive patrol to Iseghem, led by Ltn Kampe, and saw nothing. On landing I had my interview with the new boss. He stated that he heard I was a good pilot, but had a few too many unsubstantiated claims, and he cautioned me.

On 23 February my scheduled barrier patrol was cancelled, again due to snow. That afternoon a contingent from Halbgeschwader 1 arrived. They are setting up in hangars at the other end of the field, next to the Marinefeldjagdstaffel hangars. The new group was to be called Kagohl 3, and were to be equipped with new long-range bombers. Or so we were told. For the moment we saw only trucks, wagons, tents, and a lonely Aviatik.

I was directed to prepare a detailed written report on each of my claims for Ltn Wieland, and spent most of 24 February typing it in the Staffel office. This was getting on my nerves. Only Berse talked freely with me these days.

On 25 February 2017 I joined Ltn Rosenstein, Ltn Körner, OStv Berse, and Vzfw Träger to escort some DFWs on an artillery shoot over the English lines. When we met with the two-seaters west of Ghistelles they were already under attack from a large formation of English Nieuports. We immediately dived into the enemy and a thrilling fight began. I selected one Englishman and we turned and twisted from 1200 meters down to 500 before I got a good crack at him. The Nieuport broke away and headed west over the lines. I followed, barely able to close on him, and fired from long range. As I hoped, the Englander climbed and turned, which let me close the distance. It took only a minute to get a long, killing burst. The white Nieuport reared up and then dived vertically through a low cloud. I followed , throttling back carefully. When I emerged from the cloud I could see a column to grey smoke leading to a spot just in front of our lines. The machine had disintegrated on impact. I flew low over the scene and turned for home, hopeful at last of a confirmed victory.

It was not to be. A Flakartillerie battalion was claiming the fallen machine. The others in my flight had either turned home before the Nieuport fell or had pursued other enemy machines farther west. Headquarters denied my claim. I left the mess after dinner that night, sure that the others were snickering about me behind my back.

On 26 February I was permitted to lead an escort mission to the English field at Furnes. Our DFWs dropped several bombs and we patrolled the lines for a bit afterward, but saw nothing. My only consolation is that this Staffel has not yet had a confirmed kill, so I tell myself that at least I know I have contributed to our war effort more than the others, even if I have nothing to show for it.

Historical Notes:


[1] The German Army paid its personnel on the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month.
[2] The Royal Palace was built in 1899, the largest hotel in Europe. Managed by Luigi Steinscheider, an Austrian who formerly ran Shepherds Hotel in Cairo, it played host to kings, shahs, and presidents for decades. Before the war, Ostend had been the most elegant bathing destination in Europe.
[3] Ltn d. R. Erich Wieland was credited with a BE2 destroyed while with FFA 6 in 1916.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 12:24 AM

Thanks Raine, for the read. I can sympathize with Demian! Albert has also had a tough go of it with over 84 hours in an N16 and only one confirmed kill, but things may be looking up, as he recently was allocated an N17 as a replacement!!
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 12:39 AM

Raine, I continue to enjoy your stories and marvel at your ability to bring them to life with historical data.

Robert, congratulations on getting out of your bad "marriage." Enjoy your beautiful new "bride!"
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 10:19 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

26 Feb 1917 @ 08h10 Patrol enemy front lines from Loos to west of Houbourdin aerodrome

Some wonderful news was given me this morning during briefing. I was informed that the N16 has been replaced with the N17 so now I would have a new mount comparable to the rest of the squadron. That in itself, made my day!

We were advised that we could expect Heavy clouds, fog and possible rain, with winds of 8kn from the NNW. Cloud cover from 4000 ft on up to 9000 was to be expected, making for a rather weak opportunity of spotting any enemy craft.

Graves lead “B†flight composed of Caldwell, myself, Pidcock and Hall. “A†flight was to provide protective cover and composed of Meintjes, Fry, Roxburth-Smith and Hill.

We formed up north of the field as usual attaining an altitude of 6500 ft and then turned due north towards Loos, arriving there at 08h37 and still climbing for altitude. Graves turned the flight east towards the line and we arrived there at 08h41 at 8000 ft with still plenty of cloud around and above us. Graves turned south along the line until we were parallel with Haubourdin aerodrome some distance off. There was no ground gunnery or Hun archie and things were unusually quiet. Graves turned us back along the line until we were parallel with Loos, arriving there at 08h44 and at 8300 ft.

It was then that I noticed Graves suddenly waggle and climb out and so we all followed, scanning the skies. At first I couldn’t see what he was after until three specs appeared above my upper plane at two o’clock. They were well above us, out of reach and not interested in us as they carried on towards their lines. I suspect Graves felt likewise on the matter, as he soon gave up the chase and we headed back towards Loos and hence home.

The lack of action was no disappointment to me, I was still feeling the rush of finally having a capable mount in the N17 to command.

Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Drago Duntz is having a wonderful time herding cows with his DIII. Thanks to a little encounter with some Tripehounds.


rofl rofl rofl

Watch out if those cows come up to your plane....are those Central or Entente cows? wink

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Hellshade
I can't fly a DIII worth a hoot against stripes. If you figure out how, share the info please!


Hellshade,
I fly the DIII along the lines of what Robert says. If you have the height advantage, make a power dive, hope you cripple one, climb out and try again. If you find yourself against more than one it is best to dive east at full power!

Raine, the german spotters must not be very good. As you can see by Drago's file he has a lot of unconfirmed kills.

Robert, enjoy your new mount Sir!

Banjoman, as always, great work on the stats.
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 12:48 PM

Wow, such good storytelling! Great job Raine, Robert_Wiggins, and everyone else....fun to read and inspires me to be creative as well...oh yeah, and shoot down some planes too wink

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by stljeffbb
Originally Posted by MFair
Drago Duntz is having a wonderful time herding cows with his DIII. Thanks to a little encounter with some Tripehounds.


rofl rofl rofl

Watch out if those cows come up to your plane....are those Central or Entente cows? wink

Regards,

Jeff


Jeff, lucky for Drago they were Central! My fuel lines were hit and had to sit down in their field. The damage to the tail was done by just clearing the fence with the rest of the machine.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 01:55 PM

MFair,

With all the food rationing going on, I'm sure Drago must be wondering what the cargo capacity of an Albatros is...
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 02:05 PM

Raine, I can attest that one hind quarter will fit into the fuselage of an Albatros. With a few rid eyes in my lap!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Raine, I can attest that one hind quarter will fit into the fuselage of an Albatros. With a few rid eyes in my lap!


All right, Demian will pick up some brewskis and be over for the BBQ after today's patrol. Cheers, old friend!
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/17 08:50 PM

Sounds like a party! cheers bananadance
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/17 10:41 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.

June 28th 1917.



2 Section on a line patrol got into a shoot em up with Albatross Scouts this afternoon. All six of us had some holes in the crates. The Section claimed 1 e/a, but none for me. All my shooting was at long range or I was being chased.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/17 11:53 PM

Sorry, late to the party.

Raine, great story. Love the trivia.
Robert, congrats on new ride.
MFair, hopefully you didn't try to land on those cows. I hear they're tougher than the fences!
Carrick, Gilbear must really like those sponge baths.

Jasta 18
27 February, 1917 Halluin

Aldi's Kette was cutting through another cloud. There was hardly any place in the entire sky where a formation of Albatrosen could pass without getting licked by one of those thick, heavy snow carriers. His flight was charged with escorting DFW's on a bombing mission to Bailleul Asylum. The bombers were making their own way through the next series of clouds just a few hundred meters below. Aldi looked around and noticed one cloud that looked like a whale. He felt like a fish himself, all damp from all the vapor around. He checked to his right and found a reassuring sight of a blue Albatros with red nose and a white band behind the cockpit. That's Jasta 18's Staffelführer Oberleutnant Heino Grieffenhagen. Further down, a red and blue Albatros of his friend Paul Strähle. His plane is marked with a large white axe on the fuselage. Aldi turned his head left to make sure his other friend Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp was also in place. His plane was marked with a black band around the fuselage. Everyone was in position.
The bombers arrived over the target and dropped their cargo. Aldi listened to the satisfying sound of the bombs exploding far below. THUMP! THUMP! THUMP, THUMP! It was just then that Aldi noticed a flight of 2-seat Nieuports coming from behind a cloud that looked like a cow with an oversized head. Aldi could only think of one thing: "Milk run!"
He swung his machine in their direction and ordered the attack. They were higher so the Albatros nearly stalled while raking their bellies. He turned around in pursuit and followed them in the direction of a cloud that looked like a dog, except it wasn't a dog, it was a b!tch. 2 Pups jumped out of it and started pounding the Albatrosen. Needless to say a dogfight was in full swing. One went after von Bülow, the other came up against Schwarzkopf. Grieffenhagen was still pursuing the N12's and Strähle was nowhere to be found. Aldi kept turning with the intent of getting on the Pup's tail but was losing to him. Von Bülow was in a difficult position as well, trying to shake off his pursuer. Aldi wanted to help his friend, but his hands were tied. This Britisher was good. Finally Grieffenhagen came to the rescue and released Aldi from the Pup's grip. Aldi immediately turned to face von Bülow's attacker, but at the same instant Strähle came down on him with a barrage of fire. Schwarzkopf, seeing this, switched his targets instantly and followed his original foe looking for some payback. It was Grieffenhagen's turn to get some help and Aldi was just waiting for the right moment. As soon as the Pup showed his tail to him, Aldi pounced and opened up with both Spandaus. The British pilot dove like a maniac disregarding any reservations towards the structural integrity of his wings. Aldi followed and kept firing every chance their two machines aligned while spiraling down towards the airfield below. They both flew through a cloud that looked like a duck. Schwarzkopf knew he only had a small window of opportunity to take the Pup out before he would be in range of the enemy archie. One final burst and the enemy plane begun to spin uncontrollably before ploughing into the field in front of the aerodrome hangars, bringing up clouds of dust and smoke.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Aldi exhaled and began to climb to clear the MG range and noticed the other Pup on fire followed closely by Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen. It was time to get out. Von Bülow and Strähle were already on their way back. Schwarzkopf prayed he would only see clouds resembling a mouse.


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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/29/17 01:39 PM

Great stories Gents. Aldi's last sortie read like an action thriller fullofit. Nice writing!
Carrick, Back again? Stay away from those stray bullets. Or maybe, ye just like the nurses!!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/29/17 05:20 PM

fullofit: ha ha and nice looking Skin
Nurses, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/29/17 05:28 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.



June 29, 1917.


Morning Rail Spur line attack at Stenay did little damage and we lost 1 a/c.. Afternoon a bit better, caught a Recon below 1500 meters during a Offensive Patrol 24 miles inside his lines. I got a few hits , but my mates shot him down I saw the crash. 2 of our 4 Spads were damaged.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/17 01:17 AM

Carrick, good to see you back in the air. Fullofit, that was an exciting chapter in Aldi's story! Please keep up the great work.

There has not been much happening in Demian's world lately. Here is the latest...

Memoir of Demian Kraft

Part 5

My failure to obtain confirmation for the victories only I knew I had weighed heavily on me as February closed. Ltn d. R. Wieland was outwardly polite to me, but I detected none of the warmth that he showed to the other pilots and I concluded that I was definitely on probation. To make matters worse, the weather allowed little opportunity to change my fortune.

On 27 February we were dispatched to guard the balloon line in the Ypres sector. It was a beautiful clear winter day. One could see for miles. This was my first really good chance to see the front in this well fought-over salient and I was staggered by the brutality of the landscape. Trees, where they showed at all, were mere stumps. Villages were heaps of broken stone and twisted metal. Wire was laid over wire and the fields were dimpled with shell-holes as if they had been beaten flat by a crazed coppersmith. Much of the ground had been flooded and then frozen. When the thaw came it would be a study in misery. I thanked God for my decision to fight in the sky.

Scenery, however, was all we saw that day. If the English were up, they were avoiding us.

The next two days were stormy and unfit to fly. Ltn Wieland organized little activity, so Berse and I made for Ostend, where we found a café called “‘T Gruen Huis,†where two young sisters served tables and flirted with the soldiers and sailors who crowded the place. The older girl, Hanne, told me that the English had dropped bombs on the city two or three weeks before and teased me about letting them.[1] I explained that the English were not too careful with Belgian lives, but she just laughed and suggested that the British Navy would soon land soldiers on the coast to take away our airfields. Hanne knew nearly every officer who entered the café by name. I wondered if she might not be a spy. When we paid her for our coffee and omelettes she asked how our new CO was.[2]

On 2 March we flew again, a long difficult flight in low visibility to escort some DFWs on a photographic mission over the Ypres sector. Over the salient we climbed into sunshine and saw two Gitterrümpfe [3] overhead. Although there were five of us the Englishmen dived down and engaged us. They scored a few hits on my machine before I could turn on them, and then they dived away. One escaped, but the other turned to fight. Unfortunately we all got in each other’s way. I was able to climb up under the enemy machine and get some good shots at it, but it fell away into a cloud bank and we lost it.

[Linked Image]
British dud bomb, dropped on Ostend port, February 1917

Historical Notes:

[1] There was a bombing raid on the port at Ostend on 10 February 1917. Invariably, some bombs hit civilian homes. The Germans obligingly posted lists of civilian casualties in the newspapers.

[2] A plan for a British amphibious attack on the coast around Ostend was in its earliest stages about this time. Called Operation Hush, it was to coincide with a successful push on the Ypres Salient in the summer of 1917. Mercifully it was scrapped.

[3] Lattice-tails, i.e. pusher types.


Attached picture English dud.png
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/17 01:46 AM

@ Raine....great stuff!

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/17 04:53 PM

wow, nice bomb pic.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/30/17 05:03 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.




June 30, 1917.


Missiom: Line Patrol
Alt: 1800 meters
WX: Overcast with Rain
2 Sec: 4 a/c
1 Sec: 3 a/c
E/a: Spotted 3 flights on the enemy side. 15-20 ? different alt.
Claims: 1 Albatross Scout
Losses: 2 damaged. Spads.


Remarks: As Section leader, I broke into the lowest and closest Flight. This turned into 2 Hun Scouts. a brisk and short shoot up. I got in a string of fire then zee gun jammed so had to pull out of the fight and hide in zee clouds. I did see 2 Spads firing and on the tail of one e/a then loss sight. Top Cover lagged behind on the turn to target so was low and slow and did not engage the e/a.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/17 02:35 AM

Originally Posted by MFair
Great stories Gents. Aldi's last sortie read like an action thriller fullofit. Nice writing!


Originally Posted by Raine
Fullofit, that was an exciting chapter in Aldi's story! Please keep up the great work.


Gentlemen, thank you for the compliments and words of encouragement. I'm really having fun with this pilot.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/17 11:29 PM

News of the World for February 1917 - Intrepid Fliers Group:

February 1
Germany began a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.
February 3
President Wilson severed diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany.
In the Bay of Biscay, the German submarine U-53 torpedoed and sunk the US liner Housatonic which was carrying a cargo of wheat. The crew was later picked up by a British steamer.
February 4
Mehmed Talat Pasha replaced Said Halim Pasha as Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire.
February 5
A British armoured force won an engagement against the Senussi at the Siwa Oasis.
February 6
The Turks evacuated the south bank of the Tigris east of the Hal-Tigris junction near Kut.
February 7
The British passenger steamer SS California was torpedoed by the German submarine U-85 as she returned from New York to Glasgow.
February 8
The British destroyer HMS Ghurka was on patrol off Dungeness when she struck a mine laid by UC47 and sank.
February 10
A meeting took place in London between the British Government and members of the International Zionist Movement about a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
February 12
The American schooner Lyman M. Law was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Cagliari, Sardinia by the German submarine U-35. The ship was on a journey from Maine to Palermo in Italy when the Germans ordered the crew off the schooner before a bomb was detonated, setting fire to the 1,300-ton wooden vessel prior to its sinking.
February 13
Scandinavian Governments published a joint protest against German submarine warfare.
February 14
The British Government gave a pledge to the House of Commons that restoration of Alsace and Lorraine to France was an aim of the war.
February 16
Japan and Great Britain agreed that Japan should receive all German concessions in China and German Pacific islands north of the equator. Britain would receive German Pacific islands south of the equator.
February 17
An Australian War Government was formed.
February 18
The British steamer Asturian was damaged by gunfire from a German U-boat whilst en route from Liverpool to Alexandria.
February 20
Japan and Russia agreed that Japan should receive all German concessions in China.
February 23
The Second Battle of Kut was fought between Indian and British troops and Ottoman forces at Kut. The battle was part of the British advance to Baghdad which began in December 1916.
February 24
British and Indian troops recaptured Kut al Amara.
The Zimmermann Telegram was passed to the US by Britain, detailing the alleged German proposal of an alliance with Mexico against the US.
February 25
The Cunard ocean liner RMS Laconia was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-boat U-50 while returning from the United States to England.
The Germans began to retreat from front line positions on the Ancre as part of the withdrawal to the Hindenburg line.
February 26
President Wilson addressed Congress requesting powers to arm US merchant ships following the unprovoked sinking of the American liner Housatonic and the schooner Lyman M. Law.
February 27
The German Chancellor justified the country's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare and proclaimed it to be a great success.
February 28
The American press published the German proposals for an alliance with Mexico against the United States.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/17 11:30 PM

News of the World for June 1917 - Warbirds Rising Group:

June 1
Zeebrugge, Ostend and Bruges were heavily bombed by the Royal Naval Air Service.
June 2
After some of its vessels were sunk by German submarines, Brazil revoked its neutrality and seized all German ships in Brazilian ports.
June 3
Italy proclaimed its Protectorate over independent Albania.
The Independent Labour Party and the Socialist Party met in Leeds to advocate a peace settlement. Among the attendees were future British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and philosopher Bertrand Russell.
June 4
General Aleksei Brusilov succeeded Mikhail Alexeiev as Russian Commander-in-Chief.
June 5
German aeroplanes bombed the port of Sheerness and other Naval establishments on the Thames Estuary during daylight hours.
June 7
The Battle of Messines launched an Allied offensive near the village of Messines in Flanders. The battle began when a number of enormous underground mines were detonated under the Messines Ridge.
June 8
The Tenth Battle of the Isonzo was called off by Chief-of-Staff Luigi Cadorna with only minor territorial gains for the Italians.
June 9
The Russian Provisional Government refused a German proposal for unlimited armistice.
June 10
The Battle of Mount Ortigara began between Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops to gain possession of Mount Ortigara, on the Asiago Plateau.
June 11
Allied Governments delivered an ultimatum to Greece demanding the abdication of King Constantine I.
June 12
King Constantine I of Greece abdicated his throne in the face of pressure from Britain and France and internal opponents - including Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos - who favoured Greece's entrance into the war on the side of the Allies.
June 13
US Major General John J. Pershing arrived in France.
German Gotha aircraft launched a major heavy bomber raid on London in daylight.
June 14
The German Zeppelin L43 was shot down by a British fighter aircraft during a reconnaissance mission in the North Sea.
The British Admiralty approved plans for the convoying of merchant ships.
June 15
The Espionage Act was passed in the United States. The act prohibited any attempt to interfere with military operations, to support US enemies during wartime, to promote insubordination in the military, or to interfere with military recruitment.
All Irish veterans of the Easter Rebellion still in custody were freed by the British government.
June 17
The German airship L48 was intercepted and destroyed by British fighters over the sea near Great Yarmouth.
June 18
Austrian Premier Count Heinrich Clam-Martinitz resigned.
June 19
General Arthur Currie was appointed to command the Canadian Corps.
June 20
The British Sloop HMS Salvia, operating as a Q-ship, was sunk by German submarine U-94 off the west coast of Ireland.
June 23
The P&O liner SS Mongolia struck a mine and sank off the coast of Bombay.
June 25
The first contingent of United States troops arrived at the port of Saint Nazaire in France.
An Austrian counterattack in Trentino recaptured Monte Ortigara.
June 27
Greece severed diplomatic relations with Germany, Austria-Hungary
and Turkey and a state of war was declared.
June 28
General Edward Allenby succeeded Sir Archibald Murray in command of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
June 29
The Russian Summer Offensive began along a broad front in Galicia.
June 30
The British steamer SS Ilston was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB-23 on a voyage from Swansea to France with a cargo of railway material.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/17 06:38 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.



July 1, 1917

Wet day rain showers during morning. Line Patrol during afternoon with 5 a/c in the section. No luck .
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/17 06:43 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


July, 2, 1917.

Escort during morning, Top cover got hit by 5 Scouts then they hit the Recon ships. I banged away at one, but he scissored then went home. We had 3 Damaged + 1 forced down. 1 Sopwith B-1 damaged. for 1 claimed Hun.



Afternoon line Patrol, Another fight this time with Green Tail Scouts. The 3 a/c spotted and broke into us ( 5 Spads) as we tried to get behind them. Fired then ran do a chandel fire repeat. Finally, my Hun ( a Very good pilot) came out of his turn too low so I was able to swing down on his tail. got within 100 yards a perfect set up and my Gun Jammed. All I could do was dive away and RTB We lost a Spad that flight and 1 pilot wnd. for 0.


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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/17 08:01 PM

Drago Duntz
Marckebeeke

The propaganda arm of Germany took a hit today as it was reported that their up and coming star was killed in a mid air collision with a Sopwith Tripe. He had turned to engage one of the 9 Tripes about 3 minutes into the fight when an Albatros came across his front. He turned to avoid it and the last thing he saw was the 3 wings of the Tripe.

Note: this was one of the most exciting fights I have been a part of. 2 flights of RNAS Tripes and both flights from Jasta 28w. It was great! Right up until I got killed.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/17 09:04 PM

Here is the status report for last week's action.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/17 09:06 PM

I'm sorry guys that I haven't written anything in a while, I've just been so busy. I promise to write up something this week. Didn't want anybody to think that I'd disappeared.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/17 02:23 AM

MFair, tough luck! I know something about being in the middle of a furball and not having anywhere to maneuver. Better luck with the next letter and stay away from the middle.
Banjoman, thanks for the report again and no worries. We know you're preparing something good! wink
So much has happened. I need to post another Aldi report tomorrow.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/17 04:17 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


July 3, 1917.


Mission: Offensive Flight up by Rethel.
2 Sec: 5 a/c
alt: Max Height
E/A: Spotted close by and Headed home 2 DFW Types. Off to the East 2 flights of a/c 5 or 10 ?
Losses: 1 damaged

Remarks: I saw both Bosche buy it. one was a flamer the other spun in. I didnt have the speed at that altitude to get close so fired at long range, No prize.

Mission: Line patrol
Alt: 1800 meters
2 Sec: 7 a/c
e/a: 4 Albatross V strutters Green Tails
Losses: 2 Spads missing.
Vic: 0

Remarks. The e/a dove on us from in front scattering or flight. Next thing I knew was one was om tail and firing. I took 7 hits, but was able to split S away from him. Applying power and chandeling , I came up on the E/a firing small strings of 9-23 rds after 210 rds fired he smoked a little then the prop stopped. The last That I saw of him was haft way over NML and gliding for home.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/04/17 04:24 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


July 4, 1917.


Mission: Line Patrol
2 Sec: 4 Spad,s
1 Sec: 3 Spad's
Alt: 1500 meters
WX: Overcast at 1800 meters with linited vis in clouds 9/10ths cloud cover.
E/A: 2 Recon types.
Vic: 0
Losses: 3 Spads damaged with my wingman Wnd.

As temporary Esc Flight leader, I broke into the E/a flight of 2 Dfw's firing. as we came around and climbed 1 e/a nosed over and disappeared in a cloud. The other we made passes at ti it too disappeared in clouds. The Bosche gunners are getting very good and I wasnt the only one to get bullet holes.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/17 01:10 AM

Jasta 18
First week of March 1917, Halluin

It's been snowing on and off for the past few days and all flights have been called off. Paul Strähle was one of those people who could not sit still in one place for long, so it was no surprise that on one particularly snowy day, when everyone was sitting in the mess reading newspapers or playing dominoes, Paul got up and left the hall to come back shortly all dressed up in his flying gear. He walked past everyone and went outside. He proceeded to make a snowball as big as he could, then another one, slightly smaller and finally a third one - the size of his own head. He stacked them all up and returned back to the mess hall all out of breath. Aldi and Walter pretended they were not interested in what he was doing. Each one being engrossed in some spectacular news from the front they just happened to find in the latest edition of Die Zeitung.
Paul walked into the kitchen and picked the biggest carrot he could find, some lumps of coal and a smoking pipe that happened to lie on one of the tables. He also grabbed Aldi's hat and walked out again. Aldi didn't mind. After Paul borrowed the gloves, everything else was fair game. The snow was picking up again.
Leutnant Strähle placed Aldi's hat on top of the snowman, stuck the lumps of coal where the eyes would be, the pipe where the mouth should have been and the carrot where ... errr the snowman would have his genitals. Walter looked up from his newspaper and asked Aldi: - "Does the fool know this is Grieffenhagen's pipe?"
- "Nope." Was Aldi's nonchalant answer while trying to stack the tallest domino tower.
Von Bülow returned to his paper and added: - "Good" in rather amused voice.
Paul came finally back, sat down on one of the chairs and was all smiles trying to catch attention of his friends. They kept pretending they haven't noticed. Paul's frustration was growing, he got up from his chair and went out again. Aldi and Walter looked out the window very interested in what else Paul will come up with. His next task was to give the snowman a pair of large breasts. Walter commented expertly: - "These are quite nice!" Aldi agreed. But then, Paul went one step further and gifted the snowman one large pair of testicles to go with the carrot. He then decided that his work was done and came back inside, pulled a chair close to the window, put his feet up on the window sill and proceeded to admire his handiwork.
It didn't take long before Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen came in and gave an order: - "Leutnant Strähle, my office! On the double!"
⛄
There was only one flight this week to patrol over the aerodrome. No enemy contact.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/17 01:18 AM

I finally got some good stick time and Demian Kraft gets himself wounded in a silly move...

Memoir of Demian Kraft

Part 6

On 3 March I led a group of four Albatros to attack a balloon near Armentieres. It was an uneventful flight over, despite which I grew more and more nervous as we neared the target. I was determined to get a credited kill at last, and I knew that if I could only hold my machine steady and ignore the Flak I could claim a balloon – not as good as an enemy aircraft, but it would be a start.

As we drew near I searched the area for the target balloon but saw nothing. The ground was a speckled mat of brown mud and frozen white, and finding the yellow-tan balloon proved very difficult. I dived lower, hoping to see the thing against the sky. Pink-white Flak bursts began to welcome us, uncomfortably loud and close. Suddenly there it was, closer than I expected and end on to me – a poor target. I kicked the rudder bar and swerved around. There was time only for three short bursts and I was past the balloon. No luck. Then, just as I turned for a second attempt, I saw Leutnant Galetschky firing and pulling up, but too late! His wheels hit the balloon and his Albatros began tumbling out of control. The balloon crumpled and began to burn. I circled and watched Galetschky fall, turning around and around. Just before he hit the ground, his machine levelled out and put down in an open field. It was a kill for him, won in the most unusual way.

4 March was a warmer day than we had seen in a long time. I was detailed to lead again: me, Berse, Ltn Galetschky, and Ltn Rosenstein. We were to patrol the lines between Ypres and Menen. I had climbed to 2500 metres by the time we approached the salient.

Rosenstein fired a green flare – enemy in sight. He drew close to my right wings and pointed ahead and to the west. A few distant Flak bursts showed us the way to a pair of Sopwith two-seater machines heading back to the lines. They were some 500 metres below us and I led the way with a roaring dive. Never had I flown so fast, diving steeply with the engine full on. About 100 metres from the Englishman I began to fire, targeting the gunner. But the enemy gunner was a brave man. He remained at his post despite the rain of bullets all around him, and he won the battle between us. I felt a stunning blow in my side, like falling off a horse onto a fence rail. Rushing past the Sopwith and climbing, I turned away and reached down to my left side. My glove came back covered in blood. Only then did I feel light-headed.

My engine had been hit and was missing badly, and we were well past our lines. I turned east and tried to hold my height, now about 1200 metres. But the engine was failing worse every minute and I lost height. In the distance I could see the hangars at the Menen aerodrome. For a couple of minutes I was sure I would make it, but then the old Mercedes died completely. Every machine gun and rifle in the salient opened up at me, and I glided home behind a still propeller I was serenaded by the sound of splintering spars and the slap-slap-slap of machine gun rounds perforating my wings and fuselage. I dropped the machine into a muddy, rough field, narrowly missing a tree. Then I simply fell asleep.

[Linked Image]

When I awoke there was great pain. I was in the back of a truck, bouncing along a road. My punctured carcass was in the hands of the army, who were dispatching me to a field hospital, or so I thought. As it turned out, I was lifted out of the truck on a stretcher and brought into the clean, airy front hall of Bavarian Kriegslazarett No 2 in Tourcoing, a large permanent hospital only 9 km from where I had come down. This establishment was set up for civilians, and I soon learned that it had something of a specialty in treating diseases of the amorous sort. [1] The Sanitäter and driver who brought me there had a long argument with a monocle-wearing doctor who insisted that I be brought somewhere else. By this time I was truly uncomfortable. As far as I could tell I’d been hit only a glancing blow, but certainly a rib was broken. I could see a bit of bone through the open wound. At length, the doctor relented, but not before a little crowd of doctors and nurses had gathered about and not before I'd treated him to some ungentlemanly suggestions. The onlookers, many of them "professional" women, laughed and jeered.

The surgery took longer than I thought it would as there were a few bits of bone and more bits of bullet everywhere. The lungs were not damaged, though, and the rib itself was not badly shattered. It was merely set and bound, and I was told by a cigar-smoking surgeon to hope for the best. After two days I was cleared to travel back to Ghistelles, where I would be designated ZbV for a week or two: “zur besonderen Verwendung†or as we called it “stupid little jobs officer.â€

Historical Notes:

[1] This hospital treated 410 women for venereal disease in 1916.


Attached picture Riddled 2.jpg
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/17 10:22 AM

Fullofit and Raine, thanks for keeping the great stories coming! I have beed derelict on this front for awhile. I barely have had enogh time to fly some missions and only just now posting. The stories are thin and for that I apologize. I Hope to do better in the coming weeks. For now the video and a thin report will have to do.

Carrick, thanks as well for keeping things alive here. I do get some time to read the reports on my smart phone and that fills my WOFF void.

Best Regards to all!

Here is my latest compilation:


Albert Earl Godfrey

1 Mar 1917 @ 09h03 Patrol to Camblain L’Abbe airfield
All's quiet on the western front!

3 Mar 1917 @ 09h01 Patrol to lines south of Monchy Le Preux
All's quiet on the western front!


4 Mar 1917 @ 09h02 Patrol to lines south of Monchy Le Preux
All's quiet on the western front!

9 Mar 1917 @ 09h00 Escort 3 B.E.2c to Vimy Lines

Today at briefing we were advised we would encounter heavy low cloud cover and winds of 8 kn from the WNW.

Caldwell lead “B†flight with myself, Eggleston, Pidcock, Young and Hall in tow. “A†flight was to assist and was composed of Bishop, Molesworth and Hervey

We formed up as usual, just north of the field, attaining an altitude of 6700 ft. at 09h12, before heading out. We met up with the B.E. 2c’s over St Vaast at 7500 ft at approximately 09h15 and headed out towards Vimy and the lines.

At 09h30 we encountered two Halberstadt DIII’s. I made a pass on one and then turned sharply onto his six but lost him several times in the clouds. I searched aimlessly for him and finally saw both DIII’s heading away together, unaware of my presence. I gave chase and quickly gained on the trailing DIII. Approaching closely I gave him several volleys, watched debris fly from his craft and saw him peel away. Taking the opportunity in hand I headed straight for the leading DIII and attacked him equally. Passing under him I made a sharp turn to port in time to see my first foe coming up on my six and I quickly shook him off, gained altitude, turned onto his six, closed and sent several volleys into him sending him down. I didn’t waste any time and quickly looked for his mate who I noticed on my port side heading into the clouds, I swung into his direction but lost him in those clouds.

I turned to regain the lost ground and rejoined my flight. No sooner had I done so than I spotted 7 Hun Albatros DII scouts at 12 O’clock high. They were intent on harassing our B.E.2c’s and the game was soon on. I observed Eggleston chasing one and hung back to cover his efforts. I soon spotted another DII on his own and gave chase. I sent several volleys into him from a distance and watched as he spun down, but in control, and he pulled out low to the ground, making a break for it. I chased him down, gave him another couple of volleys and watched him plunge into the ground, on our side of the lines.
I no sooner had dispatched him, than I was chasing another who fell to my guns and made a forced landing in front of our lines.

I had lost our flight at this point and decided to head back to Filescamp.
Landing there I put in a claim for 3 Huns which were later confirmed and I was advised I would be receiving the Military Cross. Eggleston had claimed one, and Hall had claimed two others, all of which were confirmed on our side of the lines. Hall had been forced down and suffered light wounds. Pidcock and Young both had suffered light wounds and their crafts were destroyed upon ditching on our side of the lines.

Bishop, of “A†flight also suffered light wounds and his craft burned out in a forced landing.

Footnote:

"Bishop" is William Avery Bishop, who just joined the squadron and so I have some hopes to flesh out my stories with some of his exploits. I was somewhat miffed by his first flight here, as he properly destroyed his machine and got himself injured! WOFF will have it's way, inspite of historical accuracy with regards to pilot exploits it seems.




Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/17 07:12 PM

Raine:



410 cases of VD infected women treated at that Hospital ? Damn them Frenchmen !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/17 07:13 PM

Good film Mr. Wiggins
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/17 07:19 PM

Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant
2 Section Flt Leader
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.


Jul 5, 1917.


Ran into two V strutters while on Offensive Patrol, a little bit of a scuffle amid rain clouds. One dropped on my tail and I couldnt shake him off. I did a reversal and my wing man Leps got him. The other got lost in the clouds.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/17 07:20 PM

x
Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant DECEASED DECEASED
KIA KIA KIA KIA
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.






Bad Luck today. Got into a boxing match with 5 albatros scouts which passed under us ( 4 Spads) as we chased a different flight of 3 scouts. Got suckered into a scissors fight as his wing man dropped in on my 6 and got in a Head-shot KIA just broke 30 hrs too.

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Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/17 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
x
Gilbear Du Bussy
Sous Lieutenant DECEASED DECEASED
KIA KIA KIA KIA
Esc 81
La Noblette Ferme,
Verdun, France.






Bad Luck today. Got into a boxing match with 5 albatros scouts which passed under us ( 4 Spads) as we chased a different flight of 3 scouts. Got suckered into a scissors fight as his wing man dropped in on my 6 and got in a Head-shot KIA just broke 30 hrs too.


Sorry to hear it carrick58 frown ....great writing and visuals! Hope to see more from you soon smile

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/17 11:37 PM

Carrick, My condolences to Gilbear's family and squadron members! sigh
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/17 03:02 PM

thanks guys, I will start another pilot today.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/17 03:53 PM

Oh, bad news about your old pilot. I'll look forward to the new one, though.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/17 03:58 PM

Helmut von Hammer
FA 33
Menen, France.


July 7, 1917.


I arrived last night and was posted to an Orientation Fligh.t and after noon Arty Recon. Upon landing spotted a smoke column raising up from a crashed plane. A frequent sign these days.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/17 04:07 PM

Carrick;

Don't you love the immersive moments like that crashed plane? I sometimes find them around my home field when coming back from a mission, and often fly over to see if I can tell if it is one of ours or theirs.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/17 12:59 AM

Carrick, sorry about Gilbear. Good luck with Helmut!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/17 02:24 AM

Yes sir, the immersion ( and the support ) is why I brought the game and what keeps me playing all these years. On a mission someone gets French fried or turns back or lands short of the field ( Crashed)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/17 04:35 PM

Helmut von Hammer
FA 33
Menen, France.

8 July 1917.


Up 2 times today. the 1st was a bust just got to height and lost power. Compression ? so had to land. The second flight was a bombing raid. Our 4 a/c escorted by 5 Albatross Scouts from Mfj. Most fell wide but at least 1 hit the trenches.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/09/17 03:48 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

10 Mar 1917 @ 08h12 Poor weather with heavy snowfall - all flights cancelled

11 Mar 1917 @ 15h13 Patrol our lines east of Loos, West of Lens

Uneventful patrol – no enemy craft spotted

12 Mar 1917 @ 08h28 Patrol to our lines near Havrincourt Wood

We were advised during briefing to expect heavy cloud cover, wind and rain
Cloud cover expected to extend from 7000 to 15000 ft.

Caldwell led “B†flight composed of Godfrey, Pidcock, Hervey and young. “A†flight was tasked to provide top cover and was composed of Molesworth, Chespigny and Hall.

The flights formed up north of the field as usual, attaining an altitude of 10,800 ft at 08h53 and set out directly for Arras. Along the way, Caldwell turned back with engine problems and Godfrey took lead of “B†flight.
At 08h57 the flights arrived over the lines at 12,300 ft. Godfrey led the flight due SSE in a straight line, crossing the bow in our lines into enemy territory and then directly back across our lines just north of Havrincourt Wood. No enemy craft were spotted. During the course of circling Havrincourt Wood, Godfrey’s N17 began to chug and spurt oil. The engine quickly began to grind and Godfrey shut her down to eliminate the possibility of fire.
He signaled he was leaving the flight with Pidcock in charge, and began to circle down looking for a road that might offer some possible safe landing while heading in the direction of Bapaume. After what seemed an eternity he spotted the Bapaume – Cambrai road which he knew would lead him to the nearest airfield of Bapaume. He made it there with 2000 ft to spare and set his N17 down safely. The rest of the flight came in later with no damage or losses.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/09/17 04:53 PM

Helmut von Hammer
FA 33
Menen, France.




July 9, 1917.


I was post to 2 flights ,but Rained out.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/09/17 08:51 PM

Here is the status report for last week's activities.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/17 03:39 PM

Helmut von Hammer
FA 33
Menen, France.


July 10, 1917.

Our 3 a/c got jumped by sopwiths on the second flight of the day. The score was even 1 Pup for one Dfw.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/17 12:21 AM

Thanks for the stats, Banjoman!

Jasta 18
12 March, 1917 Halluin

The weather cleared up enough to put a patrol flight up. Aldi, not unlike everyone else on the Flugplatz, was suffering from a bad case of going stir crazy. Lt. Paul Strähle has also completed his punishment and Aldi couldn't be happier about it. Ever since Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen had him clean the latrines, the smell of the outhouse was always around Paul whenever he came back after finishing his chores.
It was still raining, but not hard enough to cancel the patrol behind friendly lines. Aldi led everyone to the designated area over the airfield, but while still gaining altitude he noticed the sure sign of nearby enemy. The Flak was having a hissy fit around enemy Rumpf airplanes out in the distance on Aldi's port side. He set new course with his entire Kette in tow. There were two of them and five Albatrosen. Aldi knew it's going to get very tight soon with machines flying left and right jockeying for position. He promised himself to keep enough distance away from everyone else as not to trip over each other. His greatest concern right now he thought, as they were racing toward the two juicy targets, is that the observers in both of the crates are already training their gun sights on him. He will attract all the attention and be shot to pieces while everyone behind him will get the clear shot without much harassment. Aldi decided to do something different this time. He continued to close the distance with the bombers. Made some long-range shots and just as the gunners were about to open up on him, he flipped his plane upside down and flew by them without catching a single bullet.

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By the time the rear-gunners realized what happened he was already passing them and banking to make another run. His flight was all over the two Britishers by the time Aldi was able to make another pass. He aimed for the lower airplane and made an attack with a precise burst, which set the enemy plane on fire.

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He watched as the rest of the Schwarm finished the unfortunate aviator off. He was glad he didn't have to watch them burn alive. He has spent many a night laying awake after having nightmares of exactly such a demise. Aldi turned towards the other victim and timed his attack as not to get in the way of the other members of his flight, who were buzzing around the bomber like a hive of angry wasps.

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The British pilot defended himself by side-slipping and spoiling his attackers' aim. Little by little, however, he was being damaged and it was evident he had difficulty keeping his machine level. Aldi took aim and sent a short burst. The bomber stood on its wing and began a spiral of death towards the ground.

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He followed the erratic flight of his victim with his eyes while other members, still unconvinced of the bomber's condition, kept firing into the falling wreck. Aldi was just about to continue with his patrol when all of a sudden his engine stopped apparently dry of any fuel, which must have escaped unnoticed when an unlucky bullet found the fuel line and severed it. Luckily Wynghene airfield was nearby and he was able to glide his stricken craft towards it. His two friends followed and landed after he made the emergency landing from the wrong side. There wasn't enough altitude to circle the field from the other end. He knew he will get a ribbing from his friends for landing the wrong way, but he knew any landing is a good one, no matter how improper.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/17 01:21 AM

Fullofit,

What a tremendous collection of action photos here! Did Aldi get the credit? Great tale.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/17 01:46 AM

Thanks Raine. Sorry if that was too much. Couldn't decide which ones to throw away. Looking forward to Demian's next adventure!

Edit: Forgot to add, Aldi was credited with the second machine, the one with the missing wing.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/17 06:40 PM

I was completely enthralled by the pic collection. Each one is a money shot. Good work. wave
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/17 06:45 PM

Helmut von Hammer
FA 33
Menen, France.


July 11, 1917.


Bad day but got the jobs done. Photo mapping : Had to avoid 2 flights of 3/ac . Arty Spot: Finished, but we were then chased by pups holes in both machines. No kills.



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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/12/17 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by carrick58
I was completely enthralled by the pic collection. Each one is a money shot. Good work. wave


Thanks Carrick, Albatros is one photogenic airplane.

Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold is getting used to his new surroundings at Chipilly and to some new "friends".

[Linked Image]

Capitaine Etienne Valois Escadrille Cinquante-septième has just been ordered to transfer from Marne to Flanders. They call Bergues their new home and have been invited to a house warming party.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/12/17 05:18 PM

Helmut von Hammer
FA 33
Menen, France.


July 12, 1917.


Last flights this morning for FA 33, received my walking papers for Jasta 4 a Scout Staffel of JG 1. Normally, they pick their pilots,but Uncle Luther ( Gen L. Earllickinstein ) got the papers for me.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/17 01:48 AM

A quiet flight after a long wait to get back in the air...

Memoir of Demian Kraft


Part 7

The first few days of special duties were uncomfortable. My “special duties†consisted of acting as adjutant while Ltn Laberentz, the regular paper-pusher, was on leave. The long days hunched at a desk did not help and it hurt to breathe after sitting that long.

My job was to oversee all the reports and returns we had to send to 4th Army HQ. Ltn Wieland was a difficult boss, as he was quite sure General von Armin [1] read every word I typed personally, and he was quick to make me rewrite my work if I allowed a speck of dialect to appear on paper. Normally, as adjutant I would be responsible for the discipline, dress, and deportment of junior officers, but as a lowly Offizierstellvertreter, I was excused this lofty task. I was, however, the gatekeeper for the Staffelführer. If one wanted a meeting with the boss, they had to come through me. It was my first taste of power and I rather liked it.

As my duties including managing the leave roster and preparing the Urlaubscheine [leave passes], so my popularity with the other pilots grew noticeably. I began to spend more time in the Kasino [mess], which was located in a fine old house at one of the main corners in the town, just a short walk from the field. For a generous adjutant (acting, unpaid) beer was often free.

I got to know Willi Rosenstein quite well. He was an impressive fellow with a good sense of humour. He had been one of Germany’s early aviators and had conducted air shows and done pilot training before ending up at the front. One rainy day, I asked him to join me on a trip into town, as I had been ordered to take two corporals into Ostend to buy some fresh vegetables and fish for the mess. Ltn Rosenstein asked if I could help him find whether there was a synagogue in the city. My Flemish was becoming understandable, thanks to trying to chat with the Sloots back at our billet.

I hadn’t thought Rosenstein was a strict Jew, although he often substituted chicken or fish for our sausages of doubtful origin. But he explained that Passover was approaching, and told me how he and his family celebrated it over seven days and nights. I made some inquiries of a shop owner, who replied (in perfect German) that there was a beautiful new synagogue built on authority of the Belgian King just a few years back. We made our way to the square and found the place. I had a cigarette while Rosenstein went inside and asked the caretaker where to get special foods.[2]

I occupied a desk for nine days before being cleared for flying. The highlight of the last week was when one of our mechanics was charged with the negligent discharge of a firearm; he had accidentally fired off a few rounds into a hangar wall while unloading a machine gun. I researched and prepared the charge sheets. A regular officer could have done the job drunk in five minutes, but I managed to spend the entire morning researching military law and the formalities of the process. In the end, Ltn Wieland was impressed and suggested that I consider going on a staff course. I suspected he still did not trust me because of my string of unconfirmed claims and this was his way to get rid of me.

The boss flew only occasionally, mainly training flights and a balloon defence patrol or two. I had not yet seen him in combat. Ltn Kampe seemed to be the real Staffelführer when it came to more offensive operations.

Finally, on 14 March, I was unchained from my desk and allowed to join a flight of six Albatrosses led by Ltn Kampe. It was a local routine balloon defence, but – joy of joys – I had been issued a new machine. Perhaps I was no longer in Ltn Wieland’s “bad boy†list, for my new mount was one of the Type III sesquiplanes. It had already been painted black like the other Type IIIs in the Jasta. I climbed the wooden ladder and painfully twisted into the cockpit. The mechanics had changed the restraining straps. They had fashioned a broad belt across my lap and a strap over my left shoulder that joined the seat at my right hip, avoiding the injured rib.

The visibility was outstanding. Nothing blocked the forward vision. A new type of radiator was built into the upper wing ahead of the cockpit – a little close for my taste but out of the way. The narrow chord of the lower wing made it easy to see what was below.
We took off and circled south of Ostend until we were at 2000 m. I noticed some flak to the north and saw a large formation of lattice-tails heading south over the coast. Although I flew ahead and waggled my wings to Ltn Kampe, he shook his head and we continued to the balloon lines. The Britishers had seen us and had headed home in any event.

The patrol lasted about 45 minutes and we saw nothing. But at least I was a flyer again!

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The new mount!

Historical Notes:

[1] GOC 4th Army Gen Friedrich Bertram Sixt von Armin. His son, Hans-Hermann Sixt von Armin, commanded an infantry division in the Second World War. He was captured at Stalingrad and died in Soviet captivity in the early 1950s.

[2] In 1904 King Leopold II allowed a part of a royal palace to be used as a synagogue, partially in recognition of the growing Jewish community there and partially in recognition of the number of wealthy Jewish visitors who summered in Ostend. A permit was given in 1910 for the construction of a permanent place of worship, and the synagogue of Ostend was built in 1911. It still stands on Filip van Maestrichtplein Square in the centre of the city.


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/17 02:00 AM

Raine, you continue to amaze me with your historical facts. How do you find the information and would you be willing to share your sources? I also want my stories to include such historical detail but I have a problem finding the information. Anyway, another good story.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/17 01:04 PM

Banjoman, thanks for the comment, and thanks for your curiosity about the research. I find the research is nearly as much fun as the flying. Once the story is underway you get a real attachment to your pilot, which magnifies the already great immersion in WOFF. And I hate to just make stuff up that could later prove to be wrong.

I have a decent but modest library of WW1 aviation sources, but 80-90% of the work is done through online sources. For example, in Demian Kraft's story I had modeled his early training on Werner Voss's as described in the book September Evening . I'm currently reading Black Fokker Leader by Peter Kilduff, and that added to my knowledge of Willi Rosenstein. The rest was done online. Taking yesterday's installment as an example, it went like this...

Demian was wounded and place "zur besonderen Verwendung" -- special duties. As far as I can see, Jastas often had one or two supernumerary officers on staff or other supervisory duties, so I put the regular guy (whose name I made up after googling "German surnames") on leave and gave Demian a lot of paperwork. I was familiar with that from being a reserve army officer years ago.

I knew that the northern part of the front was manned by the German 4th Army and that Jasta 27 therefore came under 4th Army control, so that's where the paperwork would go. A quick search for "German 4th Army 1917" gave me the general officer commanding's name -- von Armin. He took command in February 1917. I recognized the surname from my WW2 reading, so read a link about von Arnim's son and mentioned this info in the historical notes.

Through earlier online research about the HAs in Jasta 27 I knew that Rosenstein was Jewish and had a falling-out with Hermann Goering when the latter became CO of Jasta 27 later in the year. It happened over an anti-Semitic remark. I thought that would make an interesting story as told by a bystander like Demian, so the idea came to let a friendship grow between Demian and Willi so that the story would work (if Demian lives long enough). So I send them to Ostend for groceries. I then googled "Passover 1917" to see when it fell that year. I was wondering how a lone Jewish pilot fared for food and religious practice in a predominantly Lutheran pilot's mess. I then googled "Jewish community Ostend" to read about the development of Jewish life in the nearby city. That led me to reading about the synagogue being opened only in 1911. I used Google Earth to visit the square and see the place.

I never know where the research will lead. For example, in the other DiD campaign I had an English pilot about to go on leave in Paris. I therefore went to the Internet Archive site -- a terrific source of free, downloadable, out of print books. I tripped over a memoir by the British ambassador to France and went to the period that my character was to be in Paris to see what was happening. I picked up two references. One was to a reference to an informal intelligence office, which gave me an idea I later used in another campaign (Jack Cairns's secret flight to Switzerland). The other was a reference to meeting several journalists, including the author Elinor Glynn. I didn't know anything about Glynn, but I had a hunch she might be interesting so I googled her and discovered she was Canadian-born, had multiple marriages or liaisons, wrote (for the time) racy and trashy novels, and later became one of the first female movie directors in Hollywood -- oh, and she probably supported some intelligence operations. This was too juicy, so I had my character -- then a mere sergeant for a working-class background -- meet this older woman in a Paris restaurant. Glynn was something of an authority on making it in society, so she undertakes to polish him up.

It's a real mania, I'm afraid. I've found myself reading old railroad timetables to get the description of the leave train right, or researching obscure concert party programs. But it's fun.

That's it, anyway. Hope this helps!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/17 11:16 PM

Raine, Thanks for that unique look into your mind. Glad you could share this insight with us and explain where the "meat" of the story comes from. Great story as always and I'm looking forward to Demian's future encounters with Willi Rosenstein.

Jasta 18
15 March 1917, Halluin

It finally stopped raining and who knows how long it has been since Aldi saw the clear blue skies last time? Their mission was simple enough: fly to Wasquehal aerodrome and stay on station for 24 minutes. He, Strähle and von Bülow arrived over the aerodrome before Grieffenhagen and his new charges in the other flight. Oberleutnant was showing the new arrivals the ropes. It was 10 minutes into circling the airfield when a sense of desperation filled the air. The new Fliegers began frantically entering the landing pattern above the Flugplatz, while the old hands began the deadly dance above them. Two of the Sopwith Dreideckers came out of nowhere and began to terrorize the Albatrosen, like wolves among sheep. Aldi could not get into position and found himself with a Tripe on his tail. Bullets started flying. Glass and wood splinters hit him in the face before he could do anything. He banked and dove looking behind his wounded bird. The Sopwith was still there. Aldi spun, then faked a climb, but ended turning to his starboard. The infernal machine was still on his tail. Then it happened - a hail of bullets hit the Sopwith from above. Von Bülow and Strähle saved Aldi's worthless hide again. The RNAS plane wobbled and banked to get away but the lead rain kept coming. He finally was free from the onslaught but exposed to Schwarzkopf's attack. He dove and Aldi followed, knowing fully well that the ground is coming up pretty soon and with that no chance of escape. The Britisher scraped the top of the trees with his undercarriage. Aldi positioned himself behind the damaged plane, aimed and pressed the triggers of his Spandau machine guns. The bullets made a mess of the Sopwith's tail section with a large gaping hole in the vertical stabilizer.

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Another burst and two of the three wings on the starboard side came off. The Triplane flew straight for two more seconds and then started to tumble down directly into the trees below.

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Aldi wiped the blood from his face. Hopefully the splinters will not leave too big of a scar. He looked around and noticed that his two saviors were already on their way to land at the airfield they were sent to protect. Schwarzkopf followed them congratulating himself escaping from a premature death when two things happened simultaneously: loud gunfire and his plane shuddering, then immediately a third thing: a screaming Sopwith flying in front of him pulling out of a dive. Aldi gathered his senses and followed the intruder. He soon found himself peppering the Tripehound from behind as the tea-sipper weaved to throw off the Flak which was now lobbing its shells at the enemy craft. Aldi reduced the distance to nearly point blank range and fired again. The bullets found their mark and ripped into the canvas and apparently flesh as the Sopwith began to dive from low altitude and crashed beneath leaving a smoking crater.

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Aldi checked the skies again to make sure no other surprise was waiting for him and continued his journey to the aerodrome. Once over it, he found everyone already on the ground except one. He saw a nearby column of smoke from a still burning wreck. It was one of the new pilots who was not so lucky after the encounter with the Triplanes.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/17 11:23 PM

Helmut von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1.



July 13, 1917.

Posted as Replacement Flyer to the Escort Mission. After crossing the lines we were hit by French Scout machines. One second the air was full of a/c 5 of ours and at least 5 of theirs then I was alone so went home. Heard later that no kills were made but a royal shoot em up was had by all.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/14/17 04:27 PM

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


July 14, 1917.

Went up in the rain as a StaffelFlieger. Motor flooded out shortly after takeoff so I had to land at a friendly base. On the second hop, our flight leader put us in the middle of an enemy flight ( How many ? ) The E/a swarmed all over the sky firing as they went. I fired off 196 rds,but didnt hit anything then everyone headed for the deck and I stayed High.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/14/17 10:31 PM

Raine, thanks for the inside look into your great storytelling. I've been so incredibly busy the last two weeks that I haven't even had a chance to fly, but I'm trying to work up a good story and you'be given me some ideas. Fullofit, aren't you afraid that Aldi has used up all of his nine lives?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/17 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Fullofit, aren't you afraid that Aldi has used up all of his nine lives?

Banjoman, Aldi is on his second cat already. I just wish he'd finally finish painting his plane. That's all I'm asking for.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/17 10:35 PM

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


July 15, 1917.


Nailed a Sopwith while on Patrol in the rain showers today. The Jasta put up 8 machines and we ran into 2 flights of Pups. Again the sky was full of e/a machines diving ,zooming, and turning. My wing mate and I fired at the same a/c He got off 9 rds then guns jammed I fired over Four 42-47 rd bursts
Both right wings came off then more parts as he went down. The Commander gave me credit for the kill. I can also confirm the second Sopwith Claimed by the Jasta. a flamer seen smoking thu the rain clouds.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/17 11:14 PM

Really Nice Picks Carrick. Love the look of those heavy clouds..
Congrats to Helmut!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/16/17 02:36 AM

Great shots Carrick. Congrats on the victory!

Jasta 18
17 March 1917, Halluin

Aldi preferred to fly high above clouds where there was sun and blue skies to be had, unlike the depressing and drab world underneath, so this mission of flying high above their observation balloon suited him just fine. The Staffelführer Grieffenhagen thought balloon defense would be a perfect assignment to ease in new pilots into patrol duty. With that in mind, he paired Aldi with a new wingman, who was now flying along on his port side. Von Bülow and Strähle completed the formation. Aldi scanned again the clear skies around him and above, then strained his neck to look downwards at the cloud cover below. His perfect view was spoiled by distant Flak explosions at 10 o'clock low. A group of enemy planes was flying just above the clouds heading for the Drachen they were supposed to protect. Aldi corrected his flight path to an intercept course and began a shallow dive toward the intruders. When they got close enough they realized that they may be in for quite a fight. 6 French Nieuports have spotted them and were already in the process of gaining altitude to meet Aldi's Kette head on. The entire flight dove on the Nieuports while Aldi stayed high up waiting for any scouts that would separate and make a run for it. One of them did just that and Aldi zeroed in on him right away. He was upon him in no time and made his introductions.
- Nieuport, meet Spandaus. Spandaus, meet Nieuport.
The introduction had to be cut short as the Frenchman's wingman realized what was happening and came to his rescue. Aldi had to abandon his attack in favor of saving his skin. The sesquiplane Aldi was attacking made a dive while Aldi banked and climbed trying to gain as much altitude as possible to meet the other wine-gulper head on and on even terms. That is if you can call two guns to one - even terms. Aldi was too confident and paid for it with more bullet holes in his wings and fuselage. Fortunately Aldi's Spandaus found voice of their own and soon the N17 began to smoke, but was lost in the clouds. Surprisingly Aldi's original target hung around with intentions of payback. More bullets found Aldi's wings, but it was a weak effort by a wounded enemy and Aldi was quickly able to turn the tables. This time the Nieuport didn't have backup to distract the German pilot and found himself on the receiving end of two well aimed Spandaus. The little French scout was perforated in most places and soon fell out of the sky tumbling end over end above Lens. Aldi didn't get the chance to catch his breath after the fight as another Nieuport showed up trying to reach safety behind the front lines. Schwarzkopf followed and was gaining little by little. They have crossed the lines and Aldi became aware of the danger when the enemy Flak surrounded his airplane. He was very close now and about to shoot when he heard machine gun fire directly above him. He looked up and saw another Albatros diving on the Nieuport, totally oblivious to their proximity to each other. It was his new wingman! Aldi took evasive action and lost ground to the French plane in the process. There was no way he could catch him now without risking going deep into enemy territory. He turned his plane around cursing the enthusiasm of his wingman all the way to their own aerodrome.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/16/17 04:03 PM

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


July 16, 1917.


Again it was 2 Patrols, the kette ran into French 2 seats knocking down 2 ( 1 was Mine) then spotted 4 Sopwith Pups headed home ,but still within our lines so broke off and attack. The bite was a little more then I could chew so headed for the deck and was saved by our resident Ace who scored a kill.

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/16/17 07:03 PM

I may be just a little bit biased, biggrin but I like the way you have integrated the clouds into your stories.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/16/17 08:59 PM

Here is last week's status report.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/16/17 11:39 PM

Banjoman, thanks for the update!

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
I may be just a little bit biased, biggrin but I like the way you have integrated the clouds into your stories.

Bob,the story and the release of your excellent cloud mod are purely coincidental and the connection is rather cloudy. winkngrin



Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold of 1 RNAS based at Chipilly had a rather uneventful week with one confirmed kill.
Here he is enjoying a moody view before being shot at, landing in NML, hitting a stump and totaling his ride. Nearby troops were able to get to him in time and send him to the hospital for the duration of 6 days.

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Capitaine Etienne Valois of N57 stationed at Bergues one upped his RNAS colleague by colliding with one of his own wingmen while attempting to attack an observation plane. They both realized that occupying same time and space is not healthy. The poor Capitaine was killed instantly. His replacement will arrive tomorrow.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/17/17 10:30 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

19 Mar 1917 @ 08h20 Patrol across the lines to La Petrie aerodrome

Godfrey ambled into the briefing session with a mug of hot tea and settled into a rather creaky unstable chair. Not the best landing choice he thought and chuckled to himself. The air was full of noisy banter laughter. Godfrey took a sip of his tea, enjoying the progression of the heat as it made it’s way down his throat to his stomach.

The C.O. shouted “Silence, you pack of hounds†and the room became progressively silent at which point he continued. “The mission today is a DOP to the Hun’s aerodrome at La Petrie. We have reports of a build up in that area. Take note as you pass by Haubordin and Phalempin on your way there.
We need a report so don’t dawdle over there looking for trouble.

The weather reports are for winds of 6 kn from tne NNW with scattered clouds from 3500 to 8000 ft. There will likely be ground fog as well on the other side of the lines.

“A†flight will be lead by Caldwell and composed of Molesworth, Hervey and Young, and Raphael. There task is to provide protective top cover for “B†flight.

“B†flight will be lead by Scott, and composed of Crespigny, Godfrey, Eggleston, Pidcock and Hall. That’s all, dismissedâ€. The noise and banter began again as all the men got up from their seats and headed out to their mounts.

Godfrey took a last sip from his mug and placed it on a table as he exited the room. They were soon in the air and formed up north of the field at 7000 ft at approximately 08h36, at which point they turned east towards the lines.
At 08h39 they were SE of Loos and began a steady climb which saw them at 8400 ft when they reached the lines at 08h43. They were making good time. Godfrey pulled his scarf up higher around his neck to fend off the chill. At 08h46 they were at 9100 ft and just NE of Lens. They soon passed by Haubourdin. Godfrey noted a fine sausage just west of the field but there would be no opportunity today. They soon passed over Phalempin on their way to La Petrie.
He noted that there seemed to be no amount of activity on either field and certainly no sign of a buildup of aircraft. At 08h54 they were over La Petrie and taking Hun archie. There was no sign of Hun aircraft in the skies about them and little to report of activity at La Petrie.

Suddenly Scott took the flight down rather quickly in a circling fashion. Godfrey looked all about for what might have influenced Scott’s decision to go down low, but there was nothing of significance other than a few DFW’s on the field. “A†flight also followed and during the whole investigative process, Godfrey noted one of the N17’s in flames landing just SW of La Petrie.
He surmised it was either Scott or Crespigny as both of them were missing from the flight. Godfrey took over as flight leader and led the men back up to reform. In the process he found himself between Phalempin and Haubordin airfield and to his surprise he was headed directly for that same fat sausage he noted on the way in. This was an opportunity he could not pass up and so when he left Haubourdin behind him and his flight, the sausage was no longer present in the sky, and Godfrey had a silly smile on his face.

The flight made it back to Filescamp safely and not long after, reports came in that Scott and Crespigny had both suffered light wounds and crashed their N17’s on our side of the lines east of Givenchy. Caldwell also was lightly wounded and crashed his N17 just east of Filescamp. Hervey suffered light damage to his N17. The only pilot missing was Raphael. Godfrey’s report of witnessing an N17 go up in flames at La Petrie, seemed to point at that pilot as being Raphael. Confirmation in the form of a report from the Hun side of the lines identifying that an N17 had crashed in flames near La Petrie with the pilot burned beyond recognition. It was then that Godfrey realized who’s N17 he had witnessed go up in flames.

It had been a hell of a day with three wounded pilots, three destroyed N17’s, one additional craft needing two days repair, and the death of a fellow pilot in a horrendous fashion.

The mess was quiet that night as they all raised a glass to the empty chair.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/17/17 03:34 PM

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

July 17, 1917.


Tangled with 2 flights of French Scouts on dawn Patrol, What a mess. Kette Zwei was in the front ( 5 ) a/c with our cover slightly behind ( 4 ) We turned into 5 N-24,s only to get bounced by ? Spad VII ,s diving from a cloud layer. Twist turn and scatter was the orders of the day. One of the flashing Spads holed my fuel tank so I spun down to the deck and was able to land. The Jasta had 2 damaged + 1 Pilot wnd + mine forced down for Zero e/a.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/18/17 03:52 PM

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


July 18, 1917.

Escort Mission: Covered 2 Rumplers as they photo-map the lines No e/a contact.

Defense: Balloon defense patrol. Out of 17 Flyable a/c the Jasta put up 9 machines. I was in the tail end spot as 3 Spads dove on us and mixed it up til they took a few hits then they dove for home. Just a few holes and over stressed wires for us. Intell thinks they might be part of ESC 48 a very good French unit.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/18/17 08:18 PM

Carrick, Fullofit, Robert -- everyone is having scary times up there. I think this air war is heating up. I'm glad I haven't had to tangle with any Tripehounds yet. It's been quiet up north. Demian suffered a loss and a win this week...

Memoir of Demian Kraft

Part 8

Our part of the line was quiet. Farther south, the Jastas were in daily action, keeping the British and French from discovering too soon the masterstroke that Hindenburg and Ludendorff had engineered. Our armies were falling back on the Siegfriedstellung, the carefully engineered defensive line we had worked on all winter. Now it would take far fewer divisions to hold the front, while the Tommies would have to attack some of the strongest defences in history to make any advance. And in the east, Russia was starting to fall apart from the middle. With luck, the millions of men tied up fighting in the east could give us what we needed to end all this.

Meanwhile, here on the North Sea coast, we patrolled day after day with few contacts. At least I could begin to learn the tricks of my new Albatros. Perhaps we were just unlucky, for some of the Marine Jastas had got themselves into fights, but our boys saw little.

On 15 March 1917, my good friend and roommate Berse failed to return from a flight. Ltn Kampe led Berse, Rosenstein, and me down to Ypres to get a balloon that was doing good work for the British artillery. I was late diving on the fat Himmelwurst [1] but Kampe and Berse spotted it and went straight in to the attack. I saw the thing catch fire and began to fall, so I formed on Kampe’s wing for the trip home. Then Rosenstein formed on the other side and we headed back. I searched around for another Albatros, but saw nothing. No one knew for sure what had happened. Perhaps it was a direct hit by Flak. Perhaps he simply flew into the balloon. Either way, I would never see my friendly, round-faced friend again. I had to break the news to the Sloot family back at our billet. Little Marenka the servant girl cried inconsolably. Berse had been mad about her and she had never acknowledged his existence. Now she cried.

I had an easy day on 16 March. A couple of minutes after takeoff my Mercedes began to miss and I switched off and glided back to Ghistelles.

Finally, on the 17th, I had the day I had been waiting for. I was ordered to lead a flight of four to escort two DFW machines on a photo-reconnaissance flight over the English positions near De Blenkaart. We were back 90 minutes later, and it was pure pleasure to see the look on Ltn Wieland’s face when he asked whether we had any claims.

“Yes, two,†I announced.

He looked at me like a cat who had finally got the canary cage door open. “Two? Really Offizierstellvertreter Kraft, two?†He looked at the others. And did anyone else witness this miraculous accomplishment?â€

Before I could get myself in serious trouble, Ostv Luer spoke up. “Yes, sir, I did.â€

“Do tell. And remind me of your name. And stand to attention when you address your commander.†Luer was new. He had arrived only the day before.

“After the reconnaissance machines fired a flare to signal that they were done, we turned in a loop to the west towards them. We were about 400 metres higher and a kilometer or more behind them. I saw Offizierstellvertreter Kraft signal with his wings and dive down to our left. I followed and saw three Gitterrümpfe close below us.â€

Wieland interrupted. “So you abandoned the two-seaters to chase them?â€

I jumped in. “They were FE2s, and were closer to our two-seaters than we were. They were a true threat, Herr Leutnant.†Rosenstein quickly confirmed this, which was gracious of him. The FE2s had shown so sign they had seen us. They were in fact leichte Beute.[2]

Luer continued. “Kraft fired a burst and the machine began to smoke. I moved off to the right to try a flank attack, but Kraft circled back before I could fire. He closed to only a few metres from the Englishman and on his second burst the machine’s wings began to fold up. The machine fell about two kilometres southwest of the lake.†Both Rosenstein and Ltn Galetschky confirmed Luer’s account.

[Linked Image]
The first official one. Luer at left, Kraft pulling up to avoid debris.


Wieland wrote without looking up. “There were two?†he said.

I explained. “We regrouped and headed home. Two more FE2s passed in front of us, about a kilometre away and 500 metres below. I dived on the rearmost one and fired. It made no attempt to get away. I think maybe I hit the pilot with the first burst. I fired about 150 rounds into it, emptying one of my guns. The other jammed. The English machine began to tumble out of control. I did not see it crash, but am certain of it.â€

“Indeed,†said Wieland. Unfortunately, none of the others could confirm a crash.

Wieland reached into his drawer and took out a small silver goblet. “I think I can give you this, then,†he said, placing the Ehrenbecher on the desk before me. “Perhaps you can fill it with champagne for your new friend Luer. Dismissed.â€

This was not right. It was traditional to present the Ehrenbecher for one’s first official victory before a pilot’s comrades in the Kasino – not like this. I knew I would not get the second Fee confirmed, but I wanted a proper presentation. But on the way out of the Jasta office, Ltn Kampe asked me for the goblet and said he’d return it later. That night at dinner, Kampe stood and made a short speech about the struggles our Jasta has had and how we finally had another confirmed victory. And then he, not the Jastaführer, presented me with the Ehrenbecher properly. All eyes were on Ltn Wieland, who sat with a rigid smile, applauding.

Translations:

[1] Sky sausage.
[2] Easy prey.


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/18/17 08:52 PM

Raine, I don't see an easy posting for Demian.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/19/17 04:05 AM

Raine: Its down-right Hectic in the air. I was checking my shooting and I am only getting 27 hits out of 200 rds. E- Gad I wont survive for long. sigh
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/19/17 04:45 AM

Quote
All eyes were on Ltn Wieland, who sat with a rigid smile, applauding.

Ooh, drama! I sure hope the good Ltn. doesn't suffer an unfortunate air accident anytime soon!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/19/17 09:14 PM

Robert and Raine, great stories!
Robert, seeing someone going down in flames is always a sad and painful image, except in Raine's case. I'm with BuckeyeBob. "Someone" should follow Wieland on a mission and make sure he is confirmed. What an Arschloch!

Jasta 18
21 March 1917, over Halluin.

- "They will pay for this!"
Aldi had barely time to get off the ground when the first bombs started to fall. He was now overflying his aerodrome assessing the damage. Luckily most of the bombs fell short and only a nearby farmhouse and a barn suffered.

[Linked Image]

The flight was forming up and Oberleutnant Schwarzkopf was looking up for the culprits of the attack that nearly managed to eliminate them all without ever firing a single shot. The omnipresent Flak as always showed him the way. Looks like about six or seven bombers without protective escort were lazily flying south of them at a higher altitude. Aldi couldn't tell if these were the same ones that attacked their airfield, but these two-seaters would be the unlucky ones who will answer for it. Aldi with Wiessner on his left, Strähle on his right and von Bülow bringing up the rear banked their machines in one fluid motion to face the unsuspecting formation. Before they could match their altitude the enemy formation started breaking up and one by one each bomber began to dive. Were they just about to attack their target below? Aldi couldn't understand what they were up to, but then he realized that these bombers were not about to attack any ground target but them! Was this some kind of a rouse to lure them into the clutches of their escort which is currently stalking them, hiding high in the clouds and will pounce on them as soon as they expose their rear ends to them? Aldi looked around with uneasiness. No sign of any enemy scouts around. Were these bombers suicidal? He didn't have time to answer his own question as they merged with their targets. Aldi never saw this type before. They were definitely two-seaters but they flew and maneuvered like scouts.

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Each member of his flight picked a target, but it felt like they were the hunted. Aldi could barely keep up with the turning bus in front of him. At least the rear gunner couldn't target him either. They kept circling each other for a while with the enemy machine keeping the upper hand by staying above Aldi.

[Linked Image]

Finally it straightened and began to fly toward the lines. Aldi smiled and thought to himself: - "I have you now!", but by the time he swung his Albatros to get behind his prey, the bomber was already out of range and speeding away at full tilt. Aldi dove after him but wasn't making any progress. The enemy was still pulling away.

[Linked Image]

He looked quickly inside his cockpit to check the instruments. Was his throttle fully open? It was! RPMs? High! Pressure? Intolerable! Everything seemed to be working properly, then why was this bomber pulling away? Schwarzkopf didn't have time to ponder as another Britisher just flew near. He banked just as the other plane faced him and opened fire. A stream of bullets ripped into the canvas of the lower wing. These bombers have teeth, not just a rear gunner. Aldi dove to pick up speed. He twisted his head to locate the enemy and found him with one of the red and blue Albatroses on his tail giving it its all. Another Brit closed in, but Aldi was ready for him. He pulled up and squeezed the triggers. He saw debris flying off the enemy plane.

[Linked Image]

Another two-seater was just passing by, but Aldi latched on to the previous one and followed it in a bank. The bomber began to dive and started picking up speed leaving him behind. By now they were entering enemy airspace and Aldi out of frustration sent a burst after the bomber which was about to get away. Surprisingly he turned around and came after Aldi.

[Linked Image]

- "So, it's back on." He thought to himself as he prepared for another strange dogfight. This time the bomber kept high, just out of Aldi's reach, frustrating him even more. Finally, he decided to return home and leave Aldi wondering what had just happened. He turned his plane around and returned to base empty handed.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/17 01:02 AM

Thanks for the few minutes of pleasure.

Lots of good stories here folks and hardly time to stay up on them all. Been to busy to fly as of late.

popcorn

On another front, anxiously awaiting the new movie "Dunkirk".
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/17 02:01 AM

Everything I hear down here in Guatemala says that will be an excellent movie, sure wish I could see it.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/17 04:39 PM

Me too, I cant wait and unlike the Wonder Woman film. I have Pop Corn money.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/17 04:50 PM

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

July 20, 1917.


My wing man went missing after the morning Escort mission. Kette Zwei 's 4 A/c + 3 Cover Flight ( who were behind and low ) got jumped by 5 Spads. This time we saw them coming in so had time to swing around before they hit the 2 Bombers. It happened ever so fast two Spads swrung in front of my a/c nose so hosed away with my Spandau,s 140 rds later the closest e/a went into a spin and down he went. ( Victory # 3.) After landing, Heard that my wingmate was missing, and 1 Dfw was forced down ( crashed) + 2 D-V,s were damaged Also a 2nd Spad was claimed by Cover Flight.


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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/21/17 02:27 PM

Flight Commander Edgar Everheart
Furnes

Edgar awoke from his sleep with rain pelting his quarters. He stretched and grabbed his coat to guard against the cold. Before putting on the coat he caught a glimpse of his torso in the mirror showing his full upper body tribal tattoos. He stopped and looked at himself, The silver nose ring catching the light and the 3 silver studs between his eyebrows shining like lanterns. He decided on his mood and placed the newest Black Sabbath album on the phonograph. ...................Wait! I need more coffee!


Great stories and videos Gents! Raine, thanks for the window into your mind for your stories. Thats scary! No wonder my attempts at stories are sorely lacking.

I am still flying and Edgar is up to date. Mission #50 is under his belt but if Naval 8 does not stop attacking aerodromes something bad is bound to happen to him.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/21/17 03:32 PM

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


July 21, 1917.


Morning Flight: I Flew in a 3 a/c Vee formation defending balloons . No contact,but Kette Ins 2 a/c got jumped by Spads somewhere in the clouds. Both Pilots wnd.

Afternoon: assigned to attack enemy Balloon just over the lines, I stayed high as the flight got the gas bag. I got tangled up with 2 N-24's as we left the target area and chased back to the lines. finally one of the slugs holed my fuel so had to put her down in a field. No Glory Today.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/17 03:52 AM

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

July 22, 1917.


Hard pressed today: 1st flight was a foul up. The 4 of us ran into 2 FE2b's and it seemed all of us was firing at the same one. being overeager, I managed to put a few holes in my Wing leaders rudder ( von Doring ) and none in the enemy. ( my flight nailed both Fee's) After landing , I was Warned and given a letter of reprimand.

On the second flight our 3 a/c Balloon Defense flight tangled with 6 Sopwith Pups I made the mistake of getting into a scissors fight and was shot down. My a/c was leaking fuel and the wing tip was shot to bits so landed on a road. My wingmates claimed 1 pup but both were damaged.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/17 06:31 PM

Carrick;

It may be time for von Hammer to start carrying a rabbits foot (or should I say "Hasenpfote") for luck!!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/17 06:40 PM

MMMMM, what strange character is this Everheart? Tribal tattos, silver nose ring and studs between the eyes, not to mention this strange sound emanating from the victrola!! Oh well, if he can shoot straight, that is all that really matters! biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 12:32 AM

Jasta 18
24 March 1917, Halluin

It seemed like a simple job to patrol the front-lines, especially on your own side of the mud. It seemed like a simple job to stalk two Fee's unaware of your approach. And it definitely seemed like a simple job to shoot them down, but today none of those tasks seemed easy to accomplish for Aldi.
After a recent encounter with the new British type of plane his confidence was shaken. He wasn't even sure if he should lead the sortie this morning. Maybe Strähle or von Bülow would do a better job, but it looks like they were comfortable just following behind along with Grieffenhagen.
It was cloudy and there was still snow on the ground. Aldi was leading his Kette north of Halluin when he noticed the two Gitterschwänzen skulking away and hopping from cloud to cloud. Even the all-seeing eye of the Flak batteries missed them. Aldi made certain these were not the new bombers before setting up for an attack. Yup, they were definitely FE2's.
It did take some time before the Albatrosen were able to match their altitude and catch up to them. Schwarzkopf steered toward the one on the left, Grieffenhagen took the one on the right. Von Bülow and Strähle followed. Aldi aimed and fired. Hit! The pusher started to smoke.

[Linked Image]

Aldi went around for another try. He watched the Jastafürher fire at the other Fee, while getting back on his own target's tail. He aimed again and fired. More hits and sparks coming out of the exposed engine.

[Linked Image]

The British plane kept flying level. Aldi noticed the gunner was dead as he flew by to make another pass.

[Linked Image]

Again he saw Grieffenhagen attack the other enemy plane. He repeated the approach from behind and fired again, being certain the Britisher will fall this time for sure, but the stubborn crate kept going. At least the engine stopped.

[Linked Image]

Grieffenhagen's prey was now a black column of smoke with a ball of fire at its head plummeting to the ground. Aldi was starting to get annoyed. They were just north of Bailleul already!
- "Just one more pass!" Aldi was telling himself as he leaned into the gunsight lining up his target. He squeezed the triggers. Another volley hit the target.

[Linked Image]

Now pull up and ... CRASH! BANG! RIP!
Aldi took a quick look to the rear in time to see the Fee's wings fold up and fall away.
- "Scheisse!" He must have caught the crippled two-seater with his undercarriage while pulling up. He was praying that his wheels were still on and not back there falling down along with the dead bus. Strähle approached on the starboard and flew alongside. Aldi looked to him for some sort of sign that he is okay. He got a big grin from his friend. Aldi tried to communicate by pointing down to his wheels. Strähle gave him thumbs up to go along with the smile on his face. Aldi saluted in acknowledgement although he had his doubts Leutnant understood what he was asking him. He'll have to find out the hard way. They all flew back to base without further incident. Aldi approached the airfield with great care and made sure to touch down as gently as possible. He was extremely relieved that the wheels were what he was now rolling to a stop on instead of belly-landing. Aldi's Fee was disallowed - Grieffenhagen told him kills will be counted when enemy is shot down, not rammed.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 04:16 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

25 Mar 1917 @ 09h01 Patrol to lines North of Havrincourt Wood

Godfrey sat uneasily in his chair while the CO announced the nature of the first patrol of the day. Scott, sitting to his right, leaned over and said, “I hope this will be a quiet run, my shoulder is still stiff from my crash last Monday.†Godfrey just nodded and continued to listen.

The CO stated that the forecast was for extensive cloud cover between 5,700 and 12,000 ft. with winds of 8 kn from the SSW. The patrol was to cross the lines in the vicinity of Arras and run south along the Hun side of the lines, crossing back over in the vicinity of Havrincourt Wood. “A†flight composed of Molesworth, Fry and Hervey, was to provide top cover for “C†flight composed of Caldwell, Scott, Bishop, Godfrey and Young.

“The mechanics have been working overtime as of late fellows. The less damage you come back with will be greatly appreciated I’m sure.†Stated the CO as he closed the session. Scott looked over at Godfrey and stated “I could easily comply with that if they were throwing cream puffs at us up there in stead of lead!†Godfrey smiled and chuckled quietly as they all rose to leave the room.

The flight took off and headed north of the field as usual to form up. When they reached the altitude of 11,300 ft. and above almost all of the prevailing clouds, Caldwell turned SE towards the lines in the vicinity of Arras. It was 09h26 approx. They reached the lines at 09h35 at 12,200 ft and proceeded in a straight SE direction, cutting across the bow in the lines which placed them on the Hun side. They would not be back over the lines until they reached just north of Havrincourt Wood.

All was quiet with no sign of ground artillery activity of Hun archie and they arrived back over the lines in the vicinity of Havrincourt Wood at approximately 09h44. Caldwell began a wide circuit to starboard putting them back on the return trip and no sooner had they straightened out on the course, than Godfrey spotted six specs crossing west in front of them. “A†flight was in the lead and Godfrey noticed them break in the direction of the specs.
He waggled his wings and broke formation to follow “A†flight. No sooner had he done so, than Caldwell picked up the clue and did the same, bringing the rest of the flight with him. It was approximately 09h46 when “A†flight, and Godfrey engaged the enemy scouts who were anxious to dance. In the first pass, Godfrey recognized the Albatross scout and it’s Jasta 2 markings. The engagement took place half way between Bapaume and Havrincourt Wood.

Godfrey and the scout danced awhile, isolated from the rest of the fray and it wasn’t long before Godfrey got in several good volleys that brought the Albatros down. He watched it plummet into the ground and then set out to rejoin the melee. Another Albatros coming directly at him with the advantage of several hundred feet, made a direct attack but Godfrey broke slightly to starboard, passed under him, and then broke hard to port. They entered into a circling pass in which the Albatross managed to hole the canvas on Godfrey’s upper port wing. Godfrey held his climb for advantage as they circled again and this time Godfrey found himself in the position of advantage. The Hun began a game of sea saw and reverse directions to try and shake Godfrey off. It was not to be. Godfrey regained his position on the Albatros six and after several volleys with debris flying off the Huns craft, it went down.

Godfrey circled looking for his mates and finding them well above him, he rejoined the flight at which point they all headed to the nearest base at Bapaume.

Godfrey claimed two DIII’s Scott and Bishop, two more and Molesworth one.
The only N17 loss was Hervey of “A†flight who was lightly wounded during the melee and destroyed his craft during landing. Godfrey could not help but feel they had evened the score somewhat.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 12:08 PM

Robert and Fullofit, nice stories Gents, fFullofit, carefull with those mid air collisions. The are deadly.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Robert and Fullofit, nice stories Gents, fFullofit, carefull with those mid air collisions. The are deadly.

Tnx MFair
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 04:47 PM

Robert, congrats on the double victory.
MFair, nothing intentional, believe me. When I heard the crash I thought Aldi was done for.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 04:51 PM

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

July 23, 1917.


Posted to 2 flights today.

Escort The Jasta put up 4 a/c as close Escort only to have a Lone Spad swoop down and take out one econ machine before we could come to grips. Then he dove for home and was gone. Losses: 1 Dfw.

Balloon: The Kette's 5 a/c attacked a Balloon as I flew Top Cover. No e/a sighted and all back with no damage. Losses: 0. Claims: 1 Balloon for Amders.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Robert, congrats on the double victory.
MFair, nothing intentional, believe me. When I heard the crash I thought Aldi was done for.


Oh I fully understand! Many of my pilots have met their demise over a mid air collision trying to get in that one last burst.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 06:05 PM

MFAIR tnx for the cudos, and Fullofit, it's a fine line between getting too close for comfort and not getting close enough@
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 08:14 PM

I am absolutely convinced that Aldi is impervious to damage. biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 08:27 PM

Here is the status report for the previous week's activity.

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
I am absolutely convinced that Aldi is impervious to damage. biggrin

Don't jinx the guy!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Originally Posted by Banjoman
I am absolutely convinced that Aldi is impervious to damage. biggrin

Don't jinx the guy!


Banjoman, You've made me think. I had to go to the workshops and see if the invincibility setting wasn't on by any chance. Thankfully it wasn't.

Thanks for the latest status report!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/17 09:45 PM

Haha, I was only joking.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/17 12:07 AM

Journal Entry: 25 March, 1917
Eswars

It felt good to finally fly again. After my bout with my ear infection and the mountains of paperwork that come with commanding a Jasta, it was the sort of freedom that my soul needed. I do believe that the last two weeks have caused me to wax poetic, but if you only knew the freedom you feel when your landing gear leaves the ground, then you would understand. As luck would have it, my first mission back was an attack on an Observation balloon that has been giving our soldiers fits. Naturally, it needed to come down and Lt Voss, Offzsr. Bernert, Vzfw. Frommherz, and myself were up for the task. I led our kette to where the enemy sausage resided and signaled the attack. I have learned from experience that "sausage eating" can be quite tricky and the best approach as the commander is to maintain a position high above the fray so that I can best survey the attack. The three young men having no other responsibilities other than to themselves, dove immediately to the attack. I watched as all three carried out their attacks with such zeal, but to my amazement and utter shock, they all apparently missed. Fortunately for us, Archie must have been preoccupied because he gave a very weak and fitful response and posed no inconvenience whatsoever to us. As the old saying goes, "If you want something done right, then you need to do it yourself" and with that being said I wheeled about and made my attack. I fired around 75 rounds which promptly set the sausage ablaze. Our mission completed, I rounded up the kette and turned for home. To see the faces of Voss, Bernert, and Frommherz upon landing will be a sight that lasts in my memory for a long time. They looked like three young pups that had failed in their hunting trials. Outwardly, I was, of course, stern and commanding, but inwardly I was laughing and will indeed one day remind them of this day.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/17 01:12 AM

Journal Entry: 23 July, 1917
Droglandt

It has been a while since I've written in my journal and I believe it is time to rectify that situation. Today's 'little' adventure will certainly serve the purpose nicely. Today dawned clear and beautiful so I took a four of the lads down around the Lens area to see what we could see. In a short while, three Albatri came flying along without an apparent care in the world. Of course, that changed rather quickly when we dove on them and scattered their merry little flight. I singled out one of the Huns who was scurrying home, and was settling in nicely to finish him off, when to my utter amazement and horror, bullets started tearing through my upper wing and fuselage. Instinctively, I flipped out of the line of fire and began searching for my attacker. By the time I had spotted him he was already diving away and running full speed for home. I always look behind me when I'm attacking and I did so even this morning, but somehow I missed this particular Hun. My personal motto has been, "Ask not for whom the bell tolls", well, today it almost tolled for me.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/17 04:16 PM

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

July 24, 1917


Mission: Balloon Defence
Alt 1500 meters
Kette Zwei 4 A/c
E/a: 5 Camels
Claims: 0
Losses: 1 Albatross D-V ( mine)

Remarks: Back to the hospital. The flight spotted and turned into a flight of Camels. Next thing that I knew a camel was banging away at me . Turned twisted but couldn't get him off. I kicked rudder and push her over diving for home. Just as I was pulling away I got taped by a slug in the leg and fuel puked out of the tank. Put down in a field,but slid into a fence playing bounce the face off the cockpit. The doc's said I would be down for 9 days.

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/24/17 06:11 PM

Banjoman and Carrick: both with extremely close shaves! You two are quickly using up your cats' proverbial nine lives!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/17 01:15 AM

Banjoman, be glad your opponent didn't try to land on your top wing. winkngrin
Carrick, You can finally call hospital a place where everybody knows your name!

26 March, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

The weather is still spotty with some patches of snow here and there on the ground indicating it is still winter, but the incessant chirping of the birds announces spring, which is just around the corner. Up here in the air, there are no sounds other than the roar of the engines to keep Aldi company. He also has Grieffenhagen and Strähle to keep him company. All the usual suspects, except von Bülow, who had to turn back with engine trouble right after take off. Kette Eins was flying somewhere nearby but out of sight providing top cover for this line patrol. They have not made any contact with enemy flights on their climb to altitude but as soon as they've reached the patrol area over Menen they noticed a large formation of enemy planes heading towards their position. Aldi and the rest of the flight adjusted their flight path to intercept. Enemy planes were just slightly higher than them giving them advantage over the German scouts. Aldi knew this was temporary and once they merge they will fight on even terms. He knew right away they were British as they were flying the de Havilland pushers. There were six of them and half of that number went after Schwarzkopf. The three Aircos initiated a circling fight ensuring a mutual protection from the Albatros. Aldi could only respond to their attacks as they had him covered on all sides.

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Finally Kette Eins arrived charging at the pushers with all guns blazing. One of them broke away and Aldi took advantage of the situation pumping him full of lead before being forced to break off the attack by the remaining two aggressors, who despite being attacked themselves by Kette Eins, continued to pursue him. Schwarzkopf lost contact with the DH.2 he fired on and could not tell if he was forced down or got away Scott free. Currently he was preoccupied with the threat behind him. The fight was quickly moving over the lines and into enemy territory. Aldi was able to get behind one of the pushers while his wingman positioned himself behind Aldi without being aware that a member of Kette Eins snuck up behind him creating a whole line of predators and their prey.

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Aldi fired first, forcing his target to dive. He followed, spoiling his pursuer's aim. Meanwhile, Ltn Klein bringing up the rear of the train, attacked his target and split the conga line. Aldi kept up with his target and matched his maneuvers all the way down to the deck, taking potshots at every opportunity.

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Eventually, the British pilot had to admit defeat and landed behind the lines. Aldi turned around in time to see a plane on fire crash into the trenches. Ltn Klein pulled up and waggled his wings in acknowledgment. Aldi joined up with him and they both returned home where Strähle was already waiting for them. Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen had to put down in the field with a pierced fuel tank. The rest of Kette Eins returned a few minutes later. The two Jagdfliegeren with one victory apiece walked back to the Kasino to get a drink and wait for their Jastafürher to return and claim their kills.

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Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/17 01:27 AM

Great pics as always Fullofit....and great stories too!

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/17 02:41 AM

Well, I've had a great deal to catch up on. Fullofit, first rate stories as always, with brilliant photos. Aldi is really throwing himself into the fight. Be careful of him. Robert, it's great to see Albert's score rack up. How many is he credited with now? Carrick, I'm starting to think your boy is a hospital commando. I guess he didn't finish the dirty novel he was reading there last time. Banjoman, it's great to see you back in action. MFair, good to see you here again, and I'd love to read more, old friend! Hope I haven't missed anyone.

Meanwhile, Demian Kraft is starting to have a little luck...

Memoir of Demian Kraft

Part 9

For the next few days we patrolled in heavy cloud, freezing and seeing nothing. On 20 and 21 March 1917, the weather completely closed in. Leutnant Wieland scheduled a morning parade on 20 March and made a point of walking past me without comment, although I am sure if he wanted to, there was fault to be found. I actually felt sorry for him. My first confirmed kill was one of only two in the past month. He was under a great deal of pressure from higher up to show results. After all, we had our new Albatros scouts. The last blast of winter, however, was making success impossible. Wieland retreated to his office.

Rosenstein and I managed a pass to go into Ostend. We had tea with a fellow he’d met, Mr. Saerens, a Jewish jeweller. They had a wonderful old house, tall and narrow in the Flemish style, just off the seaside promenade. There was a roaring fire and a serving-man brought us real Scotch whiskeys and treats of pickled herring and smoked fish. I thought of my poor parents’ hardships back in Sinsheim and felt very fortunate. Mr. Saerens quickly warmed up to me. He asked why I was not yet an officer, and Rosenstein laughed, saying he sounded more English than Belgian now. I asked Mr. Saerens about how the war has affected his business. He said that the king’s mistresses were gone, and then added with a twinkle in his eye that the German officers in the city had enough mistresses now to keep the jewellery business safe for another few years at least.

Afterwards I took Rosenstein to ‘T Gruen Huis, the little cafe I’d discovered with poor old Berse, my late billet-mate. Hanne served us and remembered me from before. She asked how the war was going for us. We had not much to tell her; she was the one with all the information. She told us that if what she heard was correct, come early to mid April we should be kept very busy down near Béthune or Arras. The English would want to take pressure off their French allies farther south. “Eat well,†she told us. “You’ll soon be transferred south and the food there will be terrible!†Hanne, I decided, should have a position on Ludendorff’s staff!

On 22 March, Ltn Kampe led Galetschky, Rosenstein, me, and a new Feldwebel named Ernst Bartsch (also my new billet-partner at the Sloots’ house) on a defensive patrol down to Rumbeke. I was at the rear of the formation, keeping an eye on Bartsch and cursing him for not being more attentive. That was when I heard the pop-pop-pop of a Vickers gun and saw the tracer flashing by a few inches from my head. I had been completely surprised by a lone Sopwith Pup. I turned my Albatros towards him and we had a splendid fight. The English machine was well flown and could out-turn me at higher altitudes, but I had a faster mount and two quick-firing Spandaus to his one little Vickers slingshot. We fought down to 700 metres before I hit him during a turn. The little Sopwith turned away and I was on him in an instant. I fired from very close behind. My guns jammed, but the Tommie’s engine was kaput and he glided down to a field behind Passchendaele Ridge. I cleared by Spandaus and watched the Tommie jump from his machine. He had no chance to destroy it, for a dozen Fusslappenindianer [1] ran out to take him prisoner.

When I got back I tried to hunt down the unit that had my Englishman, but we were too late to invite him for dinner. Nonetheless, we received confirmation of the victory, so now I had two – and nearly back to back. Even Ltn Wieland spoke kindly that night in the Kasino.

On 23 March we went back to Rumbeke. We spotted two BE2s and Luer and I chased one back over the lines. It fell in flames, but the credit went to Luer. We were become a happier little gang! To make matters even better, a colonel from 4th Army HQ visited that afternoon and called me on parade to award me the Iron Cross. Second Class. Now I had some letter-writing to do!

On 24 March 1917 I developed a new level of respect for Hanne. Orders arrived that evening to prepare to move in the morning to a new station at Phalempin, south of Lille. We worked until after midnight getting everything on our trucks and wagons. At 10 the next morning we left for our new home...

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"The little Sopwith turned away and I was on him in an instant."

Notes:

[1] Fusslappenindianer = "Footwrap Indians," infantrymen. Footwraps were folded squares of cloth often worn instead of socks. Properly done, footwraps could be as comfortable as socks and were easier to dry and clean.


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Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/17 02:58 AM

Great job Raine...always enjoyable to read and see your AARs!

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/17 03:00 AM

Wow, gorgeous picture and another wonderful story, Raine. The heading under the picture gives the feeling of reading a graphic novel. Well done! And Aldi finally has a nice sparkly bangle he can wear on his chest to woo the frauleins! Who knows, you may even warm Lft. W's heart eventually.
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/17 05:46 AM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Wow, gorgeous picture and another wonderful story, Raine. The heading under the picture gives the feeling of reading a graphic novel. Well done!


+1 thumbsup
Posted By: Adger

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/17 01:11 PM

I love reading these reports when I've got time too. RL work gets in the way of me committing to much flying these days.

I'm actually sat on my digger having a brew as I post this biggrin

Some great stories that I'm reading..keep up the great work guys
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/17 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by stljeffbb
Great pics as always Fullofit....and great stories too!

Regards,

Jeff


Thanks for the compliment Jeff!

Raine, finally some respect for poor Demian.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/26/17 02:45 AM

Thanks Guys, it looks like Helmut my need a whole rabbit instead of just a foot. Good thing the Hospital saved his bed.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/27/17 12:50 PM

Lots to catch up on. Thank you all for the stories and photograph quality screen shots!

Squadron Commander Edgar Everheart
March 26, 1917
Furnes.

Today we are transferring to Auchel, a few miles southwest of Bethune. I led B flight on the uneventful flight. A little cloudy but we found our new home without any problem. Intelligence tells us that the "Red Devil" and his brother are right across the lines from us. This should be an interesting posting!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/17 01:34 AM

March 27, 1917
Squadron Commander Edgar Everheart
Auchel aerodrome

Lead B Flight to bust a balloon south of Munchy. Our flight of four made our way in horrid weather. I signaled for my mates to attack and they took the lead. Suddenly, Compton flaired up and to the left. He has the best eyes in the squadron. I follow but cannot see the trouble. Suddenly a red nosed DIII flashes past and I get on his tail. After a few bursts he dives to the deck and I pull back up. Compston and Little follow. That Hun does not have a chance. I spot the balloon and make a pass. I sent it down with 5 or 6 bursts. I try to fire in 10 shot bursts so I can keep up with how much ammo I have left. Climbing out I catch a few rounds from ground fire and form up with Compston. No one else around so we made for home. Little and Sears came in shortly.

Little and Sears put in a claim for a V strutter and I claimed the balloon even though reports were it was not destroyed. All claims rejected. Time for a bash in the mess.

Note: I have been a bachelor for a few days so can turn up the Bose sound system to a nice volume. Just below earthquake! What a rush. With the subwoofer at my feet you can really feel the Archie. Back to being a husband tomorrow so it was fun while it lasted!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/17 02:16 AM

Hey MFair, better check your china before wife comes back home, otherwise she'll know you've been up to no good. Great report!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/17 02:02 PM

Demian Kraft is no more!

I got back to WOFF last night and had a couple of days to catch up on. Jasta 27 moved to Phalempin. En route, Demian spotted a lone Nieuport and gave chase. He put a ridiculous amount of lead into the machine and then suddenly got hit by the world's supply of ground fire. He made it back to friendly territory minus most of his bottom right wing.

So the next day we were off balloon busting, and his motor konked out. Phalempin wasn't his lucky station so far.

And on the following day, they headed across the lines, escorting two DFWs to Bailleul. A huge group of Tripes flew over and made faces at them, but only a couple engaged. Demian had a long and inconclusive scrap with one of them. Then two Spads showed up. Demian headed home, and another Albatros formed up with him. The Spad gradually closed on them and both German machines turned to engage it. After a long fight, Demian caught him from behind and above, but the French plane pulled up and BANG! Second pilot in a row lost to collision.

I'll be introducing my new fellow after his first few missions are in the books.

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Heading out on the last mission

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Posted By: CaptSopwith

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/17 02:49 PM

Sorry to hear of Demian Kraft's demise, Raine! Collisions are a horrible way to lose a pilot. I still recall losing a long-serving flier in Red Baron 3D when I caught my landing gear on an enemy truck on a strafing run. Those kinds of losses stick with you.

Still, a toast to the fallen! bottles
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/17 02:50 PM

Fullofit,thanks for the heads up. I will need to check that! rofl
Raine,l sorry for your pilot. That's a bad way to go but a picture I have seen with many a pilot. Looking forward to your next one and the golden nuggets of history which goes with him.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/17 08:12 PM

Raine;

You are having your share of it, but you are not alone it seems. Will you be starting another German pilot? I hope so, as I am enjoying your reads immensely.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/17 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
Demian Kraft is no more!

Crap!
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/17 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
Demian Kraft is no more!


Sorry to hear of it Raine, but I look forward to more adventures from your "pen"

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/17 01:47 AM

Raine, sorry to hear of Demian's demise, another valiant hero added to the Honor Roll.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/17 09:33 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

30 Mar 1917 @ 08h24 attack on Hun balloon south east of Monchy le Preux

This morning at briefing we were advised to expect heavy cloud between 7,000 and 11,000ft., and possible rain with winds of 8 kn from the WNW. The CO advised that William Bishop would be leading “B†flight on this mission with Godfrey, Clinton on wing, Pidcock, Fry and Hall composing the flight. “A†flight was to provide protective cover and composed of Caldwell, Molesworth, Hervey and Young. New mounts had come in for the senior pilots in the form of Nieuport 23’s. The only N17’s left in the squadron were still allocated to Godfrey, Clinton, Lehman and Winfrey.
Godfrey hoped that would change soon as he felt that his N17 was getting long in the tooth for scrapping with the latest Hun scouts.

The flights took off and formed up north of the field as usual and when they had attained the height of 10,600 ft., Bishop lead them ESE towards Monchy.
They reached the lines at 08h53 and were at 7800 ft when they crossed over.
The cloud cover was thick and visibility poor, when they passed over Monch at 08h55 flying close to 6400 ft. Bishop was looking to get below the clouds enough to make out the target balloon. It soon came in to view and Godfrey jumped in for the first attack, missing with his rockets but successfully turning the sausage into a smoking bratwurst. Bishop then pounced on it with a direct hit and Godfrey observed the rockets setting the balloon ablaze.

Godfrey stayed high looking for potential Hun interlopers on their private party. None appeared and the flight was soon reformed heading towards the lines. It was then that Godfrey noted a single Hun scout below on the port side, heading for what would appear to be a Hun airfield in the distance, possibly Reincourt. Godfrey broke formation against his better judgement and took up position on the Hun’s six. He sent a volley into him and then repeated the process several more times until the Albatros burst into flames and crashed below.

Having successfully dealt with the Alb DII, Godfrey climbed away heading for the lines and trying to catch up to his mates, ever watchful for any enemy scouts that might have been lurking close by. He was on his own now and was anticipating the raking over he would get for having been so brash as to break formation. He was banking on the fact that “B†flights leader was Bishop and he knew that Bishop was not one to follow protocol. He felt there might be some leniency with the man. Only time would tell.

Godfrey was surprised to find that Clinton had broke with him and was coming up on his port side. They spent considerable time dodging flak on the way back to the lines and finally caught up with the flight as they were circling above Filescamp forming up to land. Godfrey quickly came in low well below them to landed first, and Clinton stayed with him. It occurred to Godfrey that Clinton was in it as deep as he was, so at least he would have company.

Godfrey and Clinton hustled off to report on the mission. Godfrey claimed the Alb DII and Clinton confirmed it. Without Clinton’s word it would likely have been dismissed. In fact Godfrey listened to the engines of “B†flight above coming in to land and he was beginning to feel that the hammer was close to falling. Bishop and the rest of the flight were soon at the RO and Bishop came to a full stop, fists resting on his hip and his steely eyes glaring directly at Godfrey. He said nothing for what seemed like an eternity and then he stepped up to the RO and stated the mission was a success, that the balloon was down and all pilots returned safely. The RO asked about Godfrey’s claim and Bishop just waived his hand abruptly stating that it was just a pesky interloper and not of consequence as it was quickly dealt with.

Godfrey finally started to breath again but still felt that somehow he was in for it. He surmised that this being the first opportunity Bishop had to lead a flight, it was highly likely that he didn’t want any negative press about his ability to hold the flight together.

Later at the mess, Bishop approached Godfrey and stated that he didn’t want to see anything like that happen again while he was leading the flight, but that he admired Godfrey’s spunk for throwing all caution to the winds and jumping in. “You will either die early or make a name for yourself Godfrey, just don’t do it on my time!†At that, Bishop smiled, patted Godfrey on the shoulder and walked away. Godfrey felt a bead of sweat drip down the back of his neck and his mouth was exceedingly dry.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/17 11:33 AM

Robert, Godfrey would do well to heed Bishop's words! But, sometimes a victory is too hard to pass up eh. Good story and video.
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/17 02:15 PM

Great stuff Robert_Wiggins!

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/17 01:39 AM

Great repot Robert, hope to read more about Albert's (mis)adventures with Billy.

1 April, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

The weather has improved dramatically lately, with last of the snow hopefully gone for the rest of the season. The sun pleasantly warmed Aldi's face every time he looked up. It was almost a pity to wear all the heavy gear that was part of his flight suit. But he didn't let himself be deceived by mild temperatures. As soon as they'd gain some height, the frigid air would overpower the still weak sun rays and remind him why thick layers are a good idea.
Oberleutnant Schwarzkopf was leading Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen, Leutnant Strähle and Leutnant Klein on a balloon defence mission near Lille. They've been at it for the last 10 minutes when they noticed 3 dots coming down on them from a higher altitude. Enemy Triplanes! The formation came apart and everyone braced for the attack.

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The thing about Triplanes is that there is no way to out-turn them or out-climb them in an Albatros, so the only direction left is down and that's where the fight took place. On the way down Aldi was able to damage one of the Dreideckers.

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It started to smoke and promptly landed behind the enemy trenches west of Lille. Aldi looked for the rest of his flight and quickly located one of them knee deep in trouble with a Sopwith behind him. Schwarzkopf lounged at the pursuing enemy hoping his help won't come too late. He took a shot from long range more to distract than damage. It worked, the Britisher turned around and faced Aldi. He fired again with little effect. They started to turn in circles over the front lines with the triplane above and just out of reach. They kept turning with neither able to gain the advantage.

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Aldi was getting fed up with this impasse and decided to end it. When the enemy plane turned to face the German side of the front he made his move and pointed his Albatros in the opposite direction, knowing well the enemy will have to fly in his direction to get back home. Once there was enough of distance between the planes he turned around and faced the enemy machine, which was now following him. Aldi took aim and got ready for this aerial joust. He will have only one chance to make it work. He waited for the other "knight" to get in range and squeezed the triggers. His teeth rattled from the twin machine gun recoil. He missed! It's all over. His opponent will now have enough speed and distance to get away to fight another day, or will he? Aldi noticed the British bus wasn't pulling much of a distance away from him and little by little he was getting closer. Was he damaged? Aldi continued to pursue and finally south of Bailleul was able to catch and shoot down the unfortunate English aviator.

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The triplane nosed down and ploughed into the ground. Schwarzkopf made a circle around the wreckage and made his way home when he saw no movement.

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He put down at his aerodrome and made two claims. As he suspected, the machine far behind lines was not confirmed, but the first one was gladly confirmed by Ltn Weissen from Kette Eins, whom Aldi saved earlier. The next day Staffelführer Grieffenhagen announced that Oberleutnant Aldi Schwarzkopf has now been promoted to the rank of Hauptmann.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/17 09:50 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

31 Mar 1917 @ 08h21 Escort 3 BE2c of RFC-6 on Troop movement Obs east of Brayelles

Major Alan Scott C.O. announced at briefing that this mission was of significant importance and that the protection of the BE’s was utmost to ensure their observations were reported back to HQ.

Scott also announced that Godfrey had been promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on the 30th for his actions of the 25th. Cheers and whistles broke the air and were quickly brought back into silence by Scott.

He announced that Bishop would again lead “B†flight composed of Caldwell, Godfrey, Clinton on wing and Hall. “B†flights focus would be solely on the protection of the BE’s. “A†flight was assigned to provide top cover for “B†flight and was composed of Lloyd, Molesworth, Pidcock and Fry.

The weather report was calling for 8 kn winds from the SW with Heavy cloud cover from 4300 ft up to 10,000 ft, with rain and gusting wind.

As the men cleared out from the briefing several came by to pat Godfrey on the back and offer their congratulations, Bishop was one of them and as he did so, he remarked, “Stay close Godfreyâ€. The point was made and taken in!

They formed up north of the field as usual attaining an altitude of 4400 feet just skimming the lower edges of the clouds, before setting out to the rendezvous location for the BE’s over Arras.

The rain never stopped from the time they took off and was still pelting them when they arrived over Arras at 08h46 cruising at 5800 ft circling and waiting and skimming in and out of the soup. Visibility was horrid. Finally Bishop waived his arm in a circle and set course SE. Within minutes the BE’s were spotted and the escort began in the direction of Brayelles. The course would put them directly in the triangle of Riencourt, Pronville and Brayelles. A veritable hornets nest of enemy scouts. Only the heavy cloud cover offered some protection.

They crossed the lines at 08:52 passing over Monchy at 6100 ft. Monchy was visible for only a moment in a small break in the cloud cover. Navigation was soley by compass and keeping formation was nerve wracking in the thick soup. The wind buffeting only added to the complexity. Arriving over the dreaded triangle, their engines announced their presence and the sky became full of Hun anti-aircraft greetings. With such poor visibility the ground gunners could only guess where they were and that in itself was a saving grace. Only in instances where there was a break in the clouds, did the enemy gunners begin to adjust their trajectory and harass the flight of Nieups and BE’s.

The BE2c’s continued to carry out their observations as best they could for what seemed an interminably long time, until they finally stopped circling and headed west in the direction of the nearest base at Bapaume. Godfrey was more than willing to wrap things up and head home. No enemy scouts came up to greet them and if they had it seemed highly unlikely they would find the skies clear enough to party.

“B†flight followed the BE2c’s across the lines to Bapaume and then they all swung NW towards Filescamp at which point the BE’s carried on to Abeele.

Upon arrival back at base, Godfrey was surprised to hear that “A†flight had tangled with several Hun scouts with Lloyd and Pidcock each downing one without any losses to their own flight. How they managed to achieve this given the weather left Godfrey dumbfounded. He just shook his head and went to his quarters to change out of his soggy sidcot.



Footnote:

Bishop had arrived at 60 Sqn on 17 Mar 1917. His first kill was on 25 Mar 1917. He was named Flight Commander 30 Mar 1917. Major Alan Scott, Commander of 60 Squadron had a personal liking for Bishop and gave him full reign to scout on lone patrols as he wished.
Wiki states: Bishop's first patrol on 22 March was less than successful. He had trouble controlling his run-down aircraft, was nearly shot down by anti-aircraft fire, and became separated from his group.[32] On 24 March, after crash landing his aircraft during a practice flight in front of General John Higgins, Bishop was ordered to return to flight school at Upavon. Major Alan Scott, the new commander of 60 Squadron, convinced Higgins to let him stay until a replacement arrived.[33] The next day, Bishop claimed his first victory when his was one of four Nieuports that engaged three Albatros D.III Scouts near St Leger.[34] Bishop shot down and mortally wounded a Leutnant Theiller (Shores (1991) has 12-kill ace Theiller as being killed vs 70 Squadron Sopwiths on 24 March; therefore this claim does not match with known losses), but his engine failed in the process. He landed in no man's land, {convert|300|yd|m}} from the German front line. After running to the Allied trenches, Bishop spent the night on the ground in a rainstorm.[35] There Bishop wrote a letter home, starting, "I am writing this from a dugout 300 yards from our front line, after the most exciting adventure of my life."[35] General Higgins personally congratulated Bishop and rescinded his order to return to flight school.[36] On 30 March 1917, Bishop was named a flight commander.[37] The next day he scored his second victory.[38] Bishop, in addition to the usual patrols with his squadron comrades, soon flew many unofficial "lone-wolf" missions deep into enemy territory, with the blessing of Major Scott (1). As a result, his total of enemy aircraft shot down increased rapidly. On 8 April, he scored his fifth victory and became an ace.[39] To celebrate, Bishop's mechanic painted the aircraft's nose blue, the mark of an ace. Former 60 Squadron member Captain Albert Ball, at that time the Empire's highest scoring ace, had had a red spinner fitted

1. His first dogfight came on March 25, 1917. He was flying "Tail End Charley" the last aircraft of a flight of four, and the most dangerous position (perhaps another reason for the short life span of a rookie). Three Albatros D.IIIs dove on them, one getting onto the rear end of the Sqdn Commander. Bishop dove on the Albatros and placed shots along the fuselage, the Albatros dove away with Bishop following. Near the ground the German pilot pulled out of his faked death dive only to find Bishop still on his tail. Bishop fired from point blank range and the Albatros thundered into the ground. His first fight, his first kill. The Sqdn Commander, Jack Scott, promoted him to a flight commander, probably in gratitude.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/17 10:48 PM

Here is the latest status report for last week's activity.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/17 12:54 AM

Journal Entry: 30 July 1917
Droglandt

Well, Cpl. Stokes is right again. He is quite the prognosticator and I should really find out how he gets his information, but I think right now I'll just enjoy having someone that actually knows what is happening in this crazy war. The other day, he told me that he had heard that we would be receiving some type of upgrade to our Tripes. I don't know why I doubted him, he's been right about the last two improvements in our aeroplanes, but he is just a corporal and I am completely flummoxed as to how he gets his information. Anyway, as he predicted we received a new version of our Tripes, this time sporting two machine guns. Won't Jerry be surprised when he meets us in the clouds?

I was able to finally get a chance to see how the new Tripe performs yesterday when I took a couple of the new fledglings out for a nice little jaunt in our area. As we were flying along, I spotted two dots that were heading towards St Omer. They certainly were getting their fair share of Archie, so we knew they were Huns. I was a bit puzzled to see Huns so far from home, but I signaled the flight and we turned to pursue. As the distance closed, I was able to identify them as a pair of DFW C.Vs. It wasn't long until they spotted us and quickly turned for home, but by then it was too late. The two fledglings attacked the starboard Hun and I took the port. I can only imagine the shock both the pilot and observer felt when instead of the flashes of a single gun, they witnessed two. To be honest, I myself was a little horrified at the destruction two machine guns can cause. In my first burst, the observer was shredded, the second severed the upper starboard plane. The poor miserable pilot as he spun to his grave must have been wondering what just happened.

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Today, I led a patrol in the Diksmuide area and as we were about to head for home, I saw three Hun machines pursuing two friendlies. At the distance, I could not tell the type of either, so I signaled the flight and we, in turn, joined the pursuit. As the distance closed, I recognized the pursuers as three V strutters and the pursued as two Harry Tates. I felt like the Harry Tates could take care of themselves until we closed the distance, but alas, I was wrong and the Huns quickly destroyed the Harry Tates. I think it goes without saying, that for my men, their blood was up. The V strutters were milling about as they reformed and that gave us a chance to close the distance before they spotted us. As soon as they did, they turned to engage by diving on us. One of the three selected me and he dove as I climbed for a head-on attack. In the past, I would have been at a disadvantage and normally would not accept such a challenge, but times have changed. As we charged toward each other, I waited until the range had closed sufficiently before opening fire. The Hun was obviously shocked to see the twinklings of two guns instead of one and quickly broke away. He had decided he had had enough for one day and dove away. Unfortunately for him, I decided to follow. I caught him over No Man's land and gave him two bursts after which his plane literally fell apart in the air.

It has been my belief that as far as scout planes go, our Tripes are far superior to anything the Hun can field and now, with two machine guns our aeroplanes have become veritable killing machines.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/17 01:57 AM

Journal Entry: 1 April 1917
Pronville

I wonder if we will ever receive a machine as nimble as the British Triplane. Our Albatros are solid, rugged, and serve us very well, but nimble they most certainly are not. I led five of us up to the line for a line patrol and as we were climbing up to our operating altitude I spotted three Triplanes escorting a Tommie observation machine. I looked over the flight, fired the green flare, and started pursuing the Tommies. It wasn't long until they spotted us and leaving the Recce machine on his own, they dove to attack. The problem with the Triplane is that it is almost impossible to keep them off of your tail. The only tactic that I have found that works is to present such a fleeting target that the enemy can never keep his sights on you long enough to fire, and if he does fire, it is at such an angle to be almost ineffective. Of course today we had the numbers and that always helps. Today was no different, and one of the Tripes quickly found his way onto my tail and fortunately for me, I was able to keep myself just out of his reach. It wasn't long until the rest of the Kette joined in and drove that persistent Tripe back across his lines. After catching my breath, I noticed another Tripe scurrying back home and I decided to pursue. I was able to close the distance but in my zeal, I fired too soon. Either this pilot wasn't quite as skilled or he just really wanted to be home, because after spinning around to see who was attacking he just returned to his previous course. I took to following him again and once again after closing the distance I fired, but this time he immediately did a wing over and dove away in the opposite direction. By now, I was absolutely convinced that I was dealing with an inexperienced pilot. I followed and eventually, we returned to his original course. I followed, fired again and amazingly he performed the same maneuver again. By this time he had lost so much altitude that another maneuver such as the previous would drive him into the ground. It was then that I decided to end this little game. I closed the range for the final time and fired one more burst. He immediately snapped over and dove into the ground. I know that my burst him his machine, but did it cause his sudden maneuver or was he just attempting to repeat the same maneuver again, I will never know.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/17 03:40 PM

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

July 31, 1917.
Well its back to the front, Waved bye bye to the civilized world and caught a Train. As I got closer to the lines , I switched over to a truck headed up towards Marcke.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/17 04:05 PM

Fullofit and Banjoman; Great pics folks and accompanying stories!

Carrick, keep Helmut safe!!

Cheers to all!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/17 12:56 AM

Banjoman, I am so glad Aldi doesn't have to deal with double-MG Tripes yet. Single-gun Tripe is already a handful.

2 April, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

It was another beautiful day to conduct a line patrol west of Menen. With a few clouds for variety the sun ruled over the skies. With such great visibility Aldi had no problems locating enemy formation flying over the Front. He quickly directed his flight their way and begun to climb. On the way he attempted to identify his query but all he could make out from this distance is that it could be one of the Sopwith's creations. Either a Strutter, or a Pup. They looked almost the same, except one was smaller and from distance size was difficult to judge. When they eventually came closer it became obvious that the machines were Strutters. He came to this conclusion not because of their size, but how they behaved. Instead of meeting the German flight in combat, like the Pups would do, these machines turned toward British lines and ran. Aldi picked one of them and ordered the rest of his flight to go after the other craft, which have split off from the main group. He was still below, but gaining. Schwarzkopf decided to remain low below the enemy craft and avoid drawing any unwanted attention from the rear gunner. He followed him into enemy territory, being aware of the increasing chances of being captured if something goes wrong.

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"I'll turn back if I lose the sight of the Front." Aldi promised himself as he was getting closer and closer to his target. He finally was in range and ready to bring the enemy plane down, still keeping his eye on the Front.

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One long burst from his Spandaus stopped the Strutter's engine and set it on fire. The rear gunner, who had no opportunity to return fire was now being crushed against the side of the cockpit by the centrifugal forces as the dead pilot slumped in his seat released the controls and set the plane into a deadly spin.

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Aldi couldn't watch. He turned his Albatros around and plotted his course for home. He eventually made his way to the front lines and noticed some specks dancing around each other. He went to investigate and as he got close enough he realized another Strutter was on the tail of a red and blue Albatros. Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen was desperately trying to shake the Englander off his tail, as he was attempting to land at Menen with an ailing engine. Aldi made a long range shot to distract the enemy plane before he had the chance to down his Staffelführer. It worked, the two-seater banked and began to descend in a spiral. Aldi dove after him to give chase, but to his amazement the English pilot kept spiraling down until he hit the dirt just a short distance from the airfield. Aldi brought his machine down at Menen aerodrome and joined his C.O. for much needed drink. Grieffenhagen was buying.


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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/17 03:02 PM

Fullofit, You are laying waste to the RAF! Beautiful screen shots as always.

Robert, Always enjoy the vids and stories. Bishop was a character. I noticed you average almost 2 hours of flight for each mission. That's very accurate if my limited knowledge is correct.

Banjoman, Thanks for the summary of pilots. Good to see you are getting your pilots back in the air.

Carrick, Be careful Hoss! Ye be spending way to much time in the ward. But, if the nurses are pretty, what the hey.

Flight Commander Edgar Everheart
Auchel in Flanders
March 31, 1917

Today I was to lead B Flight to hit Loos Junction. Weather was horrid. Our flight of 3 made it to the target and began our attack. Compston waved off with engine trouble. Great, two machine guns to hit a rail yard. Coming in I was shocked to see trucks and piles and piles of boxed equipment ready to be loaded. On the first pass I was met with a hail of bullets but everything still seemed good. Turning to make my fifth pass on the burning carnage on the ground I noticed my engine was smoking. Breaking off the attack and firing flare I started climbing for home. Sears joined up and at 4000' we leveled off. Just crossing the lines my engine sputtered and quit. I signaled to Sears that I was going down, not that he could not see it with his own eyes, and hope I had the altitude to make it.

I landed on a road just our side of the lines behind the trenches, Sears circled once and headed home. Back a base we were told we had done a lot of damage with our attack. Compston had come down like myself and had made it back. Drinks all around.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/17 03:45 PM

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



Aug 1, 1917.


Got back to the Jasta only to fine all flights canx due to weather. Bummer.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/17 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Fullofit, You are laying waste to the RAF! Beautiful screen shots as always.

MFair, don't forget - Bloody April is here!
You, on the other hand, could use another gun on your bus!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/17 11:27 PM

News of the World for the month of March - Intrepid Fliers:

March 1
The British hospital ship Glenart Castle was damaged by a mine whilst en route from Le Havre to Southampton.
Arz von Straussenberg replaced Conrad von Hotzendorf as Commander-in-Chief of the Austro-Hungarian army.
March 2
A Russian offensive reached and occupied Hamadan in western Prussia.
March 4
The Armed Ship Bill was filibustered and defeated in the US Senate.
March 5
US President Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated for a second term. President Wilson's Democratic Party controlled the House of Representatives while the Republicans dominated the Senate.
March 6
On the Western Front the British line extended south of the Somme to the neighbourhood of Reims- twice the length of a year before.
March 7
British and Indian forces crossed the Diyala in pursuit of the Ottoman forces towards Baghdad.
March 8
Police fired into crowds as protestors and striking workers took to the streets in Petrograd.
March 10
British troops captured lrles near the Ancre on the Western Front.
March 11
After a two year campaign, British and Indian forces captured and occupied Baghdad.
March 12
The Russian Revolution began and a Provisional Government was formed.
President Wilson ordered the arming of American merchant vessels in the war zone.
March 13
The Russian Premier Prince Golitsyn and Minister for War General Byelyayev were removed from office by the Revolutionary Party.
March 14
German forces began their withdrawal from the Somme sector to the Hindenburg Line.
March 15
Tsar Nicholas II abdicated in favour of his brother Michael.
Prince Georgy Yevgenyevich Lvov replaced Prince Golitsyn as Prime Minister of Russia.
March 16
Nicolas' brother refused the throne until a Constitutional Assembly was formed to invite him formally.
A mutiny broke out in the Russian Baltic fleet after the sailors received word of the Revolution in Petrograd.
March 17
On the Western Front the British occupied Bapaume and nearby villages; French forces advanced to reoccupy Roye.
A public disagreement with members of his cabinet over war policy precipitated the resignation of French Prime Minister Aristide Briand. He was succeeded by Alexandre Felix Joseph Ribot.
March 18
German destroyers fired on Ramsgate and Broadstairs on the Kent coast of England.
British troops occupied Peronne in the area evacuated by the Germans while the French occupied Noyon.
March 19
The French battleship Danton was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Sardinia while en route to aid a blockade.
March 20
The first meeting of the British Imperial War Conference was held to co-ordinate governance of the British Empire during the war and prepare for the post-war situation.
March 21
The British hospital ship Asturias was attacked and torpedoed by a German submarine on her way to Southampton after landing her wounded at Avonmouth.
March 22
The Provisional Government in Russia was recognised by Britain, France, Italy, USA, Romania and Switzerland.
March 25
Forming part of the Samarrah Offensive, the Battle of Jebel Hamlin saw a British-led force attempt to encircle 15,000 Turkish troops retreating from Persia.
March 26
The First Battle of Gaza was fought during the first attempt by the Egyptian Expeditionary force to invade the southern region of the Ottoman Empire territory of Palestine during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. Fighting took place in and around the town of Gaza on the Mediterranean coast but the attempt to capture the city failed.
March 27
The Petrograd Soviet (workers' council) issued a proclamation in favour of self-determination and peace.
March 28
The British steamer Cannizaro was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-24 on its way from New York to Hull.
March 30
The Russian Provisional Government acknowledged the independence of Poland.
March 31
The United States formally took possession of the Danish West Indies. Renamed the Virgin Islands, America purchased the islands from Denmark because of their strategic location in relation to the Panama Canal.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/17 11:29 PM

News of the World for the month of July - Warbirds Rising:

July 1
Russian troops, under the command of General Brusilov, began an offensive against Austro-Hungarian and German forces in Galicia, pushing toward Lemberg.
July 2
British and German representatives signed an agreement at the Hague for the exchange of combatant and civilian prisoners of war.
July 3
The British steamer SS City of Cambridge was sunk by the German submarine UC-67, 10 miles northwest of Jijelli on a voyage from Alexandria to London.
July 4
A concerted German submarine attack on United States transport vessels was defeated.
July 6
The Battle of Aqaba was fought for the Jordanian port of Aqaba. The attacking forces of the Arab Revolt, led by Auda ibu Tayi and T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), were victorious over the Turkish defenders.
July 7
In a sustained German air raid 22 Gotha bombers attacked London and Margate in Kent.
July 8
US President Woodrow Wilson ordered an embargo on the exportation of food, fuel and war supplies.
July 9
The British battleship HMS Vanguard suffered an internal explosion and sank whilst at anchor at Scapa Flow.
July 10
After intense bombardment German forces gained ground near the mouth of the Yser and destroyed parts of two British battalions.
July 12
Austen Chamberlain resigned as Secretary of State for India following inquiries into the failure of various British campaigns in
Mesopotamia including the loss of the British garrison at Kut.
July 14
German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg resigned and was replaced by Georg Michaelis.
July 15
The Constitutional Democratic Party (Kadets) walked out of the Russian Provisional Government, threatening the Mensheviks and the Socialist Revolutionaries with the breakup of the governing coalition.
July 16
Militant soldiers, sailors and factory workers began spontaneous demonstrations in Petrograd.
T.E. Lawrence and the Arabs liberated Aqaba in Jordan after crossing the Nefu desert, and opened the route north for the Arab Army.
July 17
King George V issued a Royal Proclamation changing the name of his family from the German Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to the English Windsor due to anti-German sentiment in Britain.
July 18
The uprising in Petrograd collapsed. The government arrested several Bolshevik leaders and Lenin went into hiding.
July 19
The German Reichstag passed a resolution regarding their war aims.
July 20
The Corfu Declaration was signed on the island of Corfu by the Yugoslav Committee of exiled politicians from Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. The agreement called for the unification of a Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
July 21
Alyeksandr Fyodorovich Kerensky replaced Prince Georgy Yevgenyevich Lvov as Prime Minister of Russia.
July 22
Siam declared a state of war with Germany and Austria-Hungary.
July 23
The British armed merchant cruiser HMS Otway was torpedoed and
sunk off the Hebrides by German submarine UC-49.
July 24
German and Austro-Hungarian forces captured Stanislau and Tarnopol in Galicia.
July 25
An Inter-Allied conference met in Paris to discuss the Balkan situation with regard to a possible Russian collapse.
The exotic dancer Mata Hari (Margaretha Geertruida Zelle) was sentenced to death by a French court for spying on Germany's behalf.
July 27
British troops occupied a section of the abandoned German front line at Ypres.
July 28
The British Tank Corps was established, replacing its predecessor the Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps.
July 30
German and Austro-Hungarian forces recaptured Zeleszczyki in Galicia.
July 31
The Battle of Passchendaele (the Third Battle of Ypres) began along the Western Front for control of the ridges south and east of the Belgian city of Ypres in West Flanders.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/02/17 03:12 PM

Fullofit, Thanks for the World News update. Always a good read to let us see the "Big Picture." As for needing 2 guns. Oddly enough, Edgar's accuracy is 37%. How he is not knocking everything out of the sky I do not know. Hitting a lot of canvas I suppose. My last German pilot, Drago Duntz, rest his soul, only had a 19% accuracy rate with 2 guns. Go figure!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/02/17 07:54 PM

MFair, Close call and neat to hear about all the activity at the railyard. I wonder if those boxes were full of ammunition. Would have been interesting to set them off.

Fullofit, great pics as usual. You are a master! Thanks for posting the world news, do you have the "April" edition available for intrepid flyers? I would love to see that.



Albert Earl Godfrey

4 Apr 1917 @ 04h21 All flights cancelled due to heavy rain

5 Apr 1917 @ 10h05 Rail yard attack on Epinoy Junction


At briefing A and B flights were advised of wind at 8 kn from the SW and to expect heavy cloud from 3000 to 9000 feet, and some rain with chances of clearing later.

“B†flight was tasked with the primary attack on Epinoy Junction with their Le Prieur rockets. The flight was lead by Molesworth, accompanied by Lloyd, Godfrey, Horn and Hall. “A†flight was tasked with providing top cover and was lead by Scott with Caldwell, Pidcock and Young accompanying.

The flights took off in light rain to form up north of the field as usual, and upon attaining a height of 11,300 ft at 10h16, the headed ESE towards the lines.

Upon reaching the lines at 10h23 they were at 8600 ft and began a gradual descent towards Monchy. Now down well into the range of cloud cover, they passed over Monchy at 10h25 cruising at 6900 ft. Visibility was poor and they had to rely pretty much on compass readings for bearings.

At 10h33 and flying at 3400 ft., they were promptly greeted with extensive flak as they became bracketed by the ground gunners of Pronville and Brayelles aerodromes. The heavy cloud cover was a saving grace, making it very difficult for the ground gunners to zero in on the flight. Molesworth turned “B†flight ENE towards Epinoy Junction. So far no enemy scouts had come by to harass them and the cloud cover helped considerably.

At 11h01, The flights arrived over Epinoy and each craft peeled off into an attack, loosing their rockets on the facilty, each in order. The Engine storage sheds were heavily damaged in the attack, along with the two out buildings, and the flight made multiple passes with their Vickers to ensure maximum damage. Godfrey peeled off climbing to a height of 2000 feet and circled about watching for any enemy scouts intent on spoiling the party. “A†flight now engage Epinoy and loosed their ordinance upon the facility. After a time, “B†flight began to form up with “A†flight doing the same and all returned to Filescamp safely. Young was the only one to receive any damage to his craft and that would be set right in 2 days.

The attack was considered a success and all headed to the mess to rejuvenate.


Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/02/17 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins

Fullofit, great pics as usual. You are a master! Thanks for posting the world news, do you have the "April" edition available for intrepid flyers? I would love to see that.


Robert, thank you for the complement. I do try to get a nice photo from time to time. smile2
Yes, April edition was out 1st of May (real time) for Warbirds Rising. Intrepid Flyer's edition will come out at the end of the month, but we all know it's the same thing. Here's the "reprint":

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Warbirds Rising - April 1917.
April 1
French troops drove German forces back to Vauxaillon, north-east of Soissons on the Western front.
April 2
President Woodrow Wilson delivered a war address to Congress asking for a Declaration of War against Germany.
April 3
The torpedo gunboat HMS Jason was sunk by a mine near Coll Island off the west coast of Scotland.
April 4
The US Senate voted in favour of a Declaration of War.
April 5
German forces finished their withdrawal to the Hindenburg line.
April 6
The United States of America came out of neutrality and declared war on Germany.
April 7
Cuba and Panama declared war on Germany.
April 8
Austria-Hungary severed diplomatic relations with the USA.
April 9
The Battle of Arras began when British, Canadian, New Zealand and Australian troops attacked German defenses near the French city of Arras on the Western Front.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge formed part of the opening phase of the Battle of Arras fought mainly between Canadian and German forces as a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive.
April 10
The British hospital ship HMS Salta hit a mine laid by the German submarine UC-26 off the coast at Le Havre.
Bulgaria severed diplomatic relations with the USA.
April 11
In a flanking operation during the Arras offensive Australian troops attacked the village of Bullecourt and pushed German troops out of their fortified positions and into the reserve trenches.
April 12
Canadian forces completed their capture of Vimy Ridge near Arras.
April 13
Bolivia severed diplomatic relations with Germany.
April 14
A British attack made gains east of Monchy-le-Preux as the first phase of the British offensive at Arras came to an end.
April 15
German forces penetrated the Australian front line and occupied the village of Lagnicourt but counter-attacks from Australian battalions restored the front line.
April 16
The Second Battle of the Aisne, also known as the Nivelle Offensive, began when French forces attacked the Germans along the front from Soissons to Rheims.
April 17
Three weeks after the failure of the first offensive, the Second Battle of Gaza began when British forces attacked Ottoman forces during Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
April 18
The French advance continued east and north-east of Soissons.
April 19
The Second Battle of Gaza ended when Ottoman forces resisted the British attack leaving the city firmly in Turkish control.
April 20
During a German destroyer attack on Dover, HMS Swift and HMS Broke engaged a force of six enemy destroyers and fended them off although both ships were damaged.
April 22
The Battle of Istabulat took place in Mesopotamia.
April 23
The Second Battle of the Scarpe began when the British launched an assault towards Vis-en-Artois on the Western front.
April 24
British and Indian forces captured Samarra in Mesopotamia.
April 25
Alfonso Augusto da Costa succeeded Antonio Jose de Almeida as Prime Minister of Portugal.
April 26
A second German naval raid took place on Ramsgate on the Kent coast of England.
April 27
Guatemala severed diplomatic relations with Germany.
April 28
British and Canadian troops launched an attack towards Arleux and captured the village.
April 29
General Philippe Petain was appointed French Chief of General Staff. He replaced General Robert Nivelle, whose failed offensive earlier in the month had provoked widespread mutinies in the French Army.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/17 09:51 PM

5 April, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

The sunny weather turned into a rain festival in the past two days and dark clouds invaded the clear skies. Aldi was glad their airfield defence mission will take them high above this lugubrious cover and he will enjoy a few moments in the sun. Upon arriving on station Schwarm Zwei settled into a large circle patrol pattern over the Cuerne aerodrome. It didn't take long before the enemy planes arrived high above their formation and dove on them guns blazing. The N23s swarmed around like flies and Aldi had difficulty trying to pick a victim. He finally decided on an easy target: just below and just in front.

[Linked Image]

He latched on and proceeded to make a sieve out of the French scout. The small, nimble machine dove to avoid more holes, but Aldi was able to keep up. He nearly had it when he was hit from behind. Another pair of Nieuports was following and taking turns at bringing Aldi closer to Heaven.

[Linked Image]

Aldi dove immediately into a thick bank of clouds, but not before losing all feeling in his left arm and getting blood splattered all over his goggles. He knew he must land right away, but can't leave the safety of the clouds. Aldi was losing blood and decided to take a chance. He came out of the bottom of the cloud, ready to fly back at a moment's notice in case there were enemy planes present. Fortunately they must have lost interest and returned to base. Aldi found his bearings and turned towards nearest aerodrome. He was nearly there when he noticed another one of those pesky Nieuports pursuing his good friend Ltn von Bülow. With great difficulty he aimed his damaged craft at the enemy and pulled the triggers. It must have been enough.

[Linked Image]

Walter was free and the French scout dove down and settled on the field below. Schwarzkopf, half alive, mustered all his strength to guide his Albatros to the nearby aerodrome with von Bülow at his side. They landed as one. Aldi switched the magnetos to "Auf" positon, when everything started to get blurry. He could see a figure rushing toward him. It was getting darker now despite early morning. He heard his friend's frantic voice: "-Quick, help me get him to the hosp..."

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Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/17 09:54 PM

Uh oh wink
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/05/17 09:25 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

7 Apr 1917 @ 05h09 Deep Observation Patrol tp Pronville

At briefing we were advised to expect winds of 8 kn from the SSW with dense cloud cover from 3,500 to 10,000 ft. and some clear periods

“B†flight was composed of Scott, Lloyd, Caldwell, Godfrey and Clinton on wing. “A†flight was composed of Bishop, Fry, and Hall and was to provide top cover.

The flights formed up north of the field as usual and had attained an altitude of 11,300 ft by 05h28, at which point they set out directly for Pronville.

By 05h31 they were over Neuville Saint Vaast. By 05h34 they were at 12,500 ft and over the lines. They arrived at Monchy around 05h36 cruising at 12,900 ft. and not far from Pronville.

Arriving at Pronville they ran into a schwarme of Albaross DII’s and DIII’s and the party began in earnest.

Scott took down two Huns, receiving light damage to his craft that would require 2 days repair; Caldwell accounted for another Hun and Godfrey put down 2, receiving light damage to his craft requiring 1 days repair.

Bishop of “A†flight accounted for another Hun and Hall of “A†flight was lightly wounded and destroyed his craft while landing at Bapaume airfield.




8 Apr 1917 @ 11h51 Intercept west of Lens

At briefing we were advised to expect winds of 8 kn from the West and solid cumulus cloud cover from 2,200 ft to 11,000 ft. with prevailing low mist.

“B†flight was lead by Scott, and composed of Godfrey, Clinton on wing, Rutherford (the new man), Fry and Hall. It was to be a single flight mission as “A†and “C†flight were already out.

The flight formed up north of the field and upon attaining an altitude of 11,000 ft at 12h11, they headed NE towards Bethune climbing.

At 12H15 they arrived over Bethune and turned east towards Lens, arriving there at 12h20 at an altitude of 13,500 ft. They circled in the area for a good 20 minutes, seeing no sign of the incoming enemy craft that had been reported as in the vicinity. Scott turned the flight SW on a course back to base at Filescamp.

At approximately 12h48 while flying at 11,400 ft in the vicinity of Camblain l’Abbe airfield, Godfrey caught sight of two enemy 2 seaters off his starboard side. He waggled his wings and broke to investigate the pair. One of the pair broke right in an attack on Godfrey with moves that characterized the capabilities of a scout aircraft. It wasn’t long before it became evident that it was a Roland CII in the hands of an expert pilot. Godfrey knew he had his hands full as this pilot was extremely adept. The rear gunner of the Roland was seen to be bracing himself as a result of the pilots extreme manouvers and this was a saving grace for Godfrey as the gunner was unable to man his gun and bring it to bear on the Nieuport.

Godfrey was only able to get fleeting shots at the Roland before it dived away. Godfrey gave chase and found an opportunity to send several volleys at it as it began to level out. He must of managed a few lucky shots as the pilot banked steeply, dove away and then went into a spin, hitting the ground below with such force that it sent a billow of smoke and dust into the air.
The remains were found 1.2 miles south of Camblain l’Abbe.

Godfrey pulled up looking for the rest of the flight and not finding it close by, headed for Filescamp alone. The rest of the flight came in later.
Scott had heavy damage to his machine requiring 3 days repair, from his attack on the other Roland. Rutherford suffered light damage requiring 2 days repair but managed to finish off the Roland when Scott was forced to break off his attack. The enemy craft was found 4 miles north of Camblain l’Abbe. Clinton, Fry and Hall all came back unscathed. Two claims were put in and two were granted as confirmed.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/06/17 02:35 PM

Good stories and vids
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/06/17 02:48 PM

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



Aug 6, 1917.

Finally , after days of rain. The Jasta launched everything we had. Unfortunately, the enemy did too. Morning Patrol: Ran into a bunch of Spads. I got in close only to see them dive away. The schwarm did get 2 of the e/a for 2 Albatross Scouts damaged + a pilot wnd. Another Patrol in the very late afternoon and more e/a. This time N-24's I got a few hits on one and saw him go into a tail spin then nosed over and ran from the ones on my tail. My Claim was rejected.


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/06/17 07:53 PM

Here is the status report for last week's action.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/06/17 10:34 PM

Edgar Everheart
8RNAS

We have been doing a lot of ground strikes at rail junctions along with escort missions. Edgar was lucky enough to down a DIII and a 2 seater on his last 2 missios. Both were confirmed which brings his tally to 13.

Herman Hienze
Jasta 11
Always did want to fly with the Baron! Hermqn earned his silver cup with a victory over a D5 which went down in flames. He then promptly got winged by a lucky gunner in a BE. Hospital for 9 days.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/07/17 03:16 PM

Fullofit: Red is not a nice color for the Windscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/07/17 03:28 PM

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

Aug 7, 1917

Morning mission: Balloon Defense: A bust no contact. Then back over the field, the propeller goes off balance.

Afternoon: Our 6 a/c schwarm got jumped by Sopwith Camels . I spotted one zooming in on a flight-mate so banked and fired off two 40-42 rds bursts. No hits but he dove away. I picked up one on my tail so had to dive and run for home Afer landing, only counted 5 machines so we loss one.
no claims.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/08/17 01:48 AM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Fullofit: Red is not a nice color for the Windscreen

Carrick, better red than dead ... oh, wait. It's the other way around. Isn't it?
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/08/17 04:14 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

9 Apr 1917 @ 05h00 Intercept east of Bethune

“B†flight was scrambled for a quick briefing before an intercept of enemy craft sighted by Forward Observation troops east of Bethune on the lines.

At briefing they learned that they would have winds of 8 kn from the SSW, accompanied by Rain, very overcast skies with dense cloud cover, above 2500 ft. It was a rather quick rundown by Major Scott who would be leading “B†flight himself, and composed of Molesworth, Godfrey, Clinton on wing, Pope and Young.

The flight formed up north of the field as usual, attaining only a height of 1900 ft at around 05h13, before turning north towards Bethune in the heavy rain. They could not ascend to a decent height for a time due to the low cloud cover, but by 05h19 upon reaching the outskirts of Bethune the clouds lifted and the search light east of the town could be seen scanning the skies up to a good height.

Godfrey broke formation and flew through the search light with the thought of announcing “B†flights arrival to the guns below. He no sooner had done that and turned back to the formation, when he noticed Scott waving frantically and point well up above them to two faint specs drifting in and out of the cloud and mist. It was 05h19 when “B†flight began an earnest climb in hopes of intercepting the two craft above them. At 05h21 it became evident that the two craft were making a b-line for the lines and there was no doubt now that they were enemy craft. Godfrey broke out in the lead, out climbing his mates, and by 05h35 he found he was only a thousand feet below what he could clearly make out as 2 DFW C.V.’s.

He continued to climb and close in staying low below the leading DFW until he was close enough to climb out and strafe its belly, and he continued to fire as he came level with it’s tail. Godfrey received some shots to his tail for his effort, and quickly dropped down to get out of the line of fire.
There was no time to waist as they were quickly approaching the front lines.

Godfrey continued this tact until the first DFW broke left and went into a spin. There was no sign of serious damage to the enemy craft and Godfrey assumed he had hit the pilot severely enough to cause him to lose control of his machine. There was no luxury of time to watch it descend to earth as the second DFW was within striking range and he wanted to greet it equally as well.

He continued his tact on the second DFW with ardor but it was more stubborn and it took some time to bring it down. It too, appeared to have been put out of control by damaging fire to the pilot. Godfrey took note of the fact that they were approximately over no mans land and hoped that the second DFW would fall on his side of the lines.

Following the downing of the two DFW’s Godfrey and the rest of “B†flight formed up and headed for the nearest base at La Gorgue.

Godfrey claimed the two DFW’s. Both Pope and Young had destroyed their mounts in forced landings on the way to La Gorgue. Both had suffered engine failure but were only shaken up. Scott confirmed the demise of the first DFW and the downing of the second. Both fell within sight of the British front lines.
Godfrey had hopes that the front line troops would confirm both kills. There would be celebration in the mess that night brought on by the realization that the two DFW’s would not be reporting anything that they may have observed. Now it would be a waiting game to determine if the claims would be granted.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/08/17 04:14 PM

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


Aug 8, 1917.


I Bagged a Spad on the Dawn Patrol. Three Spads came out of the clouds at close range a regular shoot em up. Mine twisted and turned ,but didn't dive. I got some nice hits then he went into a spin from 1200 meters to 30 meters. pulling level he crashed trying to land. Location of wreckage was 2 NM East of Rumbeke Aerodrome. On the afternoon Patrol I was a dog on a long leash to my flight leader as the Schwarm took out a balloon.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/08/17 04:22 PM


Mr. Wiggins:
I say, Good show . Thats the stuff for forcing down the enemy.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/08/17 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58

Mr. Wiggins:
I say, Good show . Thats the stuff for forcing down the enemy.


:readytoeat : ....... Mmmmmm, DFW's for dinner! biggrin
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 12:18 AM

Robert and Carrick, I hope your victories are confirmed. Nice stories Gents!

Edgar Everheart
Auchel Aerodrome

Edgar lost a flightmate yesterday. A new replacement dove after a DWFC with the others and collided with it in his eagerness. "Too keen" as Little said. The good news is that the Canadians have taken Vimy Ridge.

Today Edgar led four others on a patrol of our lines from Lens to Monchy. Weather was nice at takeoff but by the time they were at 9000' over the lines it had turned to soup. They dropped to 6000' where they could at least see enough to stay right side up. Making the turnaround at Monchy Edgar spotted 2 machines above in the clouds. He climbed and took their bearing as SSW. Catching glimpses of them from time to time through the cloud his flight was spotted and they turned east. The Huns separated in the turn which allowed Edgar to climb up below the trailing bomber without worry of his wingman filling him full of holes. 2 good squirts sent the DWFC diving down followed by Little, Sears, Compston and Booker. The Hun did not have a chance. They all formed back up with Edgar and finished the last circuit to Lens then home to a hot breakfast and dry clothes. Sears claimed the Hun. Time for a little rest before the afternoon mission.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 01:18 AM

MFair, Edgar seems to be playing "set em up" for the rest of his flight members. Egad, Little, Dears, Compton and Booker all vying for a chance to get the kill! It's a good way to get run over!! You were wise to stay high.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 01:18 AM

Well, guys, here's to another try. My younger son, his wife, and our little granddaughter visited last week, so I took a break from writing and regrouped after losing Demian, who I was just getting to know. The action has been hot and heavy here of late and I am struggling to keep up.

Fullofit, I'm really loving the Aldi story but you gave me a scare with the "red screen of DiD" photo. Robert, you continue to tear up the Hun. Have you ever lost a pilot? It's amazing what you can do in the virtual skies! Banjoman, thanks for all you do. And MFair, old chum, it's great to see to active here again. Finally, Carrick, you're a glutton for WOFF punishment. Good luck with Helmut!

Meet my new buddy, Edward Rowntree. As I've done before, I have made him a 2Lt in the stories, even though he's a sergeant in the game. He won't get promoted in the stories until his second in-game promotion. I just get tired of the "commissioned from the ranks" stories, and I note that there were only a handful of NCO pilots on active duty in April 1917.

[Linked Image]

War Journal of 2/Lieut Edward Rowntree. RFC

5 to 7 April 1917

I thought the day would never arrive, but now at long last, I was off to France. Contrary to the scene that had played so often in my imagination there were no cheering crowds, no damsel pressing a good luck charm into my hand, no tearful mother or quietly proud father – just a woefully hung-over AM1 and me in the bucket-like nacelle of a new and untested FE2b trundling over the wet grass of Farnborough and lifting off into the stinging spears of rain falling from low cloud.

My name is Edward Rowntree. It was my father’s name before me. Rowntree Pater was an old India hand. He went out in 1888 as a subaltern in the Bengal infantry and later joined the Bengal Police. By 1895 he had risen to become Assistant to the Deputy Superintendant of the force’s Special Branch. [1] He met and married my mother, Rosalind Crawford Rowntree in 1896. Mother was the daughter of Scottish missionaries. My sister, Madeline, died in infancy. I came along in 1898 and, though plagued by dysentery and somewhat sickly at first, held in. It must have all been too much for them, for I grew up a spoiled only child.

Unlike many of the British in Calcutta, we did not acquire a house in the outskirts. Instead my childhood home was a “mansion,†a sprawling flat on the third floor of an elaborate block on Park Street, only a short walk from the headquarters of the Special Branch. [2] I have fond memories of the place. The flat came with an entire household of servants. There was an ayah to look after me, a dhobi-wallah to do the laundry, a head bearer (who we called “Naik,†which I later learned was Hindi for corporal), an under-bearer, a cook, a driver (for our wonderful Arrol-Johnston tourer), and a sweeper. I grew up with many memories of riding, swimming, and cricket, and strangely few memories of school although I’m somewhat sure I went.

We left India in 1911. The capital moved to New Delhi that year and they wanted us to move there, but father decided to head home, where he served as a consultant to the Metropolitan Police. We lived in a lovely house in Lambeth, and I attended St. Olave’s Grammar School. My ambition was to follow in Dad’s footsteps and join the Met as soon as I turned 18.

Then the war started. I was only 16 and had to wait. At 17 I joined the Territorials and quickly got promoted corporal. There was a call out for transfers to the RFC and I applied. They’d take me early because I’d be of age for service overseas by the time I was done training.
Training was truly enjoyable. I started at Oxford, still a lowly corporal, in the School of Military Aeronautics. It was a lot of swotting – rigging, engines, photography, Morse, bombs and such. Exams were held in the City, at the Corn Exchange, over two days. After all the work I’d put in I was annoyed at how simple they were.

I got my pass on 7 August 1916, and my commission as a probationary Second Lieutenant dated from the same day. Flying training began at Netheravon, Maurice Farman Longhorns. I soloed in two weeks and soon after was posted to Central Flying School in Upavon, a wonderful place with more modern machines. Most importantly, the food was good. Two fellows killed themselves the first week, though.

The course was long. We flew Avros, then BE2s, and then Moranes. Finally we had a couple of weeks of advanced training on Sopwith Pups, absolutely ripping machines. Then shortly before I would get my papers for France I had an engine cut out on takeoff and brought my machine down sideways into a field. The kindly doctor there prescribed rest and leave, so I made it home to London for three weeks. Finally back to the CFS, they had introduced a new course in formation flying, which I did first as a student and then as an instructor.

Then, on 3 April 1917, I received orders to proceed to the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough, from which I was to ferry a new FE2c to No 1 Aircraft Depot at St-Omer, France. I’d never flown a Fee before, but the machine was easy and stable, but dreadfully slow in the wind we faced that grey morning. That brings me back to the hung-over ack emma. He spent much of the trip getting ill over the side, and the slipstream made the experience hellish. It was a long flight in filthy weather with only a Michelin map as my guide. We flew ESE to Hastings and from there I set course from Dungeness to Cap Griz Nez and thence to St-Omer. I was proud of myself for not getting lost. And I used my new-found rank to order the ack emma to clean my leather flying gear.

St-Omer was home to the dank and depressing pilot’s depot, a place to wait for attachment to a squadron. I was lucky. Because of heavy losses at the front, they shipped me out that very evening to No 23 Squadron at Baizieux, between Amiens and Albert in the Somme region.

23 Squadron had been an FE2 squadron, and I delivered the same machine I’d flown to France in to them. They were in the midst of re-equipping with Spads, French single-seat scouts. The commander, Major Hogg, was ex-Indian Cavalry and knew my father.

On 6 April I flew a fighting mission for the first time. I flew a Fee with an Observer Lieutenant named Jane, our most seasoned observer. I think he went with me because no one likes to be a passenger with a new and untested pilot. It is normal to break a man in slowly when he first arrives at the front, but with the number of casualties lately I was told that would not be possible. We took off, one of four machines, at first light and headed north to Arras where a big push is on. Navigation was simple for the day was clear and the twinkling of a thousand explosions over the front led the way. It was an incredible sight – a pastoral landscape with a broad brown slash across it from horizon to horizon, as if the whole countryside had been crudely turned over by a giant plough. We had scarcely begun our patrol over the front when the machines around me began to turn and twist and I heard machine guns hammering away. Lieut Jane suddenly swung his Lewis onto the right pintle mount and began firing. Then, to my complete shock, a black-and-white single-seater flashed past us and I saw for the first time the nasty black crosses of a real Hun. Jane signalled for me to dive away and I lost no time in diving at full throttle for a convenient cloud bank. Jane stood in front and fired an entire drum back over my head. After a minute or two he gave me a thumbs-up sign and I levelled off and headed home. Hardly the stuff of Boys’ Own Paper stories, but we were alive.

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"Navigation was simple for the day was clear and the twinkling of a thousand explosions over the front led the way."

That afternoon, though, we were back to Arras. Once again we were bounced by Huns I didn’t see until Jane fired. But this time one HA passed directly to my front and a little above. The Hun was trying to get behind 2/Lieut Morgan’s machine and did not see us. I was able to turn and place our Fee just behind him and directly below. Jane took careful aim and fired a full five second burst into the belly of the Albatros.

The German machine immediately began to tumble earthward. As there seemed suddenly to be no more aircraft around us, I circled and watched it fall in a flat spin for more than 6000 feet before I lost it in the haze and smoke below. We claimed the kill, but in all the drama around us and on the ground, no one saw the HA fall, and the claim remained simply a “driven down.â€

[Linked Image]
Back at Baizieux, eager to make a claim

7 April 1917: Oh joy! We received four new Spads today and one was assigned to me. These machines are wonders. They are incredibly fast and strong and beautifully fitted out with instruments, most of which are inscribed in French and therefore of marginal value until I learn a bit more about them. In the morning we flew north again to shoot up a rail station behind the Hun lines near Vimy, where a major attack is underway. We were lead by 2/ Lieut Standish Conn O’Grady – as Irish as he sounds. O’Grady is a superb character. In just two nights in the mess he has impressed me with the drinking prowess his race is known for. The morning flight was another crack-of-dawn show. This time I was the veteran, for we were joined by two new chaps who arrived last night, Bath and Doran (formerly of the Artists Rifles). We made several “strafing†runs, as they are called. It was a horrid thing because every machine gun in Hunland fired on us. Fortunately the Spad is known as a sturdy mount.

On the return trip a sleek Hun two-seater attacked me. I later learned it was a Roland, a nimble thing for such a machine. And I learned at my peril not to try turn-fighting in a Spad. It is a machine built for a quick, slashing attack and hasty departure. It may be quick, but it turns like a pig. Fortunately I had enough height to dive away. The next time I meet a Roland I shall know to leave it alone if I lack the element of surprise.


Historical Notes:


[1] The Special Branch was responsible for intelligence and counter-revolutionary policing. In 1905, the Indian state of Bengal was partitioned into Hindu-dominated West Bengal and Muslim-dominated East Bengal. The partition was seen by many as an attempt to pit Indian against Indian, and led to a surge of anti-British activity.

[2] The Special Branch was situated at 41 Park Street, and moved in 1909 to 7 Kyd Street, about two blocks farther away. I lived in Calcutta when I was a boy, in a flat only a block or two up Park Street from No 41. Our place wasn't built until the 1920s, but was the sort of place Rowntree describes. The driver, incidentally, was always a Muslim. This was on the theory that if, or rather when, you ran over someone on the crowded streets, the mostly Hindu mob might be more interested in attacking the poor Muslim than the white folks and you could run away. Ah, the morality of the colonial mind!

[3] Thomas Arthur Doran trained with the Artists Rifles and later served with the Manchester Regiment.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 01:22 AM

Hi Folks;

I was somewhat surprised that none of the hunters out there made any response to Godfrey's last mission in which "Pope and Young" destroyed their crafts in landing. biggrin

I was expecting some nice quips!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 02:15 AM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Hi Folks;

I was somewhat surprised that none of the hunters out there made any response to Godfrey's last mission in which "Pope and Young" destroyed their crafts in landing. biggrin

I was expecting some nice quips!


Sorry Robert, totally missed that one, but as the song goes: e tutta la vita gira infinita senza un perchè copter
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 02:19 AM

Raine, Bravo! That is an awesome introduction. The research that goes into your stories is incredible. Looking forward to Edward's long career.
Don't worry about Aldi, he'll be fine after a short stint with the nurses.
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Raine, Bravo! That is an awesome introduction. The research that goes into your stories is incredible. Looking forward to Edward's long career.
Don't worry about Aldi, he'll be fine after a short stint with the nurses.


Hear! Hear!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 02:30 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Hi Folks;

I was somewhat surprised that none of the hunters out there made any response to Godfrey's last mission in which "Pope and Young" destroyed their crafts in landing. biggrin

I was expecting some nice quips!


Sorry Robert, totally missed that one, but as the song goes: e tutta la vita gira infinita senza un perchè copter


?? Grazzi compadre Avrò bisogno di un aiuto perché il mio italiano è molto povero
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 02:58 AM

Ripping tale, Raine! You have the talent of a professional writer, even if you don't speak Italian, like Fullofit and Robert. OBD should seriously consider placing a few of your stories on their website.

Mfair, Robert, and Carrick: glad to see your pilots' are still going strong. Fullofit, good news about Aldi. Perhaps we will soon read about a budding romance with one of the nurses?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
...even if you don't speak Italian, like Fullofit and Robert.


Come? Davvero? Ma posso commandare una bottiglia di vino e un piatto di pasta. E basta!!!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 01:51 PM

Raine, I will never tire of of your stories.

Robert, that one went right over my head. But, you have to understand, Boone and Crockett were arguing at the other table and I got distracted. As for staying high in a chase. Something about those Tripehound jockeyes makes them wild men. I never join in with that bunch. They are the same way on takeoff, weaving in front of you, whizzing past wing tip to wingtip. Scares the daylights out of me. I have learned to take off early and gain some distance. When they catch up they have settled down enough to hold their place in formation.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 02:20 PM

Ah, at least you will never go hungry or thirsty! But what do you say when you need to impress la bella donna?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 03:59 PM

the stories just get better
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 04:09 PM

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


Aug 9, 1917.


Thrilling day.

Morning flight: The Jasta put up 9 a/c in two flights for Line Patrol. We got 3 Sopwith B-1,s attacking our balloons. Lt Doring got one a flamer and Anders target just broke up. My e/a dove and zoomed , I followed firing off about 200 rds. He just rolled over and dove into the ground.

In the afternoon , I was Shot Down by a Camel. The schwarm's 6 a/c were boxing with 3 Camels down by Lille when 5 more jumped in. One swung in on my tail close and got my motor smoke and a small fire started so cut off the fuel and notor. Spining down to the tree tops, I leveled out and put her down next to train tracks. I cant say that I like being shot down bit of a shake up.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Helmut von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, Flamders.


Aug 9, 1917.


Thrilling day.

Morning flight: The Jasta put up 9 a/c in two flights for Line Patrol. We got 3 Sopwith B-1,s attacking our balloons. Lt Doring got one a flamer and Anders target just broke up. My e/a dove and zoomed , I followed firing off about 200 rds. He just rolled over and dove into the ground.

In the afternoon , I was Shot Down by a Camel. The schwarm's 6 a/c were boxing with 3 Camels down by Lille when 5 more jumped in. One swung in on my tail close and got my motor smoke and a small fire started so cut off the fuel and notor. Spining down to the tree tops, I leveled out and put her down next to train tracks. I cant say that I like being shot down bit of a shake up.


Was that a one hump or 2 hump camel? biggrin

Sorry.....I'm in a rather silly mood today!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 10:16 PM

Journal Entry: 10 April 1917
Proville

The British have finally started their long awaited offensive. No one was surprised because we had all seen the build up from the air and also after a 5-day bombardment; you have eliminated any possibility of surprise. It makes no difference; the British will meet our superior German steel and once again be defeated. I am constantly amazed by the British ability to absorb such horrendous losses for so little gain and not collapse. Even in the air, we are simply slaughtering the British. While it is always preferable to be victorious, I do worry about my men. We are flying three and sometimes four patrols a day and I worry that my men are becoming exhausted. Exhausted men make simple mistakes and simple mistakes cost men their lives. Today’s patrols are perfect examples of just what I am talking about.

This morning we had a DOP to protect one of our balloons, which is normally not a dangerous type of mission, but with the ground offensive our balloons become precious commodities and the enemy is willing to take much higher risks. So, we were expecting trouble and yet, because of our exhaustion we were surprised by a flight of five French SPADs. Thankfully, the French with a few exceptions is not as deadly and thorough as the British in their attacks because they missed us completely and wasted their advantage. This was my first encounter with the new SPAD and I had heard many good things about this new enemy aeroplane. I came away from this encounter with a rather different view. It was plain to see that it was very fast, but it maneuvered like a milch Kuh. Leutnant Keudell and Feldwebel Reuter each brought a SPAD down and after their losses, the other French pilots decided that discretion is better than valor. I noticed a SPAD slinking away to the west and I dove unseen onto this SPAD. I quickly got into position to attack and after a long burst the SPAD snap rolled and dove headlong into the ground. I am not quite sure whether I hit the pilot or severed a control cable, either way, one less Frenchman to deal with. If it had been British in their scouts, I fear the tables would have been turned and we would have been the ones fleeing back home.

After lunch, I ordered a patrol of the front lines. The British counter-battery fire is proving to be quite a problem for our artillery and so, it was necessary for us to destroy their observation aeroplanes. As we were climbing to our operating altitude, we flew out of a cloud and almost collided with a flight of British scouts. We were so very fortunate because only Feldwebel Meyer collided with a Brit and even then he managed to land his machine. He was wounded but will return after a few days. I cannot speak for the British, but I would imagine that they were as surprised as we were and in war, he who recovers quickest lives. The Brits split and scrambled for home. Before they left, I managed to fire a telling burst into one of the Pups and once again, it immediately started spinning earthward. Either, my marksmanship is improving or I am extremely lucky, I hope it is the former, but I will take either.

[Linked Image]

Finally, the afternoon patrol was a complete disaster. The only thing that was positive about it was the fact that the British did not pursue their advantage. We were once again surprised by a flight of enemy scouts, this time Triplanes, but inexplicably after their diving attack had broken our formation; they turned as one and ran for home. We obviously were in no position to follow and we went home as well.

Three situations in which we were not observant, and because of good fortune, we lost no one. I chided the men that under no circumstances could this day be repeated or there will be empty chairs in the mess.


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/09/17 10:18 PM

Have you guys ever noticed the fish bowl effect in my screenshot. I just noticed this and is there any way to remove it?
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Have you guys ever noticed the fish bowl effect in my screenshot. I just noticed this and is there any way to remove it?


I experience that when I zoom in close. It may very well be related to the "external camera field of view settings" in the workshop. You might want to experiment with this setting.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 12:21 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

12 Apr 1917 @ 04h22 COP to Marieux airfield south of Doullens

C.O. Scott called the briefing to order and before identifying the nature of the days mssion, he announced that Godfrey had been awarded the DSO, In response to his actions of the 6th, 8th and the 9th of April. Cheers went up all round and then Scott brought matters back under control. Since the Arras offensive was well underway and the Canadians had taken Vimy ridge, he felt he could expend the efforts of “B†flight to complete a COP to Marieux where there had been recent reports of enemy Obs activity.

“B†flight was advised to expect winds of 8kn from the WNW with Heavy cloud cover winds and blizzard conditions at times. The mission proved to be a quiet affair and would have been quite enjoyable had it not been for the inclement weather. They were up for just over an hour and glad to return to base for some hot tea and breakfast. Godfrey now had 6 more Huns to his credit than Bishop, who was next on the list. Godfrey would soon take note of Bishops tendency to make more and more solo forays into enemy territory, and come back with claims. These lone wolf patrols were with the blessing of Major Alan Scott who had close association with friends of Bishop back in Blighty.
There was no denying though, that Bishop showed spunk and courage which was always welcome on a patrol.




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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 01:09 PM

Nice stories Gents. Congratulations on the bling Robert.

Edgar Everheart
Auchel
8RNAS

We only had time to get some dry clothes and a light brunch before we were off on patrol again at 1145 hours. Rain and cloud again. Fortunately we busted into the sunshine at 5000'. We climbed to 10,000' by the time we made Loos and started our patrol of the lines from Loos to Lille. I spotted 3 machines to the east above us heading south and started our pursuit. Finally one of the machines broke off and attacked. He came in over me and when I banked around, my 3 flight mates were on him in an instant. As they were making short work of the Hun I went after the other 2 but they were too far away so came back and circled until my flight rejoined.

Approaching Lille I spotted a machine lower and headed west. Diving down it turned away so must be a Hun. It turned out to be a Roland. I had him on the ropes when bullets smacked my machine and I realized that we were low over an enemy airfield and I was not in a good position so I climbed out and let him go. No one up top so decided to head home.

Back at Auchel, Sears and Compston had both claimed one each and "A" flight had claimed 3 with no losses. It was a rowdy bunch at mess.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 03:48 PM

Mr. Wiggins: One hump would be too many.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 03:56 PM

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



Aug 10 1917.

Morning formation: The C.O. announced that we are in the battle of Ypres and My Sopwith was confirmed making be an Ace with 5 Confirmed. I then left with the ADJ in the Ash and Trash a/c to go over to Jasta 11 to fly back a spare a/c. ( they scraped my old one.) Got back in time for the afternoon patrol only to get wnd by Spads diving on us. Its back to the hospital till the 21st.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 04:26 PM

Carrick, nice addition of flying the old plane to get a new one for the squadron. I need to start including that mundane routine work in my stories.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Carrick, nice addition of flying the old plane to get a new one for the squadron. I need to start including that mundane routine work in my stories.



+1 me too.
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Nice stories Gents. Congratulations on the bling Robert. ...


+1 biggrin
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Nice stories Gents. Congratulations on the bling Robert.

Edgar Everheart
Auchel
8RNAS

We only had time to get some dry clothes and a light brunch before we were off on patrol again at 1145 hours. Rain and cloud again. Fortunately we busted into the sunshine at 5000'. We climbed to 10,000' by the time we made Loos and started our patrol of the lines from Loos to Lille. I spotted 3 machines to the east above us heading south and started our pursuit. Finally one of the machines broke off and attacked. He came in over me and when I banked around, my 3 flight mates were on him in an instant. As they were making short work of the Hun I went after the other 2 but they were too far away so came back and circled until my flight rejoined.

Approaching Lille I spotted a machine lower and headed west. Diving down it turned away so must be a Hun. It turned out to be a Roland. I had him on the ropes when bullets smacked my machine and I realized that we were low over an enemy airfield and I was not in a good position so I climbed out and let him go. No one up top so decided to head home.

Back at Auchel, Sears and Compston had both claimed one each and "A" flight had claimed 3 with no losses. It was a rowdy bunch at mess.


Thanks MFAIR Edgar must be thinking "always the bridesmaid, never the bride"!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 08:48 PM

Robert, as long as Edgar can keep his butt alive the glory can go to whomever. But yes, it would be nice for them to let me have one every now and then!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Originally Posted by Fullofit
Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Hi Folks;

I was somewhat surprised that none of the hunters out there made any response to Godfrey's last mission in which "Pope and Young" destroyed their crafts in landing. biggrin

I was expecting some nice quips!


Sorry Robert, totally missed that one, but as the song goes: e tutta la vita gira infinita senza un perchè copter


?? Grazzi compadre Avrò bisogno di un aiuto perché il mio italiano è molto povero


Robert, this is the chorus of the song the Young Pope and the hot Prime Minister of Greenland are listening to at her audience.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Fullofit, good news about Aldi. Perhaps we will soon read about a budding romance with one of the nurses?


Buckeye, you've inspired me. I'll have to come up with something.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 09:30 PM



Originally Posted by Banjoman
Either, my marksmanship is improving or I am extremely lucky, I hope it is the former, but I will take either.

Banjoman, I have experienced a few of those magic bullets as well recently in the Albatros. Maybe this is the secret why the Bloody April was so bloody?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Helmut von Hammer
Its back to the hospital till the 21st.


Carrick, perhaps Aldi will meet Helmut at the hospital? winkngrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Finally one of the machines broke off and attacked.

Sounds like me attacking the enemy and the rest of my flight just keep going and snickering.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 09:54 PM

When my flight does that they dont even wave by by
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 10:01 PM

Helmut von Hammer
2nd field Hospital
Row 2 Bed 4
South Wing. Wimereux Medical



Just got a note from the ground crew, It says that they are painting my machine while I am struck here.





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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/17 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Fullofit, good news about Aldi. Perhaps we will soon read about a budding romance with one of the nurses?


Buckeye, you've inspired me. I'll have to come up with something.

Hee, hee.
Toujours cherchez la femme, Fullofit. Toujours. yep
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/11/17 12:57 AM

Robert, congratulations on getting your DSO (as they say, it stands for "d**k shot off). Carrick, Edward will be bringing your boy a box of chocolates. I'm out for 7 days. I hate two seaters! Fullofit, I am a big fan. Keep the stories and photos coming. Banjoman, great to see you here all the time again! MFair, I miss Naval Eight and am jealous of your Tripes. I nearly sent my new pilot back there, but didn't think that was on.

Edward Rowntree got a bit too close to a two-seater gunner and will be out for a week.

War Journal of 2/Lieut Edward Rowntree. RFC
Part 2: 8 to 11 April 1917


I am now firmly ensconced in 23 Squadron. Let me describe this place. Our encampment straddles a country lane roughly halfway between Amiens and Albert. The fields are flat and open, beaten down by a thousand bad landings. 4 Squadron used to share the place with us, but moved out a month ago. There are several rows of hangars along the west edge of the field. Our huts are clustered in the southeast edge of the field, close by the lane. Only recently have the last of the men moved into huts. They passed much of last winter under canvas, which must have been miserable on this open plain. In the southwest corner of the field stands a large stone windmill surrounded by hedges. This was place to make landing in a fog more entertaining! A brigade of coolies has been preparing a second landing on the south side of the lane.

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"In the southwest corner of the field stands a large stone windmill surrounded by hedges."


Just before I arrived here the Australians moved out of the surrounding area. The squadron was surrounded by them. The countryside about is a rabbit-warren of trenches and dugouts with barbed wire everywhere. They used the area for practising attacks, but now have quit rehearsals and departed for their opening performance.

The village of Baizeux is about a couple of hundred yards down the lane from the windmill, heading towards Amiens. It consists of low houses, each with its inevitable midden, interspersed with a few cloistered farm buildings. There is a school and plain and ugly brick church – Rome’s answer to a Methodist meeting house. There is a lovely chateau off the main road in the village, but it houses an Australian divisional headquarters. I took a walk there the other night with Tom Doran, but the cherrynobs [1] on duty suggested we sod off. We found a small café and bar in the town and apparently were a welcome relief from the Anzacs.

Our commander is a Major named Leighton. Major Hogg, to whom I was introduced on arrival, was apparently only filling in for him while he was on leave. Major Leighton’s former command was a BE2 squadron, so the business of scouts is still new to him. [2]
My flight commander is a particularly wonderful fellow, a Scot with an Irish name – Captain William Kennedy-Cochrane-Patrick. As his calling card reads “continued other card,†we generally call him simply Patrick when in the mess. He has shot down three Huns and is a wonderful pilot. He was employed as a test pilot at the depot in St-Omer for a while and later flew Sopwith two-seaters with 70 Squadron. [3]

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"Our commander is a Major named Leighton."

I have already written about O’Grady. We call him OG. He is an entertaining fellow, quick with a song or story, and quicker yet to claim a round in the mess. Irish to the core, he is an engineer and worked in Canada for a while before the war. His father, I am told, is a writer of some note.[4]

We have been up two or three times a day due to the big push near Arras. At times like this the red tabs want every Hun balloon down and every Hun train stopped, so there is no shortage of interesting work. On 8 April I received a wonderful present: my very own single-seat Spad scout. It is a French machine and as such very similar to French cooking – it is elegant to look at but very heavy. It is fortunately a quick machine, so one can always dive out of a scrap as long as one doesn’t get caught at low speed. It forces an unusual style of fighting, centred on quick slashing attacks and a rush to gain distance and regain height after each pass.

I had my first scrap on 9 April during a line patrol near Arras. We spotted two Hunnish two-seaters and I picked my prey. It was a shock how quickly the enemy gunner reacted. He made several holes in my wings, but the Spad is well put together. After my third pass, the HA spun down out of control. I watched as it fell from 9000 feet to less than 1500 feet. Then I lost sight of the thing in the haze and smoke over the front lines. I filed a claim, but it remains unconfirmed.

Our first patrol of 10 April 1917 was an attack on a railway station behind the Vimy front (where all hell is reportedly being unleashed on the enemy). I made five low level strafing runs on the sheds and carriages and could see men and horses tumbling right and left. It is frightfully easy to become too focused in these games and fly into the ground. Twice I gave myself an awful start!

During the afternoon of the 10th we paid another visit to the rail station, which apparently is the gathering point for all new Huns coming to visit our part of France. This time we were interrupted by two black Albatros scouts. I was able to surprise one of them and eventually forced it to land. Because it seemed to land under control in a field on its own side of the lines my claim was recorded as merely a “driven down.â€

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"I was able to surprise one of them and eventually forced it to land."

We have suffered several losses since my arrival, and from what we hear we are not alone. A fellow named Bath killed himself landing in a tree the second day I was here. On the 9th, the day I claimed a two-seater, another new pilot named Morgan attacked a DFW and collided with it, destroying both machines. On 11 April we lost another new man, Lieut Acton, who had just returned from England. He had flown BE2s before and was new to scouts. And we nearly lost yours truly...

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"...another new pilot named Morgan attacked a DFW and collided with it, destroying both machines."

At 6:45 am we took off and headed northwest, bound for the sky over the town of Douai. Douai is home to a number of Hunnish squadrons and is known as a fine place to party. Patrick led five of us: himself, OG, Acton, Tom Doran, and me. Over Douai he gave the signal for “hostile aircraft in sight†and turned west, diving hard. I followed, struggling to find the others. At times like this it is very easy to collide with one of your mates, and the Spad’s wings are closely spaced which makes forward visibility tricky. After a few seconds I saw two dark objects pass in front of a cloud with Patrick’s machine nearly on top of them. They were two observation machines, likely DFWs. I picked the one that Patrick had ignored and made a diving pass. I pulled the Spad up and about. It is a heavy thing and turns like a farm waggon. On my second attack I could see my bullets tearing into the wings and body of the HA. The Hun aircraft steamed ahead regardless. I circled back and came at it again from behind and below, firing all the while. As I got within a few yards I made the mistake of pulling up and to the right. The German gunner was made of stout stuff. He fired his machine gun and hit me immediately. A round struck my goggles and shattered them, tearing them off. I felt a sharp stab that seemed to penetrate my brain. When I put my glove to my face it came away bloody. I could not see from my right eye.

I turned away from the morning sun towards home, or so I hoped because the compass was spinning madly. Fortunately no other enemy were about and I crossed the lines in less than ten minutes, landing roughly at Etrun. I was immediately conveyed to an RFC Medical Officer who was on site. He reassuringly told me I had two metal splinters in my eye, but that it should heal quickly and my sight should not be affected. Less reassuringly, he said he’d take them out immediately but had nothing to give me for the pain except whiskey. I opted for the fullest possible dose while he hunted for a thing that looked like surgical pliers. After a second dose of medication, I felt much better. The splinters were removed and I was shipped off in a Crossley with an impressive wad of gauze over my eye and a bandage around my head. I shall enjoy myself by frightening the new chaps.

On my return I was ordered not to fly for a week pending an examination by the Wing medical officer next Wednesday. The RO read my report of the scrap and said he would note the DFW as driven down since by my description the HA was unlikely to have made it back to base. Not a confirmed victory, but at least an acknowledgement of effort.

The Major gets the papers first here and announced at dinner that the Americans are officially in the game now. We discussed at some length what it would mean. OG, over a “medicinal drop†as he termed it, opined that we should not see them for some time, but if they were sent to England we should lock up our wives and daughters.

We are also getting reports that the Canadians have secured Vimy Ridge, which is a big thing by all accounts. Another good push might see this war done for, we agreed.

Historical Notes:

[1] Military Police – so called because of their red cap covers.

[2] Maj John Burgh Talbot Leighton MC transferred to the RFC from the Scots Guards in 1915 and served with 2 and 14 Squadrons. He was killed in a flying accident in May 1917.

[3] Those of you who have read Cecil Lewis’s wonderful Sagittarius Rising will recall how Patrick assisted Lewis by showing him how to stunt properly and allowing him a great deal of free flying time while he was in the pilot pool at No 1 AD awaiting posting.

[4] Standish John O’Grady was an Irish barrister, writer, and journalist who championed Irish mythology, history, and culture while retaining strong Unionist views. He reputedly was an influence on W.B. Yeats.


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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/11/17 02:22 PM

If my count is correct that's three pilots out of service in the hospital! This is getting dangerous. Be careful gents!

Edgar Everheart
Auchel

Little, Sears and myself were roused out of bed at 4:30 and told to get to our machines. It seems some incoming Hun machines had been reported and we were to try and intercept them NW of Lens. Off we go and climb into the cold and cloud. Intercept my arse! We were more likely to collide with them in this soup. We patrolled for 30 min near Lens and I decided to head north and see if we could see something around Lille. The weather was a little better over Lille and we made a broad circle and decided to call it quits. Heading west I thought I saw something in the cloud ahead. All of a sudden there were 2 DFW's coming straight to us about 500' below. I dove and raked one from stem to stern, split S and came up underneath him for another go. I misjudged my speed and went above him. The observer opened up and I kicked hard rudder and threw the stick over to roll over behind him. On my second burst the observer slumped over the side. He was a sitting duck. Another two squirts and the plane started smoking and went into a slow downward spin. I followed him down until I was sure he was not playing opossum and pulled up thinking "here we are with a victory and no one around". When I looked around I was surprised to see Sears behind me. "Well surely he saw that one!"

Climbing up and west I noticed something did not look right with Sears machine. I slowed down to let him catch up. His middle starboard plane was broke off at the strut and from the strut to the fuselage was tattered canvas. Fortunately we did not encounter any hostile machines on the way back and Sears made a perfect landing with his damaged aircraft. Little had crash landed at another airfield but was OK. I filed my claim and went to get something to eat before the afternoon patrol.

Note: That was a WOFF moment Gents. I found myself worried for Sear's safety and was very anxious until we crossed the lines and then again at Auchel until I could see he landed safely. I love this Sim!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/17 01:39 AM

Raine, I like what you're spinning. Need more!
MFair, unfortunately my British pilot is in hospital as well. That makes 5.

BuckeyeBob, this one's for you.

14 April, 1917 Local hospital

Leutnants Walter von Bülow Bothkamp and Paul Strähle walked into a large room full of metal frame beds all lined up as if on parade. The air was thick with cigarette smoke and smell of gangrene. The silence was deafening only occasionally pierced by the sounds of a painful cough. It is mostly because of this feeling of proximity to Death that nobody wants to visit hospitals. They've stopped at a bed by the window where a young nurse was just finishing helping a patient with his meal.

[Linked Image]

She gave them one of her "famous" bright smiles as a sign of greeting and said that Herr Hauptmann is doing much better. Her patient smiled as well seeing his two best friends and thanked the nurse for help. She put her hand on his shoulder and offered to come back later, so that they can read the latest newspaper news together. Having said that, she stood up, straightened her white apron and was about to leave before pausing and asking the newly arrived pilots: "I am trying to find out from Hauptmann Schwarzkopf how one can tell the difference between friendly and enemy balloons, but can't get a straight answer from him. Perhaps one of you fine gentlemen can explain it to me?" She stood in front of them expectant.
Ltn Strähle, being the gentleman that he was, offered an explanation on the spot:
"It's quite simple Fräulein, our balloons have balls!" He gave her a big smile.
The girl was dumbfounded. "I'm sorry, I don't follow."
Strähle quickly elaborated: "You see, only the German gas bags have the stabilizer at the back, which hangs below the balloon. We call it a Nülle." Another big smile from Paul.
"I ... see." She responded quietly getting red all over her face. "Thank you, err ... gentlemen for your help. I must be going now". The nurse fixed her apron again and headed for the doorway.
"What did I say?" Paul was still turned with his back to Aldi looking longingly at the empty doorway where she disappeared. His mouth wide open.
Von Bülow winked at Aldi and said he is not doing too badly. Last time they saw him he was still unconscious and being administered morphine. Look at him now! Romancing the best looking girl in the entire hospital.
It was true, nurse Käte Otersdorf was easy on the eyes and had a personality to match. Aldi especially valued her smile. Not too many of those can be found easily in a hospital. Käte was Aldi's senior by a year and was raised in East Prussia. She was studying to be a kindergarten teacher when the war erupted and spoiled her plans. Due to the great demand for caregivers she was forced to abandon her dream and switch to a nursing profession. Aldi has grown fond of her in a very short time and she in turn enjoyed his company.
Von Bülow told Aldi that the British push near Ypres was in full swing, which they could hear even here. He told him they're rather busy now flying a number of sorties each day. Finally he finished saying that they're holding their own against the enemy, but would prefer some experienced pilots doing the fighting. Another one of the new recruits hasn't come back from the patrol the other day.
Suddenly Paul turned around and exclaimed, startling the other two:
"I know! I can call the nurse and tell her that Aldi soiled himself and needs a sponge bath. Then we can watch!"
They looked at him with disbelief unsure how to answer. Finally Walter asked:
"Watch what?"
Paul realized what he had said and quickly explained himself:
"Watch the pretty nurse come and work, of course." He was very pleased with himself for coming up with such a save at a short notice. Von Bülow took Strähle by the arm and led him out of the ward. "It's time for us" he said on the way out, "we have an early patrol tomorrow morning. Take care!" As they were exiting the room Aldi could still hear Strähle protesting: "But wait, I still have to say goodbye to the pretty nurse!"
The day before Aldi was discharged, Käte allowed him to escort her to the ball at the City Hall.

[Linked Image]

Despite moving like an ogre, Aldi thought he could dance the night away by her side. They left the ball early and spent the late night strolling around the park and planning the next time they'll see each other.
Aldi felt invigorated. He was glad there was more to this war than just killing.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/17 03:04 PM

Helmut von Hammer
2nd field Hospital
Row 2 Bed 4
South Wing. Wimereux Medical


Aug 12, 1917.


The day nurse came in with a bright smile on her face and I knew that she was up to No good.

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/17 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
[Linked Image]


Oh, my! Aldi may never make it back to his Jasta!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/17 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Originally Posted by Fullofit
[Linked Image]


Oh, my! Aldi may never make it back to his Jasta!


Oh yes!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/17 06:58 PM

I wonder if Aldi has plans of stopping by the local jewelry store before heading back to the front. I'm sure he wouldn't want to leave such a winsome lass un-tagged! biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/17 11:23 PM

You guys are ridiculous, this is supposed to be serious. biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/13/17 08:57 PM

Here is the status report for last week's action.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/13/17 09:59 PM

Journal Entry: 14 April 1917
Proville

Today proved to be quite a busy day for us. We had patrols both in the morning and afternoon, with successful engagements in both patrols. With the exception of Leutnant Schaefer, we suffered no losses and furthermore, the men seemed to be much more attentive to their duties which I am hoping will be a trend for the future.

The Brits certainly are determined to destroy our observation balloons and we, of course, are just as determined to stop them. So, because of that, we have been ordered to fly numerous defensive patrols protecting our balloons. So, I was not surprised when I was informed last night before retiring that there would be another balloon that needed our assistance. For this patrol, I chose Lt. Voss, Ofstv. Bernert, Lt. von Tutschek, Lt. Schaefer, and myself.

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Lt. Voss and Ofstv. Bernert off to my starboard

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Lt. Schaefer and Lt. von Tutschek off to my port

We arrived without incident and began our patrol when much to my surprise I spotted a single British F.E. 2b making an attack against our balloon. I signaled the others to attack while I maintained my position over the balloon. It seemed as if I had loosed a pack of hounds on a poor defenseless rabbit and after a few short minutes, it was all over. The men returned to their positions with the exception of Lt. Schaefer. I scanned the area and could see no one, so assuming he had either had engine trouble and returned or had been damaged, we continued our patrol. As I was about to signal our return home, I spotted three Nieuports attempting to sneak under us to attack the balloon. I signaled the Schwarm and down we dropped. They saw us as we were diving and broke formation to counter our attack and a general melee ensued. The Nieuport is such a nimble machine that usually you can only make short snap bursts because they are never in your sights long enough for anything else. Well, that is what I was doing and much to my surprise after one such burst the enemy machine started tumbling through the air and as a matter of fact, he tumbled all the way to the ground. I can only guess that it was another of my exceptionally lucky shots. Afterward, I scanned the sky and could see no one, so I began to orbit the area to wait for the Schwarm to reform. Eventually, everyone returned and we headed home. Upon arriving, I learned that all three Nieuports had been destroyed thereby making a very successful morning. The only dark spot was Lt. Schaefer, for he had gone missing. The others could give me no definite description of what happened and so as usual in this war, he simply disappeared.

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After a quick luncheon, the men were excited to get back into the air and so I led a line patrol over the Arras sector. This time it was just Lt. Voss, Ofstv. Bernert, Lt. von Tutschek, and myself. We had hardly arrived before we were set upon by a flight of five Triplanes. In the right hands, the Triplane is a very deadly machine and certainly superior to our machines, but once again these were not in apparently the right hands because not only did we drive them off, but I downed one in the process. Oh, how I wish, that my men and I could have triplanes. With machines such as those, we could clear the skies of the enemy.


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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/13/17 10:20 PM

Banjoman, you never know. One day your wish may come true. winkngrin
Great report and thanks for the stats!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/13/17 10:32 PM

Journal Entry: August 12, 1917
Droglandt

It amazes me sometimes what a difference having one extra machine gun makes when you are in aerial combat. Which of course, begs the question, why did it take our brass so long to make the change and why are there still scout units flying scouts with only one machine gun? Today is a perfect example of what I mean. Normally, in the past attacking an observation machine was a very tricky business with only one gun. It still is, but the odds of survival have dramatically increased with the addition of a second gun.

This morning's patrol was a simple line patrol with the stated purpose of destroying the enemy's observation machines. We arrived at the front in the Ypres sector and after a couple of circuits, I see approaching two DFW C.Vs off in the distance. They have not spotted us as yet so I was able to maneuver around and attack out of the morning sun. We swooped down on them scattering them like a covey of quail. I pulled up from my dive underneath the leader and raked his machine from stem to stern thereby killing both the pilot and observer in one burst. The other enemy machine fared no better and it soon was also plunging earthward. The addition of the second gun gives us such an increase in firepower that it allows us to make attacks such as today, with the assurance that we can hit and kill both enemies in the same burst.

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The men quickly reformed and we continued our patrol. Our two hours were up and we were turning for home when I spotted a flight of three V strutters approaching from the south. Once again I signaled the flight and we turned as one to maneuver for an attack. As the distance closed, I noticed that these were not our normal friends, the Black Tails, but this enemy had yellow and black striped tails. We had never encountered this group before so we approached this encounter with a bit more caution. Because of our many engagements with the Black Tails, we have developed a grudging respect for them as pilots and men. We have no experience with this new group and to avoid underestimating their ability, I was more circumspect in my attack. I was sure glad that I was cautious in my approach because they are every bit as skilled as the Black Tails. The engagement eventually ended in a stalemate with neither side gaining any advantage and we both broke off and headed home.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/14/17 01:15 PM

Banjoman, Thank you for the stats. Glad you are getting some stick time. Nice stories.

Edgar Everheart
Auchel

Edgar flamed a 2 seater SW of Monchy on his last mission. He is also the recipient of some bling. His squadron is a little miffed and think his father had something to do with it.

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Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/14/17 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Banjoman, Thank you for the stats. Glad you are getting some stick time. Nice stories.

Edgar Everheart
Auchel

Edgar flamed a 2 seater SW of Monchy on his last mission. He is also the recipient of some bling. His squadron is a little miffed and think his father had something to do with it.

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+1 thumbsup
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/14/17 11:33 PM

MFair, congrats on the bling.

Aldi's finally back in the saddle.

16 April, 1917 Halluin

Aldi was sitting in the cockpit of his Albatros. The engine was running and getting warmed up. He looked around. Despite the ground crew's best efforts to get rid of it, Aldi could still spot blood stains here and there. The memory of the last mission was still fresh in his mind and playing in the back of his head. He was not afraid to go back up, in fact he was glad to be back flying, but he'd rather spend his time with Käte. A beautiful memory fading away with the motor vibrations becoming stable and uniform, letting him know they are ready to begin their mission. Now his duty is to serve the Fatherland and the Fatherland requires of him to escort two DFWs on reconnaissance mission over the Front. As his flight and the recon planes were gaining altitude Aldi could see a large battle south of Ypres unfolding before him. Large clouds of smoke and dust covering the battlefield and the carnage raging there.

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He thought of the men fighting below. How many of them will end up in the hospital? How many of them will be lucky enough to be cared for by Käte? How many of them will be unlucky to never have met her? How many will never even reach the hospital, but lie there in the dirt rotting for eternity? He could not imagine the numbers.
The flight was uneventful but useful nonetheless, not just for the intelligence they've helped gather, but for Aldi as well. To confirm that he is still useful to his Jasta, and healthy and strong enough to do it.


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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 03:00 PM

Thanks Fullofit, Glad Aldi is back up. Better get your head in the game Hoss, She will not be the first women to get a man killed. I must admit though, If her face was the last thought in your head before a bullet hit it you should die a happy man! biggrin Looking forward to where this story plays out.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Helmut von Hammer
2nd field Hospital
Row 2 Bed 4
South Wing. Wimereux Medical


Aug 12, 1917.


The day nurse came in with a bright smile on her face and I knew that she was up to No good.

Have to say, I prefer Fullofit's nurse!
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman


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Lt. Voss and Ofstv. Bernert off to my starboard


Lovely pic! Very atmospheric.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 10:01 PM

BuckeyeBob, when are you going to stop being just an observer and join us?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 10:05 PM

Banjoman and Mfair: Wow , just super pics
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 10:08 PM

I like to watch. cool winkngrin

Also, most of my pilot's don't last long enough to write about!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 10:14 PM

Haha, know what you mean. In these DID campaigns, I seem to have incredible luck. In Olham's campaign, my pilot went into an uncontrollable spin at around 6000 ft. I fought and fought and had pretty much given up hope and wonder of wonders, I pull out at around 100 ft. That pilot went on and survived the war. Oh well, just know that you are always welcome to join us whenever you want.
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
I like to watch. cool winkngrin

Also, most of my pilot's don't last long enough to write about!


You could do a 1915 campaign! Mostly the only thing you have to worry about are mechanical failures until the eindeckers show up (assuming you are playing British or French).

Ha ha, I'll probably be with you in 1917 or even perhaps 1916...instead of these longer, fleshed-out bios, I'll be making something like: Joe Smith, London, England, was in Army, transferred to RFC, died on second mission, NEX-X-T!

rofl

Stories and pics are great! Keep it up gentlemen biggrin

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Haha, know what you mean. In these DID campaigns, I seem to have incredible luck. In Olham's campaign, my pilot went into an uncontrollable spin at around 6000 ft. I fought and fought and had pretty much given up hope and wonder of wonders, I pull out at around 100 ft. That pilot went on and survived the war.
eek cool
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 10:27 PM

Helmut von Hammer
2nd field Hospital
Row 2 Bed 4
South Wing. Wimereux Medical


Aug 15, 1917.



Our night Nurse came on, she's a terror. The last few nights some of the guys in the row didnt take all their meds so it was No Fruit cups for a 3 days.


Attached picture 10068-8503 nurse disel.gif
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 10:43 PM

Stljeffbb, this campaign did actually start in 1915. We are running this as a Centenary celebration, so today, is 8/15/2017 so you fly the mission for 8/15/1917. The Intrepid group is doing the same thing but is about 6 months behind. You really should join us, it's a lot of fun.
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/17 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Stljeffbb, this campaign did actually start in 1915. We are running this as a Centenary celebration, so today, is 8/15/2017 so you fly the mission for 8/15/1917. The Intrepid group is doing the same thing but is about 6 months behind. You really should join us, it's a lot of fun.


Yes, I'd be happy to!

Let me look at the rules and I will submit a pilot...

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Helmut von Hammer
Our night Nurse came on, she's a terror. The last few nights some of the guys in the row didnt take all their meds so it was No Fruit cups for a 3 days.


Eeeek! Carrick, you better transfer to the "other" hospital. Hands off Käte!

Originally Posted by stljeffbb
Yes, I'd be happy to!

Let me look at the rules and I will submit a pilot...

Regards,

Jeff


Finally Jeff! Welcome to the "Stay Away from Käte Challenge".
BTW, hands off Käte!
Posted By: CaptSopwith

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 01:22 AM

Hi Guys!

Thought I'd finally toss my hat in the ring as well. I created a 1917 pilot mostly by chance but noticed the days lined up nicely. I was looking over the rules - if my pilot completed training in WOFF UE, does that count as his 3 hours on two-seaters or will he need to transfer in? If he needs some time in the barges, no worries, I can work up another pilot, but I wanted to check.

Hoping to have my downtime a bit more scheduled moving forward so despite being insanely busy, I should be able to squeeze in a few sorties a week if that would work for everyone.

Many thanks for letting me know.

Cheers!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 01:47 AM

CaptSopwith, welcome aboard! Banjoman is the rule master. Hel'll be able to help you with your question. But he's not picky, so you should be fine.
And as always, hands off Käte! Ok, I'll stop now.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 03:08 AM

CaptSopwith, join as you wish. We are in August 1917 and by this time men were moving right into scouts so it will be fine for you to do that as well if you like. Do remember that you need to fly from your training base to your posting and then you will need to fly a couple of familiarization flights around the area before you fly any combat missions.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 03:09 AM

Fullofit, I'm afraid Aldi has lost his edge. You will need to be especially careful with him from now on since he is so preoccupied. biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 04:24 AM

Helmut von Hammer
2nd field Hospital
Row 2 Bed 4
South Wing. Wimereux Medical

A lot of racket last night, a new guy was admitted to the ward. He seems to be the victim of shell shock.
https://giphy.com/gifs/star-trek-mrw-LtyywqYw5NgNq
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Fullofit, I'm afraid Aldi has lost his edge. You will need to be especially careful with him from now on since he is so preoccupied. biggrin

Banjoman, you think a few more days in the hospital might help?
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Originally Posted by carrick58
Helmut von Hammer
Our night Nurse came on, she's a terror. The last few nights some of the guys in the row didnt take all their meds so it was No Fruit cups for a 3 days.


Eeeek! Carrick, you better transfer to the "other" hospital. Hands off Käte!

Originally Posted by stljeffbb
Yes, I'd be happy to!

Let me look at the rules and I will submit a pilot...

Regards,

Jeff


Finally Jeff! Welcome to the "Stay Away from Käte Challenge".
BTW, hands off Käte!


Ha ha fullofit ...I hope you will appreciate the character I am about to create wink

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 09:19 PM

Can't wait! popcorn
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 10:04 PM

After waiting a week to get Edward Rowntree back in the air, I drew an escort mission. No sooner had we spotted some attacking Albatri than my Spad's Hisso caught fire. An 8500 foot sideslip nearly had it out, but I could barely see and hit the one tree in no man's land, killing the poor boy. Now to introduce a new fellow of the Hunnish persuasion...

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Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 10:09 PM

Antön Otersdorf

From Bartenstein, East Prussia, Germany

Born 14 May, 1894

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Upper middle class upbringing, one of eleven surviving children (Jöhann, Lüdwig, Leöpöld, Jöseph, Clära, Geörg, Antön, Käte, Annä, Kärl, and Genüg). Fairly successful family farm including Schwaike horse breeding, and many times over the years the Otersdorf family sent their mares to help create the famed Trakehner breed.

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Antön grew up around horses, so it was a logical fit for him to join cavalry 10th Dragoons (East Prussian) Regiment "King Albert of Saxony" (Writer's Note: looking a bit like this guy right here).

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During the war, this regiment was assigned to the 37th division. Eventually, a horse shortage ensued, and Otersdorf's regiment became Schützen, that is, dismounted and becoming light infantry. Otersdorf grew tired of this (as this was quite the departure from his previous training) and decided to attempt a transfer to a flying unit. He had always been fascinated by aeroplanes, managing to see some of the early German pioneers like Hermann Reichelt and others.

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So, he acquired air training and seemed to have natural talent (cavalry men were often considered good candidates for flying). Since his cavalry unit had transferred to the Western Front, he was fairly familiar with the situation there and his superiors choose for him to stay. Jasta 32 has been a bit beat up lately, and it was decided that he would be placed there at the rank of Offizerstellverter flying an Albatros DII machine.

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------

A new saga begins!

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/17 11:42 PM

Raine;
You are having a time of it, aren't you. I know you do considerable research before starting a pilot and that has got to be disheartening. I commend your continued efforts and look forward to a pilot with a long career and many good yarns!

Jeff;
Welcome to the fray and you too are an excellent purveyor of choice yarns!

CaptSopwith;
Welcome to the fray sir, it has been some time since I have seen you active! Looking forward to your contributions! Cheers mate!

Fullofit;
I fear Aldi is now just a basket of jelly! What a woman can do to a stout lad!

MFair;
Belated congrats to Edgar on his new Bling!

Banjoman, Carrick and Fullofit;
Great pics and stories fellas!


Albert Earl Godfrey has not been too active as of late due to my RL commitments, but I always manage to find time to read these fabulous reports.
Hope there are some new ones for my morning coffee tomorrow!
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/17 12:04 AM

I second everything that Robert just said!

Well done, everyone!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/17 12:41 AM

well done guys.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/17 01:06 AM

Helmut von Hammer
2nd field Hospital
Row 2 Bed 4
South Wing. Wimereux Medical


I took a fellow fly-boy,s advice and asked for a transfer ,but https://giphy.com/gifs/reaction-work-nurses-13d1u3tjwluBjO/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/17 01:19 AM

Helmut von Hammer
2nd field Hospital
Row 2 Bed 4
South Wing. Wimereux Medical


Aug 16, 1917.


Then the Day nurses came on so I will stay.

https://giphy.com/gifs/sasha-grey-pornstar-evil-nurse-Icmq4ZHrnqDIY/fullscreen
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/17 11:28 AM

Raine, too bad about the pilot. Better luck with the new one!
Robert, hope you can make some time soon.
Carrick, don't give up yet. Perhaps an early hospital break?
Jeff, good choice. I approve. A lot of umlauts in the Otersdorf family.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/17 03:48 PM

Jeff and CaptSopwith, nice to see you two join the fray. Looking forward to some more great stories.

Raine, what dreadful luck! Very sorry to hear of your pilots demise but looking forward to another lesson in Hunnish.

Carrick, what hospital did you say that nurse is stationed?
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/17 05:14 PM

Antön Otersdorf
Jasta 32
April 1917
Morchingen Aerodrome
Alsace Front

21 April 1917. I flew in from Koln to the Jasta 32 base at Morchingen (located southwest of Metz on the Alsace front) on 16 April

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...as it turned out, my timing was very good as my new Jasta needed a replacement machine and it was shipped to Koln for me to fly. The Albatros DII is a fine machine, much lighter to the touch than the Talbes and Eindeckers I practiced on, and quicker too.

Not long after I arrived, the rains came and grounded everyone until today. Our commander, Bartholomäus Schröder (Writer's note: ha ha, the umlauts are REAL! Jasta 32 link ) gave me some instructions: “For your first mission, DO NOT follow your squadmates...instead, make two laps around the aerodrome to get acquainted with your surroundings. Just in case you come under attack, land right away.†So I did just that.

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Then Schröder said: “For your second mission, accompany your flight to the front, but then COME BACK RIGHT AWAY.†As it turns out, that mission was a patrol, and I did just that.

And then finally for my third mission, I was given the go ahead to join the squadron. This mission was a balloon defense. As we were ascending, a lone Nieuport appeared. I got into position and managed a good burst into him



...but then he headed away with three of the five members of the squad chasing after him.

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Leutnant Taboka headed towards the assigned defense target (I knew this because he has a T emblazoned on the side of his craft), but headed into a cloud and I lost him. I decided, already at this early stage of my Jasta career, that I should stay with the plan by myself and I headed to the balloon. This lone Nieuport could have been a ruse! I made the target and patrolled. I caught glimpse of another Nieuport dancing around the archie, but he was too far away for me to reach and headed over the lines....not sure if it was the same one I witnessed earlier. I spent the assigned amount of time at the balloon site and then headed home.

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(Writer's note: I actually have four missions under my belt and the journal will reflect this going forward)

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Upon fetching the mail, I see that I have a letter from my little sister Käte who is serving as a nurse somewhere along the front...

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

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/17 06:39 PM

Quote
Upon fetching the mail, I see that I have a letter from my little sister Käte who is serving as a nurse somewhere along the front..


Ah hah! Intrigue! Fullofit, it looks like you have really stepped into it now, messing around with Herr Otersdorf's little sister!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/17 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Ah hah! Intrigue! Fullofit, it looks like you have really stepped into it now, messing around with Herr Otersdorf's little sister!

Ah BuckeyBob, but you are forgetting a very important fact. Little sisters never want to listen to their big brothers. yep

Jeff, nice report. Great start. Aldi's grounded due to bad weather.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/17 12:15 AM

Jeff, glad to see you have joined the fray! We shall now have more great reports to read. I wouldn't be surprised if Herr Otersdorf should run into Aldi while on leave somewhere and then some sparks might fly. popcorn

Albert E. Godfrey managed a flight this evening so there should be a report and vid coming up tomorrow.

Cheers folks!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/17 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Quote
Upon fetching the mail, I see that I have a letter from my little sister Käte who is serving as a nurse somewhere along the front..


Ah hah! Intrigue! Fullofit, it looks like you have really stepped into it now, messing around with Herr Otersdorf's little sister!


Intrigue indeed! This should be fun!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/17 03:24 AM

Stjeffbb: Good jod and welcome to the meat Grinder.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/17 03:48 AM

Helmut von Hammer
2nd field Hospital
Row 2 Bed 4
South Wing. Wimereux Medical

Aug 17, 1917.

The hospital staff is busy. I had to catch my doc in the halls to ask about being released soon. Then Nurse Helga came in and led a class in fitness.

https://giphy.com/gifs/animation-flexing-califjenni3-b6zXyl93ZvxCg/fullscreen


https://giphy.com/gifs/buster-keaton-that-coat-tho-CMWe75C25T1M4/fullscreen
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/17 05:28 AM

Antön Otersdorf
Jasta 32
April 1917
Morchingen Aerodrome
Alsace Front

The letter:

Quote
17 April, 1917

Dear Antön,

I have heard you have transferred into a flying unit...please be careful with yourself! I have seen many flyers come to hospital, and in many cases suffer horrible injuries, just as bad as those men who are in the trenches. These pilots tend to be dashing and quick with words, and brave too, but also perhaps a bit unaware of how bad it is on the ground. I have met the one they call “The Red Fighter Pilotâ€, Manfred von Richtofen, and some of his cadre. There is another recent pilot, Aldi Schwarzkopf, who was here for about ten days after getting shot in a fight in the air. He is a polite and engaging man, but sadly these pilots come and go so quickly. I must admit that I look forward to renewing my studies to become a kindergarten teacher when this terrible war is over, and I look forward to visiting our parents and other siblings once again at our farm. Well, I shouldn't take up much of your time as I know you are preparing for battles and whatever pilots do, however, I wanted you to know that I send my love to you.....please be safe!

Affectionately your sister,

K


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

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/17 08:40 PM

Helmut von Hammer
2nd field Hospital
Row 2 Bed 4
South Wing. Wimereux Medical



Aug 18 1917.

I put in for a short leave so I could recuperate at home, but I don't think it will be approved


https://giphy.com/gifs/someone-muslims-supremacists-378IyHiTEheI8/fullscreen
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/17 10:03 PM

@carrick58...cracking me up!

Ha ha, this whole nurse thing has sidelined us all a bit to varying degrees rofl

Keep it up everyone, and don't get yourself killed out there!

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/17 02:50 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

16 Apr 1917 @ 06h01 Patrol to our lines east of Thelus

Scott called a briefing at 05h00 to identify the nature of the morning mission.
News had come in from the 1st Canadian Division, 2nd Can Inf. Bge, 2nd Can Machine Gun COY around the vicinity of Thelus, that three enemy Obs aircraft were observed plying up and down their lines reconnoitering. Given that the Vimy offensive had just completed, the 1st. Canadian Division was anxious to keep the Huns blindsided while they consolidated their position. Our task was to drive them down or off.

We were advised that we would have wind of 8 kn from the SSW with thick billowing cumulous cloud cover from 3,000 to 13,000 ft. The chances of spotting enemy craft would be slim to none unless conditions improved.

“A†flight was assigned top cover and composed of Caldwell, Bishop, Rutherford and Youg. “B†flight leader was to be Godfrey and composed of Clinton on wing, Scott, Fry, Horn and Pope.

Both flights set out at o6h01 to form up north of the field. Upon achieving an altitude of 12,800 ft at 06h34, Godfrey lead the flight on to Neuville-Saint- Vaast, still not above the prevailing cloud cover and therefore in and out of the muck, trying to maintain formation. At 06h39 they were over Saint-Vaast and approaching the Lens-Arras road. Observing a good sized pocket of clear weather below, Godfrey began a descent. As they crossed the Lens-Arras road, Godfrey noticed “A†flight beating a hasty descent on his port side. Glancing over and down he spotted three specs on a southward course about 2000 ft below. He quickly waggled his wings and joined the chase that “A†flight had begun.

Godfrey latched on to the rear most craft that turned out to be a Roland CII, strafed him from the rear on a diving pass, came up under him again and continued the pursuit. He sent several more volleys into the elusive pray as the Hun threw his craft into evasive maneuvers and dove towards the clouds below. Godfrey was not so willing to give up the chase and entered into the cloud bank straining his eyes for a sign of his foe. As he broke out of the clouds he was down to 2900 ft and circled, searching anxiously for a sign of the Roland. He spotted Saint-Vaast close by and then caught a glimpse of movement below. It was the Hun spiraling down. Godfrey maintained eye contact, ready to pounce if the Roland should level out and make a run for it. It did not. It crashed into the earth below sending up a billowing brown cloud of smoke and dust. Godfrey glanced around, took note of the time 06h39, and then began a climb out. During the climb he noted two aircraft mixing it up only a short distance away and so he investigated. It was another Roland and one of his squad mates, Scott. As the Roland began to fly in his direction, Godfrey turned into the Huns port side and strafed him. He was about to pursue in earnest when he heard Scott’s gun firing, so he pulled up and to port to avoid any possible collision and just watched as Scott dispatched the Hun.

Godfrey became somewhat concerned when he observed that Scott did not immediately pull up to rejoin. He seemed to be having some difficulty with his mount. Godfrey pursued Scott, saying close until he was able to determine that Scott could properly regain altitude. The rest of the flight was beginning the circling to reform and so Godfrey and Scott rejoined and headed back to base. It was 06h53 when the flight passed over Camblain L’Abbe at 9,700 ft.
They all made it back to Filescamp at 06h57 safely, albeit Scott had suffered light damage to his craft in combat with the Roland and it would require 2 days to repair. Horn’s craft was in worse shape with heavy damage that would take 3 days to put back in flying order. Both Scott and Godfrey put in claims.

Bishop of “A†flight shot down the last Roland of the three and both Caldwell and Rutherford confirmed the kill.

All three Rolands fell close to Saint-Vaast near our balloon installation and the wreckage of the three was investigated.

There was considerable celebration in the mess that night and very few clear heads the next morning.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/17 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by stljeffbb
Antön Otersdorf
Jasta 32
April 1917
Morchingen Aerodrome
Alsace Front

The letter:

Quote
17 April, 1917

Dear Antön,

I have heard you have transferred into a flying unit...please be careful with yourself! I have seen many flyers come to hospital, and in many cases suffer horrible injuries, just as bad as those men who are in the trenches. These pilots tend to be dashing and quick with words, and brave too, but also perhaps a bit unaware of how bad it is on the ground. I have met the one they call “The Red Fighter Pilotâ€, Manfred von Richtofen, and some of his cadre. There is another recent pilot, Aldi Schwarzkopf, who was here for about ten days after getting shot in a fight in the air. He is a polite and engaging man, but sadly these pilots come and go so quickly. I must admit that I look forward to renewing my studies to become a kindergarten teacher when this terrible war is over, and I look forward to visiting our parents and other siblings once again at our farm. Well, I shouldn't take up much of your time as I know you are preparing for battles and whatever pilots do, however, I wanted you to know that I send my love to you.....please be safe!

Affectionately your sister,

K


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

Regards,

Jeff



I'm not listening. La! La! La! La! La!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/17 04:14 PM

Robert, great report. Very detailed, as always.

21 April, 1917 Halluin

Today was a great day to fly - clear skies and incredible visibility. Those were the factors which decided that today's morning mission will be one to escort bombers over enemy territory to try and knock out the army base south of Bailleul. Aldi was leading Schwarm Zwei with Grieffenhagen, Klein and Strähle in tow.

[Linked Image]

The ground battle was still raging on below while up top it was peaceful with only the roar of the engines disturbing it. Aldi flew alongside the Emil und Franz Flugzeug noting the pilot (Emil) concentrating on navigating to the target while the gunner (Franz) took a more relaxed approach and waved to Aldi having nothing better to do.

[Linked Image]

This will change very soon. They were nearly over the target. The two Rolands dove to attack their designated targets below, while Aldi's flight stayed high waiting for the inevitable. As on command three Nieuports showed up for the fight. They would have to go through the Schwarm to get to the bombers. Easier said than done. The furball was vicious, Aldi shot at one of the N23's which in turn dove steeply to avoid further damage.

[Linked Image]

Aldi left him for "later" and stayed high with the other two attackers. He was able to get on the tail of another one fairly quickly as the Nieuport driver was already preoccupied with the rest of the Schwarm engaging him. Schwarzkopf sent a few well placed rounds in his direction, but decided to abandon his attack as the sky was getting crowded around him.

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His wingmen smelled blood and were eager to finish the job. He disengaged and looked for the last of the enemy scouts. He found him just above getting ready to make his attack run on one of the Rolands. Aldi wasn't going to allow it. He dove after the Nieuport and this time gave him no quarter. He pressed his attack all the way to the deck, spinning behind his prey while causing greater damage to the enemy's machine. Finally the crippled sesquiplane drove into the ground and the Albatros begun a turning climb to gain some altitude. While performing this maneuver, he noticed a Nieuport following Grieffenhagen just below. Must have been the one he let go earlier, who now turned the tables and was a thorn in the C.O.'s backside. The luck was on Schwarzkopf's side - they were flying just in front of him, which made it easy to get in position and send a quick volley. The French plane jerked and spiraled down to ground smashing into a thousand pieces.

[Linked Image]

Aldi looked for Grieffenhagen but the boss was already on his way back home, no doubt nursing a battered plane. Hauptmann decided to follow him and set his course for Halluin, as the air above them started to get thick with Flak and new enemy planes arriving on the scene sniffing after easy kills. He left the battle scene behind and cleared the Flak with his machine trimmed for cruising speed on the return leg. He noticed two dots high above also flying steadily in the direction of the base.
"Must be the two Rolands returning home" he thought to himself. "Wonder if they've hit anything."
Suddenly the one in front exploded in a ball of fire and plummeted straight down followed by a black trail of smoke.

[Linked Image]

The other dot began to dive and turn in his direction. Aldi realized, the Roland wasn't returning home, but trying to run away from his attacker, which currently was bearing straight at him. Aldi began to climb to meet his assailant. The initial pass was a draw, with the exception that Aldi was now high and the Nieuport low and quickly heading for an airfield. Schwarzkopf gave chase being sure he can easily catch him long before he can reach the safety of the anti-aircraft guns. He was gaining and nearly in range, when bullets started hitting the canvas of his machine. Two more N23's on his tail were enjoying Aldi's inattentiveness. He spun quickly to get his plane out of the harm's way. "Where the hell did they come from?" The two Nieuports worked well together and kept him in pincers. He was able to get one of them in his sights for just a second, but that was enough. The enemy was hit and decided to abandon his flight mate to fend for himself. Aldi took advantage of that and went on the offensive now that the odds were even. They both kept circling each other losing height. Eventually there was no more altitude to maneuver and the enemy pilot duped Aldi with a fake move and broke for home at treetop height. Schwarzkopf followed and was gaining but wasn't sure he could reach him before the airfield guns would make Swiss cheese out of his machine.

[Linked Image]

He clenched his teeth and pressed on. The airfield was in sight and so was the enemy plane. Aldi unleashed the twin Spandaus and that was it. That's all it took.

[Linked Image]

The Nieuport's engine stopped and then immediately erupted into a ball of fire.

[Linked Image]

At this low height there was nothing that could be done. The scout snagged the tree branches and ploughed into the ground leaving a burning crater. Aldi's tail was already facing the enemy airfield when the airfield's ambulance bell began to clang frantically. He was sure the medic will not be needed. Schwarzkopf was eager to get back to his own aerodrome. The rest of the return trip was completed without further incidents which suited him just fine. After landing he made three claims, but owing to the confusing mess over the target only one of them was witnessed and confirmed. It didn't matter to him. He was still thinking of that Franz waving to him earlier. He is now lying down there all mangled in a heap of charred wood and twisted metal, probably being photographed as yet another trophy.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 02:58 AM

wow such good pics and stories. Keep em coming
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 03:37 AM

Helmut von Hammer
2nd field Hospital
Row 2 Bed 4
South Wing. Wimereux Medical


Aug 19, 1917.

I was given a 24 hour pass before heading back to the front. Took in the local sights.

https://giphy.com/gifs/barbara-stanwyck-CR5XUZaf3COgU/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/1955-the-night-of-hunter-1950s-movies-JvhCoR12HC0Jq/fullscreen

what a night, there were times when I couldn't even look up

https://giphy.com/gifs/charles-laughton-robert-mitchum-the-night-of-hunter-nEu6V0St2AuvC/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 03:53 PM

Fullofit, it's getting so I can't decide which I am enjoying most, the stories or the pics. Those are great screen captures you are posting!!

Carrick, Helmut may well need to go back to hospital to recover from his night out on the town! There is a fine line between which is worse, the dangers of combat or the dangers of city night life.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 04:55 PM

Carrick, how do you come up with all these gifs?

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Fullofit, it's getting so I can't decide which I am enjoying most, the stories or the pics. Those are great screen captures you are posting!!


Robert, I thank you for the compliment. The good news is that there is no reason to decide between the two. This thread is full of great stories and excellent screens from everyone. Keep them coming all. We enjoy them all immensely!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 06:13 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

21 Apr 1917 @ 04h01 Attack on Vimy Junction

This mission was on hold for four days. Apr 17th to 20th had been washouts due to heavy weather and rain. The weather broke a little so it was back on schedule for the morning. HQ was anxious to hit all the rail depots since the intelligence indicated a Hun buildup of supplies and troops coming to the front. “A†and “B†flights were tasked to do as much damage as possible with their Le Prieur ordinance.

The CO indicated that the wind was at 8 kn from the north and that there would be towering cumulous from 3,000 to 10,000 ft with breaks, so conditions were not socked in. There was hope that skies would be clear enough over the rail depot to identify it before coming down under the prevailing cloud cover.

The Nieuports were only filled to 60% fuel in order to keep them light and agile for the mission.

Godfrey lead “B†flight, accompanied by Clinton on wing, Scott, Molesworth and Young. Their task was to hit the railyard first while “A†flight lead by Bishop and his crew of Caldwell, Horn and Pope, were to provide top cover.

The flights took off at 04h00, pretty much in the dark. They formed up north of the field at 04h14, and having attained an altitude of 4,500 ft., they set out directly east towards the front lines just north of Thelus. They arrived there in good time at 04h21 having decended to 3,400 ft in order to make out the terrain below. They passed over Oppy and were soon able to make out Vimy junction at 04h28. Godfrey brought the flight just under the cloud cover and they began their attack on the junction at 04h30. Godfrey’s rockets all hit the second locomotive shed shredding it’s roof and igniting it’s contents.
Clinton was right behind him but failed to hit anything significant. Scott, Molesworth and Young did some minor damage to office and housing facilities.

Godfrey having loosed all his ordinance, climbed out scanning the skies for any Hun interlopers that might have designs on spoiling the party. There were none above, but Godfrey noted two craft moving, in the vicinity of Douai airfield at 04h32. It appeared as though there might be some aircraft taking off but it was too far away to determine if they were scouts or two seaters. He took it upon himself to investigate and upon arriving near the field he moved in on the tail of the last of three craft low down near the field. It had not been possible to determine if they were taking off or landing and he approached the trailing craft quickly in the very low light. Closing in he had just been able to identify the craft as a two seater when it’s gunner began to fire. Godfrey began a hail of fire at the craft in self defense while jockeying to make himself less of a target. He was lucky, as the two seater began to lose control and crashed below, no doubt a luck shot that hit the pilot.

Godfrey pulled up, and headed back to the railyard, satisfied that the enemy craft were two seaters and therefore unlikely to bother his flight’s activities.
Arriving back at the railyard, Godfrey fired off a flare to reform and they all began to form up for the return to Filescamp. Once formed up they headed towards Etrun airfield as it was evident to Godfrey that his engine was loosing some power and Scott was weaving somewhat and looking like he was in trouble.

As they approached the Lens – Arras road, Godfrey’s engine sputtered and died.
They were back over the lines and so in safe territory but there was no place to put down the N23 except directly on the road. Godfrey shut off the fuel cock and turned off the magneto while lining up with the road going north, and set it down gently. She had a hard bounce and then came to a stop quickly pulling a quarter spin to port before settling in. Godfrey could hear the hum of the N23 engines above likely heading to Etrun. He hoped that Scott would make it and that he was not badly hurt.

A convoy coming along the road stopped to assist Godfrey and a Lance sergeant attached to 1 Can Div HQ, was assigned to escort him back to Etrun.

They arrived at Etrun at approximately 11h00. Godfrey headed directly to the RO office, reported in, identified his claim of a DFW C.V. and that he needed a recovery vehicle to bring his N23 back from the Lens – Arras road.

He learned that Scott had made it to Etrun with a light wound but his craft was destroyed upon attempting to land and Young’s N23 had suffered light damage. All other pilots had landed safely. Godfrey was relieved to hear the good news. The R.O. went on to say that an OP had reported back that little significant damage had been done to the railyard and that he expected the mission would likely have to be repeated.

Godfrey just shook his head, saluted, and headed to the mess for a hot tea, some nourishment, and to rejoin his crew.

Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 06:46 PM

I say, that's not very sporting shooting them while they are landing. biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 07:40 PM

Here is the status report on last week's activities. Stljeffbb, sorry but I had to lose the umlauts because EXCEL didn't seem to like them.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
I say, that's not very sporting shooting them while they are landing. biggrin

Robert, don't listen to this crazy talk. The cut-throat enemy will do the same to you in the blink of an eye.

Banjoman, thanks for your continued support of this thread. I look forward to the stats every week.


22 April, 1917 St. Pol-sur-Mer 9 RNAS Headquarters

A young man of a short stature walked into the office and saluted smartly. Two officers were sitting already inside, a secretary and an empty chair waiting for him. There was only one window looking out onto the airfield. A strange smell hung in the air that reminded him of something he couldn't put his finger on.
"At ease Flight Lieutenant Gunn. Please do sit down" He heard the voice of his Commanding Officer Fawcett. Gunn took the seat.
"Flight Lieutenant, I want you to repeat the report you've submitted to me for the Naval Intelligence Officer Farrah present here. He is interested in the German pilot you've mentioned."
"The chap with the thing on his plane?" Brian Gunn was pretty sure of the answer.
"That's correct, Flight Lieutenant." Fawcett confirmed.
"Well," Gunn begun "the afternoon patrol over the lines started at 14:35. I was part of A-flight led by Flight Commander Allan Aston. 'Boots' was there too..."
"Boots?" Farrah was not familiar with 9 RNAS pilot names.
"Yes, Captain Oliver Le Boutillier. B-flight consisted of Flight Lieutenant Jimmy Lehman, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Harold Stackard and led by Flight Commander Fred Banbury."
"Ah yes, good old Fred! Go on then."
"We started our patrol near Ypres and proceeded south to Menen, where we encountered a flight of 3 red and blue Albatrosses at 9,000 feet." Gunn continued.
"That's Jasta 18. We've had nothing but trouble from them." Farrah interjected.
"Right, we had altitude advantage, so we swooped down on them in our Pups and I raked the starboard wing of one of them with my Vickers.

[Linked Image]

That was the one with the white band across the fuselage and some kind of doodle on it. It looked like a naked girl with her hair on fire, except it was green."
Fawcett was revolted by the imagery. "Those Huns are shameless. If one of my pilots painted something like that on one of my planes I'd have him hauled under the keel of a tugboat!"
"There was also another plane with just a plain white band."
"That's Grieffenhagen, their commanding officer."
"And one with a narrow dark band."
"That would be von Bülow-Bothkamp, their best ace."
"There was also one with a white axe."
"This one I'm not sure of, but I think it's Strähle."
"Well, after our initial pass they scattered all around. Allan and 'Boots' went after the chap with the doodle, while 'the axe' and 'the white band' came after me.

[Linked Image]

I was holding my own against those two, but I could see 'Boots' was having a tough fight and eventually he was damaged by the devil with the nude lass, but was able to dive and get away."
"Yes, it'll take two days to repair his crate but at least he's all in one piece." Fawcett confirmed.
Gunn continued, "I was still dealing with the pair on my tail when I saw that same Hun shoot down Flight Commander Aston. I could not help him."

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

"Nasty business, the Australians are still scooping him out of the wreckage. Poor sod!" Fawcett responded.
"The two Krauts finally tired of chasing after me and disengaged, but I was in no shape to chase after them. My Pup was shot to pieces. Meanwhile, B-flight arrived on scene and went on the offensive. Flight Commander Banbury attacked the chap with the doodle. He was hopping mad after seeing Aston go down and tried as hard as he could to pay him back.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

They kept circling Aston's smoking crater, God rest his soul, but eventually the rest of Huns showed up. First, the other white band, then two more from the other flight, who were dragged into this while chasing Jimmy. That is Flight Lieutenant Jimmy Lehman of B-flight."
"Where was Flight Sub-Lieutenant Stackard in all of this?" Fawcett asked, noticing the other member of B-flight missing from Gunn's report.
"Sir, Harold had to turn back with engine problem early on. That's the second time this week." Flight Lieutenant Gunn responded and continued his report.

[Linked Image]

"Well, when all the other Albatrosses showed up, we were outnumbered and Fred ... I mean Flight Commander Banbury gave the signal to return to base. We all did just that, while still being chased by the Germans, except Lehman who got tangled into a turning fight with that menace of a Hun."
"That Hun with the lady?" Asked Farrah.
"Yes, the very same." Gunn confirmed. "This was a very close quarter battle with their wingtips missing each other by mere inches.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

We were moving further away from this fight and couldn't follow it anymore. I assume the Hun brought Flight Lieutenant Lehman down.

[Linked Image]

That is all I know, Sirs."
"Jimmy is in the hospital, out for a few weeks. That will be all Flight Lieutenant Gunn. Thank you, you may go." Fawcett dismissed him. The two officers watched him salute and leave the room in silence.
"So, what do we know of this new Ace?" Fawcett turned to Farrah.
"Well, our spy tells us he was recently released from a hospital ..."
"You mean, we almost had him? By Jove!" Fawcett interrupted.
"Yes, he was hit by a Nieuport jockey a few weeks back. His name is Aldi Schwarzkopf and he is a Hauptmann in Jasta 18 stationed at Halluin."
Fawcett looked very pensive: "What are we going to do about that one? My boys are no match for these highly trained devils."
"Not to worry, old chap." Farrah knew exactly what to do. "We'll put such a high bounty on his head that even the Baron himself won't be able to resist it."
"Jolly good!" Fawcett sprung to his feet and hooked his thumbs on his belt. "I'll go give my lads the good news. Cheerio!" He walked out of he room.
Farrah reclined in his chair and lit up a cigarette. Another productive day at the "office". The smoke filled his lungs. It felt good.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
I say, that's not very sporting shooting them while they are landing. biggrin


Well, I just couldn't resist, having come all the way to the Douai airfield from the railyard on the possibility that there were scouts taking off. Once I got there in the low light and close in, I knew they were DFW's landing, but what the hell. they were shooting at me!! biggrin

Gee, I only shot down one! I let the other two land safely! I think that is pretty fair! rolleyes
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 10:16 PM

Fullofit, judging by your report, "the game is a foot" as Sherlock would say! Can't wait for the next episode!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/17 11:55 PM

Robert, next episode coming up, as requested.

(I'm surprised you didn't comment on the names of the two officers.) duh

23 April,1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

The call came through to scramble immediately. There were sightings of enemy machines near Lens. Aldi led his flight directly over the lines toward the intercept point. Schwarm Eins flew alongside 1200 m on his port side to cast as wide of a net as possible without losing sight of each other. Upon arrival, they've begun a search pattern. It didn't take long to locate their query north-east of the city. The Flak gave the enemy away as always.

[Linked Image]

Two 2c's came out of the clouds below them with no escort whatsoever. Aldi gave order to attack and dove on the observation machines with the entire Schwarm in tow. As he picked up speed he aimed for the lumbering crate on the right. They haven't spotted them yet. He raked the enemy machine, pulled up and came for another pass, but the large bird stood on the port-side wing and begun to spiral down counterclockwise. Aldi followed it in shallow dive expecting a ruse, but the two-seater kept on falling. Schwarzkopf levelled out and followed the B.E. with his eyes only. It only took a few more seconds. The crash site was marked by a large cloud of smoke and dust, which from above looked like a great mushroom. Aldi begun to climb again expecting the other 2c to have already been dealt with, but to his surprise the rest of his Schwarm was still at it.

[Linked Image]

It reminded Aldi of a wounded beast with damage all around. It was bleeding but refused to go down. The Schwarm kept attacking and Schwarzkopf was reluctant to join in.

[Linked Image]

It would take a moment of lost concentration to end this simple job with a tragedy. He stayed away.

[Linked Image]

Finally someone rammed one of the wings with their undercarriage and the two-seater spiralled down to the ground. Aldi gathered his scouts into a formation and returned home cutting through the thick clouds. He claimed the BE-2c, but did not join in the celebration. The letter from Käte carefully put away in his left breast pocket was burning a hole in his hart.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 12:53 AM

Farrah Fawcett....Dah!!
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 02:41 AM

@Banjoman...ha ha, no worries! WOFF:UE does not like umlauts either!

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

Antön Otersdorf
Jasta 32
April 1917
Morchingen Aerodrome
Alsace Front

21 April 1917. Two missions today...in the morning, we were assigned to aerodrome defense. A good day to fly, but no enemies sighted.

[Linked Image]

Our second mission in the afternoon was a journey to the front.

[Linked Image]

One other aeroplane did cross our path. It was someone from our squadron, but I'm not sure whom. Whoever they were they were by themselves.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Otherwise, no enemies sighted.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

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

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 01:36 PM

Fantastic stories, screenies as vids Gents! Carrick, I have to make sure I do not have a mouthful of coffee before opening your posts.

Edgar Everheart
Flight Commander
8RNAS
Auchel,

We have been doing lots of Railyard and airfield strikes. Not the most pleasant assignments. The last one almost saw the end of Edgar. While attacking a Hun aerodrome, coming out of his last pass Edgar felt and heard a loud bang on his starboard side. Edgar did not know if he had collided with something or what but his machine was falling to starboard at low altitude. His lower wing plane was in tatters! Stick hard left, hard left rudder and we might straighten out before we hit those trees. He barely made it over the trees and started climbing west. Oh great! now me engine is smoking. Luckily he met no enemy on his was back and just over the lines when his engine quit he was headed straight for a road. Luck was with him today. Badly shaken by the incident he put in for leave and was granted 5 days of rest.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 03:02 PM

Hey Gents, can I ask for your suggestions? I've been flying both of my pilots for almost two years now and I am completely out of ideas for stories. I need some suggestions from our literary giants as to how to proceed. Should I just start giving descriptions of my flights without any attempt at a narrative or should I just wait until something comes to me? Any suggestions or helpful tips will be greatly appreciated.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Hey Gents, can I ask for your suggestions? I've been flying both of my pilots for almost two years now and I am completely out of ideas for stories. I need some suggestions from our literary giants as to how to proceed. Should I just start giving descriptions of my flights without any attempt at a narrative or should I just wait until something comes to me? Any suggestions or helpful tips will be greatly appreciated.


Glad you clarified that Banjoman. "Literary giants" leaves me out of the equation! I don't think there is anything lacking in your stories. Maybe go into the strain of command and combat? Or you can do like me and just give up trying to hash out a story and just hit a highlight until something comes to you as you say.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 03:53 PM

Don't sell yourself too short, my friend. You have spun some mighty fine tales in your time.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 04:06 PM

Banjoman: Dont beat up on yourself, I have read and enjoyed your storytelling.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 04:16 PM

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


Aug 21, 1917.


Finally, back in the fight. An ADJ ran thru the morning Mess yelling Alarm . We ran to our warming machines playing follow the leader in the scattered rain showers. Over Memen we circled looking for enemy a/c , but it was not to be. RTB cold, and wet.


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Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 04:32 PM

If you're getting stuck for ideas just make up a detail about your character. It doesn't have to be anything big, he might have a limp, he might be left handed or perhaps he doesn't like cheese.

Then ask yourself why he has a limp/is left handed/doesn't like cheese? From there you'll start putting layers of behaviour together that develop into more substantial ideas. Start small, build up.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 07:51 PM

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 09:49 PM

Lederhosen, glad to see you are back, we've been missing you.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/17 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Hey Gents, can I ask for your suggestions? I've been flying both of my pilots for almost two years now and I am completely out of ideas for stories. I need some suggestions from our literary giants as to how to proceed. Should I just start giving descriptions of my flights without any attempt at a narrative or should I just wait until something comes to me? Any suggestions or helpful tips will be greatly appreciated.


Banjoman, surprised to see you at a loss. You've done some great stuff. The Great War was a time of social change. More than ever before, people were exposed to the full cross-section of society. Landed gentry served alongside newly-minted officers who would have been lucky to get a job below stairs back home. Canadians and Australians, described in the mess as the "coloured troops," built a national identity. The factory hand flew with Freiherr von Whatever. Women were out of the kitchen and parlour. So I think a constantly rewarding theme is the newfound social mobility of this period. Pick a social background -- rich kid, poor kid -- and explain his route to the cockpit. If stuck, find the most obscure period biography and steal liberally.

Remember that squadron life was more than flying. You can interact with villagers, the farmer who owns the shed next door, the infantry in the neighbourhood, the reporter who visits, etc. There were secondary duties: training lectures, supply runs, summary trials, church parades, visiting dignitaries. There were sports and competitions (more on the British side, I believe).

Research the historical aces you fly with. Their histories may give you ideas.

And don't hesitate to PM. I'd like nothing more than to help whip up a back-story with you!

Cheers,

George
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/17 01:05 AM

Thanks everybody for the ideas, just a bad case of writer's block. I've been with these two fellows for so long that it is easy for the ideas to dry up, but you've given me some good fodder to chew on.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/17 03:48 AM

Some breathtaking stories here lately, guys. Fullofit's low-level fight with the Pups produced some of the best photos I've seen yet. I don't know how you have the presence of mind to grab those shots in the midst of a low-level dogfight. I'm too busy not flying into solid objects to even think of it. And Robert is racking up an impressive score. Then MFair turns his triplane into a biplane and lives to tell the tail. Carrick returns from gallivanting with nurses. Stljeffbb, you are doing great things with your research and story-telling. Love it! And Lederhosen gets the Dragodile out of the garage at last! Hope I haven't forgotten anyone...

Anyway, please welcome Franz Holzhauer, my latest candidate for immortality.

Editor's note

These memoirs recently came to light during the renovation of an old summer home at Schwielowsee, near Berlin. The several notebooks had lain unnoticed for a century in a chest in the attic.

Franz Holzhauer was 18 when the war began, but he had already lived an interesting life. His father Marius had worked as a senior engineer for Siemens in Berlin. As a younger man, Marius Holzhauer had worked on the construction of telegraph lines alongside the German-built Baghdad Railway.[1] Still in his 20s, Marius helped to establish a project office in Bucharest and met and befriended Alfred von Kiderlen-Waechter, the acting German ambassador, who was responsible for negotiation with the Ottomans on the railroad project.[2]

Frau Holzhauer, the former Katerina Schaumeier, remained in Berlin and raised their young family. Daughter Maria and Victoria were followed in May 1896 by the birth of their son, Franz.

The association with Kiderlen-Waechter led to other things. In 1902 Marius Holzhauer was appointed technical attaché to the embassy in London, where he helped the German Telefunken company wage a patent war with Marconi. He studied Britain’s fleet conversion from coal to oil, reporting to the military attachés.

In 1904, the Holzhauers moved to Washington, where Marius studied progress in aviation and advised the German patent office on ways to avoid allowing the Wright Brothers to patent wing-warping technology.[3] Young Marius was fascinated by the thought of flying from his earliest years. In 1910 young Franz travelled to Chicago with his father and spent several weeks bothering workers at the Bates Aero Works while his father negotiated the purchase of a Bates aircraft motor. It was during this summer that Franz flew a glider for the first time, on the strictest of undertakings not to tell his mother.

The Holzhauers moved to Rome in 1911 and returned to Berlin in 1913. From 1911 Franz spent the school year with an uncle and aunt in Berlin, where he attended the Königliche Wilhelms-Gymnasium. With the outbreak of war, Franz attempted to join the infant Fliegertruppen but was turned down and was accepted instead into a Jaeger regiment. He served in the 1914 campaign but saw little action, having been sent to a quiet sector in the Vosges. Finally, in February 1915 he was accepted as a pilot candidate by the Fliegertruppen.

Excelling in training, Franz found himself on the Eastern front from November 1915 until February 1917. His earlier memoirs tell of numbing boredom and disillusionment. In January 1917, following a long period recuperating from a bout of pneumonia, Franz Holzhauer’s request for a posting to a single-seat unit was accepted and after a period of leave he shipped west to the school at Valenciennes.

We pick up his story with his arrival at his first operational fighter squadron, Jasta 17.

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The Holzhauer Papers
Part 1: 16-23 April 1917, St-Quentin-le-Petit


The car with its fat, sullen corporal pulled up at a stone farmhouse just outside a little village that nestled in a fold in the surrounding fields. It was 15 April 1917, and here at last I was about to join the real war.

Jasta 17 was based at St-Quentin-le-Petit, in the open land south of the Ardennes, about 40 km north of Reims. I was met by Rittmeister von Brederlow, the Jastaführer. This aristocratic officer welcomed me heartily and questioned me at length about my experiences in the East. He invited me to a gathering in the Kasino, where there was a great party underway. The guest of honour was a French sergeant with a heavily bandaged face. He had been shot down that day by Vizefeldwebel Julius Buckler. Buckler had downed the man’s Spad scout and a Caudron as well – his 3rd and 4th victories! This, it seemed, was a real fighting squadron.

I met a number of the other pilots, and struggled to learn everyone’s name. The Jastaführer’s brother in the adjutant. There is Leutnant der Reserve Günther, Leutnant Alfred Träger, and Leutnant Schuster. Perhaps the most interesting new acquaintance is Vizefeldwebel Jakob Wolff. He is old enough to be my father, or even my father’s older brother! He is a director of the huge Lörser & Wolff cigar company. Imagine! A man with 4000 employees serving as an NCO at the front! This war can bring out the good or the bad, but this is certainly a case of bringing out the good. There are many other names to learn.

The Frenchman, named Papeil, was well plied with champagne. Ltn Träger spoke decent French and served as the translator. Papeil referred to his machine as “ma Lola.†We liked the way it sounded and by dinner there were cries of “Malaula†as we rendered the name. It was to become our battle cry.

On 16 April the French began a major push. We had known for days it was due, and now we hoped to get busy. The morning was clear and I flew an early patrol down to the lines near Reims. We did not cross over and we saw nothing. I was anxious to prove that, unlike true neophytes, I had the ability to spot other machines at a distance, but there truly was nothing to see. My machine was a delight, one of the new Albatros models with the Nieuport-like wings. It handled delicately and precisely, unlike anything else I’d flown. Vzfw Strasser, even though lowest in rank in the patrol, led us. I learned that this kind of thing often happened here. Strasser was good enough to warn me not to overstress the Albatross, because the strength of its main spar was still suspect.

Buckler did it again – he downed his fifth Frenchman, a Nieuport.

I flew a second time that day, another uneventful jaunt well behind the lines. And then the rain came. For the next four days we sat around our huts and read books. Feldwebel Ehms, who shares a hut with me, plays chess very well and we had countless games, all of which he won. I intend to play him every day until I beat him. We have good access to decent brandy and, thanks to Vzfw Wolff, all the cigars we can handle. You can scarcely breathe in our Kasino!

On 22 April the skies cleared and we took off at 5 am for a patrol along the front. Our lovely type 3 Albatrosses have gone back to the factory for work on the wings. In place of my nimble machine I have been assigned a DII type. The visibility is much worse and the thing feels unbearably heavy by comparison. We were about halfway to the lines when the Rittmeister, who led us, waggled his wings and pointed to the east. A cluster of dots was passing our way and we climbed to inspect them. The dots broke formation and came at us: Nieuports! We mixed with them for five or ten minutes and Ltn Günther sent one down in flames. I learned how dangerous this kind of fight can be. Twice in the space of seconds I had to smash the stick forward to avoid a collision with another German. And then suddenly the sky was empty. I flew straight for a moment and waited for the compass to stop spinning. Then, pop-pop-pop! I was being shot at, which did not please me at all. Where he came from I do not know, but a Sopwith two-seater with French markings flashed past me. Fortunately the fellow was not a good shot.

I gave chase, twisting and turning to stay behind and below him and out of the way of his gunner, whom I could see heaving his machine gun from side to side. The French pilot was nervous. He threw his machine around too violently for the poor gunner to have a chance. As we dropped below a thousand metres I got under the French machine and fired from close range. It fell over on one wing and began to spiral earthward, crashing into a field near Saint-Fergeux.

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"It fell over on one wing and began to spiral earthward"

The confirmation came quickly and we had a small celebration in the mess, where I was presented with a silver Ehrenbecher. I hope it is the first of many.

On 23 April I was told to lead a patrol down to Reims. I say “leadâ€, but Ltn Schuster stayed close on my wing and watched carefully over me. I had orders to hand over command if he fired a white flare. Over the lines we spotted a formation of Nieuports and climbed to meet them. The fight was chaotic. Twice I flew head-on at a Frenchman. Buckler had told me never to break off in this situation. Fire constantly and make the other fellow break away first. After the second head-on attack I knew I had good speed and could climb and turn onto the Frenchman’s tail. I had barely begun to turn when there was a loud bang and I saw Ltn Träger’s machine falling away. Collision!

My machine was still responsive. It had been a glancing blow to the underside of the tail. I was unsure of the damage so I broke off and headed for the forward field at St- Remy-le-Petit, near Rethel. After a safe landing I was driven back to our field, where I was delighted to learn that Träger had been able to bring his damaged machine down safely. Rittmeister von Brederlow convened an inquiry into the collision and assured me it had been unavoidable, although he held Träger back for some loving words!

Then in the afternoon we were back over the lines, escorting two DFWs to bomb French reserve positions. But we ran into a great swarm of Nieuports who attacked us aggressively. I somehow acquired two of them all to myself and was grateful for my DII, as I would likely have torn the wings off a DIII. A bullet grazed my side and I spun out of the fight. The Mercedes packed it in and I put down in a cratered field near Guignicourt. Several Bavarian soldiers helped me out of the machine and I repaid them with some of Wolff’s cigars which I carried in a leather case. Then took me to a Feldlazarett .
I am told I shall be out of action for four days.

Historical Notes:

[1] The Baghdad Railway project was undertaken between 1888 and the beginning of the war. Marius Holzmann likely worked on the telegraph during the phase of construction from EskiÅŸehir to Konya, which was concluded in 1903.

[2] Alfred von Kiderlen-Waechter became Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and had a major role in Germany's provocative approach to the 1911 Agadir Crisis in Morocco.

[3] The Wrights were notorious for trying to patent every aspect of aircraft construction. They failed spectacularly, and their defensiveness likely kept them out of the forefront of aviation development.




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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/17 01:06 PM

Raine

You really need to work on a book. Your work is that good! You inspire us all with your research.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/17 04:50 PM

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

Aug 22, 1917.


They returned my D-V to Jasta 11 amd I drew a D-III OAW from the stores. I made test hops during the A.M. then was Schwarmfuhrer for the afternoon flight of 6 machines. Over the lines, we caught 5 e/a flight of Sopwiths. My flight got 2 of them,but no gong for me. I got off 150 rds then a gun jammed , Line up one a sitter only to have the other gun jam. Nothing to do but RTB.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/17 04:53 PM

Just my 2 cents. I agree with Mr. Wiggins, Raine has talent at writing.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/17 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Hey Gents, can I ask for your suggestions? I've been flying both of my pilots for almost two years now and I am completely out of ideas for stories. I need some suggestions from our literary giants as to how to proceed. Should I just start giving descriptions of my flights without any attempt at a narrative or should I just wait until something comes to me? Any suggestions or helpful tips will be greatly appreciated.


Looks like I'm late to the party. Banjoman, I'm the last one to give advice on storytelling since I can barely put two words together. I get what your problem is. Coming up with stories for the same pilot over and over for so long can be difficult. (Get a new pilot!)
Seriously, all the suggestions you've been given are great and I'd like to add some more. Change your perspective. Don't write about your pilot. Write about your wingman, or other member of your flight, incorporating your pilot into the story. Perhaps even write from the perspective of an observer in one of the two-seaters your flight is escorting. Write how he shat his pants watching the mayhem unfold in front of him, while your flight swept the sky of the attacking scouts. You could even write from the perspective of the enemy your pilot dog-fought with. (Is that even a word?) Check what events were happening at the time of your mission in your squad and incorporate into your narrative - that's going into Raine's territory. Don't settle on just your pilot's story, if you know what I mean.

Raine, another triumph! I'm amazed at the details, people and events you are able to connect together through research. When do you get the time to fly?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/17 11:03 PM

Raine, I would like a signed copy if you please. Seriously, as the others have said, you are that good my friend.

Edgar Everheart
It happens again! Leading a 3 man patrol of enemy lines from Monchy to Lens when I spot Huns crossing the lines about a mile ahead. We stalk them getting between them and the sun but they spot us and turn to engaged. I give short bursts to the first three in head on passes, damaging the second one as puffs of smoke came from his engine. The fourth one I was on in a second and sent him spinning earthward but a glance behind me let me know I was the hunted. I turned into him and we circled until I was on his tail. I foolishly followed him down and observed him crash near Athies. Climbing out I was met with a barrage of Archie and felt something hit me in the buttocks. I smelled petrol and the thin vapour trail confirmed I was low behind the lines and loosing fuel. Cripes! Twice in a row. Luckily I was able to climb to 4000' before the engine went dud and I glided to the safety of our lines.

The wound was not serious and I will not loose any flight time. I claimed the second Albatros. Got to be more careful!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/17 12:23 AM

MFair, better get yourself a comfy pillow under your butt for the next few missions! butt

24 April, 1917 Halluin, Morning
Jasta 18

The HQ decided that the best use of the aircraft this morning will be to patrol the home aerodrome. Everyone thought this was the best idea HQ had for some time. Some even joked that if they get hungry during the mission, they can simply dive for a snack. Aldi did not get much sleep last night and was not in the mood for jokes. During the briefing Grieffenhagen reminded everyone to treat this like any other mission. The enemy was still up there regardless of what airfield they were circling over.
Aldi brought his flight up to altitude with learned efficiency only experience could afford. There was a cloud cover forming since the early hours. It will probably culminate with downpour later in the afternoon. Aldi's thoughts were interrupted by the dark puffs pockmarking tops of the clouds.

[Linked Image]

The enemy was heading north-west. The direction could easily be guessed by following the Flak. Schwarzkopf aimed for an area in front of the enemy formation to cut them off, opened up the throttle and entered a shallow dive. The enemy came fully into view and filled his windscreen. It was a flight of N12's without escort. If there was one, it was very well hidden, or already had abandoned the two-seaters and were well on their way back to base. No matter, the formation was coming into range. Aldi checked if everyone was in position. Von Bülow and Strähle on one side, Grieffenhagen and Klein on the other. Aldi opened fire on the rearmost machine. It began to smoke.

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Everyone else picked their target and the slaughter commenced. Aldi made another pass. His target begun to burn.

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He saw Strähle behind another Nieuport. Klein had another one smoking. Aldi swung around to finish the job but there was no need. The enemy was engulfed in flames and pouring black smoke from the rear.

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The machine went into a steep dive and begun to tumble out of control. Aldi looked around to see multiple machines on fire or smoking heavily.

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The formation had been decimated. There was perhaps one plane still trying to get away, doggedly followed by two Albatrosen. Aldi decided this was quite enough to consider this mission a success. He gave signal to form up and descended to the conveniently located aerodrome just below. He only had a few hours to rest before he'd have to go up again in the afternoon. Grieffenhagen already had picked the flight to go up and bust a balloon. Little did he suspect the outcome of that fateful sortie.


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/17 01:12 AM

Great read as usual Fullofit, and some really good ideas about breaking my writer's block. Ahren has been flying now for almost two years and I have never seen a Nieuport12. I actually find that sort of amazing, wonder what are the odds of that happening.
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/17 01:26 AM

Wow, just W-O-W to all of these posts:

jawdrop

@ Fullofit...I still marvel and wonder how you get those excellent shots. Do you have video capture with multiple views? And of course, fine stories (great anticipation), and Käte!

@ Raine.....excellent, just excellent writing! I wonder if you are not a history professor!

@ Lederhosen...good to see you! Fine pics as well with the morning (or evening) sun....and that dragodile, awesome!

@ Mfair.....yeah, I've shredded a lower wing on a Tripe on more than one occasion (in test flights and whatnot)...good stuff, and don't go west, lol!

@ Banjoman....what everyone else said about writing! You are doing great, just let it flow!

@ carrick58...short and sweet! Good stuff!

@ Robert_Wiggins....always enjoy your videos....I cannot fly like you do with the zoom all the way up in the cockpit....good stuff!

...know that I will not always be able to gush like this (ha ha I have a screaming three-year-old right now that I am tending to with one arm as I type with the other hand), but I will be watching. Real life is about to smack down on me hard (as it always does this time of year), but I will get some flying in and check in at least 30 times a day wink

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/17 04:16 AM

Antön Otersdorf
Jasta 32
April 1917
Morchingen Aerodrome
Alsace Front

22 April 1917. One mission today...assigned to balloon defense.

[Linked Image]

Two flights for a total of eight aeroplanes arrived near the scheduled place, and there were at least four Nieuports that I noticed. We scored one right away.

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Sadly, my machine suddenly, at exactly the wrong moment, would not go full speed! I'm not sure exactly what happened, but after wallowing around the air for a while and managing a few bursts,

[Linked Image]

I flew into a cloud and headed home.

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My wingman, Klaus Hengstberger was killed as his aeroplane was destroyed after I landed while he was fighting the Nieuports (I gave the return to base signal...not sure if he noticed it), and Kurt Beeken also went missing, presumed killed.

[Linked Image]

A dark day for our Jasta.

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

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: BigDuke66

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/17 05:39 AM

Surely do not what to distract from the topic but as some praise the high quality of Raine's posts I just wanted to show an example of what story a capable and dedicated person can pull out of a game, in this case:
"Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki" by Cuttlefish
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1363103
Sooner or later you look forward to read about the various characters that Cuttlefish invented, and back then it was of course the excitement of what the next post would bring.

I would say if Raine follows a unit through the war, telling stories of the pilots that come and go, from various perspectives like the ground crews, civilians near the airfield, etc. it surely would end as a story worth to be printed.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/17 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by stljeffbb
Do you have video capture with multiple views?


Jeff, nothing that sophisticated. (I don't even know what that means!) I'm afraid it is much less complex than that: Escape to pause, F1 to go to external view, move the view around with the numpad keys and press "K", go back to cockpit view, press Escape again, fly.


24 April, 1917 Halluin Aerodrome, Afternoon
Jasta 18

Aldi jumped out of the cockpit moments after setting his Albatros down on the field. Despite the movement constricting flight suit he ran toward the red and blue Albatros with a dark stripe across the fuselage already parked on the side. His friend Ltn Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp was inspecting a few holes in the tail section of the fuselage of his mount. His usually bright expression was replaced by heavy lines of concern on his face. Rain was soaking both pilots. He turned to Aldi when he approached: "Did you see what happened?"
"I lost him in the clouds. Last I saw, he was following the Fees into the clouds, then we got separated and after the fight he wasn't there to form up. I thought his engine was giving him trouble again and he turned back."
Von Bülow was just about to respond when a staff car pulled up and out of it jumped Ltn Strähle with his face pale as a ghost. The rain covered him in an instant.
"I've been to the hospital." Paul announced.
"And?" Both Aldi and Walter were in desperate need of information about their C.O. who had just been shot down.
"And now I'm back." Paul thought it was obvious.
"Yes, I can see that, but what about Herr Oberleutnant?" Von Bülow tried to be patient.
Strähle had finally understood, "He's still in the hospital. I left him there." He was starting to feel uncomfortable with all the questioning.
"AND?" Von Bülow's patience was quickly running out.
"He will be there for a while. The Fees did a number on him and he was shot in the leg and lower jaw. The medic did all he could. He told me himself!" Paul exclaimed in one breath trying to keep Walter calm.
"How could this have happened?" Von Bülow was struggling to understand it all.
"Simply put," Strähle offered an explanation "the bullet leaves the muzzle of the gun at very high speed, which along with the mass of the projectile causes ..."
Von Bülow begun to walk away at a rapid pace.
Aldi looked at Paul trying to salvage the situation.
"Let's start from the beginning." He offered, "Can you tell me what happened during the mission?"
"Sure," Paul agreed "but I thought you were there too."
"Let's pretend I have not. Leave no detail about Grieffenhagen."
"OK, this afternoon we were sent to destroy enemy observation balloon south of Menen. Hauptmann Schwarzkopf was leading Schwarm Zwei." Strähle winked at Aldi. "Von Bülow, Grieffenhagen and I completed the formation. We were three kilometers away from our target, when we noticed a formation of Fees flying low below us. With the balloon all but forgotten, the entire Schwarm turned its attention to the British two-seaters.

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The leader," here Paul winked at Aldi again "closed in on the last pusher in line and opened fire.

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Von Bülow was next. He picked one on the extreme right of the formation and proceeded to make minced meat out of it.

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Oberleutnant Grieffenhagen and I were bringing up the rear and waiting for the strugglers. One of the machines dropped out of formation and that was when Grieffenhagen went after it.

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The Fee gunner was ready for him and sent a volley into his engine. The Albatros wobbled and smoke started to pour out. He gave signal and I followed him over the lines to make sure everything was alright. We landed behind our reserve lines near some tenders parked along the road. It was lucky they were there, otherwise we'd have to walk."
"I'm pretty sure Grieffenhagen landed there on purpose." Aldi couldn't help himself.
"In any case," Paul continued "we were taken to the nearby field hospital and the rest you know." Strähle concluded his report.
"That's great Paul. Thanks! Let's go find Walter." They both stepped from under the wing of Walter's plane where they were standing and into the rain.
"Hope the rain stops before tomorrow." Paul announced "I'm sick of water in my shoe."
The next morning orders came in. Von Bülow would be the new Staffelführer until Grieffenhagen can recover and return from hospital.
(Note: this is modelled in the sim. Grieffenhagen is taken off the roster. Well done OBD!)

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/17 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Great read as usual Fullofit, and some really good ideas about breaking my writer's block. Ahren has been flying now for almost two years and I have never seen a Nieuport12. I actually find that sort of amazing, wonder what are the odds of that happening.


Banjoman, I nearly missed that one. You are correct. N12's seem to be rather rare. One of those was Aldi's first unconfirmed kill nearly 4 months ago. He probably encountered these maybe twice in between.
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/17 11:38 PM

@ Fullofit...thanks for the info!

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

Antön Otersdorf
Jasta 32
April 1917
Morchingen Aerodrome
Alsace Front

23 April 1917. One mission today...an escort of two bombers to Xaffervillers.

[Linked Image]

The instructions we were given stated that the bombers would be over our aerodrome, however, it was a while before we caught up to them as they were already headed to the front. As we arrived over the enemy aerodrome, I sighted at least four Nieuports....guess they weren't happy we were bombing them!

[Linked Image]

I flew under our bombers to draw the fire of the Nieuports. Suddenly, I found myself alone with the bombers, and then going to the aid of my squadmates. Long story short, I was soon alone with just one of the enemy, and I put a lot of bursts into him (enduring a gun jam), to the point that his engine stopped and he was smoking. But then, I looked up and there they were...SIX enemy aeroplanes!

[Linked Image]

And I was alone...not a good situation to say the least. Discretion was certainly the better part of valor, and I flew very low, enduring many hits and making a harrowing flight through the ruins of Luneville...but I made it back to base! I had to keep the stick to the left to balance my aeroplane, and a blasted convoy was driving by our aerodrome, but my landing went well. However, the field was very lonely, with only Arnd Benzler's plane still on the field. We did lose yet another pilot, Eberhard Stoll, and Franz Tabaka was wounded in his plane crash. However, I did make a claim, although it is not likely to be accepted because I had no squadmates with me.



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

(Writer's Note....bah, it was probably a N24 that I bagged....claim says N23, oh well!)

Regards,

Jeff




Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/17 11:42 PM

Just some fine reports fellows!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/17 02:19 AM

nice reports
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/17 02:50 AM

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

Aug 23 1917.

The Jasta had a maintenance stand down ( The Fuel Transports never showed up ) so worked on and painted my D-III . The C.O said " Too Much Red " so I might have to touch it up. As we worked on the machine the riggers mentioned Boxing and remained me of my 1st match. I lost in the 3rd round, but I remember what my opposition said:
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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/17 09:20 AM

Carrick, was jello involved in that fight? exitstageleft
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/17 02:00 PM

Fullofit and Jeff, You two are killing me with that low level stuff. I like a bit more air under the machine myself! Beautiful screen shots and vids Gents!

Carrick, Yep, swallow the coffee, put the cup down. Open up your post. Bust out laughing. That's the drill! Too funny Hoss.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/17 03:57 PM

MFair: LOL. No Jello, but I did have hopes for Oil.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/17 03:59 PM

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


Aug 24, 1917.

Another down day. The transports with the fuel arrived,but the Weather is moving in. Heavy Rain is expected.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/17 08:49 PM

Fullofit, Stljeffbb -- really great stories here. I'm following each eagerly. And thanks to you, Banjoman, Robert, MFair, Carrick, and Bigduke66 for encouraging my madness. I actually have an idea for a WW1 novel when I retire. There's one plot element that still needs time to percolate.

Anyway, you've inspired me to write another chapter of Holzhauer's story, even though he can't fly...

The Holzhauer Papers

Part 2: 24-25 April 1917


[Linked Image]

I awoke after surgery to a soft pink and blue light coming through stained glass windows. The walls were plaster and stained with age, or perhaps simply mold. It was a church, but war had turned it into a Lazarett. Two nursing sisters, true nuns, strutted past the bottom of my bed chatting in French. Their starched linen cornets projected like wings, and I thought they looked like a pair of old Tauben on a reconnaissance patrol. The thought crossed my mind that I would like to draw some black Tatzenkreuze [1] on the wings of their cornets. Now that would raise a stir in the convent!

There was a high carved pulpit along one long wall, and the high altar was screened off. A row of iron beds ran along the length of the nave. The fellow next to me on the right coughed. I glanced over. He was reading a book, Der Waldläufer, by Karl May.[2] “Grüss Gott,†he said. A Bavarian.

“And say hi to Him for me when you see Him, Kamerad,†I replied. [3] They say you can tell a Berliner anywhere. We chatted for a while. He’d been shot in the left knee and they’d taken off most of the leg. He was weak and complained about reading the same page again and again.

A passing nun agreed to a request to get my tunic. My case of Wolff’s cigars was in it. She said I could not smoke until I was well enough to go outside, but got the tunic anyway. Someone had stolen the case.

They did not allow me to sit up for the first day. It was a lucky wound. I had not been hit by a full bullet, but by a single fragment. If the full round from a machine gun hits you, you’re a mess. It’s called hydrostatic shock. I saw a demonstration once in the Jägers. The sergeant-major lined up a row of large cans of sauerkraut, because a can of sauerkraut has the same density as a soldier (and about the same brainpower, according to the sergeant-major). He fired a quick burst from a Maxim and we were invited to inspect the damage. Each can had a small puncture hole where it was hit. But on the other side of the can the exit hole was ten or more centimetres wide and sauerkraut was spread all over the field.

The fragment that hit me cut the side of my abdomen open like a scalpel. It took twenty stitches, but the cut was clean and none of my personal sauerkraut and sausages escaped. All the doctors wanted was to keep me here long enough to ensure the wound was not septic. So the nuns washed the wound twice daily with a wash they mixed from an orange-coloured powder. [4] A French doctor examined me in the afternoon. His German was unintelligible so he explained in excellent English that I could fly as soon as I could get into my machine without re-opening the stitches. He said I could try to get out of bed in the morning as long as I had someone to help. The fellow on my left, a corporal from Saxony, shared a smuggled flask of brandy with me and I slept well.

I woke late to find that the Bavarian on my right had died in the night. As he no longer needed the Karl May book I took it, checking to ensure there was nothing to suggest it was a gift or belonged to family. The English-speaking doctor returned and watched while an orderly helped me sit up. He directed that the wound should now be heavily taped between inspections and washing and informed me that I would be moved to a ward under canvas outside, as the church was needed for more seriously injured people. I was allowed to gather my things and hobble unassisted across the grass and mud to the encampment of Red Cross-emblazoned tents conveniently located next to the graveyard. The town around us was surprisingly large. “Sedan,†an orderly said. The place had seen some hard fighting in 1914 when I was down in the Vosges playing at soldier.

I claimed a bed and collapsed on top of it. My insides felt upset, as if they were trying too hard to become outsides. There was one orderly who played chess with the patients and I tried to get him to help me prepare for a rematch with Feldwebel Ehms when I get back to the Jasta. He didn’t think much of my game and I have no cigars to bribe him into a second game.

I was able to get a little bit of fish down my throat at lunch and enjoyed a visit afterwards from Hans Freiherr von Brederlow, the boss’s brother and our Jasta’s administration officer. He was very pleasant and brought cigarettes and some of my spare and undamaged clothes, but one could tell he was performing a duty. He had me dictate my combat report from Tuesday’s fight with the Nieuports and left after about thirty minutes. Apparently we have been in action constantly because of the offensive,

Editor’s notes:

[1] Cross pattée, the Maltese Cross of the Luftstreitkräfte.

[2] May was a popular writer of western stories.

[3] Holzhauer is trotting out an old joke. “Grüss Gott†is the usual greeting in Alpine Germany. It derives from the expression for “God bless you†but is heard as a simple hello. Originally it would have been “Grüss dich Gott†[“(may) God bless youâ€] but in its normally abbreviated form it can be literally translated as “Greet God.†That is why some Northern Germans, especially those with a sardonic Berliner’s sense of humour, might reply with something like “if I see him.†[“Wenn ich Ihr sehe.â€]

[4] Likely acriflavine, made from coal tar. It is gaining in use today because it is effective on antibiotic-resistant bacteria.




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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/17 10:10 PM

Another splendid read Rain! thumbsup
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/17 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by Raine


[3] Holzhauer is trotting out an old joke. “Grüss Gott†is the usual greeting in Alpine Germany. It derives from the expression for “God bless you†but is heard as a simple hello. Originally it would have been “Grüss dich Gott†[“(may) God bless youâ€] but in its normally abbreviated form it can be literally translated as “Greet God.†That is why some Northern Germans, especially those with a sardonic Berliner’s sense of humour, might reply with something like “if I see him.†[“Wenn ich Ihr sehe.â€]

[4] Likely acriflavine, made from coal tar. It is gaining in use today because it is effective on antibiotic-resistant bacteria.


Additional info: Acriflavine was developed in 1912 by Paul Ehrlich, a German medical researcher, and was used during the First World War against sleeping sickness and as a topical antiseptic.[2]
Thanks for the education and the good read, Raine! I just learned something!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/17 01:20 PM

Edgar Everheart
Auchel

Edgar is the toast of the squadron having down 4 confirmed the past week. 2 DFW's, 1 Albatros DIII, and a balloon. I tried to take my best "Fullofit" screenshots but they still don't measure up.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/17 02:23 PM

MFair, none of us can quite do the Fullofit thing with screenies, but those are some really good photos. And that is one really big week. I haven't had a run like that in a very, very long time. Well done!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/17 08:23 PM

I thank you Gentlemen, but you are all wrong! I've seen plenty of great screenshots here.
Congrats on the winning streak MFair.
Raine, too bad about the case with the cigars. I would check with Bill Clinton.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 01:55 AM

26 April,1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

It was a strange decision to send a flight to defend a balloon east of Diksmuide. Surely there must have been a Jasta or two available closer than the "Red Noses". Aldi was still sore about the mismanagement of the resources, which to him were being squandered on patrols such as this. He nearly missed the two 1-1/2 Strutters floating above them. He found it odd for them not to run away, or engage. They stayed there enticing the Schwarm to simply come up and pluck them out of the sky. His instincts told him this was a trap and an obvious one at that. Schwarzkopf scanned the sky and there they were: a flight of seven Pups hiding in the clouds. They must have been very inexperienced to spring the trap too early. Aldi's flight climbed to meet them. The Pups realized they've lost the element of surprise and decided to abort. Only a handful came down to fight. One of them probably has seen a few fights before, as he was able to get on von Bülow's tail. The Schwarm scattered to deal with the attackers. Aldi came to Walter's aid and chased away the "expert" Pup.

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He eventually forced him down in NML.

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By the time Schwarzkopf climbed back to patrol altitude, everyone except Strähle was gone. The two of them decided to complete the mission and protect the balloon, which survived the initial attack. Near the end of their patrol they encountered one of the Pups returning from a chase after the rest of Aldi's Schwarm. It was not his lucky day. The two German Fliegeren brought the interloper down near the balloon.

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With the mission accomplished they've made their way back to the base. They were the only two who made it all the way back. The rest were forced to seek landing fields elsewhere and the balloon crew continued to observe enemy movements.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 02:44 AM

Fullofit;

You shot down RNAS 3 "Joe" Fall
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 03:24 AM

Those are some great screen shots by Fullofit and MFair
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 03:27 AM

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


Aug 25, 1917.

The weather cleared a little ,but we are ankle deep in Mud. Maybe we can fly tomorrow.

I did get into an argument about the future of transportation after dinner. Lt. Sorinkesy thinks that men will have their own wheeled cars to ride in and eclectic stop lights to regulate the traffic of thousands . Keine ! Men will fly.

https://giphy.com/gifs/cheezburger-hair-ouch-fMfgQiPEqxYA/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 10:31 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

24 Apr 1917 @ 05h07 Balloon attack east of Lens

At briefing CO Scott announced the wind was 6 kn from the WSW with towering scattered cumulus from 3600 to 9000 ft.

The second battle of the Scarpe was underway and efforts were being made all along the line from Bapaume to Lens to cripple the eyes of the German forces. “B†flight, lead by Godfrey and composed of Clinton on wing, Moleswirth, Lloyd, Horn and Pope were to take out the balloon east of Lens. “A†flight was to provide top cover and composed of Fry, Rutherford and Young.

Godfrey noted the bitter cold freezing weather as he started up his N23. The cold front had been moving in for the past 48 hours and he knew it would only get worse at altitude. The only concession was that the mission objective was only 26 miles distant. The flight took off and formed up north of the field as usual, attaining an altitude of 11,000 ft at 05h27 before setting out NE towards Lens. Passing between the towering cumulus, at 05h29 they found themselves just south of Loos and Godfrey had decided to take the flight lower on the approach to the lines. At 05h34 as they crossed the lines, they were at 6,800 ft and decending. The artillery were pounding the German lines and Godfrey noted the huge billows of brown clouds of earth, mixed with the flame of the exploding shells along the front. The flight passed over Lens at 05h37 at 4,800 ft, and Godfrey could just make out the Hun sausage in the distance.
He waggled his wings and began the descent in earnest. There had been no Hun archie to greet them so far and it seemed that they had achieved an element of surprise. Godfrey loosed his rockets at the balloon but missed the target and as he climbed out, he glanced back to see Clinton, Molesworth and Lloyd send a combined volley of rockets which all hit the balloon simultaneously.

He was satisfied that they had achieved the main objective and immediately signaled to reform for the return trip to Filescamp. They quickly reassembled at 3,000 ft and began to climb out west as they approached Lens.
No sooner had they reached the eastern section of the town, when Godfrey noted six specs at about 1,000 ft heading in their direction. “B†flight’s height of 4,300 ft gave them the decisive tactical advantage. Godfrey decided to continue on towards the lines. He reasoned that if they were scouts below looking to play, he would make sure the game started on his side of the lines or not at all. He watched them as he passed over the south west end of Lens and noted that they had clearly decided to come to the party. Godfrey keep his flight on a steady course towards the lines east of Vimy and the enemy scouts were now at the same altitude and approximately 1 mile behind. Godfrey noted that Clinton was not able to keep up with the flight and was gradually falling back. By the time “B†flight reached no mans land, it was evident that Clinton would soon be over taken by the enemy scouts which had now closed the distance and appeared to be about 3000 ft away. Godfrey quickly realized that they had to turn and face the enemy scouts now or Clinton would be done for. Godfrey quickly waggled his wings and swung the flight 180 degrees to face the oncoming Huns. The melee that was soon to unfold was about to provide some much needed diversion for the troops of the line below. Just as “B†flight passed over Clinton, the enemy scouts were making their move to attack. They profile of the scouts quickly identified them as Albatross DIII’s of Jasta 4. Molesworth, Lloyd, Horn and Pope engaged 4 of the DIII’s that dove under “B†flight’s advance, while Godfrey went after the two that broke right in a climb. Clinton swung in behind Godfrey on the chase. Godfrey forced down the closest of the two DIII’s, and then took out after the other, catching him before he was able to make the other side of the lines and then sent him down as well, watching him crash into no mans land.

He and Clinton turned west to rejoin the rest of the flight but only managed to find Horn on the way back to Filescamp. All three landed safely there.
Molesworth and Pope landed shortly there after but Lloyd was lightly wounded in the action and destroyed his craft landing short of the field.

Clinton confirmed both of Godfrey’s claims and Pope accounted for one more. Three of the DIII’s had disengaged and ran back to their side of the lines.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Fullofit;

You shot down RNAS 3 "Joe" Fall

Robert, thanks for identifying Aldi's latest victim. An unfortunate name for a pilot, to be sure.
Great report BTW, I like how you strategize and congrats on the latest victories.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 04:29 PM

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


Aug 26, 1917.

Lt. Mackie was sick on the flight line so I filled in for him in his D-V on a Balloon Defense flight. The D-V felt so roomie after being in my D-III. The 5 of us went up to 2000 meters over the Gas Bags and ran in to 3 Spads. After mush effort , I was in position only to have one e/a drop on my tail. I had to kick rudder and go into a tail spin to drop out of the Circling mess. All alone , I RTB. The flight had 2 a/c damaged for no claims.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 08:05 PM

27 April, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

Yet another mission to protect a Drachen so far up north. Aldi wasn't sure what was worse, the mission this far away from home, or the muck below his aircraft. Even if the enemy was flying down there, they would not be able to see them in that low cloud layer. His flight arrived on station at 4000 m after a lengthy trip. After 20 minutes of circling over the balloon Schwarzkopf was bored and ready to return to base when eagle-eyed Strähle noticed 2 DH2s flying west below the Schwarm, returning from a mission originating somewhere east of Ghistelles. The Albatrosen turned into hawks and swooped down on the unsuspecting prey. Aldi picked one of them and ordered the rest to take care of the other machine. He maneuvered to place his plane behind the pusher and fired. British pilot reacted instantly and begun circling to port. Aldi took a few deflection shots and hit his foe in the head.

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The dead aviator slumped forward leaning on the control column forcing the airplane into a dive, which culminated in a spectacular crash far below. The other Airco also disappeared in the thick cloud layer down below and the group of Albatrosen formed back up over the balloon, completed their patrol and turned for home. The return trip was uneventful and everyone was glad to be back with another successful mission under their belt.

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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 08:59 PM

oh this senseless slaughter of a generation...the best that ever walked the face of the planet






posted after 4 beers (german beers)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 09:57 PM

Don't worry, there's more where that came from ... beers I mean.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/17 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
They did not allow me to sit up for the first day. It was a lucky wound. I had not been hit by a full bullet, but by a single fragment. If the full round from a machine gun hits you, you’re a mess. It’s called hydrostatic shock. I saw a demonstration once in the Jägers. The sergeant-major lined up a row of large cans of sauerkraut, because a can of sauerkraut has the same density as a soldier (and about the same brainpower, according to the sergeant-major). He fired a quick burst from a Maxim and we were invited to inspect the damage. Each can had a small puncture hole where it was hit. But on the other side of the can the exit hole was ten or more centimetres wide and sauerkraut was spread all over the field.


Raine, I believe the effect you are describing here is called cavitation - term used in terminal ballistics, not hydrostatic shock. (Not to be confused with the cavitation made by the propeller of a submarine for the Hunt for the Red October fans.) ahoy
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/27/17 02:56 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit


Raine, I believe the effect you are describing here is called cavitation - term used in terminal ballistics, not hydrostatic shock. (Not to be confused with the cavitation made by the propeller of a submarine for the Hunt for the Red October fans.) ahoy


The concepts are related but not identical. I used "hydrostatic shock" because it was the term I recalled from a firepower demo (involving sauerkraut) that I saw in the army years ago. Technically, cavitation is the creation of a cavity by shock waves in advance of a penetrating high velocity round. Hydrostatic shock more commonly refers to the idea that damage can be caused in areas of the body remote from a bullet path due to shock waves.

Cavitation might be the better term for explaining the size of exit wounds, but I used the term the instructor used when I was a snot-nosed subbie.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/27/17 09:54 PM

Well, we just use the word dead where I come from. biggrin

Here is the report of last week's activities.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/17 01:10 AM

Thanks for the report Bud, it is greatly appreciated! Back to your story question, if I had a pilot to last that long, writers block would be the least of my worries. Congratulations on such a long career.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/17 04:09 AM

Thanks, I actually am working on something that I hope to post either tomorrow or Tuesday, totally different from anything I've done before, so we'll see how it turns out.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/17 07:34 PM

Banjoman: Do hope it works out. I was thinking of starting a 2nd Pilot flying for France in 1915 ,but cant find St Inglevert on the game map. I do know that it near the Pas de Calais area. or can I just start him at the assigned time on his assigned Recon unit ?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/17 11:50 PM

Edgar Everheart
8RNAS
April 28, 1917

It is a sad day for Edgar. Edward Sears has been his wingman for the past 4 months. Today he never returned from a balloon busting mission. After busting the sausage the 5 of us formed up and started climbing out west. Just on our side of the lines we ran smack into a furball of Albatros scouts and Pups. I had a dance with one and found myself alone so headed back to Auchel. 3 more of my mates came in shortly. Word came in a Triplane went down over NML.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/29/17 12:12 AM

Carrick, just start him with the correct unit and have him fly his three training flights and that should be enough.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/29/17 03:29 AM

Henri Dupont
Sergent
Training Sec
Aircraft Depot
Breuil-e-sec, France.


28 Aug 1915.

Logged my 1st Operational training flight after completing flight school. The landing a bit bumpie, but ye can walk away from it. My Observer acted as Guide. Only 2 more then a posting to an Esc. Rumor has it that it be a morane equipped unit.

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Posted By: CaptSopwith

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/29/17 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Henri Dupont
Sergent
Training Sec
Aircraft Depot
Breuil-e-sec, France.


28 Aug 1915.

Logged my 1st Operational training flight after completing flight school. The landing a bit bumpie, but ye can walk away from it. My Observer acted as Guide. Only 2 more then a posting to an Esc. Rumor has it that it be a morane equipped unit.


Great shot Carrick! I'm considering jumping into an early war campaign myself. how are you enjoying it so far?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/29/17 04:52 PM

Cpt Sopwith:

The 1st time around a little slow, but this time knowing the ropes pure enjoyment
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/29/17 05:21 PM

Henri Dupont
Sergent
Training Sec
Aircraft Depot
Breuil-e-sec, France.

Aug 29, 1917.

Finished up with 2 hops. I used a British machine pure joy going up and down, but turning ? or side slipping ? I was to afraid to do a barrow roll or loop de lou.


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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/29/17 09:31 PM

Carrick, starting a pilot in 1915 isn't what I meant. It's certainly ok, but I'm trying to figure out how to report on him since he is out-of-sync with everybody else's pilots. Do you want me even to bother with keeping track of him in the status reports?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/17 01:42 AM

Some good flying here. Robert, Albert has much better fortune with claims than my guy, it seems. I think I chase my enemies too far and often end up without witnesses. MFair, sorry about your wingman. I've seldom held onto one for so long. Fullofit, you're an artist! Carrick, how on earth do you get so much stick time in? One pilot is enough here.

And a special hats off to Banjoman for all you do for this campaign.

The Holzhauer Papers

Part 3: 27 April – 1 May 1917


On Sunday we were led or pushed outside onto the lawn for a church service. The minister was a fearsome old coot, with a countenance of an Old Testament prophet: pointed long beard, fierce moustache, and white hair rising in wisps above a face withered and wrinkled like a walnut. He preached Vaterland, duty, honour, and death to the French. A true man of God, this one, he called on the little children to come unto him so that he could put a Gewehr 98 into their hands and point them at the front. Von Brederlow the Earthbound, our adjutant, had left me a few cigars. I lit one during the service to the great annoyance of his Righteousness, who pointed at me from his pulpit (the bed of a lorry, actually) and consigned me to the depths of hell. It didn’t bother me. I had seen hell from above and it seemed too muddy to burn.

Sunday night I received my papers to return to the Staffel. A car would be sent for me in the morning. I could get about fairly well and was back to eating properly, so I wandered down the road to a little estaminet and dug into some eggs and chips. I had a good night’s sleep, bolstered by a great deal of banter about my distain for the minister.

I was back at St-Quentin-le-Petit by noon. The tender dropped me off at the field. The hut I had shared with Ehms was empty. Apparently it was now a parts storage and any trace of my existence there had been erased! All our aircraft were out but after a few minutes of cursing and confusion on my part, a senior mechanic met me with the excellent news that two more rooms had become free at the nearby chatêau that was serving as the pilots’ main billet and Kasino. I telephoned to the Staffel office and was told a car would pick me up.

The ride took only a couple of minutes. The place was not in St-Quentin proper, but in a little hamlet just the other side of the fields we used. Magellan couldn’t have found it unaided, for it lay in a courtyard at the end of a labyrinthine laneway flanked by grey stone walls overgrown with ivy. The building was modest as chatêaux go, more of an apprentice manor than the real thing. Still, it was marvellous. I was shown by a corporal to my own room with a large bed with an ornate carved headboard and, joy of joys, an adjoining bathroom with hot and cold running water and a large tub. Unfortunately, I was under orders not to immerse my wound for several more days. [1]

Downstairs there was a large dining hall and two salons, one of which was set up as a bar and lounge. It lacked only a billiard table. There were shelves lined with books in French and English. Tables were littered with playing cards and ashtrays and dirty magazines. A gramophone stood on a corner stand. I gave the crank a turn or two, and it gasped out a weak rendition of “Ich bin ein lustiger Student.†[2]

Off this room there was a small conservatory, lush with well-tended ferns and some splendid orchids. We had done well for ourselves, indeed. Someone had moved two armchairs here, so I sat in the sun and was soon asleep.

The crashing of the front door and excited babble of familiar voices woke me. They were teasing Wolff, the old man, who had claimed a Caudron. It had been rejected, it seems. Julius Buckler was up to six now, and had claimed our first balloon the previous day. Rittmeister von Brederlow welcomed me back and suggested a party. Everyone threw in some money for “extra messing,†and Ehms was dispatched to find some hefty French farmwife to prepare a grand meal.

I shall spare the description of the excellent evening, for I still was not getting tremendously hungry and found that I was very tired.[3] I retired soon after nightfall, for I was to accompany the Rittmeister on an early patrol

We were in the air shortly after five the next morning, greeting the rising sun with bursts of machine gun fire as we warmed our guns. It was to be a barrier patrol from Guidnecourt to Sillery. Just as we reached the limit of our patrol zone a group of white Nieuports met us head on and we had a wonderful scrap. I stayed high and dashed down twice to fire at Frenchmen who were on the tail of a comrade. Another Kette of our boys arrived and joined in. I saw a Nieuport on the tail of an Albatros and dived a thousand metres onto his tail. He never saw me. A hundred rounds spat out and the French machine tumbled lower and lower, hitting the ground just behind the French lines. I climbed to the north and eventually met up with Günther for the trip home. Freiherr von Brederlow made numerous calls, but our fellows on the ground had not paid attention to my exploits and the kill went unconfirmed.

I flew again that afternoon, an uneventful escort to Rosnay. My side was quite comfortable, except when I got in or out of the machine. Two of the Type III machines were returned with new, stronger spars. My DII, though, still had to serve me.

On 29 April 1917 we escorted two DFWs to photograph the lines from Pontavert to Maizy. I fought an inconclusive round or two with a Nieuport who was surprisingly keen. In the afternoon I got to lead another escort to Rosnay. The sky was full of French machines of all shapes and sizes this time, but Monsieur Blue-Blanc-Rouge was in a peaceful frame of mind, content to let us get about our tasks. I had a job to do, so I did not go seeking glory. The bearded minister would have certainly disapproved.

The following day we took off at first light. There were reports of heavy French air activity over our lines. I led the patrol and wasted no time circling for altitude, but headed due south climbing all the way. We were up to 3000 metres by the time we passed the Forêt de Prouvais on our left. Ehms, on my left wing, suddenly pulled in front a caught my attention. He pointed and began climbing to the east. I turned and took the lead back, straining for altitude. I had not seen them against the backdrop of the sunrise on an ice-blue morning – seven scouts. As we gained on them from behind the distinctive bend of the wings told us they were Nieuports.

Our hopes of a surprise were dashed when we were still a kilometre away. The Frenchies turned on us and the dance began. As much as I wanted to stay high I was drawn down by the sight of an Albatros – I think it was Wolff – with a Nieuport close on its tail. The two machines flashed in front of mine, diving hard. I followed and soon had the Nieuport in my sights. He broke away from the Albatros and climbed. Nieuports could easily outclimb the DII type Albatros. I followed for a while but the Frenchman was heading home and would make the lines before I got in range. Now I was low and alone so I turned back and regained some height.

Off to the left a light blur appeared against the forest below. This was a target. I scanned the sky above to see if the solitary Nieuport had friends. He did not and I was on him in a flash, firing more than 150 rounds. The little scout shuddered and tumbled into the trees below where it disappeared. There was no fire, just a cloud of dust and earth where it hit. Unfortunately the kill was not witnessed, and the crash site was too remote for a confirmation. The Rittmeister questioned me in detail about the claim and pronounced that he was personally more than satisfied with my claim. Regardless, I would have to be satisfied with his buying me a brandy in the Kasino.

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"The little scout shuddered and tumbled into the trees below where it disappeared."

Editor’s notes:

[1] I have been unable to find the exact building used by Jasta 17, but one in the nearby hamlet of Sévigny-Waleppe is a likely candidate.

[2] This tune was written by noted pianist and professor of music Carl Reinike (1824-1910). He taught Grieg and Albéniz, among others.

[3] Food shortages hit the German civilian population badly beginning in 1916. By April 1917, the shortages were beginning to be felt even by front-line soldiers, who had fared comparatively well until then. It was starting to become difficult for German fighting men to send money home, as they needed their income to supplement their rations.


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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/17 02:07 AM

Marvelous story, Raine. I enjoyed it immensely, although I do have to say, in defence of your stern minister, that shouldn't your spiritual health be even more important than your physical health? biggrin Perhaps your pilot has become jaded from all the senseless loss of life. I suggest a request for leave, pronto!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/17 04:17 AM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Marvelous story, Raine. I enjoyed it immensely, although I do have to say, in defence of your stern minister, that shouldn't your spiritual health be even more important than your physical health? biggrin Perhaps your pilot has become jaded from all the senseless loss of life. I suggest a request for leave, pronto!


Ah, Buckeye, Franz is a true Berliner. He was born a cynic. I wonder what he'll be like in a few months (should he live so long).
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/17 02:29 PM

Raine, as we in the south say, "Holzhauer is feeling a bit bloody ain't he." I feel your pain on the claims. Half of mine are rejected. Even knocked an Albatros out of the sky above a friendly aerodrome which exploded and nobody was looking, or the greedy Archie gunners claimed it for themselves.

Edgar Everheart.
8RNAS
Auchel
April, 1917

Finally, a patrol! For a week had been doing escort duty or attacking Rail Yards. Not that we liked DOP's but it was better than the former. Crossing the lines north of Lens we went about 10 miles into Hun territory and turned north. Approaching Lille I spotted some machines to the east on the opposite tack and below us to the east. I turned our 3 man patrol in a long sweep east to investigate. They turned out to be 6 Hun scouts and with better judgement turn back west with the odds being 2 to 1. I knew they could not climb up to us in our Tripehounds. After a few miles I made a slow turn so as to see if they were following us and to my surprise, at that moment, 2 of them collided sending on down in a ball of fire and the other turning away in bad trim. 3 on 4 I thought to myself! With Little and Booker, both aces and very good pilots with me I figured we could take on 4 Huns any day! I turned the flight around and dove.

It did not take long to realize my judgement to leave them alone at first was correct. These boys were excellent flyers and out for blood. I found myself twisting and turning and still one would be on my tail in an instant with bullets slamming into my machine. Lucky nothing vital was hit. Most of the machines were mostly red and I wondered if one was the Baron himself! I finally found myself tag teaming one with Little. We had gone from 10,000' to treetop level. Little finally overshot and and I slid in behind the red Albatros and gave it a long burst. It nosed over and went down. I climbed out to altitude and seeing no one else headed back home. Little and Booker had landed at a forward base with damaged machines. I put in my claim for the red colored Albatros. Word came in that i had downed the German ace Kurt Wolff but that he had survived the crash and we would most likely meet again one day.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/17 03:43 PM

Raine: I just have a lot of time on my hands for now.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/17 03:46 PM

Out of sync. Its cool Banjoman. I will just keep track of him. Maybe, A Flight Log set up ? Flew such an a/c how long missions, vic damage Ect. on a flight by flight tally.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/17 12:27 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

27 Apr 1917 @ 05h00 Patrol the lines from Athies to Monchy

At briefing CO Scott announced the wind was 8 kn from the NE with towering cumulus from 3600 to 11000 ft.

“B†flight, lead by Godfrey and composed of Clinton on wing, Molesworth, Lloyd, Horn and Pope “A†flight was to provide top cover and composed of Fry, Rutherford and Young.

The flight turned out to be a waste of time. The cloud cover was so dense that the flights were barely able to stay on course with no visual confirmation of the lay of the land below. At one point when they were able to determine they were over the front lines Godfrey turned south in the direction of Monchy but was never able to confirm his position visually. When he had estimated that sufficient time had gone by, he turned the flight west and entered a small piece of clear sky. He glanced down in hopes of confirming the flights location but not seeing anything recognizable he scanned the skies and just noticed two aircraft heading east. There was no time even to guess as to the type before the flight was again immersed in billowing dense cloud cover.

Godfrey took the flight back to Filescamp and it wasn’t until they had descended to 1000 ft that they were able to make out where they were. Surprisingly they were not far off the track as they spotted Etrun airfield just ahead of them.

They all landed safely and reported a scrubbed mission due to weather.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/17 12:41 AM

Raine, that is one detailed report! It just oozes of it. I have no patience for details, hence my reports are so rushed.
MFair, you can't judge a plane by its paint job.
Robert, hope the weather improves soon. Hunting Hun in the cloud is o fun!

1 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

Aldi could easily guess what their new mission will be. Balloon defence between Lens and Douai was the order of the day. Something had to be up if the enemy was targeting the German eyes in the skies all these days. A new offensive was surely about to start. They have reached their patrol area just in time to witness "Spuds" attacking Schwarm Eins. Aldi could count only 2 of them. He has heard of them but never seen them in action. Despite all the reports they seemed very maneuverable to him. Aldi followed one once they've reached Schwarm Eins to help by coming out of the sun.

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His target was a slippery one and kept on diving in corkscrews.

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Aldi nearly went cross eyed from following him, but was able to land some lucky hits.

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The"Spud" then simply straightened out, picked up speed and allowed Aldi a view of his silhouette receding in the distance. Aldi was sure the enemy crate got away, but then something unexpected happened: the plane begun to corkscrew again for no reason, but this time it continued to do so until it hit the ground below near Vimy. Did the pilot lose control? Aldi would never know. He gathered his flight and returned home pretty sure his job as a Flieger in Luftstreitkräfte has just gotten much more difficult.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/17 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by MFair
Raine, as we in the south say, "Holzhauer is feeling a bit bloody ain't he." I feel your pain on the claims.


Great action, Fullofit! MFair, the pain continues...


The Holzhauer Papers

Part 4: 2 May 1917


From all reports, the French were running out of steam in their offensive along the Aisne. We were seeing fewer of their machines flying over to our side of the lines so the Rittmeister decided we should occasionally cross over and leave our calling cards. On 2 May, my job was to lead a formation of six machines – Ehms, Shuster, Shräder, Buckler, Günther, and yours truly – over the lines to patrol from Pont-à-Vert down to Reims. I was rousted out of bed by our old Putzer [1], Eberhart, at 3:30 and was easing myself from the ladder into cockpit of the Albatros at 3:55 am. The sun was just tinting the night sky to a pale purple as we took to the air.

It was a bracing ride. The sky was clear and the first sunlight gilded the landscape. The cattle in the fields were glittering bronze, the shadows of trees stretched out across the fields, and the church steeples of every hamlet shone like torches. My old comrade Ehms closed up on my left, Shuster’s white DIII on my right, and the others in echelon behind. The fellows liked it when I led because my old crate could never outpace them. I was happy “Bull†Buckler was with us. He was a fearless fellow and a great shot, and I felt safer with him back there.

I’d nearly gotten into a fight with Buckler shortly after I arrived at the Jasta. We were both NCOs, but he knew my father was with the Foreign Service and I knew he was a roofer, the son of a roofer, and a damned good one by all accounts. I respected him, but he didn’t know that yet, and with a brandy too many in me I had made some joke about our secret weapon being a Fokker Dachdecker.[2] It cost me a few drinks to calm him down, and we were just getting good again.

We reached 3000 m by the time we hit the front around Pont-à-Vert. There were no Frenchies about. We turned southeast towards Reims. After a few minutes I spotted two aircraft heading south. We were at 3500 and they were about 700 m higher. I tried chasing them but soon gave up. We turned due east and almost immediately two Sopwiths flew over us. They were only a thousand metres away, and we were on them in a minute or two. One machine turned towards me. It was not difficult to stay behind it, although I was now very cautious about letting an observer get his gun on me. I got one burst in. The Frenchman turned and I dived in the opposite direction and pulled back under his tail for a second crack. There was no return fire. I closed on the fellow and fired again. Only then did I notice that there was only one man in the machine. We’d been told that there was a single-seat bomber version of this machine. This was the first I’d seen. From there on it was simple. I got within 20 m for the last long burst and the Sopwith broke up in the air.

[Linked Image]
"I got within 20 m for the last long burst and the Sopwith broke up in the air."

I circled for a few minutes looking for the others. A lone machine was heading north some distance away, and two machines were far too low over Rosnay aerodrome, probably chasing the other Sopwith. I fired red flares – our pre-arranged signal to regroup. The two below me didn’t see it, but headed home together anyway. I set out for breakfast all by myself, very satisfied with my morning’s work.

Unfortunately the red flare wasn’t the only thing my friends missed. No one had witnessed the Sopwith I claimed and it remains unconfirmed.

Editor’s Notes:

[1] “Cleaner,†technically an orderly corporal.

[2] A pun. “Dachdecker†= roofer


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/17 01:08 AM

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


Aug 29, 1917.

I was off with a flight of 5 machines for a little bit in heavy cloud 7-8/ 10ths cover with a vis of 5-7 miles in haze. We spotted 1 e/a that popped out of the clouds then back in. Never saw anything else in that bumpy ride.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/17 01:56 AM

Raine;

I am somewhat miffed on the point of claims as well. Albert has not yet had a rejection. I guess he should be shooting craps at the tables in Vegas at this rate! yep
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/17 09:01 PM

Henri Dupont
Sergent
C-17
Toul, Aerodrome.



Flight Log. 30 Aug 1917. Mission # 1 Orientation Flight up to the lines and back. Remarks: HQ has assigned to to a 2 Engine Bombardment Esc. What are they thinking ? The ADJ showed me the taps saying just do everything Twice because you have 2 engines.


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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/17 12:42 AM

Carrick, you are a brave man flying those French death traps!
Banjoman, when are we going to be able to read your Magnum Opus?


2 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

It was a great day to conduct a patrol of friendly area over Wasquehal. Anything was better than yet another balloon defence. Aldi and Co. reached the designated point no sooner than a flight of 7 Pups swooped down on them and initiated a hairy fur ball.

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After isolating one of the Sopwiths Aldi fought a protracted battle but was finally able to take him out over Lille.

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He looked around and noticed his wingman fighting one of the enemy scouts nearby.

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He came to the rescue just in time. As soon as the wingman saw Aldi join in, he disengaged and pointed his machine towards the closest airfield. Schwarzkopf was able to drive the second enemy down with the engine off west of Lille.

[Linked Image]

He landed in a farmer's field just missing one of the fences which littered surrounding country.

[Linked Image]

Aldi watched the downed pilot get out of the plane and run for the nearest trees. A group of Infanterie surrounded the damaged craft. Another group was closing in on the location of the grounded foe. Aldi watched the entire spectacle with a degree of amusement. From the air it all looked like a game of cops and robbers. Eventually the soldiers brought out the pilot with his hands up an led him toward the other group, which was already helping themselves to a few souvenirs from the Pup. Schwarzkopf was certain he will meet the pilot he'd forced down at the aerodrome he was now heading for. He'll have to brush up on his English. Good thing Jonny Bülow is an expert.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/17 10:40 AM

Great screenies there Fullofit

Albert Earl Godfrey

2 May 1917 @ 06h02 Patrol our lines from Athies to Monchy

Scot once again assigned A and B flights to patrol our line from Athies to Monchy. It had become a sector of interest it seems and given that the days forecast was for good weather the mission was on again.

We were told to expect wind of 3 kn from the SSW with scattered cumulus in a mostly clear sky. Clouds ranged from 4000 to 8000 ft.

Godfrey lead “B†flight composed of Clinton on wing, Molesworth, Rutherford, Fry and Young. “A†flight was assigned to closely assist and composed of Caldwell, Lloyd, Horn and Pope.

Both flights formed up north of the field as usual, attaining an altitude of 7700 ft at 06h17 before setting a course for Athies. Godfrey had just straightened the flight out when he spotted two specs just north of them and about 1000 ft higher. The two specs seemed to be circling Over Camblain airfield and so Godfrey decided to investigate. As he turned the flight north, the two specs began to head north as well. It seemed suspicious and so “B†flight gave chase. “A†flight broke off to continue the course to Athies.

“B†flight caught up with the two specs just south of the Lens – Bethune road near an allied balloon installation. Godfrey singled out the left most craft which he was able to identify as a two seater DFW C.V. It was heading for the clouds and as Godfrey closed on it they both were in and out of the heavy mist making visibility difficult. Godfrey got close enough to send several volleys into the DFW, observing debris dispersing from the craft as the rounds hit home, then suddenly they both were engulfed in the heavy mist of the cloud and Godfrey lost sight of it. As Godfrey broke out on the othere side of the cloud he scanned the skies and then discovered the DFW behind him breaking up and smoking as it spiraled to earth. Clinton and Molesworth were right behind. Godfrey was looking for the second DFW and circling about. The rest of “B†flight joined up. Clinton waggled his wings to get Godfrey’s attention and signaled, pointing with his index finger raised and then flipping his hand with a thumbs down sign, that he had dispatched the second DFW.

“B†flight regained altitude to 8000 ft at 06h25 and headed directly towards Athies, in hopes of rejolining with “A†flight. At 06h32 Godfrey noticed many craft swirling about in front of his flight at a distance of approximately half a mile. There was obviously a fight going on and if it was “A†flight, he meant to join and assist. As they closed on the dog fight, Godfrey closed in on an Albatros DIII that was alone. Within what seemed like seconds Godfrey was close on his tail and filling the Huns cockpit with lead. It went down in a spiral. He continued his search and found another DIII oblivious to his presence and that one as well fell to his guns but Godfrey was unsure of the kill, since the craft having spiraled down to almost ground level, began to level out and head east over the lines. Godfrey did not give chase as they were directly over the lines and chasing a Hun at such low altitude would not be wise. He began to circle and wait for his mates to reform and then they headed back to Filescamp. He noted that Lloyd, Horn and Pope were missing and he could only hope they were safe and behind the lines somewhere.

Upon landing at Filescamp all of “B†flight reported to the RO of the days events. Godfrey laid two claims and Clinton one. Fry and Young reported that Lloyd, Horn and Pope had been damaged in the tangle with the Huns but that all three had managed to break free of the combat and scoot back over the lines. Reports later came in that all three men had sustained light injuries and all three of their N23’s were destroyed in landing.


Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/17 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Raine;

Albert has not yet had a rejection.


Aha, a friend of Billy Bishop I see...
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/17 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Raine;

Albert has not yet had a rejection.


Aha, a friend of Billy Bishop I see...



Well not exactly, but they both share a mutual friend in Lady St. Helier it seems biggrin
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/17 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Well not exactly, but they both share a mutual friend in Lady St. Helier it seems biggrin


Gongs ahoy, Robert, gongs ahoy.
stirthepot
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/17 07:29 PM

Hi All. Fullofit : 7 Pups UR lucky not to have gotten the Chop.
Mr. Wiggins: Nice story, But No Rejections Godfrey must have friends in very high places.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/17 08:31 PM

Henri Dupont
Sergent
C-17
Toul, Aerodrome.


Sept 1, 1915.


Mon Dieu ! What a day. 2 Flights both bad.

Mission # 2 bombardment of the lines. Just after take off lost power , compression, so RTB very bumpy landing.
Mission #3 Recon of the lines. We were the only a/c up and became lost in the clouds so put down on an Aerodrome to get directions ( turned out to be enemy) so with bullets flying headed south and spotted friendly type aircraft landing . I put down got directions back to Toul. I think the landing field was called Mazieville.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/17 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Originally Posted by Raine
Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Raine;

Albert has not yet had a rejection.


Aha, a friend of Billy Bishop I see...



Well not exactly, but they both share a mutual friend in Lady St. Helier it seems biggrin



OK, you guys have now put the jinks on old Albert. Here is the latest:

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/17 11:56 PM

Intrepid Fliers' News of the World for April:

April 1
French troops drove German forces back to Vauxaillon, north-east of Soissons on the Western front.
April 2
President Woodrow Wilson delivered a war address to Congress asking for a Declaration of War against Germany.
April 3
The torpedo gunboat HMS Jason was sunk by a mine near Coll Island off the west coast of Scotland.
April 4
The US Senate voted in favour of a Declaration of War.
April 5
German forces finished their withdrawal to the Hindenburg line.
April 6
The United States of America came out of neutrality and declared war on Germany.
April 7
Cuba and Panama declared war on Germany.
April 8
Austria-Hungary severed diplomatic relations with the USA.
April 9
The Battle of Arras began when British, Canadian, New Zealand and Australian troops attacked German defenses near the French city of Arras on the Western Front.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge formed part of the opening phase of the Battle of Arras fought mainly between Canadian and German forces as a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive.
April 10
The British hospital ship HMS Salta hit a mine laid by the German submarine UC-26 off the coast at Le Havre.
Bulgaria severed diplomatic relations with the USA.
April 11
In a flanking operation during the Arras offensive Australian troops attacked the village of Bullecourt and pushed German troops out of their fortified positions and into the reserve trenches.
April 12
Canadian forces completed their capture of Vimy Ridge near Arras.
April 13
Bolivia severed diplomatic relations with Germany.
April 14
A British attack made gains east of Monchy-le-Preux as the first phase of the British offensive at Arras came to an end.
April 15
German forces penetrated the Australian front line and occupied the village of Lagnicourt but counter-attacks from Australian battalions restored the front line.
April 16
The Second Battle of the Aisne, also known as the Nivelle Offensive, began when French forces attacked the Germans along the front from Soissons to Rheims.
April 17
Three weeks after the failure of the first offensive, the Second Battle of Gaza began when British forces attacked Ottoman forces during Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
April 18
The French advance continued east and north-east of Soissons.
April 19
The Second Battle of Gaza ended when Ottoman forces resisted the British attack leaving the city firmly in Turkish control.
April 20
During a German destroyer attack on Dover, HMS Swift and HMS Broke engaged a force of six enemy destroyers and fended them off although both ships were damaged.
April 22
The Battle of Istabulat took place in Mesopotamia.
April 23
The Second Battle of the Scarpe began when the British launched an assault towards Vis-en-Artois on the Western front.
April 24
British and Indian forces captured Samarra in Mesopotamia.
April 25
Alfonso Augusto da Costa succeeded Antonio Jose de Almeida as Prime Minister of Portugal.
April 26
A second German naval raid took place on Ramsgate on the Kent coast of England.
April 27
Guatemala severed diplomatic relations with Germany.
April 28
British and Canadian troops launched an attack towards Arleux and captured the village.
April 29
General Philippe Petain was appointed French Chief of General Staff. He replaced General Robert Nivelle, whose failed offensive earlier in the month had provoked widespread mutinies in the French Army.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/17 11:57 PM

Warbirds Rising News of the World for August:

August 1
The Vatican published a Peace Note from Pope Benedict XV suggesting an initiative on which a peace might be based.
August 2
General Lavr Kornilov succeeded General Brusilov as Russian Commander-in-Chief.
Artillery shelling continued at Ypres, but infantry advances were suspended due to torrential rain.
August 3
Austrian-German forces recaptured Czernowitz in Bukovina on the Eastern Front.
August 4
Liberia declared war on Germany.
August 5
Richard von Kuhlmann was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Germany.
August 6
The Battle of Marasesti began when German troops launched an attack against Russian and Romanian forces.
August 7
The British steamer SS Iran was sunk in the Azores by the German submarine U-155 whilst on a voyage from Calcutta to London.
August 9
Count Moric Esterhazy resigned as Premier of Austria.
August 10
The British Labour Party decided to send representatives to a consultative conference in Stockholm.
British forces attacked on the Gheluvelt Plateau but achieved only small gains in the offensive at Ypres.
August 11
Arthur Henderson resigned from the War Cabinet when his idea for an international conference on the war was voted down.
August 12
German Gotha bombers attacked Southend and Margate in a bombing raid which resulted in dozens of casualties.
August 14
The new Chinese President Feng Kuo-chang (Feng Guozhang) declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary.
August 15
The Battle of Hill 70 began between the Canadian Corps and the German Sixth Army along the Western Front on the outskirts of Lens in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.
August 17
The second Allied general attack in the Ypres Offensive, the Battle of Langemarck began. Both German and British forces were severely hampered by adverse weather conditions.
August 18
Italian forces battled against the Austro-Hungarians along the Isonzo River again in the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo.
August 20
The Second Offensive Battle of Verdun took place on the banks of the River Meuse when British troops launched an assault on the Verdun battlefields.
August 21
Sandor Wekerle was appointed Prime Minister of Hungary for the third time in his career.
August 24
Italian forces occupied the summit of Monte Santo and continued their advance towards the Bainsizza Plateau during the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo.
August 25
The Battle of Hill 70 came to an end. The localised battle had included extensive use of poison gas on both sides and ultimately the goals of the Canadian Corps were only partially accomplished.
August 26
British forces captured enemy positions east of Hargicourt. French forces launched an attack on the front at Verdun and captured Le Mort Homme.
August 27
The United States replied to the Papal Peace Note. President Wilson rejected a peace based on the Pope's proposals and implied that there was no chance of peace until the German people overthrew their government.
August 28
The Moscow State Conference closed after 3 days. It had been convened by the Provisional Government to mobilize all the counterrevolutionary forces in Russia.
August 29
The British steamer SS Treloske was sunk by the German submarine U-93 on voyage from Barry to La Spezia with a cargo of coal.
August 31
Louis Malvy resigned as French Minister of the Interior after he was blamed for not suppressing pacifist agitators.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/17 12:13 AM

3 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

It was early.

[Linked Image]

The morning sun was rising behind their backs as Aldi led Schwarm Zwei on an intercept mission gaining altitude while still half asleep dreaming of Käte.

[Linked Image]

The adrenaline brought him quickly out of his reverie when two 2c's emerged above their flight. Kline, who was the only member of Schwarm Eins and who had 400 m altitude advantage got to them first and shot at one, following it down as it dove along with the rest of Schwarm Zwei.

[Linked Image]

That left Aldi one-on-one with the other two-seater. It was a one-sided affair. The pilot was killed by one long burst and the stricken bus begun its terrifying vertical journey.

[Linked Image]

While circling above and waiting for the rest of the Schwarm to deal with the first two-seater and climb back up to altitude, Aldi was jumped by a flight of Pups. Was it the escort? Probably. Three of them went after him, while the others dove down after the rest of his Schwarm below.

[Linked Image]

He maneuvered to cause a collision between his pursuers, but they were careful enough. Some shots landed in Aldi's upper wing. He considered his options and decided to drag them near the airfield to have the Flugzeugabwehrkanone help him with his problem, but right at that moment Strähle came to the rescue and took care of his attackers.

[Linked Image]

Two of them have switched their target, but one still followed Aldi. Aldi witnessed Strähle singlehandedly shoot down both Pups.

[Linked Image]

This is when the third one decided it was time to retreat after Aldi spectacularly botched up a loop and stalled.

[Linked Image]

While Schwarzkopf was recovering from the stall the Pup was well on his way towards the front lines. With Strähle at his side as an encouragement Aldi decided to pursue across the trenches and into the enemy territory. They caught up to the lone Pup near Bailleul. The enemy pilot wasn't about to give up either. He dove at a steep angle with Aldi following closely and taking aim.

[Linked Image]

Finally the Pup pilot was hit and crashed into the trees leaving a black column of smoke behind.

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The two Germans made a coordinated turn back to friendly territory. Schwarzkopf felt exhilarated. It felt good to be returning home with Strähle by his side.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/17 12:49 AM

Aldi is gaining quite the reputation among both friend and foe, isn't he? The French have begun to talk of "le diable verte" as something even more deadly and mysterious than the relatively obscure libation, while the Red Baron himself has begun to make inquiries. Unfortunately, I hear that the Baron and Aldi's Ltn. belong to the same hunting lodge, so nothing is likely (as yet), to come of it.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/17 03:23 AM

Super, Fullofit's pilot is going Epic. Really great pics
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/17 04:01 AM

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


Sep 1 1917.
My self and other pilots . were invited to the Local Burgemeister's Dinner and Dance at the Castle. The invitation was brought by his sister. Later a group Photo of us dancing in Civilian dress was taken Thank Gott, I am off on 48 hr pass.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/17 04:02 PM

Henri Dupont
Sergent
C-17
Toul, Aerodrome.


Missions Total: 5 Flight time total 4.7 Victory's 0


Sep 2, 1915. Another two flights over the Boche.

Recon: easy flight for our 2 a/c. I manged to buzz an English lorry column on the way back great fun for us.

LR Recon: Our Flight of 4 machines were the subject of cannon fire thick balls of smoke and fire as we went to Verdun and then back to Toul. Our # 4 a/c had a large rip in the lower wing.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/17 05:34 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

3 May 1917@05h01 Attack on Avelin aerodrome

Scott assigned “A†flight to the mission. There would be no supporting flight to assist as all other flights were committed.

We were told to expect wind of 3 kn from the North and clear skies with only a hint of cirrus at extreme altitude. It was a good day for spotting huns but the opposite held true as well and there would be little hope of sneaking in on Avelin from behind the clouds.

Godfrey lead “B†flight composed of Clinton on wing, Horn, Pope and Young.

Forming up north of the field Godfrey had the flight at 7100 ft at 05h16 and then swung the flight NE towards Loos. At 05h20, making good time, the flight was at 6800 ft just south of Loos and turned east towards the lines. They crossed over observing the artillery shells exploding on the Hun lines and there was no sign of enemy scouts or two seaters in the vicinity. At 05h32, down to 3400 ft and approaching Avelin, Godfrey noted 6 enemy scouts about 3000 feet above, escorting two OP. He could not understand why some of scouts didn’t peel off to harass them.

At 05h35 Godfrey took the flight in to attack Avelin. As soon as he loosed his rockets all hell broke loose from the airfield maching guns and Godfrey heard a loud thwack as one of them hit his machine. Quickly pulling out and breaking to port, Godfrey climbed out of range, looking back to see the damage to the aerodrome installation. It was then he noticed he was alone and scanned the skies for the rest of his flight. He took stock of his N23 and it seemed to be running ok. Climbing and turning, he later noticed that two Hun scouts were mixing it up with some of his flight lower down and close to the Avelin field.

Spotting one Hun coming his way and as he turned into him he noticed the craft suddenly begin to smoke as it passed across his path. It was an Albatros DIII of Jasta 11. Godfrey swung onto it’s tail and promptly finished him off.

Scanning the ground below he spotted two of his flight climbing and circling and so he waited for them to join him and they all headed back towards Filescamp, chased occasionally by Hun flak as they passed over various installations.

Landing back at Filescamp with Clinton, They no sooner came to a stop at the end of the field, switching off, when they heard another Nieuport engine
Coming in. It was Horn. Shortly after while at the RO, Pope came in with light damage to his craft, and reported he had seen Young put a Hun down but that he lost sight of him after that. Young didn’t come in and there was concern he might have gone west. Three hours later word came in that Young had crashed just short of Camblain-l'Abbe field, lightly wounded and having written off his Nieuport.

Two claims were put in and Godfrey felt content that the flight got off easy considering the number of huns that could have harassed them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Gd4eqXN0c
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/17 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Aldi is gaining quite the reputation among both friend and foe, isn't he? The French have begun to talk of "le diable verte" as something even more deadly and mysterious than the relatively obscure libation, while the Red Baron himself has begun to make inquiries. Unfortunately, I hear that the Baron and Aldi's Ltn. belong to the same hunting lodge, so nothing is likely (as yet), to come of it.


BuckeyeBob, I lament the fact that WOFF does not feature invitations to elite units a la RB. I wasn't aware Aldi has built such a reputation among the enemy.
Carrick, looks like Helmut had a fantastic time. Hope he caught the eye of some fine young ladies.
Robert, some fine flying. Don't worry about that single rejection. More will come.


4 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

Another balloon defense. At least this time it was the balloon near their own aerodrome, so they've been spared the transit flight to a remote location. They've settled into a circular patrol pattern just when enemy planes arrived for entertainment purposes. Their flight came down from much higher altitude, aiming for the balloon. Aldi dove after an N17 with a Lewis gun on the wing, who has just swooped down onto the balloon, but he misjudged and nearly collided with the scout.

[Linked Image]

He then saw a strange plane chasing von Bülow. It was an ugly box, a coffin with wings.

[Linked Image]

He went after it and put a few rounds in it before his wingman shooed Aldi away. They chased each other's tail for a while. The driver of the box got bored and decided to leave. He made it look easy. Aldi felt he was standing in place. Pretty fast for a box, he thought. Schwarzkopf gave up the chase when he saw the other box much closer to him and at a lower altitude - much easier to catch.

[Linked Image]

He placed his Albatros behind the Brit and opened fire. Eventually SE5 begun to dive with the pilot dead at the controls.

[Linked Image]

He swung his machine around towards the airfield and nearly collided with an N17 that was on von Bülow's tail.

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Aldi made another 180 degree turn and chased the English machine. He came closer and closer. He started to shoot while coming closer still.

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He was nearly on top of him when the Nieuport made a sudden move. Aldi swerved to avoid him. CRRRACK! Their wings touched.

[Linked Image]

Aldi opened his eyes and looked at his wing. It was all in one piece. The Nieuport didn't fare as well. With his lower starboard wing in tatters he spiraled down to the ground and crashed. Aldi cursed his stupidity and begun his descent onto the airfield. He slotted himself behind other airplanes circling the 'drome. Something didn't feel right. The shape of the planes in front of him was all wrong ... and they were silver! More Nieuports and they're after his flight mates on final approach. He dove to gain more speed and closed the distance to the three Nieuports ahead. They were climbing and that's when it hit him. They were not after the landing planes but after the balloon. He instantly remembered that protecting this balloon was his main objective. He picked the scout on the right and sent a burst. The machine turned upside down and drove into the ground. He sent a few rounds into the plane on the left. It dove away. Aldi switched to the leader, but kept glancing back at the one that got away. He begun to fire when he got close enough to the enemy's crate. He must have damaged it pretty well with the first burst as it did not attempt to evade him with the subsequent attacks.

[Linked Image]

The enemy finally lost control and with a trail of grey smoke crashed into the ground only meters away from where his wingman crashed minutes ago.

[Linked Image]

Aldi looked for the last of the sesquiplanes, but that one was well on his way back to base, being chased by Flak. Schwarzkopf was finally able to land. He made a mental note to speak with von Bülow that one of these days he will not be there to save his neck, or more precisely his tail.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/17 11:09 PM

Fullofit: There was one that eyed Helmut, but being a gentleman He just waved as he was getting ready to leave the Castle





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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/03/17 01:32 AM

Carrick, missed opportunity then. Oh well, maybe next time?
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/03/17 03:08 AM

@ 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.

[Linked Image]

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.

[Linked Image]

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

[Linked Image]

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

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/03/17 11:01 PM

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.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/17 02:34 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

Pertaining to the mission of 3 May 1917:
[Linked Image]


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.




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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/17 02:45 AM

Here is the report of last week's activity.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/17 04:49 PM

IN FRANCE,


There was an out pouring of grief for Hemi Dupont

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BUT On the other side of the Lines

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/17 09:25 PM

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.

[Linked Image]

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.

[Linked Image]

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.

[Linked Image]

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

[Linked Image]

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

[Linked Image]

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

[Linked Image]

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.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/05/17 12:38 AM

Alast easy come easy go sad for Henri.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/05/17 12:46 AM

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.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/05/17 04:18 PM

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

5 Sep 1917.

Rain Heavy down pours.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/17 12:25 AM

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.

[Linked Image]

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.

[Linked Image]

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.
[Linked Image]
Von Bülow with Lt A. W. Martin and Pvt W. C. Blake

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/17 02:48 AM

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.â€

[Linked Image]
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.

[Linked Image]
"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.


Attached picture Wolff.png
Attached picture Kill 2.png
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/17 03:20 AM

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...
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/17 04:03 AM

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.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/17 04:07 AM

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.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-09-05 20-54-21-16.jpg
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/17 06:56 PM

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.â€

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.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/17 10:42 PM

nicely done
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 01:09 AM

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?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 03:09 AM

Robert,

Loved the takeoff scene!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by Raine
Robert,

Loved the takeoff scene!


Thanks Raine. I am trying to find detailed new points of view, biggrin
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 06:58 AM

Yeah that was a nice shot.

(If one of our mod wizards can figure out a way to do more with the camera that would be spectacular)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 05:04 PM

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


Sept 7, 1917. Rains predicted for the next 5-7 days so put in for a leave in Hamburg . However, my Uncle, the General, said stop and say hi to the Countess von Schmidt at the Castle Ludendroff on my way.

https://giphy.com/gifs/diana-rigg-yRxTZDFqn4Tq8/fullscreen

While in the Mess , I heard about the Big Fight the Baron got into with new English Scouts last week.

https://giphy.com/gifs/h4Ve5arz91dZu/fullscreen
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 07:01 PM

So much good stuff going on here! Keep it up fellas...I turned in my time sheet and hope to add more soon!

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 08:36 PM

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

The sound of a lone engine wakes me from my paper work induced slumber. It is one of our Camels returning from some errand and by the sound of its Clerget, all seems to be in order. After the usual blipping, I hear the engine cease it whining and silence returns once again to my office. Not long after, ashen faced and still in his flight gear, Flight Commander Sinclair bursts through my office door without even a thought as to knocking. "Jack, blast it all man, what is the meaning of this", I exclaimed! It was at that moment I realize that he is alone and before he can answer my query, I ask another. "Where is the new man?" He was obviously shaken, so I pour him a glass of brandy and he downs it in one swallow. When he catches his breath, he quietly says, "The new man is dead!" "What, what happened", I said? "Can't anyone on this bloody aerodrome follow my orders? You were given specific orders that under no circumstances were you to allow him to get anywhere near the front. My God man, he was just a boy." The color rose in Jack's cheeks and I feared that I had pushed the man too hard, but he swallowed, took a deep breath, and began to tell his story. "You see sir, it was like this", he began. "I took the lad down around St. Omer just so he could get comfortable with the area. All at once and out of the sun, one of those damned black tails dove on us. I saw it in time, or I wouldn't be here talking to you, but the poor lad either never saw me turn away or was confused by my maneuver. The poor sod just kept flying along and so the Hun had an easy time of it and filled him with lead. The bloody Hun kept in his dive and by the time I had completed my maneuver, he was halfway home. So since there was nothing I could do, I returned home." Good, solid Jack, I could see that he was terribly shaken up by the event and so I thanked him for his report and reminded him to include all of this information in his written report. After he had quietly shut the door, I could contain my frustration no longer. I grabbed the nearest thing, which happened to be Jack's brandy glass and threw it across the room. "What the blazes am I going to say to his parent's? He hadn't even been here for 24 hours", I exclaimed! The anger died as quickly as it arrived and I moaned, "I hate this bloody, bloody war."

Attached picture 433px-Service_portrait_of_Anthony_Jacques_Mantle,_WWI_RNAS_Pilot.jpg
Attached picture letterhome.jpg
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 08:51 PM

A tragic tale, well told. Thanks Banjoman.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 09:05 PM

Thanks, I've never done anything like this before. Usually just journal entries and letters home, but it was fun to try something completely different.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Thanks, I've never done anything like this before. Usually just journal entries and letters home, but it was fun to try something completely different.


Yes, it was an excellent foray into a different realm than most of us have been participating in. Cudos for the creative touch Sir!
Posted By: stljeffbb

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

The sound of a lone engine wakes me from my paper work induced slumber. It is one of our Camels returning from some errand and by the sound of its Clerget, all seems to be in order. After the usual blipping, I hear the engine cease it whining and silence returns once again to my office. Not long after, ashen faced and still in his flight gear, Flight Commander Sinclair bursts through my office door without even a thought as to knocking. "Jack, blast it all man, what is the meaning of this", I exclaimed! It was at that moment I realize that he is alone and before he can answer my query, I ask another. "Where is the new man?" He was obviously shaken, so I pour him a glass of brandy and he downs it in one swallow. When he catches his breath, he quietly says, "The new man is dead!" "What, what happened", I said? "Can't anyone on this bloody aerodrome follow my orders? You were given specific orders that under no circumstances were you to allow him to get anywhere near the front. My God man, he was just a boy." The color rose in Jack's cheeks and I feared that I had pushed the man too hard, but he swallowed, took a deep breath, and began to tell his story. "You see sir, it was like this", he began. "I took the lad down around St. Omer just so he could get comfortable with the area. All at once and out of the sun, one of those damned black tails dove on us. I saw it in time, or I wouldn't be here talking to you, but the poor lad either never saw me turn away or was confused by my maneuver. The poor sod just kept flying along and so the Hun had an easy time of it and filled him with lead. The bloody Hun kept in his dive and by the time I had completed my maneuver, he was halfway home. So since there was nothing I could do, I returned home." Good, solid Jack, I could see that he was terribly shaken up by the event and so I thanked him for his report and reminded him to include all of this information in his written report. After he had quietly shut the door, I could contain my frustration no longer. I grabbed the nearest thing, which happened to be Jack's brandy glass and threw it across the room. "What the blazes am I going to say to his parent's? He hadn't even been here for 24 hours", I exclaimed! The anger died as quickly as it arrived and I moaned, "I hate this bloody, bloody war."


Good stuff Banjoman thumbsup

Regards,

Jeff
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/17 11:29 PM

Super Job, Banjoman.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/17 01:28 AM

Congrats Banjoman. Glad you overcame your writer's block and you did it in style too. From now on we don't expect anything less from you.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/17 01:52 AM

Haha, I knew you'd say that. I think I'll still do the everyday stuff but every once in a while add something nice like today. It was fun, but it just takes me so long to come up with an idea. I guess it is just like everything else, the more you practise the better you are going to be. Anyway, thanks for all of the kind words. I was hoping you would all like it.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/17 01:56 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

10 May 1917 @ 06h01 Attack on Athies Junction rail yard

At briefing Scott had re-iterated that HQ considered this a vital target as OP had identified troops and munitions were streaming into this rail yard.

Weather reports were indicating 8 kn winds from the SSW with potential for showers accompanied with several days of hot humid weather. Heavy cumulus was established between 5500 and 9000 feet.

“B†flight was assigned the attack role with “A†flight providing top cover.

Godfrey lead “B†flight composed of Clinton on wing, Lloyd, Caldwell and Rutherford accompanying. “A†flight was lead by Molesworth and composed of Jenkins, Horn and Young accompanying.

The flight formed up north of the field attaining an altitude of 11,300 ft at 06h24 and set a SE heading for Monchy le Prieux.

They crossed the lines at 06h32 cruising at 6,400 ft approaching Monchy.
Heavy shelling by both sides was observed and the Huns favored the flights with some flak so as they would not be left out of the party.

At 06h35 the flight had come down to 3,400 ft well below prevailing cloud cover and could now see Athies Junction in the distance.

At 06h38 Godfrey gave the signal to start the attack and they all began a steep dive to loose their rockets on the facilities below. Godfrey always felt insufficiently armed for such an attack, as the rockets were a poor substitute for decent bombs, and bombs were what they needed now. Having successfully hit the main building structures, Godfrey climbed out and gave the signal to reform. He circled for some time but the flight never materialized and so he set a straight course for the lines and Filescamp, ever watchful for Huns and any sign of his flight.

Arriving back over Filescamp at 07h21, he noted many craft at the end of the field and as he came in and landed he was relieved to see his flight had preceded him. He reported in to the RO just as his flight members were about to leave the office. The faces of the men wore expressions of many sorts. Some shock, some relief, some shades of pink, and some just staring down at their boots.

Godfrey just put his fists into his hips, standing there with a very stern look on his face for many seconds, and then just broke out in laughter. “What a pack of sorry looking chaps you folks are. I had every intention of tearing a strip off of each of you for ignoring my flares, but then on the long trip back, had been harboring a fear that somehow you had all gone west. I must admit that I was very much shocked to see you all here and just as much relieved.
Just don’t let it happen again or heads will role. They all headed to the mess for breakfast very much relieved for many obvious reasons.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/17 03:44 AM

cool vid. Well Done old boy.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/17 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
cool vid. Well Done old boy.

Thanks mate!
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/17 09:28 PM

.

The DID Centenary Challenge Commendations Officer is pleased to present the following awards.


To pilots of the Entente Alliance

575 Hours Medal presented to: Banjoman, (Squadron Commander Arthur Ethelstan).
175 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold).
100 Hours Medal presented to: Robert Wiggins, (Lieutenant Albert Earl Godfrey).
75 Hours Medal presented to: MFair, (Squadron Commander Edgar Everheart).
25 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Sous Lieutenant Francois Wagnon).


To pilots of the Central Powers

450 Hours Medal presented to: Banjoman, (Rittmeister Ahren Auge)
75 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Hauptmann Aldi Schwarzkopf).
25 Hours Medal presented to: Lederhosen, (Offiziersstellvertreter Karl Steinhorst); Carrick58, (Offiziersstellvertreter Helmut von Hammer).


Well done Gentleman, you make your respective countries proud! You may pick up your spiffing new gongs on the table below.

.


Attached picture WOFF_DID_Centenary_Medal_575_Hours.jpg
Attached picture WOFF_DID_Centenary_Medal_175_Hours.jpg
Attached picture WOFF_DID_Centenary_Medal_100_Hours.jpg
Attached picture WOFF_DID_Centenary_Medal_75_Hours.jpg
Attached picture WOFF_DID_Centenary_Medal_25_Hours.jpg
Attached picture WOFF_DID_Centenary_Medal_German_450_Hours.jpg
Attached picture WOFF_DID_Centenary_Medal_German_75_Hours.jpg
Attached picture WOFF_DID_Centenary_Medal_German_25_Hours.jpg
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/17 10:28 PM

Oh, it is so good to see the gong fairy out and about. We sure have missed you, but I certainly understand your absence.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/17 11:14 PM

New bling! Lou, Aldi, Cyrus and Francois are in your debt. Thank you for doing this, but wait a minute! Where is yours?

10 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

Aldi and his Kette have just parked their crates at the end of the airfield after an uneventful patrol near Lens. They've removed their heavy flight gear as the weather improved and it was a beautiful and particularly warm day. They've walked to the office to get some rest and report on the mission when out of the doorway came out a familiar figure. Leaning on a cane and with part of his face bandaged making it difficult to recognize Grieffenhagen greeted his pilots. They all stopped in their tracks surprised. Grieffenhagen now promoted to Rittmeister made another step forward. "What did I miss?" He broke the silence. They've all stood at attention and saluted as one to display their respect for their Jastaführer.. Paul Strähle couldn't help himself, he walked up to his C.O. and hugged him.
"Lieber Gott! Leutnant Strähle, you don't want to put me back in the hospital, do you?" Grieffenhagen was gasping for air. Paul let go immediately and stepped back embarrassed. Other pilots surrounded Grieffenhagen and started shaking his hand to welcome him back. Von Bülow who was all this time in the office decided to come out and stood in the doorway behind everyone with his hands in his pockets observing the going-ons. Aldi noticed his friend standing by himself and came over to talk to him.
"What's the matter? Sad to give back the command?" Aldi joked. Walter smiled and responded. "Not sad at all. It was a great experience." He paused and added. "Well, I'm off."
"You're not coming to the party? I assume Paul will organize one to toast Grieffenhagen's return."
"Aldi, I am leaving tonight. I've been given command of Jasta 36 and need to leave soon. Don't tell Paul. I don't want to spoil the mood and besides, I hate Good-byes. Take care of yourself, Aldi." He put a hand on Aldi's shoulder and walked away, leaving Schwarzkopf standing dumbfounded and in shock. This was the last time Aldi saw his good friend.

By the end of 1917 von Bülow was given command of the prestigious Jasta 'Boelcke' but was killed on 6 January 1918.

[Linked Image]
Grieffenhagen and von Bülow

Attached picture G&vB.JPG
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/17 04:01 AM

yea, Lou is back. Woo Whoo
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/17 04:04 AM

Helmut von Hammer

Sep 9, 1917


Although safe in Hamburg, I cant help thinking about the last fight with Sopwiths.



https://giphy.com/gifs/sd6iI2m8oIKnm/fullscreen
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/17 11:42 AM

.

Originally Posted by Fullofit
New bling! Lou, Aldi, Cyrus and Francois are in your debt. Thank you for doing this, but wait a minute! Where is yours?


Not to worry Fullofit, I received the hours medal for my pilot back at the beginning of June but since then I've not accrued enough hours to reach the next bar. Hasse is in the same boat with his current flieger.

Glad you folks like the bling, from this point on I will try to present the medals after each of Banjoman's stats postings so we can keep things more timely.

And wonderful stories and reports everyone, I am attempting to get caught up on my reading here. Made an extra large pot of coffee this morning. smile2

.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/17 12:36 PM

And a hearty thank you from Albert, as he hands you a tot of Tullamore to go with that morning pot!!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/17 04:45 PM

Helmut von Hammer
on leave in Hamburg

Sep 9, 1917.

Summon to Berlin , He receives the prestigious WOFF 25 Hr. Gong .

https://giphy.com/gifs/military-y9dNiuJLa45oY/fullscreen

then off to the Castle to pay his respects to the Countess von Schmidt

https://giphy.com/gifs/fH1gGuhtFom0U/fullscreen
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/17 08:49 PM

Unfortunately I no longer have the time that pure DID flying requires, so you may as well retire my pilot from the show, Banjoman. I haven't even played any WOFF in several months now.

If the situation changes, I'll start over with a new pilot.

Thanks for keeping the campaign running Banjoman, and best of luck to all the brave pilots participating in it! salute
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/17 10:24 PM

That's too bad, I've really missed your wonderful stories. Just remember, you are also welcome here and you can join us anytime.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/17 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Helmut von Hammer on leave in Hamburg
...
then off to the Castle to pay his respects to the Countess von Schmidt


So Carrick ... is Helmut one to kiss and tell?
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/17 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Originally Posted by carrick58
Helmut von Hammer on leave in Hamburg
...
then off to the Castle to pay his respects to the Countess von Schmidt


So Carrick ... is Helmut one to kiss and tell?



If I was Helmut, I wouldn't risk it. She doesn't look like a woman not to be messed with!!

If I was Helmut I would take my chances at the front and play it safe
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/17 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
If I was Helmut I would take my chances at the front and play it safe

Heh heh. Robert, you crack me up. But you never know, Helmut might enjoy a good lashing.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/17 12:53 AM

biggrin
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/17 12:28 PM

.

Well I am fairly caught up now with everyone's exploits and what an outstanding collection of reports and videos and adventures! I would comment individually on them but I'd be here for a week if I attempted to do so. smile2 I will try to drop in regularly from this point forward so that I can stay current. Keep 'em coming folks, they are always a treat.

.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/17 07:37 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

Albert has finally had his mount painted with the standard "B" flight markings. Here are a few pics of him and a mate high above Filescamp on a particularly misty day (thanks to JJJ65 and BuckeyeBobs work):

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]


Attached picture vs170910-002.JPG
Attached picture vs170910-003.JPG
Attached picture vs170910-004.JPG
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/17 08:26 PM

Here is the status report of last week's activities.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture ScreenHunter_208 Sep. 10 14.24.jpg
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/17 10:43 PM

Thanks for the stats Banjoman. Great stories and vids gents. Sorry to see Hasse drop out. I have been a bit occupied as of late. Will post a report soon.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/17 01:04 AM

Great Report Banjoman. Now if it stops raining ( Wet Month Sep 1917.) My pilot can get some flight time.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/17 01:23 AM

Helmut von Hammer
on leave . due to Rainy weather

While in Berlin, I was able to catch the famous Lilly von Stoop show at the Emporium

https://giphy.com/gifs/lilly-von-stoop-beW7sExdhVdok/fullscreen

Then take in Miss Vamp at the Derby.


https://giphy.com/gifs/oKSF5G2jfBSpO/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/17 02:44 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

14 May 1917 @ 05h01 Attack on Athies Junction rail yard

Another attack was ordered on the railyard due to lack of damage being done.
The Le Prier rockets were proving to be most useless for serious damage to the installation.

It was a good day for the attack with winds of 3 kn from the SSW and mostly clear skies with occasional cumulus between 4000 and 6000 ft and some cirrus at very high altitude. Visibility was extremely good.

Godfrey again lead “B†flight composed of Lloyd, Scott, Rutherford and Fry. There was to be no top cover for the flight so extreme caution was dictated.

The flight formed up north of the field at 06h16 having reached an altitude of 7300 ft and then the flight immediately turned SE towards Athies just over the lines.

At 05h25 the flight was at 3445 ft just crossing the lines and noting how quiet things were. There was no artillery activity. Three scouts were sighted very high up but seemed to have no interest in Godfrey’s flight as the passed over Monchy at 05h28 still at 3445 ft.

Godfrey kept an eye on the three scouts as he turned the flight NNE towards Athies Junction. They arrived at the junction about 05h33, at which point Godfrey gave the signal for the attack run. There were direct hits by three of the flight on the engine sheds and Godfrey himself deposited his eggs on the station buildings, managing a direct hit on one of them.

Having pulled out last, Godfrey gave the signal to reform and circled the area until all the flight had taken up their respective positions.

Godfrey led the flight west and while doing so, noted 7 specs high up at 6 oclock and in good position for an attack. “B†flight stayed the course and each member being anxious about the situation kept swiveling their heads between the scouts above and Godfrey, wondering what their leader might decide to do. Godfrey saw no advantage in favour of “B†flight and had decided to avoid combat if at all possible. The fates were in their favour, as one by one the enemy scouts disappeared in the distance.

Godfrey was perplexed why the flight hadn’t encountered any enemy flak during the whole mission, not even over the railyard. Even the enemy scouts refrained from engaging them. It was extremely puzzing and much was said about it among the flight members while enjoying a nice breakfast back at Filescamp.

Later that day reports came in that damage to Athies Junction was minimal. It didn’t surprise Godfrey and if the issue came up later with the C.O. he was prepared to speak to it.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/17 02:38 PM

Question for the more historical minds among us. Edgar has been promoted to Squadron Commander. In less than a month he will have been active for 6 months and is due 30 days leave. I was thinking of having him transferred to take over a new squadron. Did any RNAS pilots get transfered to the RAF? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks in advance.

Nice hit with the rockets Robert!
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/17 03:48 PM

.

Mark, did you mean the RFC? The RNAS and the RFC were merged to become the RAF on 1 April, 1918. As to an RNAS pilot serving with the RFC, it may have happened in RL in the form of a detached duty assignment, though I can't think of an example of such right off the top of my head.

.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/17 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by RAF_Louvert
.

Mark, did you mean the RFC? The RNAS and the RFC were merged to become the RAF on 1 April, 1918. As to an RNAS pilot serving with the RFC, it may have happened in RL in the form of a detached duty assignment, though I can't think of an example of such right off the top of my head.

.


Yes Lou, I meant RFC. Thank you for catching that. It seems Edgar will stay with the RNAS until then unless he goes under. The Commodore would banish him from the family if he left the Navy anyway. By the way, its great to have you back my friend. Your knowledge and wit were sorely missed.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/17 12:28 AM

Well, Francois Wagnon has his pants full. Had to land in NML with a barrage next door. All the fuel leaked out, but even before that, the engine died. Missed all the stumps and got caught on the barbed wire. Ah, the life of a Poilu!
[Linked Image]

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/17 01:07 AM

wow, a close call.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/17 01:11 AM

Fullofit, that is what we call a close shave. It's good to hear from your other pilots, I've often wondered why you haven't written more about Cyrus and Francois.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/17 02:02 AM

Banjoman, there just aren't enough hours in a day to fly the missions and do the reports for all the pilots. I've decided to concentrate on one of them. Aldi's career seemed most interesting to me, while the other two are there for diversity, in case I get bored. I do keep their stats up to date.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/17 02:56 AM

Helmut von Hammer
on leave . due to Rainy weather


Sep 12, 1917.


Its my last night in the City. Time for a dinner party.

https://giphy.com/gifs/ORzvRmxSa7gk0/fullscreen

Then say goodby to the Countess and back to the Front.

https://giphy.com/gifs/dina-rigg-tr3gtcpqB2L04/fullscreen
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/17 03:09 AM

I know what you mean, I should probably do the same, but I'll keep trying to keep up with them if it kills me. biggrin
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/17 01:32 PM

I haven't been able to keep up with the writing part of the DiD experience, but hope to have a new installment of the Holzhauer papers tonight. I'm travelling for work and will bring my flight notes and pictures with me...

So much going on here these days! First of all, kudos to Lou for the gong festival. It adds a lot to the campaign and is greatly appreciated. Banjoman, that was a well-crafted and touching vignette. We joke about welcoming folks to the meat grinder, but a hundred years ago it was all too true. Fullofit, I really love the way you've been able to blend the historic pictures into your Aldi stories. Keep it up -- I look forward to each episode. Robert, that's a great new, historically accurate livery. Keep an eye on Bishop -- he's a good pilot and the life of the party, but I'm not sure about him all the time. MFair, congrats on your man making Squadron Commander. To my knowledge, there were no transfers between the RFC and RNAS -- it would have required re-badging in a way that was simply not done in the day. After 1 April 1918, though, he could command any squadron in the RAF. Ranks did not immediately change to RAF ranks, it seems. That took until after the end of the war. Carrick, if Helmut can survive the countess he can certainly survive the front!!!

Finally, I am really saddened that Hasse is no longer in the air with us. His stories were always so well done and I appreciated all he has contributed to DiD flying.

See you all soon.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/17 02:08 PM

.

Raine, I certainly hope you will be able to find the time during your travels to write your next installment, they are always wonderful reads.

Hasse, very sorry to learn you've been forced to step away from your WOFF adventures and sharing them with us here. Believe me, I feel your pain when it comes to that. I've not been able to get in a WOFF sortie for months much less write about one.

Very glad though that the rest of you folks are keeping things alive with your postings, they are all much appreciated.

.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/17 04:18 PM

Raine: Helmut is safer at the Front then with the Countess. On a different subject, I too will miss Hasse flying with us.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/17 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
I know what you mean, I should probably do the same, but I'll keep trying to keep up with them if it kills me. biggrin

Or them winkngrin

Originally Posted by carrick58
Raine: Helmut is safer at the Front then with the Countess.

So I guess this is it for the Countess? She was starting to grow on me.

Robert, seems Albert is the scourge of the skies if no one wants to engage him. That is a good reputation to have in the unfriendly skies.

Raine, thank you for your praise. I'm honored and I'm looking forward to reading another instalment of Franz's adventures. Hope you'll be able to post from the road.

15 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

Aldi and Paul were still in foul mood after Walter's departure and could not get excited about the new arrival. Ltn. Richard Runge transferred in today. A rather peculiar looking man for a Jagdflieger. With the glasses he looked more like a teacher than a pilot.

[Linked Image]

Well, they would find out soon enough what Richard is made of. This morning's mission was line patrol from Halluin to Menen and Runge was to be Aldi's wingman.
They were halfway done with their patrol with no contact when all of a sudden black puffs announced the arrival of the enemy.

[Linked Image]

Three pushers were trying to sneak by, but were easily discovered by the Flak battery observers. As soon as they realized they've been targeted by Aldi's flight, one of the Tommies separated and made a run for the lines. Needless to say that was the prey Aldi selected and the Schwarm converged like a pack of hungry wolves. The Fee had no chance. Schwarzkopf demolished the engine with a few well placed salvoes and the big bird went down trailing dirty ribbon of smoke.

[Linked Image]

They regrouped and were on the way to finish their patrol when they ran straight into the remaining two Fees being chased by Schwarm Eins. One Fee was already smoking and fell to their guns but the last one was claimed by the newcomer. Aldi was impressed by the man in glasses. First day on the job and making a name for himself already. Well done! Aldi would have to keep an eye on Ltn. Runge.

[Linked Image]

He may yet prove useful in the future. They all headed for the aerodrome and some well deserved warm meal. The day got off to a good start.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/17 12:14 AM

Ah, some great reports coming in folks. Thanks for the great read.
Fullofit, Ltn. Runge may be the ace in the hole! I would also like to add, that Francois meeting with the fence is a far cry better than it used to be, eh what??
Carrick, Helmut may need those few days at the front to heal his welts from the whip! biggrin
MFair, I also want to extend my congratulations to Edgar. It's no small feat!!
Banjoman, Thanks for keeping the records straight for us. It is muchly appreciated!!
Raine, thanks for the ack of Albert's skin!

Albert Earl Godfrey

15 May 1917 @ 11h30 DOP for troop and vehicle movement west of Marcoing

At briefing we learned that the wind would be 3 to 4 kn from the SSW with mixed towering cumulus and clear skies

“B†flight was to be lead by Godfrey with Horn, Fry, and Yong accompanying. “A†flight was to assist and composed of Lloyd, Jenkins, Scott and Tremaine

It was a rather balmy day as the flight took off and formed up north of the field at 11h44, attaining an altitude of 7600 ft. They then turned east towards Mont St. Eloi looking for the two F.E. 2b’s from Fienvillers/Candas.

At 11h50 Godfrey spotted two of them at 2 o’clock on the horizon. “B†flight turned in behind them and took up escort position as they headed directly to the lines.

At 11h58 flying at 8000 ft they crossed the lines making their way SE to Marcoing.
The Hun flak was light and mostly concentrated on the F.E.2b’.s as they passed over Athies and Monchy. From there on things were quiet until the approach to Pronville and Brayelles at 12h09. At this point the flak began again, but only lightly. During this leg of the flight, “A†flight was nowhere to be seen and Godfrey prayed that the Hun scouts would be busy elsewhere.

At 12h12 they arrived over Marcoing and the B.E.’s began their work circling the area. They did not linger long.

At 12h18, at an altitude of 8000 ft, “B†flight was approaching the lines in the vicinity of Havrincourt Wood on a SW trajectory and Godfrey was feeling lucky that the Huns had not shown up to molest the B.E.’s his flight was escorting. No sooner had these thoughts left his head, than he noted seven specs approaching high from the west on his port side. They could be Huns or friendlies and Godfrey preferred to cross the lines before having to face a possible enemy flight. He watched them intently as they passed over head and his flight appeared to be unnoticed.

As they approached Lechelle airfield, the B.E.2b’s began to descend, most likely to land. Godfrey kept looking back and noted that that teo specs were getting very close to his flight, probably due to “B†flight having to reduce their speed so as not to over fly the F.E.’s and expose them to possible attack.
Seeing that the two seaters were well on their way down to landing, Godfrey turned into the approaching two aircraft, passing over the first noting the telltale shape of an albatross, He focusing on the second while trying to determine if any more were on the way. These two could possibly have been from the flight of seven that passed them earlier and there was no telling if there were more coming. The Albatros in front of him began a climb directly towards him and Godfrey put a long burst directly at him as he passed by on Godfrey’s starboard side. It seemed evident no further albatri were approaching and Godfrey wasted no time in completing a turn onto the tail of the DIII. It had the markings of MFJ1. He circled with it several times before seeing the opportunity to get on it’s tail as it pulled up and away. Godfrey sent several volleys into the cockpit area and observed the spray of some debris from the craft. It went down in a slow turn and Godfrey lost sight of it as it passed below his fuselage. He did not see it go in but it was clear it was not flying away as he scanned the horizon. Young who was close by confirmed later that it did indeed make a forced landing crashing into the forest below.

Back at base the flight reported in with Godfrey and Horn laying claim to the two Albitri DIII’s that “B†flight had to contend with. “A†flight arriving later claimed two falling to the guns of Lloyd and Jenkins. Scott’s craft was destroyed in a forced landing due to enemy fire and he suffered a light injury. Tremaine on the other hand was killed in a crash due to enemy fire.



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/17 03:02 AM

Helmut von Hammer
on leave . due to Rainy weather
The Pvt Aerodrome at the Castle


Sept 13, 1917.

Excusing himself, Helmut casually leaves the Castle of the Countess and boards an Aero- machine headed for the Depots behind the Front

https://giphy.com/gifs/wwi-airplane-wDDIQScGF7U4g/fullscreen
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/17 03:41 AM

Too late to catch up on the latest posts tonight. But here's the next installment in Franz's memoirs...

The Holzhauer Papers
Part 6: 9-14 May 1917


On 9 May at dawn we patrolled along the lines near Reims. The French stayed away and by eight in the morning I was back in bed with no orders for the rest of the day. On getting up, I enjoyed an early lunch of cheese and bread with pickles in the Kasino before heading into Rethel with Wolff. Rittmeister von Brederlow did me the honour of sitting with me. He said he wanted to take a second patrol down to the front. Buckler and Schräder, our irrepressible hunters, were going, and he wanted to know if I was interested. But today I fought the urge. When one gets an Iron Cross 2nd Class it is convention to wear it on the first day, and after that one wears just the ribbon in a buttonhole. Today I wanted to wear that medal on my tunic and strut through town to show it off. True, the award was much more common now than it had been back in 1914 or even 1915, but for me it had significance. I knew how proud my parents would be to see me wear it, and I was off to get my picture taken! Our Staffelführer then announced to us (and later to the assembled group of all the pilots) that he had been posted to Idfleg [1]. Today was his last day with Jasta 17. His replacement would be at dinner, Hauptmann der Reserve Eberhard von Seel. The Hauptmann was coming to us from Bölke’s old Jasta 2. This was sobering. Von Brederlow had been good with me, and I hoped that von Seel would not be one of those typical stuck-up Prussian infantry soldiers. Still, I was off to town. I could worry about the new boss later.

Wolff and I had a wonderful time. My medal, however, went largely unnoticed. Iron Crosses, Wolff said, are like arseholes. Everyone has one. I bought a leather picture frame and left instructions with the photographer to send the finished photo to my parents when it was ready. We had a car at our disposal. Wolff drove like a professional racer. We passed a bottle of champagne back and forth as we thundered along the country lanes, slowing only when we met marching soldiers to avoid splashing mud on the poor fellows.

Back in the Kasino there was a small celebration for me after dinner and we were each introduced to Hauptmann von Seel. He is in his thirties, much older than most of us fliers except, of course, our old man and new officer, Wolff. I admire how Wolff is oblivious to this age difference and fits in with the rest of us who must seem like mere infants to him. Then, to end a wonderful day Hauptmann von Seel sent for my Werkmeister [2], Feldwebel Widmann. The Feldwebel had a surprise for me, I was told. He led me to a hangar and pointed out my new mount, a newly-arrived, factory-fresh 160 hp DIII! It was Christmas without the snow…

On 10 May I led a flight to St-Loup-en-Champagne to chase off some intruders that had been seen there. The new machine felt light and delicate compared to my old DII. Leutnant Sachsenberg, who flew with us that morning, warned me several times not to overstress the bird, for the narrow lower wing and V struts could deform and cause the machine to break up. I listened carefully. We spotted the French machines just south of St-Loup and began stalking them. They were higher than us, but we gained on them. Then they turned to give us a fight. This new DIII was more manoeuvrable than my old steed. In a minute I got close behind one of the Nieuports and chased him as he bobbed and jinked. I held my fire until within a few metres, and then I opened up, seeing my rounds rip into his fuselage and wings. The machine tumbled into a wood below. I did not recognise the location of the wood and could give only a rough direction and distance from St-Loup. Unfortunately, I lacked the witnesses for a confirmed victory.
Leutnant Gros led us the next day. We were patrolling the balloon line in the Reims sector. After nearly an hour in the area several Nieuports made a tentative attack, but we chased them off. I got some good hits on one, but Leutnant Schräder finished him off for the kill.

12 May 1917 saw another engagement with Nieuports, but this time they ran off over their lines.

On 13 May I led the early patrol again, escorting some DFWs to bomb the French field at Rosnay. This time the Nieuports in the area were more aggressive. We had a wonderful fight with much diving and zooming and spiralling of machines all over the sky. I followed one Frenchman down to 500 m. He tried to draw me over the airfield so that his friends on the ground could finish me off. I shouldn’t have done it but I followed him, zig-zagging to throw off the ground gunners’ aim. Then I hit the Nieuport with a good burst. Just as I closed in for the kill, another Albatros appeared directly in front of me, coming directly for me. I pushed the stick hard forward and ducked. There was a sharp bang. My machine shuddered, but the engine was still running. Or was that a new pinging sound? I couldn’t be sure. Everything looked intact, except for some torn linen between the ribs of my right upper wing. The other Albatros had run its wheels along the top of my machine. I looked behind and saw Leutnant Träger’s machine turning for home. The Frenchman was already a mere speck in the distance. I climbed to 1000 m to cross back over the lines and set course for home. Buckler, our Staffel’s Kanone, claimed a Nieuport this day. His score is now seven confirmed victories.

[Linked Image]
" I followed one Frenchman down to 500 m."

Hauptmann von Seel led us for the first time on 14 May. We were back over the balloon line, again ready for action. The French did not come out to play.

Notes:

[1] Inspektion der Fliegertruppen, Inspectorate of Aviation.

[2] Leading mechanic.


Attached picture One that got away.png
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/17 01:07 PM

Raine, that's quite a cram of missions!
Tell me, when the oncoming Albert bounced it's wheels on your upper plane, did you actually see torn canvas? If so, that is impressive. Did you actually also have some engine damage?

Cheers Mate
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/17 05:40 PM

Good stories. Keep em flying
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/17 01:44 AM

Robert, I'll take barbed wire over the fence any day. Congrats on the latest kill.
Carrick, Helmut must have really been desperate to fly an Eindecker in September of 1917!
Raine, glad you were able to post. It's a pleasure to read your reports. Too bad the unconfirmed kill streak continues. Good luck with that and the new CO. Hopefully he won't be such a hardass.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/17 02:50 AM

Fullof it: The Countess was closing in. lol
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/17 03:02 AM

Helmut von Hammer
on leave . due to Rainy weather


Sep 14, 1917.

I took the A Train from Germany to France then a Troop Train to the staging area s then it was catch as catch can. a transport Truck, then Armored Car , and finally a ?

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Attached picture Front-wheel-drive three-wheeler with onboard carrier pigeon birdcage German.jpg
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/17 12:28 PM

.

Robert, those shots you posted a few days back of Albert's new livery really show of not only his mount but also that outstanding layer of ground mist that is available in Jara's and Buckeye Bob's latest mod update. Also, loving the different viewpoints of take-offs and landings you've been trying out in your videos as of late. Too bad about the loss of Tremaine in Albert's last sortie.

Banjoman, thanks again for keeping and posting the stats, it is much appreciated.

Fullofit, you're lucky that fence landing didn't cause you more grief. Exciting shot what with the shell explosion in the background, and despite full pants I imagine Francois still made good time to the nearest shell hole for cover. And on the other side of the mud it appears Aldi's new jasta mate could prove to be a welcome addition.

Carrick, from the looks of the Countess I think Helmut is quite right about choosing the hostile skies, they're considerably safer. But with his leave now is he rethinking his decision? Let's hope not.

Raine, Christmas indeed came early for Franz: the EK2c and a fresh new mount. Too bad though about that collision with his kette mate, but he's lucky to have landed in one piece and was able to tell the tale.

Wonderful stuff folks, thanks for sharing.

.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/17 06:08 PM

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


Sep 15, 1917.

Back to flight, ah its like being unchained or un handcuffed ( the freedom) Dawn Patrol 9 a/c in two flights. We were chasing 3 Spads in the dark cloud leaven skies near Loos when 5 SE 5's appeared out of the skies to our port. My scharm of 5 machines turned into them. I stayed high till I could dive on one who was on my mates tail. 40 -42 rds each time my gun went Tac a Tacka then the e/a dove. looking around I saw 5 Spads joining the fight attacking our high cover . I got off one 43 rd Burst then he too dove away. The flight did get 1 each of the e/a for 1 pilot wnd + 2 damaged in the brawl

Attached picture CFS3 2017-09-14 10-04-24-32.jpg
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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/17 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Raine, that's quite a cram of missions!
Tell me, when the oncoming Albert bounced it's wheels on your upper plane, did you actually see torn canvas? If so, that is impressive. Did you actually also have some engine damage?

Cheers Mate


Robert, the tear was a bit of artistic licence. Not sure if the other Albatros hit me in truth because I had my eyes closed! I was really shocked to find myself still alive. I'm not sure about the engine damage. There seemed to be metallic pinging, very faint, but by then I was sure something awful would happen -- the wings fall off, fire, etc. In the end Holzhauer simply flew all the way home and landed. He buried his underwear in the back garden of the chateau.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/17 01:53 AM

Fullofit, another great story. Runge looks like he should be a math teacher instead of a fighter pilot. But beneath that thin veneer of civilization...

Robert, great video. I'm impressed by how smoothly you hold your turns in a dogfight. The landing shot from inside the hangar was a great scene.

Carrick, best of luck with the countess. I hope you took notes in the CO's personal hygiene lectures.

Lou, thanks so much for the comments. It means a great deal coming our keeper of the historical archives!

Here is the latest from Holzhauer...

The Holzhauer Papers
Part 7: 15-16 May 1917


The next couple of days were momentous. Weather was becoming warmer by the day. The morning skies were pale blue with high, fluffy clouds – wonderful weather for the hunt! The new leader, Hauptmann von Seel, seemed energetic. He flew often enough to set a good example and he made several new appointments among the NCOs, elevating men of good quality. Our Vzfw Strasser was given a secondary duty to oversee the provisions for our mess and he and he good friend Vzfw Buckler took this as an excuse to get frequent passes to travel into Rethel or as far east as Charleville-Mézières. They would return laden with wine, cheeses, eggs, and chickens. Strasser even managed to acquire three head of cattle and he paid a farmer to tend them for us. It cost us each a few extra francs a week but no one cared. We were living the good life.

The only thing that spoiled our idyll in the chateau was a gift. Wolff’s father had been a longtime friend of the renowned animal trainer and zoo proprietor, Carl Hagenbeck. When I lived in the United States for a few years as a boy I had heard stories about the thrilling exhibits he had staged for the World’s Fair. [1] However it happened, Herr Hagenbeck had thought it a wonderful idea to donate two monkeys and an eagle to the Jasta. The eagle was no problem. He took to our conservatory and nestled among the lush foliage, only occasionally swooping along our sitting areas to make us spill our drinks. The monkeys were something else entirely. At first we were delighted. They were named Heini and Rieke. We taught them to smoke cigars and salute, and built them a little monkey-cabin in the conservatory where they could keep an eye on the eagle. A few of the fellows befriended them, especially Träger and Günther, but the horrid creatures took a dislike to me. They would bare their teeth and throw the filth of their cage at me. My days of sipping claret in the conservatory were finished. Occasionally the fellows let them wander free in the courtyard with the dogs. I stayed clear of the damned things.

Early on Tuesday, 15 May 1917, Leutnant Gros led a group of five of us down to the lines near Reims. Beside Gros, there were Strasser, Sachsenberg, Günther, and me. We climbed to 4000 m and headed south. Over Le Thour we met three Nieuports, a newer model with larger tail stabilisers. Our fight was quickly over, for the Frenchmen put their noses down and headed south for their lines. I saw my chance and dived on the one closest to me. My move was badly judged and I got only a quick shot before I overtook the Nieuport and had to circle back to get behind him. He was climbing now and getting away from me. I strained to catch up but the Mercedes did not seem to be giving full power at this height. Several long range bursts failed to get Monsieur to turn on me. I searched the sky for my colleagues as there seemed to be no point in continuing the chase.

By great good fortune, I looked behind just in time to see the shape of another silvery-white machine diving on me. I heard the distinctive slow tack-tack-tack of a Vickers. I snapped the Albatros around and the French aeroplane nearly collided with me. This was one of the Sopwith bombing machines that carried only the pilot. They were no match for my bus and in little time I was on the Sopwith’s tail. For some reason my rounds did not seem to be flying true. I expended more than 200 rounds and still the Frenchman did not fall. The pilot must have been hit, for he stopped handling the machine lightly. I closed to only about 15 metres and fired several long bursts. The Sopwith tumbled downwards and disappeared in a cloud of brick dust among the ruins of Guignicourt.

[Linked Image]
"I expended more than 200 rounds and still the Frenchman did not fall."

Now I climbed to the southeast looking for Gros and the others. The visibility was good but there was no sign of them. When I glanced back, though, there was a sparkle of sunlight on the wings of an unidentified machine. I could make out the squared-off wingtips of another Sopwith. This fellow thought he’d surprise me, but now I turned on him and we charged at each other, firing all the way. His was a two-seater. He threw it about too sharply for his Franz [2] to swing the heavy machine gun around. We fought each other for five minutes before I put some holes into him. He turned beneath me. We were over the lines and he was trying to escape. I followed him down. The French observer was in action now and bullets whizzed and cracked past me, the long smoke trails of the phosphorous rounds uncomfortably close. I was determined that he would go down or I would. Several loud bangs told me I was in his sights, but he was also in mine. I fired at least another hundred rounds and the machine went down, settling between the lines, or so I thought.

My windscreen had been shattered and there were many holes in my wings. I took no chances and headed for our nearest field at St-Rémy-en-Champagne, landing a few minutes before nine in the morning. It was three in the afternoon before my machine was patched up enough to return home. On landing I claimed the two Sopwiths. The first had already been reported and was immediately confirmed. The second, however, had apparently landed safely between the French forward and reserve trenches. It was listed as merely “zur Landung gezwungenâ€[3] and not an official kill. Still, it brought my tally up to three official victories.

[Linked Image]
" I took no chances and headed for our nearest field at St-Rémy-en-Champagne, landing a few minutes before nine in the morning."

And then came the greatest thrill of all. At drinks before dinner, Hauptmann von Seel announced that I had been promoted. I was now an officer at last – Leutnant Holzhauer. I could scarcely wait to write my parents and sisters and retired to my room after dinner as soon as I could decently do so, planning to count my money for a trip to the tailor. When I got upstairs, I found that Heini and Rieke had got in from the garden through an open window and torn the place apart. Heini had found my cigars and was happily eating the whole lot of them. Rieke sat on my bed. From his bulging cheeks he spat out feathers from my shredded pillow. Now it was I who bared my teeth!

Notes:

[1] Carl Hagenbeck pioneered reward-based animal training and is widely considered the creator of the modern zoo. During the 1893 World Columbian Exhibition in Chicago, his animals performed at shows, His American circus operation was bought by Benjamin Wallace in 1907 and marketed as the famous Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus.

[2] In the German flying service, pilots were generically referred to as "Emil" and observers as "Franz."

[3] Forced to land. The term was abbreviated "zLgzw."


Attached picture Kill 3.png
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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/17 05:51 PM

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

16 Sep 1917.


What a Brawl. Up 2 times in lite rain and mixed it up with N-24's. On the 1st flight, our top cover tangled with 2 e/a my kette turned into the fight with 5 a/c the out of nowhere 3 or 4 more N-24's jump in 1 Sled in front of me so it was Hammer down and more the 80 rds slamed into him ( well at least 24 hit him) The e/a went into a uncontrolled spin as I watched him. The second Flight: spotted and flew under 5 N-24's then cork screwed up as they dove as everyone chased everyone an Albatross in a loud noise touched my Wing Tip. The a/c became hard to fly pulling to the left. cut power and carefully lost altitude out of the fight then put down at closest friendly field

Losses for the day. 4 Albatross Scouts Damaged + 1 Destroyed by the French N-24's Claims 2 N-24's destroyed ( one is mine ) + damage.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/17 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
He buried his underwear in the back garden of the chateau.

Now I know why those excretias are in bloom. hahaha
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/17 12:01 AM

Raine, Holzhauer should count his lucky stars that the Jasta was gifted Heini and Rieke and not a pair of lions. Excellent story. I must say I experienced a few times what you've described in looking back and being surprised by the enemy who had his thumbs hovering over the triggers and trying to get just that little bit closer before opening fire. Congrats on promotion.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/17 03:09 AM

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


Oh the shame of it all. I just got a Post from the Family giving the Bad news. It seems that my Uncle the General Eloped with the Countess. Just up and ran away in a Motor Car. He truly became the Black Sheep of the family. The Shame of it all. wearing Civies no less.

https://giphy.com/gifs/dina-rigg-nX2Weqq62zc4g/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/17 10:07 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey (in the following airfield attack, I targeted a hangar facility and gave the attack command but none of my flight used their rockets, only their guns!)

19 May 1917 @ 06h00 Attack on Douai Airfield

The C.O. briefed us on the morning mission, indicating we would be paying a visit to Douai aerodrome. We were told to use our Le Prieur rockets to raise as much ruckus and damage as possible to the installation and it’s aircraft.

There were a few mumblings in the ranks about “appropriate ordinance†instead of “flash and smoke†but the C.O. hardly paused long enough to take notice, and if he did, he wasn’t acknowledging any comments of that nature.

In stead, he went on to add that the weather would be cloudy with mist and fog at varying altitudes between ground and 7000 ft; and light winds between 4 and 8 kn from the SSW.

“A†flight composed of Molesworth leading, and accompanied by Jenkins, Caldwell and Horn, would be providing top cover for “B†flight. Godfrey was again assigned the lead with Scott, Lloyd, Rutherford and Young accompanying and their task was to undertake the attack.

The flights formed up north of the field as usual attaining a height of 6500 ft having climbed through various stages of mist and fog until they were pretty much in and out of cumulus. It was 06h15 when Godfrey turned the flight SW towards the Athies Junction and the lines. The plan was to make the run look like another attack on Athies as a diversionary measure and then to directly turn NE towards Douai airfield.

At 06h23 the flight crossed the lines at 2400 ft and was immediately greeted with occasional flak. At 06h29, still at 3400 ft, the flight was just on the outskirts of Athies Junction and turning NE when it began to take some heavy flak. The Huns had obviously been on alert, having been hit pretty regularly by 60 Sqn in the past couple of weeks. Godfrey was happy to be avoiding the railyard this time.

At 06h36 they were approaching Douai and Godfrey gave the signal to attack, while he steering his N23 further east, intent on striking some aircraft that looked ready to take off. Godfrey put his bird into a shallow dive approaching the north end of the field from the east and lined up on four aircraft on the field. He loosed his rockets when he was down to about 100 feet and watched as they hit right in the middle of the line. He pulled out quickly banking to starboard and observing where his rockets struck and then quickly turned to port to make another strafing run on the other two craft in the line. As he began to pull up from his run he took another hit from ground fire and watched the two end craft begin to takeoff. Godfrey realized these were DFW C.V. and that gaining a protective position on their stern would be difficult given how low they were but he tried nevertheless, raking the rear of the left most aircraft and receiving like kind from its gunner. He swung around and tried again, and again received some lead for his efforts. Both the upper and lower wings of Godfrey’s craft had been sieved and he had heard a round hit metal. Fearing the worst Godfrey climbed out gaining altitude and watching while his squad mates pummeled the field with lead. Watching his gauges for any hit of trouble and listening for signs of engine problems, Godfrey stayed high and waited for the flight to finish it’s attack and reform. Another flight of DFW’s were forming up to land when “B†flight climbed away to reform.

On the way back to the lines Godfrey took out his frustration on a Hun gas bag and sent it down in smoke and flame. They landed back a Filescamp and reported in on the days mission. Godfrey had sustained one days worth of light damage, Scott had heavy damage requiring three days and both Rutherford and Lloyd had two days worth of damage to their machines. Young got off scott free. Little damage was done to the airfield and the mission was declared a washout.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/17 11:51 AM

Carrick, looks like Helmut is doomed. He'll have to see the Countess every Christmas for family reunion.
Robert, I find airfield attack missions frustrating, with the missions mostly failed due to little damage. Airfields need more soft targets. Airplanes don't count. Then again if the brass expects an airfield to be destroyed only with guns, then they are in for a surprise. Mission fail even before the start.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/17 02:20 PM

Raine,

Thanks for the praise of Albert's flight handling, and yes, I'm experimenting with new approaches to recording take-off and landings. It gets boring otherwise. I am loving the new clouds and ground mist that JJ65 and BuckeyeBob have made available though.

Another fine piece of work on the adventures of Holzhauer.

Me thinks it is time for Rieke and Heini to dance a jig to the tune of the new Leutnant's P.08 at 25 paces!!
With respect, it also would appear that his twin spandau's are in need of an alignment! Some gunnery work on the range might be in order!
I really like the last screen capture you have there. It's a keeper. I wonder if you can send me the pic in full resolution?

Cheers
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/17 09:40 PM

Close calls, promotions and near misses! Great stories Gents, and always enjoyable videos Robert.

Edgar Everheart
8RNAS
Auchel

There was a big celebration in the mess tonight as Edgar got confirmation on his 28th victory, a DIII near Houplin airfield which went down smoking and crashed. He has also passes the 100 hour mark!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/17 10:47 PM


Congrats to Edgar, MFair!

Albert Earl Godfrey

20 May 1917 @ 05h03 Patrol of our lines to Loos

Scott, the C.O. called “A†and “B†flights to briefing for a run up the lines looking for marauding Hun OP that have been making a point of crossing over rather regularly in the last 48 hours. Reports have been coming in from the front lines that between Lens and Loos the Hun OP have been rather active.

The weather forecast was for overall cloudy/misty skies with poor visibility and wind between 4 and 8 knots from the west.

“B†flight lead by Godfrey and composed of Molesworth, Fry, Young and Pope, took off at 05h03. “A†flight composed of Lloyd, Jenkins and Rutherford, quickly followed and we tasked to provide top cover.

The flights formed up north of the field at 3300 feet at 05h11, at which point they headed due north towards Bethune.

At 05h14, flying at 3800 feet, the flight arrived over Bethune and turned east towards Lens, climbing out.

At 05h22, flying at 5500 ft., Godfrey spotted two specs well above them heading west. “B†flight was just north of Lens near the lines at the time and not seeing any other craft about, Godfrey decided to take the flight up to investigate. It didn’t take too long to close on the two craft and it soon became evident they were 2 DFW C.V.’s. Godfrey moved the flight into position and lined up with the left most DFW firing as he moved in closer, breaking away as his mates double teamed it in front of him and then continued his attack as the DFW broke left diving away. Godfrey had been unable to confirm the demise of the DFW he had been chasing but felt that it had been sufficiently chastened. By the time he had reclaimed his altitude his flight was dispersed but within range and he rejoined them to continue the flight north towards Loos.

At 05h33 flying at 7000 ft. “B†flight ran into a schwarm of 7 DIII’s. They were yellow and black striped tails of Jasta 28. Godfrey had a good round with two of them and felt he had put them down but in the process failed to pay attention to his six and was set upon by another DIII which did significant damage to his right aileron. So much so that he was unable to level out his N23. It wanted to veer to starboard and he could see that considerable cloth on the end of his upper plane had been shredded. Godfrey put his nose down and throttled down the engine, spiraling towards the ground and ever watchful for a possible landing zone while glancing back to see if the DIII that had done him in, was convinced that the N23 was out of control. Godfrey noted the Hun following him for a time before finally breaking off. Godfrey was now down to 500 feet and just about over the Lens-Bethune road. He couldn’t have asked for any better possible landing area. H struggled to level his machine as he came down quickly in a side slip and at the last moment put power to his engine just in time to force it to pull to port and level out as the wheels touched the ground just off the road edge. He had stumbled into a patch of solid ground surrounded by shell holes and his craft came to a stop safely. At least he was on the right side of the lines and it wasn’t long before he was picked up by a convoy of troops which had just passed him as he came down. There was some lively chatter with the men as they took him with them on their way to Arras.

When Godfrey arrived back to Filescamp late in the afternoon, he discovered that all of “B†flight had suffered light wounds and Fry, Young, and Pope
Had destroyed their crafts in forced landings. Only Molesworth had made it back to base with three days of repair necessary to his machine and one claim put in. Godfrey put in two claims for DIII’s but doubted that they would be confirmed as he hadn’t been able to confirm their demise.

It had not been a good day with 4 our of five pilots of “B†flight injured and three destroyed N23 and two badly damaged. Godfrey’s craft would need to be recovered and repaired and he suspected it would take a few days to fix it up. Nevertheless he was lucky to be alive, and made a conscious note, not to be so stupid again by failing to check his six.

Throughout all of this action, “A†flight had gone unnoticed and returned to Filescamp safely without encounter with the enemy.

Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/17 12:02 PM

.

Raine, congratulations on the promotion of Franz to the ranks of the officers. But remember, with such rank comes greater responsibility and the powers-that-be will be expecting him to demonstrate a high level of leadership as well. As to Heini and Rieke, I'd personally take them out at dawn and shoot them both, securing their final service to the Kaiser as carrion for the eagle.

Carrick, Helmut and his kette seem to be having a bit of a rough go of it lately, hope things improve. And the Countess appears bound and determined to be part of Helmut's life in some way, shape, or form - but what a form.

Robert, those airfield attacks don't ever seem to accomplish much more than coming home with a flight of shot-up machines, further proof of the general lack of intelligence among the Red Tabs. Also, I agree with Fullofit, Albert handles that Nieup very well indeed. But that landing in No Man's Land with only one flap? He had a very large amount of luck on his side to have walked away from that in one piece.

MFair, 28 confirmed victories and 100 hours for Edgar, those are some impressive numbers Sir. Well done!

Great stuff as always folks, made my morning cuppa' just that much more enjoyable.

.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/17 07:48 PM

Robert, that was a close one Bud! Be careful.
Lou, thanks for the gong bling. Can't wait to get my 100 hour medal as I have never received one.

Edgar Everheart
Mont-St-Eloi
It was supposed to be a routine flight transfer to our new airfield. Sunny day with a few clouds. Took off climbed to 4000' and headed south to our new location. I saw two Hun bombers but they were too high and headed back across the lines so I ignored them. Approaching the new field I did one quick scan around the sky's then started to circle the new field looking for any landing hazards. I heard something, Archie it turns out, and looked behind me and my blood went cold. I was looking at the nose of an Albatros scout! I dove and turned and quickly got behind it. It went down in flames. About then bullets hit my machine and I again went into evasive mode. I chased another and it went down smoking. I landed and everyone else came in shortly. We claimed 2 machines. My flames was unconfirmed.

It was a close run thing. I had 6 holes in my machine a foot back from the cockpit.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/17 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Robert, that was a close one Bud! Be careful.
Lou, thanks for the gong bling. Can't wait to get my 100 hour medal as I have never received one.

Edgar Everheart
Mont-St-Eloi
It was supposed to be a routine flight transfer to our new airfield. Sunny day with a few clouds. Took off climbed to 4000' and headed south to our new location. I saw two Hun bombers but they were too high and headed back across the lines so I ignored them. Approaching the new field I did one quick scan around the sky's then started to circle the new field looking for any landing hazards. I heard something, Archie it turns out, and looked behind me and my blood went cold. I was looking at the nose of an Albatros scout! I dove and turned and quickly got behind it. It went down in flames. About then bullets hit my machine and I again went into evasive mode. I chased another and it went down smoking. I landed and everyone else came in shortly. We claimed 2 machines. My flames was unconfirmed.

It was a close run thing. I had 6 holes in my machine a foot back from the cockpit.


And so I will pass along a quote a friend gave me: "MFair, that was a close one Bud! Be careful." biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/17 09:27 PM

Here you go gents, last weeks activities.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/17 10:45 PM

Banjoman, thanks for the new stats. When are you going to give us a new taste of your pilots' adventures?
Lou, Same thing. When are we going to hear from your pilot?
MFair and Robert, that was a close one Buds! Be careful!

19 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

Five red and blue aeroplanes arrived over Erkegem-Oostend airfield at 04:20 and begun circling like buzzards above a decomposing carcass. Aldi led the airfield defence detail and thought to himself it is way too early to properly wage war at this hour. Apparently the enemy did not think much of his opinion as three specks dove down on them spitting hot lead.

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Nieuports 24 dispersed the formation looking to increase their kill tallies. During the tight turning fight Aldi and Runge helped protect each other from the more maneuverable scouts. When Schwarzkopf parked himself behind one of the Nieups, another one would try and hit Aldi from behind, but ever vigilant Runge would in turn chase him away.

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This continued for some time without anybody gaining an advantage. Eventually the enemy had run low on fuel and turned for home. Aldi followed one of the retreating machines, but was outdistanced and outclimbed. Same happened to Runge, but at lower altitude. Aldi decided to "help" his wingman. He swooped down like a hawk, caught up and shot Runge's Nieuport.

[Linked Image]

It spiralled down to crash south-east of Aertycke aerodrome. They reformed and returned to finish their patrol over Erkegem-Oostende. To Schwarzkopf's displeasure another flight of 7 N24's appeared. Must be the B-flight. Aldi looked back to check on his Kette. Only two fliegers still remained in his formation.

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"Verdammt! They'll have to do." He thought to himself and prepared for a grand battle. He tried to keep his altitude high, but with the turning fight it wasn't possible. The fight devolved into a veritable mess of aircraft flying in all directions. Aldi chased 3 Nieuports at a time, then they chased him.

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They were losing altitude quickly. Suddenly everything was quiet and the Nieuports were retreating. Aldi gave chase, but again the French machines outpaced his Albatros. It was right over Aertycke airfield that he noticed another N24 flying near the ground on his port side. It was easy to spot because of the aerodrome's Flak batteries pounding the air around the hapless scout. He found himself swooping down on his pray again from above.

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The Nieuport suffered critical damage and was forced to land in the field, barely avoiding nearby trees. He nearly made it but unfortunately for him, he was stopped by a fence.

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Aldi circled the wreckage and waved to the pilot below who was surveying the damage. It was apparent from above that he will not be able to get this wounded bird back in the air.

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Aldi returned to Halluin alone and put in a claim for two Nieuports.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/17 12:36 AM

Fullofit, soon. I'm working on something for Ahren but not near as involved as my last entry.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/17 02:23 AM

Banjoman, thumbsup
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/17 02:29 AM

Great stories guys. Fullofit yours is becoming Epic.

My Pilot got Rained out today.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/17 02:40 AM

Carrick, thanks but I don't think epic is the right word. I don't think they sing any songs about Aldi yet.
You on the other hand are in luck for a change. Any day at the Front and away from the Countess is a good day, even if it rains.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/17 01:54 PM

Fullofit, they are always fantastic but that first screen shot is the cats meow. You need to get them on canvas and sell "fine aviation art."

Robert, yep, I need to heed my own words. I made the post, sent in my pilot update then climbed into the cockpit and bam! Almost went south myself.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/17 03:21 PM

Fullofit: Ah the countess, now thats a story. Sipping from a glass of champagne Vintage 1902.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/17 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Fullofit: Ah the countess, now thats a story. Sipping from a glass of champagne Vintage 1902.


Yes, I found it was "very hard to get!"
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/17 08:40 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

21 May 1917 @ 05h02 Patrol to Avelin aerodrome

Scott called the briefing to order and identified the objective of the mornings mission was a DOP to Avelin aerodrome. There had been much OP activity by the Huns over our lines east of Bethune and concern that a buildup was taking place in the vicinity. “B†flight was tasked to study the terrain between Houplin, Hauubourdin and Avelin aerodromes and then report back. “A†flight was assigned to assist in the task.

Scott announced that winds were 6 kn from the WSW with moderate buildup of cumulus from 2800 ft to 7000 ft.

“B†flight was lead by Godfrey, accompanied by Clinton on wing, Molesworth, Caldwell, Lloyd and Horn. “A†flight was composed of Jenkins on lead, with Scott, Rutherford and Pope accompanying.

Both flights formed up north of the field at 05h20 having achieved a height of 6600 ft., at which point they headed north towards Bethune.

At 05h25 flying at 7400 ft., Godfrey turned the flight east towards the lines on a course directly for Avelin aerodrome. They expected to see Houplin to the north and Haubourdin to the south. As they crossed over, Godfrey noted two strutters and a flight of 4 Pups coming back over the lines from a visit to the Hun territory, high and on his starboard side.

They crossed the lines at 05h27 flying at 8600 ft., and were soon passing between Haubourdin and Phalempin aerodromes, having drifted south off their intended course and taking some flak. A few minutes later Godfrey spotted a DFW C.V. alone and approximately 1500 yards ahead of his flight. No other enemy scouts were to be seen and not wanting to miss the opportunity he took his flight on the chase. Godfrey, Clinton and Molesworth and Caldwell went in on the attack and it wasn’t long before Godfrey decided he had best pull up to avoid the congestion, having loosed several rounds at the two seater. He watched as his boys chased it down to earth and watched it crash. He noted it was 05h32 when the two seater put up a cloud of brown dust, just off the perimeter of Phalempin aerodrome. He continued to watch waiting for his flight to climb up and rejoin. It soon became evident that two Alb DII scouts hade taken off from Phalempin and were engaging the N23’s. Godfrey went down to offer assistance if needed. As he closed in on the action observed that Clinton had downed one and then Molesworth got the other. Checking his watch he noted it was 05h38. The flak continued and Godfrey began a climb out, signaling for the flight to rejoin. At 05h40 Godfrey checked his flight and noted that Clinton was missing.

They carried on towards Avelin, took notes, and began their return trip to the lines. Having just passed back over Phalempin and satisfied that the flak had note done them any damage, Godfrey caught a glimpse of motion below on his starboard side. Tipping his wing down he spotted a single scout heading east. Godfrey began a descent bringing his craft on to the DIII’s six, and then checking over his shoulder he noted another craft off in the distance coming his way. He caught up with the DIII in front of him as it began a turn over the Phalempin field and he began his attack. He hit it several times with three volleys and watch it go in. Then banking to port he looked for and found the other DIII which had been following him. Both DIII’s worth the red colours of Jasta 11. Godfrey attacked it hitting it well with several volleys before the rest of his flight joined in. Godfrey watched as Caldwell finished it off just at the end of the Phalempin field at 05h52.

It was 05h59 when “B†flight crossed back over the lines just west of Lens.

Upon arrival back at Filescamp, claims were submitted and duly noted but at the expense of Clinton’s life over Phalempin. Lloyd had suffered a light wound and destroyed his craft on approach. “A†flight had not faired any better. Jenkins, Scott, and Pope had all suffered light wounds and destroyed their crafts at varying points due to forced landings but fortunately all occurred on their side of the lines. Rutherford was the only one to make it back to Filescamp and that was with a heavily damage machine that would require 3 days to put right.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/17 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
You need to get them on canvas and sell "fine aviation art."

MFair, great idea. All proceeds go to OBD.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/17 02:34 PM

.

The DID Centenary Challenge Commendations Officer is pleased to present the following awards.


To pilots of the Entente Alliance

200 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold).
100 Hours Medal presented to: MFair, (Squadron Commander Edgar Everheart).
50 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Lieutenant Francois Wagnon).


Well done Gentleman, you make your respective countries proud! You may pick up your spiffing new gongs on the table below.


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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/17 02:51 PM

My 1st 100 hour medal! cheers Many of my pilots have come close but finally made it due in no small part to reading, watching and finally putting all the lessons from bettter pilots to use. Thanks Gents! And thank you Lou for the gongs and your continued support for all that is WOFF.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/17 10:33 PM

Thank you, Lou! I'm going to need a bigger chest.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/17 12:09 AM

Congrats MFair, now that you have made the 100 hours, keep him safe!

Thanks Lou, Albert will raise a glass to you in the mess!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/17 01:19 AM

Congratulations to MFair on reaching a major milestone. Look out for that fellow!

More outstanding artwork from Fullofit together with an exciting Aldi story. And Robert, your incredible success keeps coming. I wish I was so lucky.

Sorry for the lack of photos. I was too busy staying alive to remember to press the screenshot button!


The Holzhauer Papers
Part 8: 17-19 May 1917


No sooner had my promotion come through than the rain started. Hauptmann von Seel had named me to lead a flight on the 16th, but instead I sat around the Kasino drinking ersatz coffee and waiting for a drive into Rethel. I was determined to get fitted out for a Leutnant’s tunic. I sat by the front windows of the chateau awaiting the Mercedes, which was due back from 4. Armee headquarters. But Vzfw Buckler informed me that the car had been ordered instead to take him to Saint-Quentin (the town in south Flanders, not St-Quentin-le-Petit, only a kilometre away) to catch a train to the Jadgfliegerschule at Valenciennes.[1] This was interesting, as Buckler was our Kanone. He already had seven confirmed victories, the most recent only this week when he downed a Nieuport behind our lines. Its tail adorned our bar room. Thus displaced, I retired to the Kasino to play chess with myself. Heini, the damned monkey, occasionally joined me and threw all the pieces on the floor.

The 17th was another day of rain and high winds. I finished the Karl May novel I’d taken back from the hospital in Sedan. And I moved rooms. Hauptmann von Seel wanted to divide my large, luxurious private room to be shared by three NCO pilots. I moved my things to the third floor to a room with a view over the front drive, a room I shared with Leutnant Günther Schuster. The camp bed assigned to me was comfortable enough, although a significant step down from the plush marital bed in my former room.

On the 18th I led Gros, Vzfw Strasser, and Träger down to Reims, but scarcely had we turned south than my engine began to miss badly and I had to head home, nursing it over the treetops.

On Saturday, 19 May 1917, I finally saw some action. We were ordered to intercept enemy aircraft heading in the direction of our airfield at Cuirieux, only fifteen or twenty kilometres to the northwest. I led Schuster, Träger, Günther, and Schröder. We arrived on our patrol station at 2800 metres and began to circle. Off to the east a formation of Spads passed us, heading north about 500 metres above and two kilometres away. One of the French machines peeled off and dived at us. It took only seconds to avoid the initial attack and get on the fellow’s tail. Unfortunately my first burst did not significantly damage him and he dived away and disappeared to the south.

We regrouped and climbed. About ten minutes after the first attack the formation of Spads reappeared, now heading south. There were six of them and five of us, and all of the Spads now dived at us. A short and furious fight followed. Our Albatrosses could outturn the Spads, but the French machines were much faster and could rush down at us and climb away quickly. I got a crack at two of them. Schröder crossed in front of me with a Spad on his tail. I quickly got behind the enemy machine and fired, but no sooner did I fire than a rattle of machine gun rounds shook my own aircraft. My left hand was resting on my thigh when a bullet hit it, tearing open the leather mitten. Blood flowed from my hand over my trousers. I kicked the rudder around and spun away from the unseen enemy. At 1000 metres I levelled out and found myself alone. Cuirieux was ahead only a couple of kilometres and I sideslipped onto the field.

I spent the afternoon in a Feldlazarett, where the doctors removed the top of the little finger on my left hand. By dinner I was back in our Kasino. Hauptmann von Seel laughed at my injury, saying that now that I was a commissioned officer, God wanted to be sure that I couldn’t pick my nose!

The good news, though, is that I will not be cleared to fly for a week, and the Hauptmann has approved me for leave to go home. I will catch a train from Sedan in the morning and with luck will be in Berlin by late tomorrow night.

Notes:

[1] This is interesting. In his 1939 autobiography Buckler claims that he flew to Valenciennes and en route engaged two French machines, was shot down, and was wounded. But there is no record of his being wounded before July 1917, so it seems that Holzhauer’s account may be more accurate than Buckler’s memory.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/17 04:22 AM

Raine;

It seems a number of us are failing to keep an eye on our six when in a mix up.

Do you have any information as to Buckler's destination when he was wounded in July 1917? was he going to Valenciennes at the time?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/17 11:08 AM

Robert,

He claimed to have been flying to Valenciennes, but his book is not that reliable. It seems like he dictated it from memory without reference to notes or unit histories. His chronology is often wrong, and one suspects some propaganda influences, as it was written in 1939. I have an edition with some good corrective notes by Norman Franks.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/17 11:15 AM

Raine; Thanks for the info on Buckler.

Albert Earl Godfrey

23 May 1917 @ 05h05 CAS across the lines east of Thelus

Scott called the briefing session to order and identified we were to escort two R.E. 8’s out of Bailleultown across the lines east of Thelus. The OP was being called up and down the lines in preparation for an offensive move at Messines.

“B†flight was to take up protective position over the R.E. 8’s while “A†flight would be taking top cover over all.

The weather was a mix of cumulus, cirrus, and some low fog but generally reasonable visibility was expected.

In closing the briefing Scot announced that Godfrey had been promoted to Captain and that one of his claims of the previous day had been approved, as had Molesworth and Clinton’s claims. It was bittersweet as Clinton’s would be posthumus.

Clinton’s death took somehow overshadowed and suppressed Godfrey’s spirits and the promotion just didn’t quite have the effect of lifting him.
Clinton had been with the flight for some time and would be highly missed.

The flights formed up north of the field at 3000 ft and at approximately 05h13 set out towards St. Vaast to meet with the R.E. 8’s. Godfrey spotted them shortly after and they began escort duty at 05h18 having climbed out to 4700 ft.

At 05h24 both flights crossed over the lines and were soon over Vimy, or what was left of it. The pushed on towards an area just north of Oppy at which point the R.E. 8’s began their circling and recording. All scout eyes were on the surrounding skies, alert for enemy scouts. None came. It wasn’t long before the R.E.’s turned for home having completed their OP.

As they approached Mont St. Eloi, the R.E.’s descended to land and Godfrey noted that two BE2c’s were also coming in from an OP to do the same.

“A & B†flights continued on to Filescamp and landed safely without loss.
Godfrey noted it was gratifying to have such an uneventful day with no damage or losses.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/17 04:31 PM

nice
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/17 11:01 PM

Raine, tough luck with that injury. Expect him to be called "Pinky" behind Franz's back. Great time to get some time off.
Robert, congrats on promotion. Is a new airplane in the cards?

23 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

This was the second mission of the day. Enemy activity increased exponentially. The observation balloon between Ypres and Armentieres had to go and it was up to Schwarm Zwei led by Aldi Schwarzkopf to get rid of it. The entire process was simple: fly high, dive down and fire at the balloon when in range. Then avoid colliding with the gasbag after the attack and gain altitude while throwing off the aim of the anti-aircraft guns below. Aldi hoped one pass would be sufficient to pop the balloon. He fired a long burst, but that wasn't enough.

[Linked Image]

Then he watched Strähle make his pass with identical results, then Wiessner and finally Klein. As the last one in line he set the balloon on fire. First, just a faint hint of smoke, then more and immediately after that a big ball of fire erupted followed by large column of black smoke announcing that the mission was accomplished. They regrouped and turned north-east for home. The sky was cloudy with large holes between the banks of clouds. They darted from one cloud to the next, appearing and disappearing in the mist. They were nearly home when all of a sudden bursts of Flak appeared all around them. A nearby German Flak battery mistakenly took them for an enemy flight trying to hide in the clouds. Aldi's machine was hit squarely in the starboard wings sending him into a spiral dive. The hair on his entire body stood on end. He fought the control column and kicked the rudder bar as hard as he could to get out of his predicament. The plane fought back but finally surrendered to Aldi's input and he managed to recover with just 200 m to spare. He immediately reduced throttle and glided to a stop near the Ack-Ack. His plane was a mess.

[Linked Image]

Paul, who recently became very protective of his friend landed beside him, leaving the engine running, quickly got out of the plane and walked over to the embarrassed gunners. A guard tried to stop him yelling something about landing here was not allowed. Strähle had his target. He decked the guard as he was coming close to him. The fellow was sprawled on the ground apparently knocked out. Strähle took off his flying gloves and kept on walking towards the Flak guns, with the rest of the gun crew giving him a wide berth, after seeing what happened to the guard. An officer in a crisp uniform came out of the tent to see what the ruckus was all about. The rigidly postured Prussian came face to face with the rampaging Strähle and demanded: "What is the meaning of this?" Paul, too blind with fury to notice the higher rank (or simply not caring) answered: "Just keeping the score even, Sir! You hit one of ours. I hit one of yours! It only seems fair...Sir!" The spit coming out of his mouth as he responded. The officer, now the colour of a beet and his eyes bulging, begun citing regulations for which Strähle had no patience. He put his gloves back on, saluted, turned around and walked back to his Albatros, leaving the officer to finish his speech to no one in particular. Paul walked over to Aldi who was inspecting the damage to his kite. It didn't look good. He told him to stay with the machine and he'll send someone to get him and his plane once he returns to the aerodrome. With that, Strähle climbed back into his cockpit and took off on the uneven turf. Aldi had no choice but to sit beside his wounded bird and wait for the tender to arrive and take it all back to Halluin. The officer was kind enough to invite Aldi to his tent and offer him a snifter of cognac. None of the gunners had the nerve to look Aldi in the eyes as he walked by. Suddenly they all had to polish the barrel of the gun or count the rounds in the ammo boxes. Major apologized for their mistake but was not impressed with Strähle's behaviour. The tender showed up three hours later. The mechanics removed the damaged wings, placed them in the back of the truck, next they hooked up the fuselage to the truck with its tail first so that the tail skid was resting on the end of the flatbed and the plane was ready to be pulled along on its main landing gear. Aldi climbed aboard. It would be a slow trip back to the aerodrome. He waved to the Major who was just finishing his cognac and they were off.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/17 11:48 PM

That was a really gripping report, Fullofit. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/17 01:51 AM

Thanks Robert. I'm glad you enjoyed that little bit. Strähle gets punished in Part 2 tomorrow.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/17 03:00 AM

Well Done, Fullofit.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/17 02:59 PM

It seems this war has been a bit dangerous for a some of us. Raine, It seems you will look a bit silly "giving one the bird" in the future! Fullofit, That was a scary moment. As an old airforce vet told me one time, "you could not have driven a tack up my arse with a hammer." Would imagine you felt much the same.

Edgar Everheart
Mont-St-Eloi
8RNAS

Edgar pulled back on his stick to take the Tripehound up into the cloudy skies. At least today was not a bloody railyard or airfield attack. He hated those. Not only were you sure to be hit, you were low behind the lines if anything happened and not much chance of getting back. Today they were patrolling the skies between Monchy and Cambrai. This is what what the Triplane was built for he thought. Climbing through the clouds his flight of 4 was met with beautiful clear skies above 7000 ft. Edgar used to enjoy this sight but 5 months of combat flying and the close call yesterday had frayed his nerves a bit. The day before his flight was returning home after a "routine" balloon busting mission. All had gone well and he was on the final approach to Mont St Eloi. He was bliping his enging as the field came closer and closer. He stayed on the switch a little to long and the engine sputtered to a stop just above the trees at the edge of the field. Down he came and to his horror he realized he was coming in to hot. The Triplane hit the ground and raced across the field with the trees at the other end growing bigger and bigger. Edgar pushed left then right on the rudder to slow down and pulled the stick back to dig the tail into the ground. It was no use, he had too much speed. The only thing he could do was steer between two of them. It was a horrible crunch of splintering wood and canvas as his straps pulled against him then all was silent as he sat there in his ruined machine. "Isn't this something" he thought to himself. "Almost done in by a tree and my own stupidity!"

The flight settled in at 10,000 ft. and Edgar scanned the skies as they made the turn SSE over Monchy. About 5 miles into the circuit he saw 4 machines heading east. One in front and the other 3 grouped in formation a ways behind it. He climbed and turned a little west to put the sun in between his flight and the unknown machines. The lead plane soon revealed itself to be a DFW. The three tailing machines were DIII's. Edgar signaled his flight to attack the scouts as he had his eye on the 2 seater. The Huns spotted them and all four turned for home. Too late. Edgars flight had the advantage of height. He dove on the 2 seater and could see his shells striking the machine but the gunner was not affected as he sent a blistering burst into Edgars machine making him break of the attack diving below him. Coming back around he spotted his adversary and started to climb for another attack. Checking his rear showed one of the Albatros scouts coming at his tail followed by a Triplane. He broke off his attack and went into a climbing turn. As he banked up and to the left the Albatros sped by with Compston pouring burst after burst into it. He leveled out and another Hun followed by a Triplane sped over his upper wing causing him to flinch. He leveled out and scanned the skies. As always, one minute the skies are full of twisting planes and the next you are alone. He could see one of his flight low climbing back up and Archie told him another was far to the east, most likely chasing the 2 seater. Edgar began a slow circle to see if any would reform.

Only Compston reformed with him. The other 2, fresh to the squadron, were either running home or dead. Edgar did not know which. He and Compston resumed the patrol. Archie was unusually heavy. Nearing Cambrai they made their turn back to the north and made another turn south as they reached Monchy. Half way through the second circuit he saw 5 machines headed east about 2000' above. Friend or foe he knew not. He and Compston climbed in a westerly arc to come in behind them. Then he spotted 3 more machines on the same course a mile or so behind the first 5. Edgar and Compston turned more westerly. The first 5 stayed their course as it became clear the rear machines were Albatros scouts. Making sure the first ones kept their course he and Compston engaged the three. It was a brief affair with Edgar damaging one but he did not follow it down. The Huns were not very eager to keep up the fight and left.

Approaching his home airfield Edgar was careful not to misjudge his speed and came to to a halt at the end of the hangers. At debrief he was congratulated as his flight had claimed four planes destroyed with only minor damage to his flight.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/17 07:47 PM

Helmut von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, Flamders.
kills 7
Up for Dawn Patrol. It was still dark as we arrived over the lines amid dark clouds. Spotted a flight off to the right side then a flight of 6 Camels coming from the left in the 4 o clock position dropped on us. I guess I was the target as they shot me up really good. As luck would have it, the 2 behind me overshot so I was able to rake one of them real good. His a/c staggered then the right wing dropped down forcing him to spiral down. I saw him make a crash landing in No Mans Land. My machine was a mess so had to land on a dirt road. Victory # 7. Only my kill for the fight and we had 1 pilot wnd.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/17 01:04 AM

Thanks Carrick!
MFair, seems you had a sphincter tightening moment of your own. More wings - more to repair, I say. Great report!

24 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

This morning Strähle missed the early patrol. He was called into Grieffenhagen's office to explain his actions at the Flak site, when a scolding call came in late last night after one of the higher-ups learned of his escapades. As punishment, Strähle had to personally invite the Flak battery Major he butted heads with yesterday to a party at Halluin aerodrome later this evening. The party was being organized in his honour as a sign of good will and to apologize for the harsh words exchanged after being erroneously fired upon.
As for the rest, they were sent east of Lens to do some patrolling. Aldi led the Schwarm when not too long after take off a lonely Tripe attacked them diving out of the clouds.

[Linked Image]

He danced around all the Albatrosen and was able to put some holes into each one of them and forcing Klein down before some sort of counterattack could be fashioned. Finally the luck of the Navy pilot had run out and it was now the Schwarm that kept pounding the Triplane.

[Linked Image]

Eventually Wiessner claimed the kill and the Kette could continue unmolested with their mission. The patrol area was clear of enemy and after 20 minutes of circling Aldi decided to bring the flight home. They all landed without any further incidents and started getting ready for the evening party.
The Kasino was loud and overflowing with booze. Major's favourite cognac, brandy, cases of champagne and kegs of Warsteiner could be seen everywhere. They could not complain for lack of choice of food either. Potato dumplings in meat gravy, grilled vegetables and pork chops. Herring fillets with sliced onions and potatoes in jackets boiled in salt water. Veal cutlets in a wild mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes and a side of peas and carrots. And the bratwurst with mustard and a side of red cabbage slaw. Appetizers consisted of hard boiled eggs and dill pickles. There was nothing better than holding a large pickle in one hand and an overflowing stein of beer in the other.
There were multiple conversations going on at the same time making it difficult to follow any one of them. Ltn. Klein was teaching Ltn. Runge to do head-stands on top of a chair, claiming regular head-stands were too easy. He failed miserably, nearly breaking his glasses.
After finishing his third snifter of cognac, the Major finally warmed up to Strähle and asked him what part of the Empire he was from. "Schorndorf", was a gruff response from Strähle who does not forget so easily.
"Ah so! Württemberg!" The Major's eyes brightened. "My grandmother hails from Stuttgart." His face lit up full of memories. "She used to make the best Apfelstrudel."
Strähle perked up at that word. "Major, when this war is over, when we finally beat them all, I'm going to invite you back home and let you taste my mother's strudel. You have never tasted anything like it." They started talking and reminiscing. The party continued into early morning hours. No one worried about the morning mission. The weather forecast called for rain and no flights were expected in the morning. Festivities continued until 4:00 am. Before going to bed, Strähle jokingly promised the Major to bring down a plane right into his arms. With that, they've said their good-byes and turned in. The morning was only a few hours away.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/17 02:55 AM

Fullofit: A bad experience which made me think of better times.

https://giphy.com/gifs/sally-P4tdQMU8Sv1aE/fullscreen
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/17 03:47 AM

Fullofit, your balloon busting escapade was a great story with some of the best photos yet! The way Aldi's crowd is going, I felt truly sorry for that Tripe the following day. And the party scene was really well done. It's late at night and now I want to raid the fridge...

MFair, congrats again on the 100 hours. Be sure to keep watching your six!

Robert, it's nice to get a milk run now and then.

Carrick, how do you always find such Gifs?

Lou, thanks again for the gongs. Just missed my first one this time.

And Banjoman, your diligence in keeping this campaign going strong is greatly appreciated.

Here is the start of Franz's leave....

The Holzhauer Papers
Part 9: 20-23 May 1917


I had telegraphed home to say I would arrive at the Friedrichstrasse Bahnhof Monday at 5.00 pm. Instead I spent late Monday impatiently standing between the carriages of an overcrowded train, smoking the last of my own cigars. In my case was a large box of Wolff’s cigars for my father, but I did not have the heart to take any for me. The train stood unmoving in a siding at Aachen for nearly six hours. Westbound traffic had priority and we waited for them to pass. I thought of my poor mother and sisters. Without a doubt they would have prepared a fine meal despite the desperate shortages and now their effort and food were wasted. In my bag I had two kilos of good sausage from the pigs at the farm near our chateau back in St-Quentin-le-Petit. It was warm like midsummer and I hoped they would keep. They were wrapped in waxed paper and rags, and a quick check on their condition left my hand damp with melting fat.
It was 2.30 pm on Tuesday 22 May before I stepped onto the broad station platform under the glass atrium. No one was there to greet me. No one knew where I was. I bumped through the crowd and stepped through the west doors of the station into the bright sunlight to take in the familiar rush and style of my home city. Women glided along the sidewalks in their finery, parasols in hand; young Turks sold newspapers and shined boots. Something was missing. The large flower stalls were gone, swept away by war, I supposed. Two young soldiers in crisp, unmuddied uniforms strode past in step and saluted smartly. I returned the greeting, sloppily and late. Being an officer was still new to me, and I reminded myself to keep a sharp eye out so as to pay respect to senior ranks and not end up on charges before I got home.

Friedrichstrasse was a sea of horse-drawn cabs, and some were now driven by women. I decided to stroll down to Unter den Linden and hail a cab from there. Outside a bakery a long line of women and boys snaked down to the next corner. Some people were shouting. There was a small beer-room. Home could wait. I needed a real “gepflegtes Bier†[1] and lost thirty minutes in a Berliner’s idea of heaven.

[Linked Image]
Friedrichstrasse Bahnhof, 1917

Unter den Linder was still beautiful, but the cafés were not as busy as usual. A regiment marched past, heading for the station. I saluted their colours, as was custom. A passer-by, an old man with a black armband, muttered that you salute coffins too don’t forget. I gave him a piece of my mind for being a defeatist. A cab clicked its way towards me and I flagged it down.

[Linked Image]
Unter den Linden, 1917

The driver was a veteran of the 1914 campaign where he’d lost his left arm. He plied me with questions and seemed satisfied with my answers, especially when I told him I’d downed three French machines officially and a few more in all probability. We passed through the Brandenberg Gate and turned down Königgrätzerstrasse towards Potsdamerplatz.[2] He spoke of the shortages and the tough winter. He had brothers at the front who sent food home, though. And an uncle with a farm – that’s the ticket, he said.

“The Russkies will quit this thing,†he predicted. “Then we’ll have a good shot at the British. With them gone, the French will be no problem.†I mentioned that the Americans are in this now, but he shook that off with a shrug. “Too late,†he said. “Besides, they lost all their good blood fighting each other years ago.†I told him I hoped he was right.

It was only a couple of blocks from the square to my home on Potsdamerstrasse, and I wanted to walk the last bit. I paid the driver and gave him a bit extra. It was thanks for his optimism.

The broad carved wooden door on the ground floor looked like it always did. I banged the lion-head brass knocker and waited for Helmut, our houseman. A young girl in a blue dress and white apron opened the door instead. “Yes?†she said, inquisitively.

“I live here,†I replied. “I am Franz Holzhauer.†The girl blushed and curtsied and apologized. I could hear Maria, my older sister, calling.

“Papa, Mama, it’s Franz. He’s here!†There was a great bustle upstairs. I took the stairs three at a time and fell into my mother’s arms. She was overwhelmed with questions and tears. My father embraced me – he was not given to such shows and it shocked me. He planted a kiss on my forehead. I felt the scratch of his beard on my face for the first time since I was an infant.

I shall not bore the reader with the domestic details of the next few days. Enough to say that losing half my left pinkie was, to my mother, on a par with losing a leg and an eye. She cursed the English long and hard, despite my reminding her daily that I was fighting the French. My father was more relaxed and looked on the large bandage I wore as a thing of honour. He took me to the engineer’s club near Siemens, where he worked, to show off my decoration and my wound.

Maria’s husband was at sea, an officer on a cruiser. Victoria was working in an office in Bremen and engaged to be married to a civil servant.

The young servant girl was Hanna, from Magdeburg. Old Helmut had called up to the Landwehr, it seems. The pre-war staff had been Helmut, a cook, and two housemaids. Now Hanna worked alone most of the time, with a teenaged helper one day a week for major cleaning.

Last night’s dinner was not lost. They had prepared a large chicken and it was just as tasty the day after. Mother sometimes helped with the cooking now and had contributed potato dumplings with pickled red cabbage and chestnuts. And my sausages survived the journey! My parents and Maria were in raptures over them, and it took a great deal of strength to refuse the portions offered to me.

My father wanted to take me to a very old and expensive tailor in the city centre, but Wolff had given me the address of a man called Salomon who had a shop not at all far from home. He and his son ran their tailoring business out of their apartment on Dorotheestrasse and did work of the highest order at very good prices. Even my father, who was a terribly stuffy sort at times, had to approve. I was able to afford two tunics, a full dress and an undress type in the style of my old Jäger regiment. I even bought new breeches and leather leggings, which I spent the evenings by the fire polishing.

Best of all, there was not a monkey in sight.

Notes:

[1] Literally, a well cared-for or well-groomed beer, chilled to the perfect temperature and carefully poured into a “tulip†glass so that the head overhangs the edge without spilling, forming a “Krage,†or collar. Properly done, it’s a work of art worth waiting for.

[2] This street was renamed Ebertstrasse after the Great War.




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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/17 11:56 AM

Hello all, I am finally back in a position where I can resume flying and posting. The course turned into a switch in job positions which turned into a heck of a lot more hours at work. Ill be posting info on Benjamin Kinkaid's adventures over the last eight months soon. It has been nice catching up on your adventures! salute
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/17 02:53 PM

Hey Canucks!! From one to another, welcome back!!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/17 08:41 PM

Raine; "Young servant girl" !! ?? Now I'm wondering if Holzhauer is married or otherwise committed! Hmmm.

Albert Earl Godfrey:

25 May 1917 @ 06h02 Patrol behind the lines to La Gorgue airfield

During briefing Scott announced the mission as a milk run to La Gorgue looking for any Hun OP that might cross the lines. It was a welcome change from the intense activity the squadron had been facing lately. The weather was not be generous to “B†flight. Godfrey’s flight had to deal with scattered rain, thunderstorms, and thick cumulous cloud cover above 4500 feet. Wind was moderate at 8 kn from the west.

“B†flight was on it’s own and comprised of Godfrey on lead with the new man Berkeley on wing, Molesworth, Caldwell, Fry and Young accompanying.

The flight took off in light rain and formed up north of the field as usual, attaining a height of 4400 ft. at 06h10. Godfrey then turned the flight north towards Bethune and at 06h19 they were over the town cruising still at 4400 ft just under the clouds. Godfrey then turned the flight NE towards La Gorgue.

At 06h25 they spotted two specs well ahead of them and Godfrey took the flight on an investigative chase until they lost the specs in the cloud cover at 06h31. Godfrey then turned the flight back on course for La Gorgue.

At 06h30 the flight again found two specs in front of them on the horizon and gave chase again. As they closed, Godfrey recognized the profile of the crafts as DFW C.V.’s. Godfrey began firing at the trailing craft rather early and continued to do so as he closed in. At 06h36 he had some good hits, saw pieces fly from the craft and watched it bank into a spiral turn, but his N23 took some hits in the process. Godfrey took evasive action banking and climbing to starboard. This placed him in a disadvantaged position on the tail of the second DFW, which promptly put several rounds into his engine. Godrey heard the clank and the rounds hit and soon his engine began to grind pitifully. There was nothing to do but shut it down or risk possible fire.
Godfrey banked sharply to starboard in a shallow descent straining his eyes to see through the prevailing thin cloud and mist for a possible place to set down. He took solace in the fact that he was on his side of the lines and close to the junction of several roads that serviced Bailleul-Loos and Bethune-Loos.

As he descended Godfrey picked the Loos-Bailleul road as his choice since he noted a convoy of trucks on their way to Bailleul. He hoped they might pick him up. Godfrey was lined up on his descent to the road and several hundred feet up when suddenly his craft took some small arms fire from his own troops.

“Damn, If they can’t see my roundels, I shudder to think what their eyesight is likeâ€, thought Godfrey. “It’s bad enough up here facing the Hun without taking lead from our own troopsâ€. He made a mental note to see if there was anything that needed to be done to educate the troops in the line.

Godfrey touched down on the rough road, making several short hops and then came to rest just off the road surface, not far from the convoy.

Godfrey laid a claim when he returned to Filescamp and was told the rest of his flight had reported witnessing it and all were concerned as to his whereabouts.

PS: is anyone else noticing the improvement of cloud effects provided by JJ65's ME with BuckeyeBob's most recent mod. If you are not using, please try it out, you won't regret it!


Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/17 11:46 PM

Robert, it seems everyone is having some close shaves as of late. Nice vid and report! As to the mods, I have kept up with them and drool. Being the computer dummy I dare not use them because if I have a hiccup I am dead in the water. Yes I know it's simple for most folks but not this child. I am waiting for the patch that incorporates them!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/17 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by Raine
Fullofit, It's late at night and now I want to raid the fridge...

Raine, that was my intention. I'm glad it worked.

Also, I'm with Robert on that one. "Young servant girl" I think Franz up for some monkey business. Great story nonetheless.


Robert, I'm also using the cloud mod and I fear my framerate has slightly suffered because of the greater number of clouds, but I don't care. It's just too pretty.

25 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

The rain never came. Strähle, just as everyone else on the airfield was nursing a pounding headache. He was unsure if the headache was caused by the hangover, or the lack of sleep, or both.. Nevertheless they were all slated to escort a formation of DFW's on a reconnaissance flight near Lens. Schwarzkopf would lead the Schwarm. The engines droned much louder than usual and the controls seemed a lot heavier. Even the air tasted different. The brisk slipstream helped keep him awake and the rumble of the Mercedes engine helped mask the dull headache. Thankfully the two-seaters didn't take too long and they were on their way back and crossing the front lines. They've left the observation machines circling the aerodrome and proceeded to Halluin. 10 minutes later, to Strähle's great relief, their home base came into view. As they were circling to get down to the ground and slot into the landing pattern, another flight of observation machines crossed their path followed by a single Nieuport. Aldi gave chase and easily planted his plane behind the enemy.

[Linked Image]

As soon as he did that, his usually reliable Mercedes engine coughed and lost all power. He had to abandon the pursuit and glide to the airfield. The job of protecting the two-seaters fell into Strähle's hands. Already fully awake from a good dose of adrenaline he positioned himself behind the Nieuport, just like Schwarzkopf did minutes ago. He begun to hammer at the intruder, but missed. They started to circle each other, moving further and further away from the aerodrome. The Nieuport was more maneuverable and easily foiled Strähle's attempts to follow. They were now flying at each other head on. Strähle's Albatros opened up with both guns and hit the little scout straight in the engine. The prop stopped and the Nieuport was a sitting duck. It landed in the German held territory while Strähle brought his plane's nose about and proceeded to land at the base. He was parched and the first thing after getting out of his crate was to direct himself to the Kasino and find out if there was any booze left from last night. He was almost there when Aldi stopped him, while coming out of Grieffenhagen's office.
"There's a telephone call for you. Come!"
"A telephone call? For me? No one ever calls me. Do you know what's it about?"
"No idea."
Strähle went into the office and picked up the receiver. His mouth was dry and in dire need of a drink. He croaked: "Hallo?"
The voice on the other side recognized him instantly and began excitedly: "Congratulations my dear friend! Such a glorious victory! You must come here at once and inspect your trophy. I can't believe you would keep your word. Frankly I didn't take it serious...."
"Who?" Paul interrupted getting groggy and at that instant, as the wheels inside his head started to turn, it dawned on him it was the Major from last night. The Nieuport he had just shot down landed exactly at the Flak battery location he landed at two days ago. The Major was impressed and invited Paul to come and take some pictures with his trophy. Strähle didn't have to be told twice. He was there within half an hour and was told the plane will be soon transported to be evaluated by Idflieg. When the officials arrived to take possession of an intact N23, they realized that the plane's rudder had mysteriously disappeared. It was later found adorning Kasino wall at Halluin.

[Linked Image] [Linked Image]


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/17 12:56 AM

Helmut von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, Flamders.
kills 7


Sep 22, 1917.Bad Luck follows me.



Our Kette was returning from a Escort mission behind the lines when I spotted 2 RE 8's. They were slightly below so peeled off and made a standard tail attack. I got off 100 rds or so then the tail gunner from one of the RE types put a few rds into my motor. The motor packed up and I went down behind enemy lines. Landing near some trees, I must Escape and Evade. ( the screen said till Oct 2 ) I suppose without the bad luck that I would not have any luck at all.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/17 01:01 AM

Raine: Check out report s from the Front Theres a couple of good GIF,s. I make some ( still learning how) and Raid other peoples postings. Luv your documents with notes on the page bottom. Keep em flying
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/17 03:23 AM

Upond hearing the news of Helmut reported missing in action Reactions among the people of Hamburg flared.

https://giphy.com/gifs/GeneralHospital-general-hospital-kelly-monaco-3ohzdXgFoBB4vj439m/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/general-hospital-soap-opera-intuition-l0Iy5d4S9vY3T4O7m/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/reaction-mrw-follow-5daVsq6hkeiY0/fullscreen
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/17 10:12 AM

Flt Sub Lt Ben Kincaid
3 RNAS

It had to end sometime I suppose. Eight glorious months of paperwork, leave passes, obscure army policy, and duty rosters. The only thing missing from the life of the Adjutant is flying. Of course that also meant the life of the Adjt came without the dying that was all to common these days. Nope, just 12 hours a day of wonderful safe admin to keep the Sqn ticking along.

It helped that I was good at it, too. The boss, Sqn Comd Ian Stratton, took notice of my administrative abilities and plunked me down behind a desk next to his office. Stratton was a former army officer, turned to the Navy against his better judgement, as he used to joke. He was a great boss. Most importantly, his decision kept me alive. I watched too many pilots, all better than me, come through the Sqn, all cherry smiles and drinks in the mess only to become an empty chair a few hours later.

Nothing could have prepared me for the Comd to go down though. He was a fantastic pilot with hundreds of combat hours. His kill rate climbed steadily throughout his tenure. The men loved him. They would return with stories of how he saved this one or that one from certain doom. But a week ago, there was no-one who could save him. By all accounts it was a jolly old dust-up, with our Camels getting the best of a flight of Albatross that had come to play. The boss waited for the his flight to form back up and began heading for our side of the lines. I'm told that is when it happened. With a snap his upper wing snapped off. Gone. Nothing anyone could do. The boys watched in horror as his Camel plunged downward. Uncontrollable, they said. Nothing he could do. Well, it was a long way down. Lots of time to think. It was the quietest night in the mess I had ever seen.

The new boss is quite different. Harder. No jokes. Worst of all, he took one look at me sitting behind a desk and became quite irate. He raved something about not having a qualified pilot pushing pencils when he could be flying. So I was done, taken away from my beloved desk and my sweet policies. No more charge reports or duty rosters. Now it was back to the killing and dying and flying. Don't get me wrong, I like flying. The Camel is a beautiful bird and a big upgrade over the Pup. Two guns and all that nonsense. Maybe Ill get lucky and get just wounded enough I can end up in the hospital again and meet some pretty nurses. Maybe Ill even get captured. That seems better than dying. I've met a couple captured Hun's who have spoken of a particularly beautiful nurse all their troops seem to fall in love with...

All those thoughts fall away as the engine hums to life. I've been picked to lead a patrol over enemy lines as deep as Ghistelles for my first show back. The new CO seems to really want me to ease into things slowly. Luke Scarborough, my new wingman seems a decent chap. He just recently came in as a replacement, but has enough experience in the air to make me feel comfortable. We are joined by three of our veteran pilots: "Kiwi" Beamish, "Army" Armstrong, and "Tich" Rochford. That is one thing about the Sqn, if you live long enough, no-one can be bothered to say your full name.

We headed out just after 0600 and turned towards the lines, climbing through the clouds at about 5000. It was gorgeous above the clouds, with nothing to see for miles in every direction. We carried on for about ten minutes before reaching the lines. My heart gave a jump as I spotted three planes several thousand feet below us. I was about to react when I realized that it was just A Flight on their way to a different party. We carried on into the vicinity of Ghistelles, then turned North for the Coast. Every second over the lines was agony. I was tensed waiting for the sound of bullets snapping by from an unseen foe. I checked my watch constantly. Finally, 20 minutes had passed. The boss had demanded no less than 25 minutes over the target area. Deciding that cowardice was the better part of valour, I bravely turned my tail to Germany and fled westward for home. I didn't begin to relax until my wheels touched down.

I exited my camel on shaky legs and headed to the mess, hoping for a coffee and something stronger to put in it.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/17 10:35 AM

Fullofit, nice pic of the captured Nieuport. Congratulations.

Carrick, what will become of the Countess while you are away! Glad you survived.


Canuck, glad to see you back in the fray. Nice story Hoss! Stay frosty, it's dangerous out there.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/17 03:48 PM

MFair: The Countess ran off ( eloped) with the General.

Fullofit: Nice job

Canuck: Good story.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/17 09:09 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

27 May 1917 @ 04h22 Patrol our lines between Lens and Loos

Scott announced “The mission today gentlemen is a line patrol between Lens and Loos. Visibility will be poor as we expect continued heavy cumulus and light rain most of the day with winds of 8 kn from the NNW. There have been a number of reports coming in of Hun OP active in this area and it is your job to discourage them.

Godfrey, you will be leading “B†flight and taking Scott, Molesworth, Rutherford and Young on your patrol. Lloyd you will be leading “A†flight and taking Caldwell and Horn to assist as necessary.â€

There is one further announcement gentleman. You will all be relieved to know that Berkeley made it back from yesterday’s patrol and has been given a 48 hour pass. It is also worth noting that Godfrey will be receiving the VC in the very near future according to a report that came in last night and the claims of the previous day have all been granted. There will be cause for some celebration tonight in the mess, and congratulations on excellent performance have come down from the Brass. In my opinion it is well deserved, so keep your wits about you this morning, we don’t want any empty chairs! Dismissed!â€

As the men cleared from the briefing there were many modes of congratulations conferred on Godfrey as they headed for the door. Rutherford while jostling Godfrey announced, “Bishop is two kills behind you at 21, you are giving the man quite a chase mate!â€. Godfrey just smiled and said “Bishop has been flying a lot of lone wolf patrols of late and that suits me just fine. I wouldn’t want his aggressive ways challenging any potential kill directly in front of me! He is an excellent pilot but he scares me a tad in a melee!â€

The flights took of and formed up north of the field as usual, attaining 8400 ft. by 04h40, at which point they set out north towards Bethune. They arrived there at 04h45, barely able to make out the town building below through all the cloud cover. The constant drizzle took the comfort out of the flight and hindered greatly, visibility as it streaked the windscreen.

The flight turned east towards Lens and reached the lines at 04h50, still at 8400 ft. Godfrey could make out two RE8’s escorted by three Pups off his starboard side and observed them as they approached and crossed under his flight.

At 04h55 “B†flight was at 11,000 ft., and Godfrey spotted six flecks on the eastern horizon. They were somewhat below his flight and headed north bound. He suspected they were scouts by their number. He attempted to follow them with the hope of gaining some opportunity but he soon lost them in the clouds. After several minutes chasing Godfrey wrote off the pursuit and continued his flight towards Loos at 05h02.

The flight turned SSW just shy of Loos and at 05h06 Godfrey nted about a half dozen specs swirling about off his port wing as a good distance. He took the flight in that direction towards the lines and soon discovered “A†flight was mixing it up with some Albatros DIII’s. “B†flight wasted no time is joining the fray and Godfrey had short encounters with several of the Huns in which he sent several bursts at them driving them from their intended quarry. He had recognized the DIII’s were of Jasta 3.

The mixup was over almost as soon as it started, with scouts scattering in all directions. Godfrey broke off an attack with one Hun and watched Scott pick up the attack chasing the Hun to ground. Godfrey waited until Scott dispatched the Hun and then joined him to turn towards La Gorgue, the nearest airfield.

The rest of the flight had dispersed and were nowhere in sight as the two made their way west. Approaching La Gorgue Godfrey noted a lone Albatros coming east intended on passing him on his port side. Godfrey banked left to cut off the retreat and realizing the Hun had some speed on him he sent several volleys at the tail of the retreating DIII. It worked, the Hun went into a banking left climb which allowed Godfrey to close on him and within seconds Godfrey was pounding lead into the fuselage, cockpit and engine of the DIII. It belched black smoke, broke up in front of him and went down in several pieces. Godfrey looked around and could not find Scott but did find Rutherford had closed up and was now on his port side joining him.

Both of them turned back towards La Gorgue and made a safe landing there, finding that Scott, Molesworth and Yound had already landed.

Everyone but Godfrey had suffered light damage to their craft with an expected 2 day repair required.

“A†flight had not arrived but Caldwell came in about 20 minutes later with Light damage to his craft in the form or many bullet holes in the upper and lower port wings. It was Caldwell who identified, that Lloyd and Horn both had to ditch their craft several miles east of La Gorgue. Reports came in identifying the Lloyd was ok but that Horn had been lightly wounded. It seems he had split the end of his nose during the crash but was otherwise fine.

“Godfrey noted that a few drinks that evening would surely help alleviate and pain in the nose that Horn might be suffering.â€

Caldwell was first to thank Godfrey for bringing the flight in to help. For once the cavalry was not late to the rescue.


Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/17 09:54 PM

Here is the latest status report on last week's activities.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/17 10:10 PM

Robert, nice report! Congrats on VC.
Banjoman, thanks for the stats!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/17 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Robert, nice report! Congrats on VC.
Banjoman, thanks for the stats!


Tnx Fullofit!!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/17 04:26 PM

Carrick, somehow I missed the Countess running off. Just as well. She would have been your downfall!

Robert, Congratulations on the medal. Staying alive in a Nieuport would warrant the decoration by itself.

Banjoman, thanks for the stats Bud. Much appreciated.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/17 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Carrick, somehow I missed the Countess running off. Just as well. She would have been your downfall!

Robert, Congratulations on the medal. Staying alive in a Nieuport would warrant the decoration by itself.

Banjoman, thanks for the stats Bud. Much appreciated.


Tnx MFair, but with regards to the Nieup 23, it's not a bad mount, as long as I stay clear of those DR1's!!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/17 05:17 PM

MFair:

Helmut's Family get together s will be difficult. of course , he does have other options the Princess Edwina ( a lot of costume parties ) https://giphy.com/gifs/olivia-munn-XcgPjNMFd8YJW/fullscreen

Then there is the Baroness Flavia https://giphy.com/gifs/actress-PXy5ZM7msbrpu/fullscreen Of course , she did have 4 husbands ?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/17 01:50 AM

Carrick, here is a quick instructional video regarding the taming of the Countess...



Fullofit, outstanding story and photos once again. Robert, I've finally caught up with all your videos. Congrats on the latest victory and VC. You should do an investiture story. Dark Canuck, it's really great to see you back in the campaign and to learn you live so close by. There's a visit to some purveyor of cheap beer in our future! And Banjoman, thanks once more for the stats.

Franz Holzhauer is back in action...

The Holzhauer Papers
Part 10: 25-28 May 1917


On my last day in Berlin I accompanied my father on the long tram ride across town to the “Siemenstadt†on Nonnendammallee. Here stood the huge factory halls of the Siemens switchgear plant.[1] The government had decreed that a large section of the plant should be turned over to aircraft manufacturing, Every night at dinner Father had railed bitterly at the increasing tides of revolution, so he had the brilliant idea to get Siemens to invite me for a morale-boosting visit at the plant. Just last month, the workers at AEG had gone on strike in protest against the war, agitating for peace without territorial expansion. [2] It seemed that I was judged singularly equipped to prevent such a thing happening at Siemens.

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Siemenstadt, 1910

I was met at the plant by the Managing Director, Herr Doktor Something or Other. He wore a fine goatee and monocle and sidled along tapping his walking stick as he chatted with a visiting general from the Imperial Staff. This fellow was a Prussian of the classic cut. Short hair, ridiculous moustache, immaculate bearing. He was smart, I’ll give you that. More brains per square head, as they say. He questioned me sharply about my service and my thoughts about the war, all the while glancing disdainfully at my EK2 ribbon, unaccompanied as it was by any other trinkets. I believe he was expecting von Richthofen or Voss and got Holzhauer. I wondered whom he’d annoyed at headquarters to be given this assignment.

About two thousand workers gathered in an open field beside a factory hall to hear me. A speaker’s platform stood adorned with two wooden iron crosses in laurel wreaths, and black, white, and red bunting hung everywhere. The general made a brief speech about the impending destruction of the British and French, about the collapse of the decaying Russian state due to the disloyalty of Russian workers, about the Kaiser’s love of the German people, and about how protestors deserved to be shot.

Then Herr Doktor Something or Other introduced someone who singlehandedly had swept the French from the skies over the Aisne, inspired by the love of his family and by his deep devotion to his fatherland and to his home city of Berlin. It was a few minutes before it dawned on me that this was my own introduction. Dutiful applause followed and I made my way to the podium. Fear gripped me and no sound came out of my throat when I tried to begin. I could hear quiet ripples of laughter out in the crowd.

“Fellow Germans,†I began. “You have heard much about duty and devotion. You have been told of victories to come. Let me now give you one man’s ideas.â€

That was good. The only problem was that I had no ideas. I don’t know what I’d expected. Walk though the plant and shake some hands, maybe. But not this. Not this.

“The enemy is not weak. The enemy is not beaten.†I felt the general’s eyes boring into me from behind. “This will be a hard fight. But if you don’t let us down, I promise you we will do everything in our power to prevail. Look around you. This place shows that Germans can build and create finer things than anyone on this earth. Not counting French champagne or English cigarettes, of course.â€

There was laughter. I began to feel better.

“I am no von Richthofen. I am no Hindenburg. I’m not even an engineer or an assembler or a toolmaker. But I am a Berliner and I can fly aeroplanes if you can build them. And if there are enough aeroplanes and enough Berliners, we’ll have nothing to worry about. In fact we’ll have all the French champagne and English cigarettes we can handle. And maybe some solid meals to go with them. But we need you to do your bit.â€

There was wild cheering now. I glanced over my shoulder. The general had a face like a boiled pudding about to collapse, but my father and his boss were laughing. That’s all that mattered.

“All right, I know how much you hate speeches. But I suspect fighting in the air might interest you. So let me answer any questions you may have.†I heard the general’s chair scrape on the flooring. “As much as security permits,†I added.

For fifteen minutes I regaled them with stories, including tales of my two greatest foes, the monkeys Heini and Rieke. When I stepped down from the dais, the applause and cheering were genuine. Even the general said that I’d make a good politician as long as it wasn’t for some party where he’d have to see me hanged.

The journey back to St-Quentin-le-Petit took 26 hours. On my arrival I was surprised to see that some of our machines had been replaced with the new Type Vs, more powerful and more strongly built. To my delight, all the old gang were there – with one unexpected exception. Wolfgang Günther had been hurt in a crash and had been away recovering. Hauptmann von Sell had just learned, though, that he was not returning and was transferring instead to Jasta 3. Buckler, of course, was still away at the Jagdfliegerschule, being taught to do the thing he already did so well. Mysteries of the military mind...

28 May 1917 was my first time back in the air. I still had my old Albatros DIII. The patrol included a new pilot, Unteroffizier Siegfried, along with Sachsenberg, Schuster, and Schräder. Ours was a defensive barrier patrol over our airfields to the west. We climbed directly towards Laon and began to wander about the surrounding area. Off in the distance I saw a large formation of Spads heading north. They were higher and outnumbered us, so I kept away from them and angled towards the east so as to have the sun at our back. The French disappeared in the distance; after about fifteen minutes they returned to our patrol area. We were at the same altitude now, about 3500 metres, but Schuster had engine problems and dropped out. There were seven of them and four of us. I followed them at a distance, hoping for a straggler. Suddenly all seven of them turned east towards us. To make matters worse, a formation of Nieuports suddenly emerged from some clouds a couple of kilometres to the north of us. I turned and dived towards home. Perhaps only some will follow us that far, or perhaps the Flak from our airfield will scare them off.

But these Frenchmen were determined. All seven chased us to St-Quentin-le-Petit and four Nieuports joined them. We had our hands full. I fought defensively for nearly ten minutes, getting only a few bursts away at fleeting targets, and none of them from close range. Every time a French machine was in my sights, one or two more opened fire on me from behind. Rounds perforated the tail and right lower wing of my machine, but it held together. Eventually the French got tired and headed home, too fast to be followed. I landed with and trundled up to the tent hangar, bathed in sweat. It was eight-thirty in the morning and I needed a brandy.

[Linked Image]
"Rounds perforated the tail and right lower wing of my machine, but it held together."

NOTES:

[1] The giant facility was built in 1917 to manufacture switchgear -- essential because of Germany’s recent conversion from direct to alternating current. A large area of the plant, however, was devoted to aircraft manufacture from 1917 to 1918.

[2] Inspired by the Independent Social Democrats, a revolutionary splinter group expelled from the Social Democratic Party, 5000 AEG employees went on strike in April 1917 to demand an end to the war.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/17 02:00 AM

Helmut von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, Flamders.
kills 7

Some where on the enemy's side of line: Helmut moves only at night getting closer to his side lines and home. Crawling slowly and running in short bursts, he can only imagine what makes up the Sounds of the creatures of the Night

ttps://giphy.com/gifs/vampire-horror-creepy-TeAmZ5PRXQDvO/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/17 02:02 AM

Raine: LOL
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/17 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Helmut von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, Flamders.
kills 7

Some where on the enemy's side of line: Helmut moves only at night getting closer to his side lines and home. Crawling slowly and running in short bursts, he can only imagine what makes up the Sounds of the creatures of the Night

ttps://giphy.com/gifs/vampire-horror-creepy-TeAmZ5PRXQDvO/fullscreen


Careful!! Tommys' Watchin!!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/27/17 01:44 AM

Raine, excellent story and an inspiring speech. There will not be any strikes at Siemens I expect. BTW, my Dad worked for Siemens at one time.
When are you due for an upgrade?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/27/17 10:17 PM

30 May 1917, Halluin
Jasta 18

“I saw what happened, is he going to be ok?†Grieffenhagen walked beside sweaty Runge with his hands clasped behind his back. Runge nodded.
“He’ll have a hell of a headache, but he’ll be alright.†They continued walking towards the hangars.
“I guess the airfield defense mission didn’t go as planned. Are we going to have to fly it again?†Runge wasn’t excited at the prospect.
“No, Jasta 11 will take care of it.†Jastaführer responded.
“Good, I wasn’t keen on repeating this.†Runge gained some spring in his step.
“Where did those Strutters come from, anyway? They were all over you before you could properly get off the ground.â€

[Linked Image]

“If it were not for our Schwarmführer Schwarzkopf, who knows if we’d be talking right now? He saw them first, diving on us and begun evasive maneuvers. Because of that we were able to spot them in time. Schwarzkopf was then able to get on the tail of one of the Brits and shoot one wing off. He went down like this.†Runge made a gesture with an inverted hand pointing towards ground.

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“He then went after the second Strutter and that’s when everything went to hell. By the way,†Runge smiled “the third Strutter saw what’s happening and turned tail. Anyway, Aldi followed that second Sopwith which now was diving like mad for the deck."

[Linked Image]

"I saw him pull up just above the trees. Aldi copied the move, but had to stay lower to avoid the rear gunner and that’s when he snagged the branches of that tree.†He turned around and pointed at the broken-in-half tree near the Albatros standing on his nose.

[Linked Image]

“He did a somersault in midair before ploughing the field below. I think he lost a tooth.†Runge speculated. Grieffenhagen looked again at the wrecked plane and added, “It’s a headache to be sure. I’ll have to talk to him and see if he’ll listen to me. He takes too many risks.†They kept walking. “Is Strähle with him now? I’ll speak to him later then.â€


In other news, Cyrus Gold is no more. Lost lower left wing in a dogfight with some D.IIIs and spiraled into the trenches. RIP.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/27/17 10:53 PM

Fullofit, it seems you did not have a good day but happy to see Swarzkoph will be ok. That crash site did not look good! Sorry about Cyrus. That's a bad break.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/27/17 10:57 PM

Sorry to hear about Cyrus, Fullofit. Lucky day for Aldi, though!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/27/17 11:15 PM

Fullofit, I keep telling you that Aldi has used up all of his lives. You need to apply for leave or one day his luck will finally run out.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 12:36 AM

May 30, 1917 wasn't a good day. I was almost sure Aldi bought it and I had to pay for it somehow.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 01:05 AM

Well, Fullofit, you're the one who had good news on 30 May 1917. Franz Holzhauer led a Kette of six machines just west of their aerodrome to Sissonne for a defensive patrol. After about fifteen minutes a large formation of Np 23s showed up and there was a brief confused fight. Franz chased a straggler about 20 km down to the lines and began to turn back, but he saw another Albatros chasing a Nieuport over the lines. Not wanting to abandon a squadron mate, he followed to give him support. Within a minute or two he was fully engaged with the lone Nieuport which was well-handled. While moving in for the kill, bullets began to strike Franz's machine. I thought at first it was ground fire from a nearby French field. Instead it turned out to be four newly-arrived and very angry Nieuports. The battle descended to treetop level and Holzhauer tried desperately to inch towards the lines. Eventually, though, they hit his fuel lines and he was forced to land in a field, where he was captured.

[Linked Image]
Ambushed!

My only consolation was that Holzhauer downed two enemy aircraft on the previous day, one of which was confirmed. And, of course, he survived the war.



Attached picture Ambushed.jpg
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 01:27 AM

Raine, if it weren't for bad luck you would have no luck at all.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 01:38 AM

There’s definitely something going on. Raine, sounds like Franz will spend the rest of the war locked up in a posh French P.O.W. camp eating mouldy cheese and bread, washing it down with some soured wine. Ah, the life in Provence! Sorry to hear it. I guess time for a French aviateur?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 02:23 AM

They got Holzhauer ? https://giphy.com/gifs/screamqueens-fox-scream-queens-tv-3o6ZsS8GFJKJeJoRQ4/fullscreen

Franz should be carefull of whom he meets in the Camps. https://giphy.com/gifs/eK1wEASXgQTYs/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 03:56 AM

Raine;

Things have got to look up! Maybe you need to "rein in" your pilots aggressiveness a little. No need to chase an opponent 20 km across the lines for a kill. It's too risky. Anything can happen, lack of attention, engine failure, etc. etc.

Better luck with the new man and I feel for you!
Posted By: Space_Ghost

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 01:45 PM

Raine, Fullofit - great AARs! This thread is a virtual goldmine.

Sorry for your losses!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 02:13 PM

Thanks for the condolences, guys. I was really getting into the Franz Holzhauer story. Watch for the new fellow's story soon.

Robert, my decision was tough. I had already turned back from chasing the damaged Nieuport when I saw an Albatros that I took to be my rookie wingman (I was right) heading over the lines alone. I flew to join him and hopefully get him to follow me back. I recall thinking that I didn't have a good feeling about this one.

When the damaged Nieuport's big brother and his friends showed up, my damned wingman took off and left my pilot on his own to deal with the whole gang of French scouts. When Franz gets home in 1919, he'll have to look up the wingman and bop him on the nose!

FalkeEins -- are you going to join the campaign? We'd all love to have you as a regular.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 02:49 PM

Raine

Any chance of an escape from capture?? It could make an interesting story, oh and, possible discussion with wingman!!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 02:50 PM

Raine, what a bloody few days this is turning out to be! Bad luck all around. Sorry for your pilots capture but looking forward to the new fellow and what I know will be a great history lesson.
Posted By: Space_Ghost

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Raine


-snip-

FalkeEins -- are you going to join the campaign? We'd all love to have you as a regular.


I considered it but the flieger I'm focusing on, Abelhard Fuchs, isn't compliant with the DiD rules.

I'm just starting navigation training via the campaign's training feature and I didn't do any of the manual creation/stationing/etc.

I'm sure Abelhard won't last forever and I may consider it from there but I'm in no way the literary geniuses that you guys are. duh smile2
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 05:38 PM

[/b][b]
Originally Posted by FalkeEins
Originally Posted by Raine


-snip-

FalkeEins -- are you going to join the campaign? We'd all love to have you as a regular.


I considered it but the flieger I'm focusing on, Abelhard Fuchs, isn't compliant with the DiD rules.

I'm just starting navigation training via the campaign's training feature and I didn't do any of the manual creation/stationing/etc.

I'm sure Abelhard won't last forever and I may consider it from there but I'm in no way the literary geniuses that you guys are. duh smile2



FalkeEins, please consider! Its a blast. Don't worry about the literary part, a short combat report will do, Besides, most of us are not in the genius category by a long shot.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 06:07 PM

FalkeEins, send me what you've done so far and I'm sure I can look the other way regarding the rules. It's always nice to have new people join us.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 06:31 PM

FalkeEins -- suggestion: finish your training and record the number of hours flown. Then generate a new pilot for the correct date and with the same name, deleting your old one. When you report your new man's missions, victories, claims, and hours flown, simply add the hours from the old training campaign to the new fellow's hours.

Welcome aboard!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
FalkeEins -- suggestion: finish your training and record the number of hours flown. Then generate a new pilot for the correct date and with the same name, deleting your old one. When you report your new man's missions, victories, claims, and hours flown, simply add the hours from the old training campaign to the new fellow's hours.

Welcome aboard!



Yes, well said Raine. That is how I did it for Albert Earl Godfrey. It's a great way to include your training period into the DiD campaign and some interesting stories to boot.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 07:25 PM

Let's be honest, a good great war aviator wouldn't let such a silly thing like rules stand in his way!
Posted By: Space_Ghost

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 07:26 PM

I'm a bit confused by the start date instructions... If I were to start on 28/09/17 what would the equivalent date be in February 1915? The 28th?

I'll definitely consider restarting Abelhard or potentially beginning another pilot who is compliant with the rules from the beginning.

Thanks guys.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 08:59 PM

Welcome FalkeEins, I'm sure Banjoman will be here soon to explain everything, but the two dates available to fly are both in 1917. First, mirrors today's date, but 100 years back, so 28 September, 1917. That's the Warbirds Rising group. The other group - Intrepid Fliers flies 4 months earlier, but they synchronize with the day of the week. So, if it's Thursday, it must be 31 May, 1917. I suggest just creating a new pilot. Good luck. I'm starting a new pilot today as well.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 09:03 PM

31 May, 1917.

The life at La Bellevue aerodrome continues. The new arrival at RFC 48 is Sergeant Dick Grayson. A young tightrope walker willing to test his mettle in the unfriendly skies. Together with his mentor The Man-Bat and his lady friend The Pussywoman, they’ve been running the circus in Durham for a number of years now. The Man-Bat was so called due to a peculiar membrane growing from his armpits. The Pussywoman’s characteristic facial hair features were the reason for her sobriquet. This, and the uncanny ability to attract other weirdos, such as The Japer, The Spheniscus-man or The Quizzler. These, in turn, would introduce such characters as The Stay-frosty-man, a local brewery spokesman who had one too many. He would oversee the circus concessions. And the Ivy-league-girl, an upper crust brat, that will do anything to defy her upbringing. Anything. Even joining a circus.
Due to his experience with working at heights he excelled at his aircraft-handling studies. He would have been a perfect candidate for scouts, but his lack of independent thinking and dependency on a teammate had only warranted a posting to a two-seater squadron. He was paired with Captain Oliver Glasgow as his gunner/observer. An easy going fellow, who already garnered a nickname of “Glasgow in Bristolâ€. And so, their adventure together begins...

[Linked Image]

Attached picture RR.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 09:44 PM

Welcome to the MeatGrinder Falke Eins.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 09:58 PM

Fullofit, all I can say is oh my goodness! FalkeEins, Fullofit is correct. The date for the Warbirds group is September 28, 1917, and the Intrepid group is May 31, 1917.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/17 10:13 PM

To: Commander
Jasta 4, JG 1
Macrke , France.
Sep 28, 1917.

I have been advise to inform you that We have one of your pilots. He managed to come over to our side of the lines at night without getting shot from the enemy or us , after being shot down. We are turning over Helmute von Hammer to the 14th Company of the 2nd Guards Uhlans to convey him to the rear areas to be transported back to your unit.

Bingo Schmitt
Oberst, Staff Admin
HQ, II Corps

Attached picture german-trenches-wwi-drdayy  Trench line.jpg
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/29/17 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Fullofit, all I can say is oh my goodness!

Banjoman, don’t you mean: “HOLLY BRISFIT, MAN-BAT!�
Carrick, glad Helmut escaped capture. One captured flieger per week is quite enough. Besides, the Countess would be inconsolable.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/29/17 02:37 AM

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm The Countess Inconsolable ? https://giphy.com/gifs/right-dr-evil-jeXiz1RAvzX44/fullscreen
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/29/17 04:17 AM

That's quite a dynamic duo in that Brisfit, Fullofit!

Now, let's try this again, shall we? Introducing my new pilot, Geoffrey Corderoy...

Background

Second Lieutenant Geoffrey Corderoy was born on 4 April 1894 in the village of South Moreton, Berkshire, the son of Lieutenant Colonel John Corderoy and Ann Brown Corderoy. He grew up with two younger brothers on a sprawling sheep farm at the edge of the village, a place that had been in the family for at least three hundred years. The farm was operated by Geoffrey’s uncle Thomas while his father was on active service.[1]

Geoffrey was educated at Wellington College, after which he attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Commissioned in May 1915, he was posted shortly afterwards to the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's). He saw limited action in France that summer while his battalion was rebuilt after the severe losses of the 1914 campaign. In September 1915, Lieut. Corderoy was wounded during the Battle of Loos. A piece of shrapnel from a grenade shattered his left knee, leaving him with a noticeable limp. In the same action, another subaltern, Second Lieutenant Alexander Buller Turner won a posthumous VC when he stepped past Corderoy with a satchel of bombs to clear a German trench line.[2]

Corderoy’s recovery was slow. Still in England and deemed unfit for front line infantry service, in July 1916 Corderoy requested transfer to the RFC. His request was granted and he progressed through flying training with distinction, being held until early May of 1917 as an instructor. Finally, in late May he was dispatched to the pilot pool at No 1 AD in St-Omer, from whence on 29 May 1917 he was at last posted to a front-line squadron, No 46 Squadron RFC.

This is his story, told in his own words
.
[FYI: As per the campaign rules, Corderoy is a Sergeant in-game and in my stat reports, but in the stories he is a 2Lt, because there were so few NCO scout pilots in France at this time.]

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 1: 29-31 May 1917


29 May 1917

The Crossley tender pulled off the cobbled road from Merville onto a dirt track ridged with deep ruts and foul brown puddles. In the distance stood a red brick farm house and a line of wooden sheds lining the road. As we bumped along closer, I noticed a row of large wooden hangars across – what, not an airfield certainly, for it appeared overgrown with potato plants. The tender squealed to a halt next to the wooden sheds.

“That there be the squadron office, sorr,†he said. A West Country man, he was one peg short of a successful audition for the part of Long John Silver. He pointed to a wooden building along from the sheds with the RFC ensign flapped disconsolately from a pole. I heard a Le Rhône rotary being run up and saw several Ack Emmas outside a hangar with a Pup up on trestles. With my kit bag over my shoulder I climbed the wooden stairs outside the office, used the iron boot scraper someone had affixed there, and stepped inside to find a bespectacled lance corporal eying me as though I were about to ask tuppence for a bit of bread.

[Linked Image]
The Squadron tender with "Long John."

“Sir?†he said. He sat to attention in a somewhat slovenly manner.

“Lieutenant Corderoy, Lance Corporal. Reporting from 1 AD for duty.†I passed him the manila envelope with my travel and transfer papers.

“Major Babington will be with you in a few minutes,†he said. He returned to his typewriter and finished nearly a page before he got up and brought my paperwork to a fellow in shirt sleeves at another desk. The fellow nodded, got up, and approached me with his hand out.

“Major Babington," the man announced. "And you are Mr. Corderoy. Get quite a ribbing about that, what? Welcome to 46. How much time on Pups?â€

I saluted awkwardly and shook his hand. “Five and a half hours, sir.â€

“Bloody murder. Ah well, can’t be helped. Let me show you about.†The Major gathered his tunic and walking stick. I could hear the crump of shellfire distinctly. We were surprisingly close to the front.

He beckoned me to bring my kit. We crossed a cinder path to a duckboard walkway that fronted a row of wooden huts. I had seen photographs of fishing villages in Newfoundland. This place had the same ramshackle charm. The windows of the huts were open and the oilcloth curtains flapped in the slight breeze. There was a copse of trees and a pond close behind the huts. I was shown to number 3, where I dropped my kit on a vacant bed. Most of the serviceable aircraft were up as there was an impending push, so my first introductions were with the mechanics. Sergeant Purchase was my lead mechanic, a bright fellow who was just respectful enough, but not enough to lose status in the eyes of the others. He’d been with the squadron since Wyton.[3] I was new and not worth knowing until I proved I could stay around a while.

The field, such as it was, was a St. Andrew’s cross of cinder in the midst of the potatoes. It sloped down towards the River Lys at one end and featured some convenient drainage ditches to keep life interesting. And it was miniscule. We crossed the field to the farm house and the mess, a large wooden building divided into two rooms. The anteroom offered several battered armchairs, a stove and fireplace, a bar, several tables littered with magazines both educational and profane, and the requisite framed filthy prints on the walls. Here and there, bits of enemy aircraft boasted of past successes. I enjoyed a cup of tea with the Major. I hadn’t noticed before, but he wore the ribbon of the MC on his tunic.

Raucous laughter and loud voices announced the return of a flight. It was a defensive patrol, well behind our lines, so the Major didn’t meet them on the field. Everyone was back and introductions began. I struggled to remember the names. One that stood out was Heath, an Australian tennis player who’d won the Australasian Championships five times. Another was a captain named Caldwell, a Canadian. [4]

30 May 1917

On this day I flew against the enemy for the first time, a gentle introduction. Six Pups led by Captain Heath headed north to patrol over our aerodromes along the Channel coast. We climbed atop a blanket of crisp white cumulus into bright sunshine and I nearly died from the cold. I was unused to flying above 10,000 feet. Back on the ground, I looked out every sweater I had and wrote home for a sheepskin jacket.

After lunch we had a visit from the GOC of the RFC in the field, General Trenchard. A powerful barrel-chested man, he gave us a brisk monosyllabic talk in his best parade-square voice (for which he is known as “Boom†Trenchard) and inspected the sheds. His ADC, Captain Baring, heard me answer the General during inspection when he asked me where I was from. I’d said South Moreton, a village too small for anyone to have heard of it, yet Captain Baring approached me afterwards to ask if I knew the writer Hilaire Belloc, who had lived in the village. I did indeed, or more correctly I knew his son Louis as we had both attended the same school as children. Louis was now in the RFC, Captain Baring told me. Baring and I chatted about some of the local places in Berkshire, for he had once visited the Belloc home. He told me that Belloc had just visited him and the General in France just a week ago.[5]
I flew again in the afternoon, and this time I saw the front. My strict orders were to avoid a scrap if we ran into Huns. There was no need to worry, for the Huns were sleeping off their lunch, it seemed.

31 May 1917

Again I flew twice, led by Captain Pratt. We stayed on our side of the lines and toured the flooded land near the coast to the north, seeing nothing. In the afternoon we flew a “Close Offensive Patrol†near Arras, to the south. At the extreme end of our patrol I noted several specks in the distance and signalled to Captain Kay, the flight commander, as I had been instructed. He shook his head and we turned back. After we reported to Lieut. Thompson, the Recording Officer, Captain Kay explained that one ought not to attack a large group of Huns when low on fuel and when there is a strong westerly wind. Besides that, he noted that there were seven Huns and only five of us and we were not at our best altitude. Apparently a Pup is not a match for an Albatros below ten or twelve thousand feet.

[Linked Image]
Returning to La Gorgue -- the approach over the Lys

Notes

[1] Corderoy / Cordery is an old family name in North Berkshire (now South Oxfordshire). It is recorded that in 1688, a John Corderoy owned the two mills in Geoffrey's home village of South Moreton.

[2] 2Lt Alexander Buller Turner a fellow Wellingtonian, was part of a remarkable family. His father had been a major in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, and his mother's father was an admiral. Alexander's brother, a LCol in the Rifle Brigade, won a VC at El Alamein in 1942. Winning VCs ran in the family. They were related to General Sir Redvers Buller, who won a VC at Inhlobana in the Zulu War.

[3] No 46 Squadron was formed a Wyton in Cambridgeshire in April 1916. It flew two-seater Nieuports and had converted to Pups only shortly before Corderoy's arrival.

[4] Corderoy got the name wrong. He is referring to Captain Caudwell.

[5] Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953) was a noted poet, historian, and all-round man of letters and a close friend of Maurice Baring. His father was French, his mother English. Belloc was a staunch Catholic as was Baring. He lived briefly in South Moreton, but his son Louis settled there. Louis was killed in action with the RAF in 1918. Hilaire Belloc was a frequent visitor at RFC HQ. He had had dinner there on the evening of 20 May 1917, according to Baring.


Attached picture Squadron tender.png
Attached picture returning to LaGorgue.png
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/29/17 01:07 PM

Raine, another masterpiece in the making my friend!

Fullofit, good luck with the Brisfit, she is a wonderful bird.

Carrick, glad you made it back over the lines.
Posted By: Space_Ghost

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/29/17 03:36 PM

After seeing how others treat people in the SimHQ community I've decided to avoid browsing here going forward. I may stop by and read some of the reports every now and again. You're a nice bunch of guys though - nothing personal towards any of you! Seems this subforum somewhat exemplifies how everybody on SimHQ should elect to interact.

Thanks for the help and good luck making it through late 2017/1917 and 2018/1918!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/29/17 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by FalkeEins
After seeing how others treat people in the SimHQ community I've decided to avoid browsing here going forward. I may stop by and read some of the reports every now and again. You're a nice bunch of guys though - nothing personal towards any of you! Seems this subforum somewhat exemplifies how everybody on SimHQ should elect to interact.

Thanks for the help and good luck making it through late 2017/1917 and 2018/1918!



Wow! I don't know what happened but we are sorry to see you go.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/29/17 08:58 PM

Raine: Luv the sq Tender what a ride.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/29/17 09:08 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1
Macrke , France.
Sep 29, 1917.


Reporting in, I was told to ride in the company Hack down to the Central Air Depot and bring back a new ship after a Test Hop. The C.O. didn't mention that it was a new Type and would require a full days testing. With that said I planed on picking up a few cans of paint.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-09-29 13-42-41-69.jpg
Attached picture CFS3 2017-09-29 13-49-56-57.jpg
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/17 12:54 AM

FalkeEins, I'm so sorry to hear that, I sure wish you would reconsider and stay. This is a good group of guys and I know that you would definitely feel welcome here. I certainly can understand how nobody wants to be treated with any disrespect, but if you should decide to come back, just know that you are most welcome here with us.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/17 12:57 AM

Raine, has brought the starting rank up before so do you guys think we should just change the rules to let you start with a rank that makes more sense. I really don't mind and it probably makes more sense to do it like Raine.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/17 12:27 PM

Thanks, Banjoman. Just to clarify, I sometimes get tired on the "promotion from the ranks" story for RFC pilots. Sgt pilots were more common earlier in the war, and it seems in 2 seater squadrons, although that's just an impression.

So I sometimes start my pilots as a 2Lt in my stories, even though in the game and in my DiD campaign stats he remains a sergeant. He then stays a 2Lt until his promotion to Lt in the game.

I read somewhere that by mid 1917 there were only about three operational NCO pilots in the RFC in France. The Germans and French had many, and I don't think the USAS had any.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/17 04:49 PM

Though I don't have time to participate in the DID, I still enjoy reading the reports you guys write. As usual, they have been very entertaining. Too bad you lost another pilot, Raine. Maybe the new one will make it through the war? smile

Regarding ranks, NCO pilots were indeed rare in British service, and all the American pilots were officers. However, the French and German air forces did have lots of NCOs, as did the Austrians (who obviously aren't included in WOFF). So historically speaking, it would make a lot of sense to allow some freedom when choosing the rank of your pilot.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/17 06:09 PM

I agree that some flexibility in choice of rank would be welcome.

Flt Sub-Lt Benjamin Kincaid

After several uneventful patrols, I began to feel a little more relaxed flying my machine. The skill and calm demeanor of chaps like Kiwi and Army had me feeling almost confident. It was with this confidence that I set out on an afternoon patrol.

It was a nice easy jaunt to the lines, with us schedule to patrol our side. It seemed the Huns were content to let me ease back into the war, as I once again saw nothing but empty sky around the patrol route.

I was just about to turn the flight back to the aerodrome when I spotted two specks on the horizon heading East. We manouvered closer to inspect and sure enough it was a pair of Hun two-seaters scamming back across the lines with valuable information about our boys on the ground.

Nothing for it but to tally-ho and all that non-sense. I signalled to the flight and turned towards the enemy machines, taking care to approach from behind and below like the more experienced chaps said.

I was tense and nervous, sweating profusely as I closed within range of the first hun. I dont believe either of them saw me, and I kicked the nose of my camel up at the belly of the beast.

I sprayed bullets all over the sky like the amature I am, but enough found the mark and off he went spinning downwards. I was quite excited and manoeuvred under the second one who had done nothing to save his comrade. Once again I kicked the nose up, but this time in my tense excitement I made a critical error.

I zoomed up past the craft and exposed myself to the gunner at point blank range. A child could have hit me. For what seemed like an eternity I hung in that moment, waiting for the pain and darkness to claim me.

The first rou d took me through the right thigh. The second through the right arm. The third round passes through my cheek, and out the other side, somehow missing my teeth, but spraying my goggles with crimson.

I wrenched the controls and put the Camel through motions that were unnatural and desperate. The whole craft creaked in protest and I was flung around the cockpit like a rag doll. I lost several thousand feet before regaining control.

Then my motor cut out. I was bleeding heavily and felt myself slipping away. I dove as quickly as I dared and managed to find a road. As I came in for a deadstick landing, I saw the row of trees, the only gap a few meters wide where the road cut through. I screamed towards the gap, and passd through, inches from catastrophe.

I passed out as I felt the wheels touch down. When I came to, I was on a hospital tent with the cruelest looking nurse standing over me. Looks like no flying until the end of October. Guess it is back to the Adjts desk for me until I can regain my strength!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/17 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Raine, has brought the starting rank up before so do you guys think we should just change the rules to let you start with a rank that makes more sense. I really don't mind and it probably makes more sense to do it like Raine.


No problem here. I'm in it for the love of the sim and the company!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/17 07:19 PM

Nice story Canucks..nail biting!! I could almost feel those wounds!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/17 07:20 PM

Yes I am ok with freedom to choose appropriate rank.
Just not sure of the impact on scoring. Maybe that's really not an issue. It certainly isn't to me.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/17 09:22 PM

Crud, I forgot about scoring. I don't think anybody really cares about the scoring, I could be wrong, but it just feels that way. I'm going to make an executive decision and say that if you are starting a new British or American pilot you can start at a more appropriate rank and since the French and Germans had NCO pilots we will just leave it the same for those guys. Does that sound ok to everybody? I'll figure something out for the scoring when this situation actually presents itself or as my dad always used to say, "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Crud, I forgot about scoring. I don't think anybody really cares about the scoring, I could be wrong, but it just feels that way. I'm going to make an executive decision and say that if you are starting a new British or American pilot you can start at a more appropriate rank and since the French and Germans had NCO pilots we will just leave it the same for those guys. Does that sound ok to everybody? I'll figure something out for the scoring when this situation actually presents itself or as my dad always used to say, "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."


Fine with me Bud. I don't really look at the score either. I marvel at number of missions and hours of flight time. Since you may or may not use certain aids while flying and I may or may not use those same aids, scoring is a mute point to me. Just my 2 cents worth. Unlike Playboy, I like reading the stories.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 01:35 AM

Banjoman: Its ok by me anything U want.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 01:38 AM

Helmute von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1
Macrke , France.


Sep 30th 1917.


I got the new ride painted and took it up for a little Test ride. On the Board for Oct 2nd flight. I heard that Lt. Kluggerman got another one. How many does that make 20 ? in the big fight on the 28th.

https://media.giphy.com/media/3ov9k4DYNvmOIBuNfW/source.mp4

Attached picture CFS3 2017-09-30 18-17-38-16.jpg
Attached picture CFS3 2017-09-30 18-17-44-17.jpg
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 02:11 AM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Helmute von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1
Macrke , France.


Sep 30th 1917.


I got the new ride painted and took it up for a little Test ride. On the Board for Oct 2nd flight.


Carrick, I like the traditional approach to the paint scheme. Very well done and believable!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 02:30 AM

Why thank you , Mr wiggins. I was going to add a lot of colors, but got lazy. I figured that I would use the KISS principle. ( Keep it simple stupid )
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 01:44 PM

Dark Canuck, nice story Bud! At least you are still alive with such terrible wounds.

Carrick, be careful in that new machine.

Edgar Everheart
Mint-St-Eloi

Patrolling friendly territory was a break for 8RNAS. The last few days were barn burners. Yesterday "A" Flight had escorted 3 bombers SE of Monchy and had run into 3 different Hun Squads as far as the markings showed. Edgar was sure he had knocked out 3 but with clouds and the fog of war no one had seen anything.

At 10,000 ft. SW of Arras he spotted 5 machines in a V formation 1000' below headed east. Diving down they turned out to be a flight of Albatros Scouts with green tail surfaces. It was a wild fight. Two near mid air collisions shook Edgar but he finally damaged one with a black and white checkerboard on the side of his fuselage. The Hun tried to disengage but it was no use. After a long burst from Edgar's guns he nosed over and crashed in NML. Pulling up, Little formed up with Edgar and gave him the thumbs up. Victory number 32.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 02:43 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

2 Jun 1917 @ 06h01 Patrol to our lines east of Arras

Brief report (no time for details):

"B" flight Godfrey, Berkeley (Wing), Molesworth, Soden, Pope
"A" flight Scott, Caldwell, Horn, Fry (A flight to assist)

Approaching the lines Godfrey spotted 3 Roland CII coming west. "B" flight intercepted
Godfrey damaged two and Berkeley and Pope shot two down. The third had run for home early in the melee.

On way home two more 3 Roland CII's returning home. "A" flight intercepted and downed all.
Fry got 2 and Rutherford the other.

Godfrey, Soden, Scott, Fry and Rutherford all had light damage with 2 days repair

Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 07:33 PM

[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 09:50 PM

Here is the report for last week's activities. Robert, the numbers you posted look off because they are lower than what you posted last week. I went ahead and added them but you should probably check and if they are you can just correct the next time.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture ScreenHunter_212 Oct. 01 15.46.jpg
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 10:26 PM

That is quite a ride, lederhosen
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 11:09 PM

Thanks for the stats Banjoman.
I don't mind either way. Whatever you come up with the ranks is fine with me. I personally prefer to start with the lowest rank and claw my way up, even if not historically accurate.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 11:11 PM

News of the World for the Intrepid Fliers - May 1917:

May 1
The Polish Council of State presented demands to the Central Powers regarding the creation of an independent Poland.
May 2
The first USA destroyer flotilla arrived at Queenstown in Cork, Ireland.
May 3
The Third Battle of the Scarpe and the Second Battle of Bullecourt began during the Arras Offensive.
May 4
French forces captured Craonne on the Chemin des Dames ridge.
May 5
A major military engagement was fought between the forces of the Central Powers and the Entente near Vardar as part of the Allied Spring Offensive, designed to break the stalemate on the Macedonian Front.
May 7
With support from Australian troops part of Bullecourt was seized by the British.
May 8
Germans recaptured Fresnoy on the Arras front.
May 9
French, Russian and Serbian troops launched a coordinated offensive in Macedonia, but Bulgarian and German defenders repulsed them.
May 10
Major General John J. Pershing was appointed to command the United States Expeditionary Force.
May 11
British and French war commissioners paraded down Fifth Avenue in America to celebrate the United States' entry into the war. The slogan "Show your colours" brought forth a patriotic flurry of Union Jacks, Tricolores and Stars and Stripes.
May 12
The Tenth Battle of the Isonzo began when once again Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops battled each other along the Isonzo River.
May 14
The German Zeppelin L22 was destroyed in the North Sea by a British flying boat during a reconnaissance mission.
May 15
Fourteen British drifters were sunk in the Otranto Straits when British and Austrian naval forces clashed.
Philippe Petain replaced Robert Nivelle as Commander-in-Chief of the French Army. He was tasked with turning back an imminent German offensive and quelling the mutinies in the French army.
May 17
Honduras severed diplomatic relations with Germany.
Following fierce German resistance the Second Battle of Bullecourt ended. Few of the initial objectives had been met.
May 18
The Compulsory Service Act became law in the United States. All American men aged 21-30 had to register for the draft.
May 19
The United States Government announced it would send a Division of the US Army to France.
May 20
Thanks to the actions of the French Commander-in-Chief, Philippe Petain, a month of sporadic mutinies in the French army came to an end.
May 21
British troops captured the Siegfried line from Bullecourt to one mile east of Arras.
May 22
Brigadier-General Nash succeeded Sir Eric Geddes as Director-General of Transportation.
Count Istvan Tisza resigned as Prime Minister of Hungary.
May 24
The British Royal Navy introduced a newly created convoy system, whereby all merchant ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean would travel in groups under the protection of the British navy.
May 25
Heavy casualties were sustained in a German aeroplane raid on Folkestone, Kent on the southeast coast of England.
May 26
HMS Dover Castle was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UC-67 in the Mediterranean en route from Malta to Gibraltar.
May 28
An Anglo-French conference in London discussed the deposition of King Constantine of Greece and considered the occupation of Athens and Thessaly.
May 29
The French liner SS Yarra was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UC-74 near Kreta in Greece.
May 30
The South African military commander General Jacob van Deventer succeeded Major General Reginald Hoskins in command of British forces in East Africa.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/17 11:13 PM

News of the World for Warbirds Rising - September 1917:

September 1
German forces attacked the northernmost end of the Russian front during the Riga offensive.
September 2
German troops attacked and crossed the Dvina bridgehead on the Eastern Front.
German Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz and other conservatives founded the Fatherland Party to oppose peace initiatives.
September 3
German bombers raided the Chatham naval station in Kent resulting in over 200 casualties.
September 4
German submarines shelled Scarborough on the Yorkshire coast of England.
September 5
German forces captured the strategic port of Riga as Russian troops retreated and evacuated the city.
September 6
Sun Yat-sen became the Generalissimo of the Military Government of Nationalist China.
September 7
The Harland and Wolff built ocean liner SS Minnehaha sank after being torpedoed by German submarine U-48 off the Fastnet Rock.
September 8
General Lavr Kornilov headed a revolt against the Russian Provisional Government and organised a march on Petrograd.
September 9
French Prime Minister Alexandre Felix Joseph Ribot resigned after losing the support of the Socialists.
September 10
Alexander Kerensky assumed the dictatorship of Russia and issued a proclamation declaring Lavr Kornilov a traitor.
September 11
The first party of British POWs were repatriated through Switzerland and reached England.
September 12
The Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo ended when the attack was halted. Italian troops had captured five mountain peaks before the offensive petered out and the Austro-Hungarians eventually held their positions.
Paul Painleve replaced Alexandre Ribot as Prime Minister of France.
September 14
General Lavr Kornilov was arrested at Mogilev, accused of plotting the overthrow of the Provisional Government.
September 15
The Provisional Government proclaimed a Russian Republic under Alexander Kerensky.
September 17
The British steamer SS Queen Amelia was first stopped by gunfire from the German submarine U-95 and finally sunk by a torpedo from UB-62.
September 20
The third general British attack of the Ypres Offensive, the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, took place in the Ypres Salient in Flanders on the Western Front.
September 21
Count Bernstorff's (German Ambassador in London) correspondence with Berlin concerning German intrigues was published.
September 22
German forces stormed Jacobstadt on the banks of the Dvina river, forcing the retreat of Russian troops.
September 23
German flying ace and rival of the famous Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen, Werner Voss was shot down and killed by British fighter pilots near Frezenberg in Belgium.
September 25
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George committed to an extension of the British line in France at the Anglo-French Conference in Boulogne.
The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge ended in an Allied victory as British troops had successfully held their lines against German counter-attacks.
September 26
The Battle of Polygon Wood was a successful joint Australian and British attack when their forces advanced against the Germans and occupied all of the Polygon Wood.
September 28
The Battle of Ramadi was fought between the British and the Ottomans as part of the Mesopotamian Campaign.
September 29
The British operation at Ramadi concluded after the Ottoman garrison was quickly outflanked and captured.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/17 01:19 AM

Lederhosen's ride outshines all that I have seen so far in WOFF
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/17 01:23 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Here is the report for last week's activities. Robert, the numbers you posted look off because they are lower than what you posted last week. I went ahead and added them but you should probably check and if they are you can just correct the next time.


Banjoman, the current numbers are correct. Last weeks were not.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/17 04:02 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1
Macrke , France.

Oct 2, 1917.

Assignment Escort 2 Dfw's from SS 23b. The Jasta's 9 machines just crossed the lines when 1 Se 5 dove on us. My schwarme turned into the diving machine when 4 more SE 's came down. Turn, twist,,and take pot shots at the e/a was the order of the day. I was making a bounce on a lower flying SE scout as 5 DH 5's joined in the melee. After much maneuvering, I broke free of the fight and went home. The Jasta had zero losses and a lot of holes in the a/c for Zero claims and the 2 Dfw's made it back.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/17 05:00 PM

Carrick, how do you like the Pfalz? I've always enjoyed flying the Pfalz.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/17 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Carrick, how do you like the Pfalz? I've always enjoyed flying the Pfalz.

yep popcorn
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/17 02:33 AM

Nice story, Dark Canuck! Hasse, great to have to check in with us. MFair, I'm impressed by Edgar's success. Carrick, that is a good looking livery. Robert, you're doing marvels with that Nieuport. Banjoman, don't forget that I raise the rank only in the stories, not the stats, so scoring is unaffected.

Here is the second installment of Geoffrey Corderoy's story...


Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 2: 1-2 June 1917


1 June 1917

I am sharing a hut with three others: Marley, our resident Welshman; Barrager, a Canadian; and Normie Dimmock. Dimmock is our evening entertainment as he can bang out a tune on the mess piano and doesn’t mind doing so since he drinks only a bit. We back onto a pond, as I mentioned earlier, a scummy little lake full of the loudest frogs God ever suffered to squat on the face of the earth. Some of the lads are given to practising on them with their Webleys, but each evening seems to bring a new generation of croakers. Add to that the snoring of hut-mates, scuffling of field mice, the infestations of earwigs, and the constant rumble of the guns a few miles to the east and sleep is a precious thing reserved for the innocent and the drunk.

I had the early patrol this morning, and was roused by the batman, Ward, with a cheery hoarse whisper of “Quarter to four sir. You’re in the air in thirty minutes.†I’m not quick in the morning, especially as one must tread lightly or incur the wrath of one’s mates who are trying to sleep. It is still dark and the air is cold. There is time only to grab a piece of toast and a mug of tea which I bring with me in the tender that takes me to the hangars across the field. The engine is already run up and I chat with Lee, who is sporting the leader’s streamers this morning. He is chuffed about it, but there is a nervous crack in his voice as he reviews the signals we will use today. There has been a telephone call reporting engines over the lines near Arras so we depart with the first rays of dawn and head south.

Twenty fruitless minutes pass in our patrol area before Lee waggles his wings and dives towards a bank of misty thin cloud. I can see nothing and simply join in. Then I hear the bop-bop-bop of Vickers guns. I fire into the cloud. Only when the others begin to climb again do I see the H.A. [1], one of two Hunnish two-seaters about 300 yards off and a bit above us. Luxmore fires into one of the enemy machines, which begins to smoke and tumbles vertically downwards out of control. The other Hun vanishes. We patrol an hour more before Lee gives the washout signal and leads us home. Luxmore’s Hun remains only a “driven down†– not a confirmed kill.

In the afternoon we are back up, this time patrolling along the lines near Vimy. Pratt leads Lee, Marley, Lascelles, and me. We climb to more than 12000 and continue. The Pup is outclassed by the new German machines except at very high altitude. Before we reach our preferred height Pratt fires a red flare. Seven Albatros scouts are diving at us. We turn and twist – their seven to our five. I see the multicoloured wings of the enemy with large black crosses. They look awfully foreign. Then three more Pups join us, a patrol led by Courtneidge.[2] The Huns put their noses down and disappear quickly off to the east. They are much faster than our Pups, and their twin machine guns are immeasurably better. One can scarcely make out the firing of individual rounds. Instead one hears a continuing burr, like a ratcheted gear being spun. We reform and I count the Pups. By some miracle we are all still here.

Caudwell has been shot in the hand during a scrap this afternoon and is in hospital. Lascelles took his machine up late in the day and crashed it, so he is in hospital as well.

The day turned very warm and all the fellows headed down to the canal for a swim. I have not gone in yet. I am not a strong swimmer. Besides, the water looks filthy.

2 June 1917


Early patrol again, this time off the ground just before five. We’re back to the Arras sector. It is a cloudy morning with rain that stings like needles if one doesn’t hunch behind the windscreen. Above the lower cloud layer the rain stops but the sky is still grey.

We spot some hostile-looking specks crossing the lines and investigate. Suddenly a wild melee erupts with what turns out to be a large group of Albatri. One passes from left to right in front of me and I kick the rudder bar, skidding onto its tail. I fire my Vickers for the first time with a real chance of hitting something. The Hun flips on its back and disappears under me. He is mottled green and purple but has a red tail. I notice several other H.A.s, all of which have red markings. If the mess rumour is true, this is a sign of Baron Richthofen’s squadron. Now I am looking behind me, all offensive thoughts suddenly vanishing.

An Albatros with an all-red fuselage with a dark band around it circles behind me and I turn to meet it. For a moment I believe it is the Baron himself, but the wings are another colour, probably green. We turn and pass head on at one another several times. It is impossible to aim. The machine is moving too much and the view of the enemy is too fleeting. After a couple of minutes of this, the Hun decides he’s late for breakfast and pulls away from me. There is no hope of catching him.

My second patrol is with Captain Heath, the tennis champion. We are to fly deep into Hunnish territory and attack a rail yard where troops de-train. Heath decides to try using our anti-balloon rockets on the buildings and stockpiles. The flight down past Vimy and Lens takes the better part of an hour and I experience my first real taste of Archie. The first burst to come close was a bright flash with a greasy brown blossom. The flash and bang came close together but not close enough to harm my Pup. We made one quick pass and headed home. One of the warehouse buildings caught fire and we shot up the platforms and some horse drawn transport. I felt bad for the horses. Their terror is too pathetic.

Back at La Gorgue I overcame my reluctance and allowed Dimmock to talk me into taking a dip in the Lys. We call it a canal because it runs straight and is lined by a well-used tow path on one side and a row of poplars on the other. The fellows laugh and play like kids, and then we all retire to the mess ante-room in towels and slippers to drink and smoke or lounge outside in the sun until it is time to change for dinner.

It is a strange sort of war.

[Linked Image]
Joske, Courtneidge, Lee, Asher, Marchant, McDonald, Kay

Notes

[1] Hostile aircraft

[2] Charles Courtneidge was the son of Edwardian theatre producer Robert Courtneidge and the brother of actress Dame Esmerelda Cicely Courtneidge DBE. Dame Cicely appeared on the London stage into the 1970s. Charles later appeared on stage and in films in the United States.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/17 03:03 AM

Banjoman and Mr. wiggins: I like it as long as its not full DiD. The view from the office is as bad as the Spad
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/17 05:21 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Hauptmann,
Jasta 4, JG 1
Macrke , France.

3 Oct 1917.

Busy day.

1. Promoted to Hauptmann
2. Escort Flight: Chased away 3 Bis fits from our 2 Recon ships. No kills,but Top cover had 1 missing.
3. My 5 a/c encountered 2 Sopwith's Forcing down one on our side of the lines ( Victory # 8 ) No losses didnt see what happened to the other e/a.



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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/04/17 01:06 AM

Congratulations on the promotion, Carrick!

Any hopes I had for improved luck with claims were dashed in my next two flights...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 3: 3 June 1917

3 June 1917


I am assigned to stand-by today. This is a new game invented by Brigade. We lounge about carrying our flying kit, unable to swim or leave the field while we wait for someone to telephone with news of the Hun. Then we run to the hangars and take off. At six in the morning the call comes in: Huns in the air over the Ypres-Menin sector. The sun is up and we’re off, Kay in the lead with Joske, Lee, Luxmoore, Marley, and me. Health comes along for the laughs. The weather grows cloudier and rain is in the air. We patrol over the front and spot a number of HA circling over Menen, so we make inquiries. They are older Albatri. I get behind one and fire into it at close range. The pilot is obviously new. He panics but does not evade effectively. A second burst sends him tumbling to earth out of control. I look about and find myself alone and so return, delighted. Unfortunately I have no witness and my claim is rejected.

[Linked Image]
"A second burst sends him tumbling to earth out of control."

Shortly after lunch we are relieved of stand-by but inherit a new show. The brass hats want a crowd to mind some BE2 merchants on a photography stunt back in Menen. It is properly drizzling now, but the wind is light so off we go. We are a hodge-podge crew, made up of whomever hasno other assignment. Both Heath and Pratt are with us, but they hand off the streamers to Luxmoore. It is his first time in front and he stammers through his briefing at the hangar. Marley and I are together at the rear. Odell, a new boy, and Marchand round out the party.

The BE2s parade about amidst the Archie at a stately sixty knots. It is ridiculous to think those relics are up against the likes of the Baron. Finally they signal their completion and turn southwest. But now out of the mirk comes a cluster of Albatri. Heath spots them first and fires a red flare. We turn in every direction. I had climbed off to the west of the main group preparatory to falling into station behind after the turn so I am able to watch the fight take shape from a safe distance. I pick a Hun that was turning onto a Pup’s tail and dive at him. “Closer†I tell myself again and again. A mere ten yards from the Hun I fire and see pieces fall away from his machine. I pull up. The Albatros’s prop is slowing to a stop. I turn back and fire again and this time he tumbles down out of control. I look about and see Odell a few hundred yards off. Did he see the kill? Odell flies off to the west.

[Linked Image]
"The Albatros’s prop is slowing to a stop."

I turn about. There is a pillar of smoke on the ground near where I last saw my HA. It is a mile west of Halluin, I note. I turn home. My neck aches from checking the sky around me and I am tempted to give it up as I approach our lines and the Hun Archies diminishes. I am back up to 5000 feet. I turn again, just in time. A nasty Albatros is about a hundred yards behind and closing fast. Kick on the rudder bar and skid the Pup around to the right. The Hun fires and the tracer flashes so close I can smell it. Kick the bar left and drop onto him. This fellow is red with some yellow. I fire into him. His machine shudders and tries to climb away. I shouldn’t be able to catch him but I can. He must be damaged. I fire twice more and he tumbles down. It is hazy below and I lose sight. Probably about thirty second later I look back. I am at our lines and lower now so I can see back to the east much better. There is a cloud of smoke, perhaps my HA.

[Linked Image]
"I fire twice more and he tumbles down."

Back at La Gorgue I claim both Albatri. Thompson does his best, calling the artillery and balloon detachments along the salient. But I was alone when I downed them and no one reports my Huns as down.

Three claims rejected in one day. I shall feel like a colossal bull-thrower in the mess. There is, however, nothing to be done about it. Of course it is Sunday and I did not attend church service. A vengeful God is laughing at me.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/04/17 03:21 AM

Raime: I am sure the review Staff and office personnel made a careful check. and paid attention Sqn's Claims. https://giphy.com/gifs/howard-hawks-RDN4vI3Upaj2U/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/howard-hawks-Sy8JyTguLH2aQ/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/04/17 03:40 PM

Raine

Nice story and pics. I must get back to that venue when I have more free time. It takes me forever to work it up.

Regarding the claims issue, just have your pilot change his surname to "Bishop"! biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/04/17 03:49 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Hauptmann,
Jasta 4, JG 1
8 Victory's
Marcke , France.

Oct 4, 1917.


Mission: Airfield Security Flight
T/ a/c 9 mix : D-V, D-III 's and 1 Pfalz D-III
E/A: 2 Flts of Spads, Total 10
Claims: 1 Spad destroyed
Losses: 0 2 D-V damaged

Spotted 2 Flights of Spads at max altitude. Our schwarm attacked the 5 a/c to our west. A quick little knife fight then we dove for home we could not catch them. I landed at a friendly Aerodrome to check for damage ( 2 holes in top left wing )


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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/17 02:13 AM

Still no joy with the claims...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 4: 4-5 June 1917

4 June 1917


Dimmock is on the first patrol and manages to wake me up well before dawn. I try to get back to sleep, but the latrines beckon and I dress for my six-twenty patrol and wander over to the mess in fug boots and sweater. It is still half-dark and cool, although the day promises to warm up nicely. Tea, toast, and two boiled eggs later the tender drops me at “C†Flight hangar where Heath runs through the signals and plans. We are to meet Strutters from 43 and photograph the lines near Messines. Activity is up in the north and we expect a push there any day.

We climb to 8000 feet and I find I have overdressed. It is surprisingly warm. As we turn east over Ypres I look down at the star-shaped fortress and try to find what is left of the famous Cloth Hall. It angers me that we are smashing European heritage into the mud.

Heath is gone! I search about frantically and spot our Pups behind me and to my left, climbing hard. Three dark spots are dropping out of the sun. These are keen Huns – attacking a larger group and on our side of the lines. Most unusual. I try to get behind one Hun. He has a black tail, and his machine has rounded sides, so it is one of the new-model Albatri. The H.A. turns below me and is gone. Suddenly all alone, I circle for a minute and search the sky about. It takes a while before I spot a lone Albatros making for home about a thousand feet above the trenches. It is an easy thing to overtake him, diving from 4000 feet. I catch the Hun just before he makes the German lines and fire a long burst from about 100 yards behind. There is no time to get closer. The Hun lurches up and to the right and I close on him. Another burst from my Vickers stops his motor and the Albatros begins to glide down. The cocking handle of the Vickers is up. I remove the small hammer from its holster beside my seat and hammer furiously at the gun, but the handle remains stubbornly in place. It is, I suspect, a split casing. For a week now I have inspected every round destined for my machine, but I skipped the practice last night and am paying the price. I watch as the Albatros settles in the mud just behind the German lines and noses over. There is mist near the ground, so there is no guarantee that the kill will be witnessed from our lines.

[Linked Image]
"I watch as the Albatros settles in the mud just behind the German lines and noses over."

The others have vanished and I head home alone. Safely back on our side I indulge is low flying, or what they call here “contour-chasing.†Near Hazebrouck a train is pulling into a station. I dive down straight at the oncoming locomotive, which sounds its whistle repeatedly in alarm. As I flash over it the smell of its smoke engulfs me. I do a roll over some marching Highlanders and turn for La Gorgue.

[Linked Image]
"I dive down straight at the oncoming locomotive, which sounds its whistle repeatedly in alarm."

My second patrol is at one o’clock, so I have an early lunch. Heath leads us again, an offensive patrol to Menen, which has become a hive of Hunnish air activity. We patrol in a line, but see nothing close enough to chase. The Huns we do see are not adventurous enough to approach us. Finally, Luxmoore dashes in front and signals. He has spotted two DFWs returning to their base. It is a wild chase. One must be careful when more than one aircraft attacks an H.A. It is easy to forget about one’s friends and collide. This is what cost the great and feared Boelke his life. I pull off to one side and await a chance. After about thirty seconds one of the DFWs turns across my front and I slip in behind and below. My first burst rakes its belly and causes the engine to emit blackish-brown smoke. The Hun skids left and I follow, but in doing so I am no longer under his tail. I fire and hit the machine again. Then the observer, whom I had presumed to be incapacitated, fires back. Two star-shaped holes appear in the little windscreen in front of my face and my goggles fall back over my shoulder. A round has torn the strap away, passing a hair’s breadth from my skull! Half blinded by the stream of air coming through the holes, I turn away and head home.

Thompson, the RO, informs me that my claim of this morning cannot be verified. That makes four unconfirmed claims in two days. I go for a swim to forget about my frustrations.

5 June 1917

Early patrol – off the ground at four-twenty, heading south this time to rendezvous with some FE2s from 20 Squadron. They are bombing an assembly area southeast of Monchy, in the Arras sector. The flight down is uneventful, except for some frightfully good Archie near Lens. We turn for home. Suddenly a lone Hun dives through us and has a go at the Fees. We chase him down over the ruins of Monchy. There are too many Pups trying to be in the same space so I pull up and watch. Heath gets close and fires and the Hun suddenly goes into a spin from which he does not recover.

In the afternoon we are back there, this time shooting up a rail yard. To our surprise, our rounds set a warehouse alight. There are no air Huns about and we return to La Gorgue in ones and twos.

The rest of the day is lazy, writing letters home for an hour or two. Most of the lads go swimming in the early summer heat. Some local girls come to the opposite bank of the canal and wave and call out, which is highly embarrassing so some and delightful to others. I can’t imagine the girls back home doing that. More’s the pity. I forgo swimming and wander into the village of La Gorgue to use the public baths and get a shave. I buy a bottle of cheap whiskey, which I later take to the hangars to share with my mechanics. This is the main thing I miss about the infantry – the closeness with the men with whom one shares so much. It is different in the RFC. The other ranks are ground-bound, whilst the officers fly. It is a barrier that is difficult to overcome. I sit on a barrel and chat, asking silly questions. The men are reserved and correct at first, but the whiskey does its work and they loosen up and begin to joke. I learn that they name nicknames for most of the officers but not me, they assure me. They are clearly lying but I don’t mind. Sergeant Norris, the lead mechanic, tells them that one drink is the limit until their work is done. I leave the bottle with him and wander back to the mess.

Rumour has it that Albert Ball is confirmed dead.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/17 04:01 PM

Wow, Good Story.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/17 04:04 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Hauptmann,
Jasta 4, JG 1
8 Victory's
Marcke , France.


Oct 5, 1917.

I awoke to see a familiar face and started to remember How I got here. We were on Escort for 2 Rumplers on a Photo mapping of the lines in Heavy cloud cover. Ambush, 5 or 6 Camels hit us just about all at one time. I took fire then kicked into a port turn when a Camel dropped on my tail. Taking hits I flicked over in a spin, but his bullets caught me in the lower leg. Spinning down over one of our forward Airfields, I was able to level out as our Flack opened up and chased the Englishman away. As I was pulled out of the machine I spotted over 18 holes. I later heard that we Lost Lt. Kinner's a/c for Zero claims. The doc said I wold be down for 9 days.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/17 09:12 PM

Carrick, not again! I sense the Countess is on her way with a visit. Too bad about the leg - Helmute can't even hide.
Raine, that is another excellent series of stories. Love that shot at the rail station. Something tells me "someone" closed their pool for the winter too soon and now is having regrets.

7 June, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

Aldi fell out of his bed at 04:10 with a tremendously loud booms erupting behind the broken windows. The bed was covered with shattered glass. The ground was shaking and the blast of the explosions outside lit the sky as if it were the middle of the day. They must be bombing the aerodrome! He ran out onto the field in his long johns ready to jump into his plane and give chase. He met Strähle in the exact same state of undress and with exactly the same intent. The enormous sound of explosions has ceased and the earth stopped shaking. All other pilots who ran out begun to realize it was not an air raid. They were all looking north-west and pointing at the bright sky beyond the horizon. It was soon discovered that the British have launched a new offensive by blowing up 19 mines along Messines Ridge, right under the German lines. It was imperative to get some observation machines to go up and find out the extent of damage. Jasta 18 would provide protective escort to these observation planes. Aldi led his flight south-east of Ypres and could not believe his eyes what he was looking at. The hill that used to lie there was gone, instead there was an enormous crater of a size he thought would not be possible. There was still a lot of smoke coming from the debris smoldering around. He had to make sure it was not an illusion, some kind of an optical trick that the light was playing with his eyes. It was not a trick. Hill 60 was gone and with it, thousands of German soldiers. From this height he could not tell, but could only imagine the massacre below. Body parts strewn around. Entire bodies buried. Many simply vaporized by the blast. So many dead! How could this be? How could anyone let this happen? Aldi’s blood was boiling despite it being cold this high up. His mind was preoccupied for the rest of the flight. He needed to land soon. He needed a drink to get his mind away from the image replaying in his head. He needed more than one drink.
That evening the Staffel congregated in the Kasino. Grieffenhagen addressed all that gathered there and asked to raise their glasses to the fallen countrymen who have lost their lives in the cowardly attack by the despicable Englanders. The hour of retribution will come and they will pay dearly for everything.
Tonight they would also have to raise a glass to the memory of one of their own. Ltn. Ernst Wiessner has perished this day attempting to evade pursuing Fees by diving. His lower wing came off in the dive and he plummeted to the ground, crashing below. He would be missed by many.
Aldi was ready to dig a tunnel by himself all the way to London, but for now the two Spandaus mounted on his Albatros would have to do.

[Linked Image]

P.S.
Unfortunately Hill 60 crater isn't modeled in WOFF. It would serve nicely as another landmark to navigate and a somber reminder for Aldi to fight on.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/17 09:18 PM

7 June, 1917 La Bellevue
48 RFC

Dick Grayson was the tail end Charlie for the line patrol mission. The flight made it almost to the front lines when a two-seater emerged from a cloud behind them. Dick’s quick reflexes and more likely the fact that he was closest to it, put him head to head with the intruder. They squared off and in the last moment the German machine dove under. The inexperienced sergeant realized too late he has made a grave mistake. As they were passing each other Dick’s gunner Captain Oliver Glasgow had no clear shot, while the enemy had a excellent view of the Brisfit’s belly. Machine gun fire raked Grayson’s bus.

[Linked Image]

He immediately banked and dove. The damage was not too great. Glasgow’s curses could be heard over the roar of the engine. Dick wasn’t sure if they were directed at him, or at the Germans. He brought the Brisfit around and parked it behind the less manoeuvrable DFW. More shots rang out from the rear of the German bus, but Dick already had him cantered in the rings of his gun sight. Lead begun to pour from the single Vickers. The enemy gunner slumped on the side of the fuselage, his gun silenced. The pilot of the enemy two-seater started to make erratic moves in an attempt to lose his pursuer. The Brisfit easily matched the feeble attempts. More hot lead came at the helpless German. The final salvo damaging the plane to the point where any sudden movement would put the aircraft into an unrecoverable spin. Dick pulled along side of the terrified German and waited.

[Linked Image]

Glasgow’s twin Lewis guns swivelled on their mount and tore into the enemy two-seater sending it spiralling down to his death. The British pilot knew he made it up to his gunner. The cursing has stopped. Grayson rejoined the formation, completed their patrol and together with everyone else brought the plane back home to La Bellevue. He put in the claim and waited. It would be his first.

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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/17 10:39 PM

Amazing stories everyone! Ive started up another pilot in the intrepid fliers catagory while I wait for Mr Kinkaid to recover. I will be introducing him soon.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/17 04:43 PM

Carrick, you can sure pick the girls! Fullofit, another great pair of stories! The photo of the Brisfit and the Hun observer draped over the side was really terrific.

Here is the opening of the Messines battle from the other side, and Corderoy has a confirmed kill at last!!! charge

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 5: 6-7 June 1917

6 June 1917


On standby this morning from five o’clock. I am roused from drowsing over a cup of tea in the mess at five-thirty by a klaxon and word from Thompson that there are Huns over the Bethune sector. It is a fine day. Already the air is warming and full of the sweet smell of new grass. Pratt briefs us quickly and we are airborne in minutes. Our six Pups turn directly southwards and climb quickly: Pratt, Joske (who has just put up his second pip), Marchart, Luxmoore, Marley, and me.

Less than ten minutes out Pratt turns and climbs more steeply. He has spotted a pair of Rumplers passing overhead. I open the throttle and claw my way higher. The Huns are at least a thousand feet higher, probably more. I get within 500 feet of their height and begin to close the distance on them when I notice that Pratt and the other have turned away and are headed for the lines near Auchy. The Rumplers are still a half-mile away and I don’t fancy tackling the two of them alone. Besides, we had a job to do so I turn away and give chase to my comrades, now nearly lost in the haze. Whatever it was that set off the alarm is nowhere to be found, so we parade north and south for an hour or so and return to La Gorgue. It is a beautiful day and the Pup lurches with the heat bumps from the warming air.

There is a second breakfast in the mess. Mother has sent me some Gentleman’s Relish, which I enjoy with toast and eggs. The mess steward has found some fine blood pudding too, which I lay into with gusto. Some of the other fellows aren’t fond of it, so I scoff their portions as well as my own. Marley compares me to a seagull as I pick things off his plate.

Our standby ends at eleven and then we have a planned patrol at noon, providing cover for three RE8s from 4 Squadron who are off to drop bombs on a road junction near Oppy. It is the same crew as this morning’s earlier flight, with the addition of Baragar, one of our Canadians. For some reason I feel a bit windy about this show. Archie greets us as we passed south of Ypres and the green fields beneath gave way to the brown stain of the lines. We plod along at 8000 feet, not a good height for Pups. The barks and black puffs in the air around us signal our presence to all of Hunland and we have ten or fifteen minutes to go before the RE8s can let go of their bombs and we can go home. My neck aches from scanning the bright sky.

I spot them first, a group of six Albatros scouts diving at us from the south, and throttle up to warn Pratt. But Pratt sees them too and turns to meet them while climbing. The first pass is thrilling. It is like a cavalry countercharge. The Albatrosses and Pups flash past one another, machine guns banging away, missing each other by a few feet. Then hard rudder and about again. Just in time, too, for my Albatros and another are already turning onto my tail. We pass again head on and this time I get around quicker. A second Pup joins in and one of the Huns turns in the opposite direction so that I am left with only one H.A. to worry about.

My Hun rolls on his back and dives beneath me and I follow. For a moment he is gone and I check all about. Then he flashes upwards, directly in front of me. I can see directly into the cockpit – the pilot is looking up at me with his mouth open. He has a fair moustache. I fire and pull back on the stick to follow his climb. My tracer is plunging directly into him and I see bits flying off him. When I finally run out of speed and level off, my Hun is off to one side and I can see daylight through his upper left plane. He is badly damaged. The Albatros puts his nose down and heads northeast and I am right behind. Another Pup trails me, trying to get in on the kill, but this fellow is mine. I fire again and the German machine begins to break up. There is no question this time. I check behind to see who my witness will be. The Pup is no longer there.

I need not worry. Back at La Gorgue, Marley reports that he saw me fire and saw the Hun’s wing begin to break away. By the grace of the Royal Flying Corps, I now have an official victory. The poor chap with the blond moustache, though, is no more. I wonder about who he was.

[Linked Image]
"I fire again and the German machine begins to break up."

7 June 1917

We had a modest binge last night to celebrate my victory and Joske’s second. It was a fine scrap, six Huns and seven Pups with two confirmed and two driven down and no losses. Major Babington briefed us that tomorrow is the big day for a push to sort out the situation around Ypres. We all had early shows and so I left the mess by ten-thirty. There was heavy rain and I was soaked by the time I reached our hut. I changed quickly and was sound asleep in seconds.

There is a sound like the end of the world. Dust falls from every rafter and Jock, the squadron’s terrier and lead dog, howls and whines. My first thought is that the earth has been hit by a comet! We stagger outside. The rain has stopped but the whole sky is pulsating with the light of gunfire and there is throbbing pounding one feels in one’s chest. Barragar utters a filthy but totally appropriate word. This is a push unlike any other. There has been no build-up or three-day barrage. It is clear now that what we heard was a giant mine, or more likely a series of them. I find myself saying a prayer – for the Hun. What must it be like to be on the other end of this?

Sleep is impossible so we shave and wash and head for the mess, even though it is only three-thirty. I am off at five as Heath is to lead us into Hunland to shoot up some aerodromes. This must be part of the big picture plan. As it happens, the Huns seem to have packed it in, for we see nothing in the air save for some two-seaters off in the distance heading in to land. Archie is heavy and we climb to 14000 feet. After the required two hours we go home.

In the early afternoon I join Pratt’s flight to escort some BE2s north of Ypres where they are to drop bombs on lines of troops heading for the front. Our way is blocked by a formation of seven or eight of the new type V Albatros scouts with rounded bodies. It is a wild scrap and there are several near collisions. Nothing puts the wind up like having something fly into you. At least twice I find myself hunched down, stick full forward, eyes closed, waiting for the bang. The fight quickly breaks up into individual brawls. For some reason I have three of the Huns all to myself. In cases like this it is necessary to focus entirely on not dying. If one gets a shot it is a quick burst. There is no chance to work in behind a Hun for then another Hun would be on your tail. I dance from one Albatros to another and never fly straight for more than a second. The wind is from the west so at every opportunity I try to curve away from enemy territory. Countless times I turn to see a pair of Huns turning to get behind me, and countless time I skid or roll or zoom to deny them. Then without warning or apparent reason they turn away and I cannot believe my luck. I am all alone in a clear sky. The flooded lands of the Yser pass beneath. The lakes at Blankaart show the way home. Of the battle we see little. All the ground east of Ypres is blanketed in a putrid green-grey cloud of smoke and gas and dust with long tendrils of vapours drifting to the east. Gunfire twinkles through the haze like the glimmer of fairies from hell. I avoid the area, not wanting to be the thing that prevents a shell reaching its appointed target.

Back at La Gorgue my mechanics have already heard that I was last seen entertaining three Huns. They are very happy that my machine has not one bullet hole, and I overhear them talking about “their†officer being a “right crafty fellow in a scrap.†This is more satisfying than a mention in despatches. I ask Sergeant Norris to have the riggers tighten everything up, as I feel I nearly pulled the poor Pup apart avoiding Albatri.


Attached picture Kill #1.png
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/17 05:51 PM

Well done on the stories and pics.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/17 06:11 PM

Fullofit: I heard the that the Countess was at a Dancing class. I can just Imagine, https://giphy.com/gifs/2usDKrG7UUHyU/fullscreen
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/17 06:54 PM

Raine, I have a feeling that your Pup is getting a little long in the tooth by now. I hope you can hang on until the arrival of either the Camel or SE5a!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/17 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Raine, I have a feeling that your Pup is getting a little long in the tooth by now. I hope you can hang on until the arrival of either the Camel or SE5a!


I think 46 Sqn held onto its Pups until November. I think I may put in for a transfer before then. It's hard to believe, but one squadron (I think it was 1 Sqn) was still flying Morane Parasols until late summer of 1917!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/17 07:56 PM

I love the Pup, sure it only has one machinegun but it is so maneuverable that you can avoid most everybody.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/17 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
I love the Pup, sure it only has one machinegun but it is so maneuverable that you can avoid most everybody.


I agree, except that by mid 1917 you can't catch anybody!! sigh
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/17 10:13 PM

Raine, another great story and finally a confirmed kill! Congrats.
I find the Pup and the Tripe have too much of an edge over the opposition. They're excellent planes, simply too good and after a while hunting in them becomes dull. At least for me.

8 June 1917, La Bellevue
48 RFC

It was a short hop to Vimy railway junction. Dick recorded two direct hits on the sheds and the nearby stores and parked trucks. The rest of the flight made quick work of the remaining structures in the area. They were about to form up near Douai when a flight of Albatrosen appeared. Two peeled away and dove straight down on Grayson and Middleton, but were in for a rude awakening, for these were not ordinary bombers. These were Bristol Fighters. Dick didn’t let the intruder get on his tail.

[Linked Image]

He turned with the German machine and put a few holes in his tail. He dove and Brisfit followed. He then tried to outclimb it, but it was a mistake. Grayson caught the Albatros in his crosshairs and fired. The scout was instantly engulfed in a large ball of fire and disintegrated into pieces in front of the surprised British pilot.

[Linked Image]

The wreckage dropped to the ground like a stone. Meanwhile Middleton took care of the other Albatros and the two of them rejoined the rest of the formation already on their way home.
The next day came the confirmation for the Albatros and the DFW from the day before. Dick is two for two and a shiny MC doesn't hurt either.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/17 10:32 PM

Fullofit

Congrats on the MC! There will be rounds all around at the mess!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/17 11:59 PM

Thanks Robert, There'll be a mess alright.
I haven't seen your repots lately. What gives?
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/17 02:42 AM

No flying time until this evening gown. Should have report in by Sat night.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/17 11:09 AM

2Lt Andrew Sanderson
7 June 17

It was quite a road that brought me here today, standing outside in the pre-dawn hours listening to the cacophony of Battle just a few miles away. The big push is on and it started with an explosion the likes of which I cant even imagine.

I started my military career by attending the Royal Military College in Kingston, Canada. College number 996. I both loved and hated my time there, what with the constant parading, too much homework, marches up and down the hills of Fort Henry and ridiculous officers swaggering about like puffed up penguins.

There were good aspects though. The other students were excellent chaps for the most part. The location was perfect, right on the shore of lake Ontario. Most importantly, The fine ladies of Queens University were only a few minutes walk away.

My best mate there was a rather disinterested chap we called Bish. We started off poorly, as he was caught cheating off me during an exam, but after the obligatory fisticuffs, we became fast friends.

He joined up as soon as war broke out, leaving the college before finishing, but I stayed on before joining the Engineers. It didnt take long in the trenches before I was longing for some other diversion. Bish and I stayed in touch and when he mentioned he was joining the RFC, I was not far behind him.

Pilot training was a thrilling adventure. The machines were abused and the instruction was uninspired. The students often met after "classes" to figure the theory out on our own.

In spite the instruction some ofnus graduated and it was off to St Omer to await a Sqn. I didnt wait long. I was hoping to end up in 60 Sqn with Bish, but I ended up as a replacement in 56 Sqn, based out of Liettres flying that new bus the SE5. It is a fine machine, but seems a bit underpowered.

Ive flown a couple of "patrols" now. The first to familiarize myself with the area, and the second just a quick jaunt to the lines and back with very specific instruction to not engage the enemy. Fortunately, I havent seen a trace of the hun.

Today may be different. As the day turns to light, we are in our machines. The flight commander has asked me to lead the patrol as a test of my abilities. I stammer out the briefing to the chaps.

Ive been paired with an experienced chap named Will Emmerson. Will has been a pilot for over a year and seems to know what he is doing. He has promised to keep me out of trouble. There are three other chaps of experience joining us.

The Flt Comd has asked us to fly down to the aerodrome at Baizieux and ensure no huns are feeling angry enough to stray onto our side of the lines.

Fortunately for me, there is a road heading in that general direction, so I bring the flight up to altitude and follow the gray stripe south.

We reach the airfield without incident and begin circling for prey. I catch a flash of my starboard wing. What is that? Probably just some local aircrews returning from ranging the guns. Better check it out though.

The tracer rounds ripped through the sky towards us. ROLANDS! Im on the stick hard, diving below the hun observer. The pilot throws his craft around. He has skill. A lot of skill. A second Roland zooms past, an SE5 hot on its tail.

In that moment of distraction Ive lost my Roland. Scan around. Nothing. A tracer round rips by from below. Ahh, there he is. Sideslip, bank and rudder. Back on his tail. I fire a few rounds and he is gone again. What a merry chase this is. Dive down and around. Im gaining quickly. I snap off a quick shot as I fly by. Back around again. I see two a/c tangling in the distance. There is mine. Another quick burst.

He seems to be moving a little more sluggishly. The gunner is still awake though as rounds flash by each time I get close. I come around again. The hun wings over in front of me. For one brief moment he jangs in my sights. My excitement causes me to jerk the trigger and stick and my rounds find wing instead of flesh.

I pass by and begin a descending turn to engage again. The Roland is still dropping. And dropping. Did I get him?

Yes. He smashes into the earth, just three miles from Baizieux. Fearing damage, I decide to land there to check and to find my victory.

I see that Will has the same idea, already on the ground as I land. We commendeer a ride and quickly find my Roland in the center of a farmers field. It is horribly smashed and there is no hope for the men inside. I cut a trophy from the side of the machine and we move off to find Will's Roland.

It is late by the time we return to Liettres. It is straight to the mess for a snack and stories. Fortunately, all have made it back today, though most of us have holes in our machines. Still, it is a day worth celebrating, and as the new chap with his first victory, drinks are on me.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/17 11:35 AM

What a start for Sanderson. First patrol lead and first kill all in the same day!
Good Show!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/17 07:04 PM

9 Jun 1917 @ 06h01 Patrol to our lines near Athies

Godfrey was sipping his tea waiting for the C.O. to arrive for the briefing and listening to the men, still talking about the grand explosions at Messines.
Berkeley was perched beside Godfrey mumbling “They say one of the holes was 200 ft wide and 20 ft deep!â€.

Godfrey looked at him while stifling a chuckle and said “There will be no need to dig latrines in that sector eh Rich!â€

Just then Scott rapped on the table bringing things to order and stated the mission objectives for the mornings run.

“The Hun scouts of Jasta 8 have been pestering the boys over near Etrun so I would appreciate you folks having a look see on your way to the lines and back.

“Right then!â€, Scott continued, “Meteor RE has forecast mostly clear conditions with some cumulus and fog from 3100 feet on. Wind of 6 kn from the WSW. That is all, good hunting!â€

As the men cleared the briefing room, Rich, directly on Godfreye’s heels stated “Hopefully things will be quiet what with all the action up north at Messines. I hear the boys are keeping Richthofen busy up there.â€

Godfrey just replied quietly, “I suspect they have enough to go around!â€

The flight formed up north of the field at 06h25 and having achieved an altitude of 11,500 feet they set out directly for Athies. As per instructions, Godfrey veered towards Etrun and as they approached, he noted some archie bursts near the field. It soon became evident that two Hun scouts were molesting a couple of FE2c’s which appeared to be attempting to land. He could see four more aircraft heading east towards the lines and suspected they were part of the Hun flight. Godfrey took the flight down from 11,000 feet and by the time they came within striking distance only one Hun scout remained. Godfrey latched onto the tail of what proved to be a new Albatros type with rounded fuselage. He had hear of the new type that was referred to as a DV. This one had a fuselage stylishly painted in red and white bands. It didn’t take long for Godfrey to realize that this scout had an experienced pilot at the controls, presenting only fleeting opportunities for Godfrey. To make matters worse it became painfully evident that this craft had significant engine power and several times made a run for it, pulling away from Godfrey’s N23 very quickly. All Godfrey could do was send long distance volleys in the hopes he could convince the craft to turn, and several times it did, but it also was able to out climb the N23 and so in the end it escaped. Godfrey made a mental note to report the performance characteristics of the DV when he returned to base. It was clearly evident that his N23 was outclassed and any hopes of dominating a combat encounter would clearly depend on surprise and a quick strike or a head on pass. This seemed like an ominous omen and Godfrey spent considerable time wondering how long it would be until the N23 was replaced with a better machine capable of dominating the DV.

Most of his flight had chased the other DV towards the lines but soon realized how futile an effort it was and returned to find Godfrey and Berkeley forming up. They all returned to Etrun to take stalk, report in and fuel up before returning to Filescamp.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/17 07:18 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Hauptmann,
II Corps Field Hospital
Ward 12, Row 2
Bed 10.

Oct 7, 1917.


Allowed outside for a little Fresh air Nice scenery.

https://media.giphy.com/media/3o7aDbzawz1WTY9kti/giphy.gif

I do miss going to the local Das Trinken des Hauses



Attached picture Photo-Aug-25-6-33-30-PM  hoff costume.png
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/17 01:46 AM

Great report Robert. Glad you found some time to fly.
DC, great start to a hopefully long career.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/17 01:54 AM

Tnx Fullofit.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/17 05:30 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Hauptmann,
II Corps Field Hospital
Ward 12, Row 2
Bed 10.

Oct 8, 1917.


I am Kinda Glad to be stuck in bed since hearing Nurse Olga was giving the therapy class.

https://giphy.com/gifs/c3cRulu4aW6zu/fullscreen
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/17 09:06 PM

Here is the report for last week's activities.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/17 09:22 PM

Thanks for the stats Banjoman! You are always there with them!! thumbsup
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/17 09:46 PM

Thanks Banjoman Your spot on.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/17 11:54 PM

Thanks Banjoman!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving everyone.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/09/17 01:58 AM

Thanks for the stats Banjoman and happy thanksgiving to you too, DC.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/09/17 04:03 AM

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Turkey
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/17 02:22 PM

.

The DID Centenary Challenge Commendations Officer is pleased to present the following awards.


To pilots of the Entente Alliance

225 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Squadron Commander Cyrus Gold).


To pilots of the Central Powers

100 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Hauptmann Aldi Schwarzkopf).
25 Hours Medal presented to: Raine, (Leutnant Franz Holzhauer).


Well done Gentleman, you make your respective countries proud! You may pick up your spiffing new gongs on the table below.

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Attached picture WOFF_DID_Centenary_Medal_German_25_Hours.jpg
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/17 05:25 PM

Lou,

Thanks so much. Franz will likely trade his to a camp guard for some bread and cheese, but it's the thought that counts. Wonderful to see you checking in!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/17 07:28 PM

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Bread and Cheese.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/17 09:20 PM

Ok Lou, I suspect Carrick would rather have food stamps for his pilots instead of gongs. What do you think? biggrin
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/17 09:28 PM

.

Food stamps it is then. biggrin

Attached picture WWI German Food Stamps 001.jpg
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/17 11:55 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

11 Jun 1917 @ 05h01 Patrol to the lines west of Lille

Godfrey awoke to the heat of the sun shining through the window of his room. He stretched, threw the covers off and stepped to the window. What he saw brightened his heart. Not a single cloud in the sky. It was like a dream and he couldn’t remember when he had last seen a sky like that. Checking his watch he decided he had just enough time to get a hot cup of tea and a couple of boiled eggs from the mess while on his way to briefing. As he hustled into his flying suit his mind wandered on what the day might bring. He suspected the Hun OP would be out in force and that generally meant the escorts would be also. He hustled across the field making a quick stop at the mess and then on to the briefing room. Most of the men were already taking seats and he joined them just as the C.O. entered and took his place on the platform at the head of the room.

The briefing was rather quick with an indication that winds would be very light at 3 kn from the WNW with clear skies forecast for the whole day.

Godfrey was again assigned to lead “B†flight composed of Berkeley on wing, Caldwell, Lloyd, Horn, Fry and Pope.

“A†flight was assigned top cover and composed of Bishop, Scott, Soden and Ruthereford.

The flight was in the process of forming up north of the field at 05h13, having achieved an altitude of 5600 ft when Godfrey noted 5 Hun scouts high off his port wing that appeared to be escorting a two seater OP. Godfrey took the flight on a pursuit, recognizing there was significant height to gain and it was apparent the scouts were not yet interested in playing. The Huns turned NE in the direction of Loos. By the time “B†flight had gained the advantage of height, they were near Loos and it was then the Hun scouts turned into the approaching N23’s. There was much circling and jostling for position by both sides as the event drifted SSW.

Godfrey was able to identify the scouts as Albatros DIII’s of Jasta 20 as they climbed circling to meet the N23’s. Godfrey waited for the last DIII in the schwarm and then moved in on it’s six loosing an erratic volley that had little effect. He pulled out climbing and noted he had drawn the attention of four of the scouts who were all jostling for a chance to shoot him down.
One of them had gained a good position quartered on and raked his port rudder while Godfrey was trying to climb out in a port turn. It, was now Godfrey’s primary concern, and he gave it full attention. The rest of the DIII’s were still focused on Godfrey but Godfrey noticed the rest of his flight just off his starboard wing, coming in on the attack and that was a decided relief.

Godfrey stayed high waiting for opportunities to hit and climb back out.
He chased off his primary attacker and having done so, noted two more circling for an opportunity to strike him. Each of these was driven off. Godfrey had allowed himself to loose some altitude and in regaining it he climbed out to attack another DIII that had some height advantage and he did so successfully but failed to maintain it and the Hun sent several more volleys into Godfrey’s port rudder in a head on attack. This damage began to tell on the ability of the N23 to make a tight turn. His craft was somewhat sluggish. Somehow he was able to coax enough out of his bird to maintain a circling pattern with the Hun, neither one gaining on the other. The Hun finally tired and pulled away in a climb, quickly out distancing the N23. Godfrey gave chase firing a few rounds in desperation but the Hun would not turn back. The whole affair had been terribly unproductive and Godfrey was frustrated with his waste of opportunity and performance.

Godfrey circled to find he had drifted over Houplin airfield and that several of his mates were down there chasing DIII’s. Godfrey joined them and picked out a Hun circling to land. He would take out his frustration on this one. It was not an easy exercise as his N23 was sluggish in the turns but he was determined to get one of those birds before going home, or die in the process.
After several volleys and several turns he finally closed right up on the tail of the DIII and put rounds into the engine, stopping the prop. This one would be a forced down and this was enough to satisfy his frustrations.

He circled just outside the airfield and spotted Fry heading home. He joined him and they flew to La Gorgue. Godfrey had to fight with his mount in landing and he bounced several times before running out to the end of the field. Any landing he could walk away from was a good one in his eyes and this was a tad better than some he had seen.

He walked around his craft, noting all the holes in his port rudder and stabilizer. It was then he realized just how lucky he was. One of the cables was frayed with only three strands holding it together. It took a little of the wind out of his sails as he walked to the R. O. to report in and lay his claim. He could only hope Fry had seen it.

Lloyd, Horn and Pope were already there reporting in. Both Lloyd and Pope had suffered an estimated 2 days worth of damage repair to their craft and Godfrey would be adding his N23 to the list. Berkeley had crashed about 10 miles from La Gorgue totally destroying his craft but unhurt himself
Caldwell had suffered a light wound to his left temple which was just a graze but his craft also fell short of the field and was destroyed. Horn laid a claim for three Huns and Fry had two. Both confirmed Caldwell had downed one and as luck would have it Fry had also noted Godfrey’s shoot out with the Hun at Houplin. The flight had accounted for seven Albatros DIII’s for two lost N23’s and that was not a bad accounting for the days effort. Unfortunately three craft would be tied up in repair for a couple of days.

Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/17 12:03 AM

Carrick, you need to eat something.
Lou, thanks for the bling, but I'm afraid Cyrus will be receiving it posthumously.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/17 01:43 AM

Robert, very nice video. You showed great patience and skill handling a persistent Hun. I learn every time I watch your episodes.

Well, it looks like I will get to take a little break from Geoffrey's campaign. He is out for 11 days...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 6: 8-10 June 1917

8 June 1917


First flip for me is the second patrol of the morning, just before seven. Pratt leads five machines, including Marley and me. We are to marry up with three Strutters who are dropping bombs on a particular building just behind Messines Ridge. This is the first I have seen of the great battlefield, and I am staggered by the immense craters left by the mines yesterday. I am told that thousands of miners toiled for a year here.[1] One feels sorry for the Huns – really. One minute they are chewing on their black bread and sausage and the next they are ghosts. The ridge itself is gone and the craters are huge, like the calderas of a chain of volcanos.

From 8000 feet it is impossible to tell friend from enemy. There is no grey or khaki here, just the same muddy brown. We cross into Hunland and a large formation of Albatri rises from the direction of Menen to meet us. Our wards get the wind up, drop their bombs, and turn for home. We follow them and I for one am thankful.

The afternoon sees a squadron show. This time we escort three BE2s south towards Oppy to take photographs. There is a great deal of Archie and Pratt, who is flying the red leader streamers again, jinks one way and then the other and changes height every few seconds. I am concerned that I cannot check the sky about because I am too busy not bumping into other Pups. The BEs finish their business and turn west. We see no air Huns at all, but C Flight is a couple of miles behind us and get into fisticuffs with some of the new Albatros DVs. Pups are no good with these Hun scouts down low and we are lucky to have everyone return, although every machine is badly shot about.

9-10 June 1917

I am writing this on 10 June from the Highland CCS at Merville. [2] Yesterday morning I was on standby. Just before six we were sent off to the Messines area – complaints of low-flying Hun scouts dashing over the lines. We arrived at 6000 feet and quickly spotted five Albatri down low. I picked one and closed on him, firing only when down to 100 yards. I fired about 50 rounds before breaking off. The Hun was clearly damaged and there was a faint stream of vapour from his machine. But just as I came about to finish him off tracer flew past. I had a new partner and was forced to spin away. Both Huns made good their escape.

I turned west to re-cross the lines and spotted a lone Albatross low over the mud. He didn’t see me and my first burst stopped his propeller and forced him to land. I watched as the machine nosed over in a shell crater. The exact location was a bit uncertain, but it was a little north of the Lys. Unfortunately, a machine gun company also laid claim to him and my claim was not accepted. All I can say is that I saw my rounds strike home and I saw the Hun immediately nose down.

[Linked Image]
" I watched as the machine nosed over in a shell crater."

Just after noon we were up again, this time shepherding some RE8s on a photo shoot near Loos. Joske led Luxmoore, Dimmock, Baragar, and me. We arrived on our beat and the Harry Tates turned south to begin their work. Within a couple of minutes, Joske waggled his wings and began to dive. Five Albatri were climbing to meet us. One of them got the wind up and turned east and I was on him in seconds. But just as I had him lined up there was a horrifying whack-whack-whack-CRACK. A second group of Huns had surprised us!

The “CRACK,†by the way, was a Spandau round knock a chip off my left knee and rather spoiling my fug boots. Being shot is an entirely new experience. One does not feel it for the first few moments. It is a sensation not unlike being thrown from a horse. For a few minutes one does nothing. Then the pain starts. That is what happened. I spun down to 500 feet and dashed back over the lines as all of Hundom opened fire on me. Luck was with me, though and I reached safety. Before I saw the Lys, though, the pain began. I was slipping in and out of consciousness but managed to stagger over the treetops and pancake onto the field back at La Gorgue.

They got our “meat waggon†to bring me to the CCS in Merville, where after waiting several hours in a great deal of discomfort a tired medical officer, an RAMC major, came to see me.

“Flying Corps, I hear,†he began. I nodded

“Did you fall?†he asked. Perhaps it was logical to him. Within minutes, however, I was on an operating table and out cold. When I awoke it was dark and the knee hurt like the blazes. Apparently the round shattered the kneecap but left the working parts fairly intact. I’m told that my hopes of a tennis career are done for. The good news is that I have the leg and ought to be on my feet in two or three days.

Joske visited and brought my pajamas, tunic, shaving kit, and a bottle of whiskey (which I am compelled to hide if is not to be confiscated). He also brought the news that Marley had not returned and Thompson had spent much of the day calling other squadrons to see if he had put down somewhere.
Today Normie Dimmock came to visit and told me that we had heard from the balloon lines that a Pup had gone down behind enemy lines near Annoeullin. Poor Marley.

The CCS is located in the town hall of Merville, not far from La Gorgue. I feel a bit of a fraud looking at all the PBI [3] around me, many with horrendous wounds. I must get out of this hall. There is apparently a hall upstairs for recovering patients. It has armchairs and tables, a library, games and so forth. I am anxious to get back on my feet. The medical officer tells me I will be hors de combat for at least ten days, and will likely walk with a stick after that.

[Linked Image]
"The CCS is located in the town hall of Merville...."

Notes:

[1] Nineteen mines were fired on 7 June 1917 along the Messines sector. Nearly a million pounds of explosive were detonated.

[2] 51 Casualty Clearing Station, also known as the Highland CCS, was located at Merville from May 1917 until the spring of 1918.

[3] Poor Bloody Infantry.


Attached picture 7th claim rejected.png
Attached picture Merville town hall.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/17 02:58 AM

Hi, all

Good stories as always.

Fullofit: Cyrus got the Chop ? I can imagine a readers reaction: https://giphy.com/gifs/mtv-the-challenge-xxx-3o7aD4PnoeelaJKo5a/fullscreen

Mr. Wiggins : My Food/ pizza seems to disappear as I play WOFF https://giphy.com/gifs/flwW8A1WUMZt6/fullscreen

RAF Lou Food Stamps : https://giphy.com/gifs/cute-dancing-39fj7g99qyD72/fullscreen

Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/17 03:17 AM

Raine

Thanks for the comment but if my flying was as good as your story telling Albert would not have had holes in his rudder yep
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/12/17 07:03 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Hauptmann,
II Corps Field Hospital
Ward 12, Row 2
Bed 10.


Oct 12, 1917.

Last day, made my way over to " The Volkfest " before heading for the Front.

https://media.giphy.com/media/3ov9jJLkPDVHyQqdCE/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/3ov9k8Pnlr07ONnl3q/giphy.gif

I did see something that made it difficult to leave.

https://media.giphy.com/media/3ohhwevMP2PVrRytc4/giphy.gif
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/12/17 09:26 PM

Carrick, your pilot is having too much fun. Next time invite my pilot to come along!
Robert, I think it's time to start bugging the C.O. for new planes.
Raine, you gave me a scare over here. My imagination was already thinking the worst after the operation. I was expecting a missing limb.

Passed by FlugM Censor # 1117
Herr Aldi Schwarzkopf
Jasta 18, Marckebeeke
_________________________________
13 June 1917

Lieber Aldi,
I have just received your letter and had to write back right away. I am so happy that your Jastaführer granted you leave. We will spend three whole wonderful weeks together by the seaside, basking in the warmth of the sun, enjoy a refreshing breeze and breathe the air that smells of pines and salt, not blood and gunpowder. When you wrote that we’re going to Swinemünde I nearly screamed. I can remember the Baltic Sea only as a little girl, but I drool already at the thought of tasting the smoked eel and the clam chowder again. I naturally told all my nurse girlfriends and they’re all jealous! I can’t wait. I am counting the days, especially after the recent influx of the wounded from the Messines Ridge mine explosions. I still have nightmares after the horrors of those past few days.
I was surprised of the news that your Jasta was transferred to a new aerodrome. From what you’ve described, it seems like a nice place. You must feel like a king now that you all are staying in the castle. Say hello to “king†Paul from me.
I really hope you don’t mind me asking you a favour, but I have no one else to turn to. I have not had any news from my brother Antön for some time now and I worry about him. I was wondering if you would be able to find out through the military channels what is the reason he keeps so quiet. I hope he is alright and simply neglecting his little sister. I know it is a lot to ask, but you are my last hope. He is stationed at Morchingen with Jasta 32.
Well, I need to get back to work. Still some rounds to do and I have to start packing. I can’t believe we’ll soon see each other! Please do be careful and take care of yourself.

Liebevoll, Käte

P.S.
After so many times you’ve asked me, I have finally had a photograph taken and am now including it with this letter. Hope you like it.

XOXOX

[Linked Image]

Attached picture Kate-Portrait.jpg
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/12/17 10:42 PM

Oh Aldi, Aldi, Aldi!! I'm afraid what Kate has in store for you will fog your mind for some time to come when you return to Marckebeeke!
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/12/17 11:42 PM

Amazing stuff everyone! No time to write lately, but Andrew is still going strong. He must have scared off the huns with that first kill, becuse he has seen nothing but empty skies since. The only thing of note was watching his wingman (ace level with many kills) pitch nose down after takeoff and splatter over a field.

Ben Kincaid is still enjoying hospital life to the greatest extent possible. The food is bland and the nurses leave something to be desired, but at least he is breathing.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/13/17 06:36 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Hauptmann
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, AF.

Oct 13. 1917.

I took the Jasta Hack machine to get a new Flying Kit from JG Hq Supply during the early morning. Posted to afternoon flight flying defense of our Balloons. Our 5 a/c got into it from six Spad's dropping down from the sun. We lost 1 machine and must have damage all the Frenchmen. I shot off 400 rds , but couldn't bring down anything.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-10-12 19-28-34-21.jpg
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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/13/17 06:38 PM

Dark Canuck: How long is he down for ?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/13/17 07:19 PM

So frustrating. Now that I've had a bit of time to fly my DiD pilot remains on the ground. He'll be back late next week at least. Fullofit, I don't think British nurses are made of the same stuff at all!

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 7: 11-17 June 1917

11 June 1917


The left knee hurts like hell. The surgeon dropped by today and sat on the side of the bed to enjoy one of my cigarettes. I have just received in a package with ten tins of The Greys, so I’m quite the tobacco millionaire these days. Apparently my wound is not too serious. The kneecap was badly smashed about, although the underlying framework and plumbing is fairly sound. They have left the wound open and I have a rubber tube that drips an antiseptic liquid into the knee night and day. They have some form of metal torture device clamping the leg to the bed so that I can’t roll over on it at night, but the device causes more discomfort than the wound. If all goes well they should close me up in a couple of days and shortly after I can try to walk.

I shall remain here in the CCS at Merville for the duration. It is so close to the squadron that they prefer not to transfer me to Boulogne only to have to send me back a few days later.

Pratt dropped by with the latest gossip. Weather has been bad, so I’m not missing much. MacDonalds put down an Albatros the other day. He has left me a bag of letters to censor by morning, just in case I felt the need to be useful.

12 June 1917

It is indeed a small world. A VOD nurse came around yesterday offering drinks. I ordered a bottle of Bass. She took a look at me and immediately said, “Young Mr Corderoy. What on earth have you done to yourself now?†The face was vaguely familiar but it did not connect as often happens when you meet someone out of the usual context. It was Sally Hutchins, the postmaster’s daughter from Wallingford. She and her parents had been guests at our house on a few occasions. Her father served with mine somewhere, if I’m not wrong. She has been in France three months and is very fed up with it all. It was very nice to chat with someone from home, especially someone female. I’m not much of a ladies’ man at the best of times and I found it difficult to maintain composure when my bare leg is on top of the sheets and poking out of a rather short nightshirt. I suppose I was not tremendously coherent.

[Linked Image]
VOD nurses at Merville. Miss Hutchins, third from left, standing

13 June 1917

The wound was closed today. I have been very lucky, or so they said to me. There was no sepsis and the worst that is likely is that I should be left with a slight limp. And excused kneeing in church, so there’s a bonus.

14 June 1917

Today I was allowed to walk, which hurt a great deal. Worst of all was being made to climb a long staircase, for I was moved to the ambulatory section upstairs this afternoon. Began to read Of Human Bondage. It’s much ballyhooed, but I have put it down and picked up Buchan’s Prester John. Much more to my liking.

15 June 1917

Able to get about a bit better today and find some benefit from using a stick. The nurses require me to do exercises that involve bending at the knee. It is excruciating but necessary. Miss Hutchins comes about each day with my Bass, but spends little time. Ah well, she is a bit older anyway.

Normie Dimmock dropped by late in the afternoon with big news. Some of the chaps who have been out since the squadron was on two seaters are being posted to Home Establishment. We shall be saying farewell to Pratt and Heath, Marchand, Luxmoore, and Thompson, our Recording Officer. Thompson came out as an observer and will be training as a pilot. Blasted luck, missing the binge that this will entail!


Attached picture Nurses.png
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/14/17 01:40 AM

Interesting report . It has good detail.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/14/17 01:53 AM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Oh Aldi, Aldi, Aldi!! I'm afraid what Kate has in store for you will fog your mind for some time to come when you return to Marckebeeke!

Robert, you must have known the first time Aldi laid his eyes on her, his goose was cooked. burger

Originally Posted by Raine
Fullofit, I don't think British nurses are made of the same stuff at all!

Raine, I have to agree with you on that one. Just look at how hairy her pussy is! cat
Great story, very painful.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/14/17 11:25 AM

Carrick, Ben Kincaid is essentially out until late November as he will recover near the end of October and then I go away for work for the first three weeks of November. Good thing it is a long war.

I am really looking forward to getting back into it with him. Ive spent a lot of time with one of my non-DID Camel pilots and I am really starting to get the hang of flying it in combat.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/14/17 04:13 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Hauptmann
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, AF.


Oct 14, 1917.


No Luck again. I led the Jasta ( 9 a/c) on Patrol this morning in rain and heavy cloud cover. After reaching the turn around point, We spotted E/a amid puffs of ground fire. They e/a ( 6 DH 5's ) were higher then us and we were barely above stall speed. No losses to any side. we kinda separated in the dark rainy skies while chasing each other.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-10-14 08-44-23-62.jpg
Attached picture CFS3 2017-10-14 08-52-40-92.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/15/17 05:47 PM

Helmute von Hammer
Hauptmann
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, AF.

Oct 15 1917. Well its Kaput for Helmute D E C E A S E D K I A G O T T H E C H O P A T E T H E D I R T S P R I A L E D I N. C A R S H E D A N D B U R N E D " D I E D " K I C K E D TH E B U C K E T . Went into the T R E E S .


Got into it with 2 Flights of Six F2b's protecting 5 DH 4's. My group had 6 a/c and got scattered all over the Sky. I was firing on one when its partner shot up my right wing. In order to stay airborne I had to fly with full left rudder and reduce power. Two more shot my D-IIIa up. I tried to put it down when the wing fell apart and the a/c fell into a horizontal landing thru a fence.

https://giphy.com/gifs/fat-meek-d40ImzxOmRC0M/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/15/17 05:57 PM

Ouch Carrick. Got to learn to run away mate!! There is always tomorrow.
I will toast Helmut tonight cheers
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/15/17 07:36 PM

My condolences on the loss of your pilot, Hauptmann von Hammer, Carrick. The men of his Jasta will surely miss him.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/15/17 07:50 PM

Helmute should have kept an opening so he could run away, But alas he did not and got the chop. " Too eager to get a kill "
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/15/17 07:57 PM

Ignace de Lyons
Sous Lt.
SOP 107
Recon/ Bombardment.


Oct 15 1917.

Arrived and did a local solo flight of the area then was posted to a Recon flight. No enemy contact. We are a mix bag using hand me down machines marked British and French. The Aero machines are mostly Sopwith 1B and a couple of 1A 's. I had hoped to get Fighters with Up to date machines like the Spad or N-24.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-10-15 12-17-29-69.jpg
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/17 02:30 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

15 June 1917 @ 05h00 Attack on Pronville aerodrome

“B†flight composed of Godfrey, Molesworth, Soden and Fry were tasked with the primary attack on Pronville. “A†flight composed of Bishop, Caldwell, Dillon, Pearson and Horn were to provide top cover on the initial attack and then take targets of opportunity following the primary attack.

Wind was 8 kn from the SSW with low cumulus from 4100 to 9000 ft.

The flights formed up north of the field as usual attaining 11,300 ft by 05h26 before setting out for the lines near Monchy le Preux.

The flights reached the lines at 05h36 at an altitude of 7500 ft and continued on towards Pronville aerodrome, arriving there at 05h54 flying at 3400 ft.

Godfrey led the attack in with Le Prieur rockets which did little damage.
Godfrey called his flight to rejoin and during the process spotted a target of opportunity. A lone DIII coming in to land at Pronville. Godfrey pursed him and shot him up. Fry finished him off. He again joined the reformation and spotting “A†flight in the distance, chased them down on the return trip.

Just as “B†flight was overtaking “A†flight, Godfrey spotted another fleck directly in front of their formation and coming on fast. It turned out to be a Hun Alb DIII, and both Godfrey and the Hun exchanged volleys in passing.
Godfrey turned to gain position on the Hun’s six and in so doing noted that Soden had beat him to it. Godfrey backed off and watched as his flight took turns harassing the enemy down to the ground.

Upon return to base Soden and Fry put in claims.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/17 05:35 PM

Nicely flown Mr Wiggins.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/17 05:45 PM

Ignace de Lyons
Adj
SOP 107, Flez.
Recon/ Bombardment.


Oct 16, 1917.

Morning Recon of the lines. No contact.

Afternoon: Aerial Recon behind the lines near Vimy. 2 Section had the duty and I was the # 3 ship in a Vee formation. We encountered numerous Albatross D-III types over Target and engaged while trying to get out. All us made it, but with damage. I shot off 147 rds and maybe got 1 hit. while my machine had 28 holes in it.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/17 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Nicely flown Mr Wiggins.

Thanks Carrick
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/17 03:51 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ.
SOP 107, Flez.
Recon/ Bombardment.

Oct 17,1917.

Mission: Railyard Jct at Loos.
Arm: 250 Rds machine guns ( 2 Section) + Two 40 lb bombs each 4 1B's
Full Load (1Section) Cover Flt 2 A1's

E/a: Avoided 2 Flights going to target + 2 more near target. Total: 20 ?

Remarks: A disappointment. In order to drop on target , I took the a/c High . At max height in 7/10ths cloud cover all Bombs scattered over a wide area. Maybe 1 hit ?




Attached picture CFS3 2017-10-17 08-25-44-96.jpg
Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/17 07:23 PM

Here is my story:
Starting at 22 december 1916 and this is the report from my 3th flight a recon over the front on 24th of december 1916.
Pilot: Antoine Lemmes, Verdun region; flying the Nieuport 12; based at La Cheppe, rank: Caporal at Escadrille N 78,
[Linked Image]

We started from the airstrip myself Antoine Lemmes as the flight leader, Gilbert as my wingman, while Armand Pinsard was the B-flight.
[Linked Image]

After passing the front line we did noticed the impact from the artillery at the warzone.
[Linked Image]

As usually we both, were looking for trouble, so we did enter a very fast flying German scout.
[Linked Image]

Gilbert was after him, while I was in a spin and after recovery, I did not see then anymore. Guess they were both killed, it was all so fast. But where the hell was Pinsard, he should protect us in his Spad7.
[Linked Image]

So alone I went to patrol the German side of the line.
[Linked Image]

After patrolling job was finished I went for home and while circling at the home base, I did see a plane so I made a steep dive to the landing strip and noticed my wingman made a safe trip home. I was very happy he was still alive, unhurt after the encounter of the German scout.
[Linked Image]

edit: question, how to implementate the pictures from the bottom in my story line? Solved thanks Raine.







Attached picture start from air field.jpg
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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/17 07:40 PM

Welcome to the Frey, Antoine. thumbsup
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/17 07:42 PM

good pics
Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/17 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
good pics


Thanks but how to get the pictures out of the attachment zone and into the story line???
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/17 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by dutch
Originally Posted by carrick58
good pics


Thanks but how to get the pictures out of the attachment zone and into the story line???


Put the photo in as an attachment first and post your story. Then click "edit". Open the attached image and right click on "copy image address." Then open the "insert image link" feature in the full editor and when the dialogue box opens and asks for the image's URL, paste in the image address you copied. Post your change and it will appear in the story where you used the insert image link feature.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/17 03:58 AM

SOP 107, Mess
Flez AF

Strange, the Esc had a visit from the " L epouse du marie de la ville " Inviting all Pilots to a costume ball in two weeks. I wonder which Pilots will still be here by then ?


https://giphy.com/gifs/dasha-xT9IgtFgATERCDmhDa/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/17 03:09 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
SOP 107, Flez., Flanders
Recon/ Bombardment.


Oct 18, 1917.

2 Sections 3 Sop 1A's were on a Scouting trip up near Vimy and spotted 3 Albatross Type machines above and off to the East. 2 went home , but one attacked. after much turning and firing , He dove for the deck and left. My R ear Seat-man got off 1 drum 47 rds at the e/a Hits ? The # 2 a/c got off a number of rds just before we fired Hits ? maybe he was closer We had 2 machines damaged albeit Lite.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-10-18 07-53-50-63.jpg
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Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/17 04:40 PM

Great Carrick, Now reading your flights, I’m sure after my French Nieuport12 campaign has ended, normally it last 2 weeks max, I’m going for a Strutter campaign.

Flying the Nieuport12 campaign for the British was only 3 flights before being shot down by an Albatros.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/17 05:32 PM

Well Dutch, the strutted is a good choice. It's a stable gun platform and a good turn fighter but remember the Albatros is more powerful so be careful about running away.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/17 06:07 PM

Dutch,

I agree with Robert, but remember that by mid-1917 the Strutter is well past its prime. As I recall, 70 Squadron flew Strutters and suffered the highest percentage losses in the RFC in one month. To get the perspective of a Strutter pilot, read "An AIrman's Outings" by Alan Bott of 70 Sqn, writing under the pseudonym "Contact." The book is available for download from the Internet Archive.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/17 01:17 AM

Robert, another great video. Carrick, good luck with your new pilot. Dutch -- "Welkom" back to the campaign!

It's been a long wait, but I can fly again tomorrow. Here is the latest installment from Geoffrey Corderoy...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 8: 18-20 June 1917

18 June 1917 – No. 51 Casualty Clearing Station, Merville


Bloody hard going these days, but I’m able to walk a bit farther with each try. It feels as though the muscle is gone from the leg even though the muscles and tendons are unharmed except for a few bits of bone they took out. Thompson brought another sack of mail today for me to censor. Jolly nice of him. The fellow is terribly excited about going back to Blighty for pilot training.

Thompson had me dictate my report of my last flight for the record. I referred to the second group of HAs that surprised me as I was lining up my Albatros and he informed me that by the latest issue of Routine Orders they were not to be referred to any longer as “Hostile Aircraft.†We are to use “Enemy Aircraft†instead.[1] Somewhere there is a red tab very worried that we shan’t fire at Huns who aren’t hostile enough, I suppose.

The RO is a good sort. He takes the same size shoe as me and is leaving his fug boots in my hut. Mine were ruined when I was shot and cut off me at the CCS. He’s also going to see if I can be released from this place tomorrow in order to attend the farewell binge for the chaps going to HE.

I gave Thompson a sketch of a step ladder I want the shops to build for me. Yesterday afternoon I spent time climbing through a window from the dispensary into the back garden, experimenting to see how I might climb into a Pup given the inability to bend my left knee fully yet. I think if the ladder is high enough I can step directly onto the seat. I’ll need to put a six or eight inch block of wood on the seat and hold onto the top plane. Then I should be able to pull the left leg over the fairing and onto the seat without too much trouble. Once I drop the block over the side I can easily step down and get myself settled in.


19 June 1917

Freedom at last! The tender came around at eleven and I signed all the paperwork to get myself out of here, although the brigade medical officer still has to clear me for active duty. I had the driver stop at a store I’d seen in Merville to buy a very fine blackthorn stick topped with a silver eagle’s head. Should be quite the thing to thump anyone who teases me about the way I walk.

Rain all day. Caught up on news and played ludo with Kay, winning £1/7. There are four new chaps: Shadwell, Ferrie, Hughes, and Tonks. I chatted a while with Harry Tonks – Australian, very inexperienced.


20 June 1917

Still quite unfit for duty, although not because of the leg. The binge last night reached historic proportions. Pre-dinner drunk, fine meal interspersed with bread fights and Courtneige spilling my wine – twice! Afterwards the drinking continued in the anteroom with Normie Dimmock hammering out the regular ditties on the piano. Each one of us had to lead a tune, declared the major. I thought I’d bid the fellows farewell with a rendition of “Goodbyee!â€

Good-bye-ee! good-bye-ee!
Wipe the tear, baby dear, from your eye-ee.
Tho' it's hard to part I know,
I'll be tickled to death to go. (I sang “You’ll)
Don't cry-ee! don't sigh-ee!
There's a silver lining in the sky-ee.
Bonsoir old thing, cheerio! chin chin!
Nah-poo! Toodle-oo!
Good-bye-ee!


Once the horseplay started to get rough I took a triple whiskey back to my hut and retired to my virtuous couch, as they say. Or at least I tried to. My sheets were damp with the humidity of the past few days and they were infested with earwigs. I needed to strip the bed and place my sleeping bag on the mattress. As I sipped the whiskey and tried to finish my cigarette before nodding off, the guns started a new drumroll and the frogs from the pond behind the hut started up in harmony. I was home.

Kay took the new fellows up today. Lee regaled me in the mess with tales of how many times and in how many ways they came close to killing him or each other. Apparently, formation flying is not in the training curriculum these days.

Writing this from bed, 10 pm. Went off to see the MO today and have a qualified approval to fly tomorrow. I need to change dressings more often and check back with him every few days. Oh, and he advised me not to let any more Huns shoot bullets into the knee. So many things to remember!



Notes:

[1] This instruction came down to the squadron on 14 June 1917.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/17 04:17 PM

Nice find
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/17 04:21 PM

Ignace de Lyons
Adjutant
SOP 107, Flez., Flanders
Recon/ Bombardment.


Oct 19, 1917.


Morning Recon: Power loss shortly after take off , but I it made back ok.

Afternoon: Security Patrol No contact
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/17 04:34 PM

Dutch: I agree with Mr. Wiggins and Raine By 1917 Strutters were getting long in the tooth. Best option, dont fight against equal or more odds. If you get trapped dont fight Spin to low level and do a Blue Max towards home. Sometimes it works. Good luck.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/17 01:40 PM

Edgar Everheart
8RNAS

The residents of Cornwall will morn tonight
Edgar Everheart did not return from his last flight
A mid air collision has brought him down
In the mess tonight, it's drinks all around
Was it friend or foe? No one knows
The only thing for certain
Its Edgar's last curtain.

Lots of great stories Gents. I will be off line for a while. No sickness or death just too much real life at one time. Be back in the skies shortly! Ya'll watch your six.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/17 03:32 PM

MFair,

So sorry to hear about the end of a great pilot. Take your break but come back soon, please!!!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/17 04:43 PM

MFair

As you ride off into the sunset, feel confident that your last post waxed poetic justice to your DiD interludes! biggrin
Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/17 07:51 PM

New flight on 25th of december 1916, before taking off, my escadrille commander did mention about a perfumed letter from Paris, the sender was M. Zelle. SO COME SAFE BACK, as we all want to know what that is, was shouted by the mechanics!
So we started off from the airstrip for another recon over the front, three Nieuport-XII and Armand Pinsard in his Spad-VII as an support.
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While entering the front we did noticed some artillery activities, but for the rest it was all quiet, nothing happen.
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After the mission I did dive, to land as being first at the airstrip.
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Did a perfect landing and was waiting for the mechanics to release the straps.
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While the two cats landed after me.
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even Armand in his Spad, was hurrying to get his plane to the ground. We were never that quick for flying home.
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I did receive the letter, handed by my commander, it was written in Dutch, so I could read it and she invited me and my flying mates for an silvester party in Paris. My Commander did explain this letter had been traced by the Censors as being from Mata Hari, so he insist to join with us. Still do not know why he was so excited, we will see. bottles



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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/17 09:08 PM

Some really nice pics Dutch. So...Mata Hari eh!! Interesting...I will stay tuned for further reports!

Albert Earl Godfrey

22 Jun2 1917 @ 05h04 Attack on Hun balloon south of Monchy le Preux

Godfrey awoke to the patter of rain on the roof. The early morning light was streaming in the window at a low angle, just warming his right cheek with it’s rays. He opened his eyes just as the batman entered his room to advise his to hurry if he wanted time for breakfast before the morning briefing.

Godfrey poured some water into the basin and flushed his face with it, taking note of the frigid nature. It was June 22nd but still the nights had been damp and chilly. Glancing out his window he noted the heavy overcast and drizzle.

He hurriedly dressed and shoved his feet into his fug boots, wrapped his silk scarf around his neck and headed for the mess to get a hot cup of tea and some biscuits. That chore having been accomplished, he headed to the briefing room joining his other mates doing the same.

The C.O. wasted no time in announcing the morning patrol objective. It was to be a Hun balloon just south of Monchy-le-Preux. He also called out the assignment for “B†flight. “Listen up. Godfrey will lead the flight with Berkeley on wing. Caldwell, Bishop, Horn, Rutherford and Fry will make up the rest of the complement. This will be a solo assignement for “B†flight with no top cover so keep your eyes peeled.â€

This was the first time “Bishop†had joined “B†flight while Godfrey was in lead. Godfrey was aware that Bishop had been mostly making solo sojourns across the lines so his joining “B†flight was somewhat of a surprise. Godfrey made a mental note to keep an eye on him during the mission as he had heard of his headstrong nature.

The flight formed up north of the field in drizzle and heavy cloud at 05h27 and having achieved an altitude of 9,900 ft set out directly for Mont St. Eloi which was on the route.

At 05h32 they arrived over Mont St. Eloi feeling the muggy dampness soaking into their clothes. At least the drizzle had stopped so things were not getting worse.

At 05h35 they had descended to 7,500 ft. over Arras and two minutes later were down to 6,700 ft and crossing the lines in a thick murky soup of a sky.

At 05h41 they were just south of Monchy, approaching the area of the target balloon but the sky was so murky with haze that they almost overflew it.
At the last moment Godfrey made out the outline of the sausage and threw his machine into an almost undesirable dive. He cut throttle and side slipped to slow the N23 down and then having dropped the airspeed, straightened it out for the approach. He took the attack in with all his mates in tow. Godfrey loosed his rockets and pulled out. Looking back he watched as all the rest of the flight did the same. There was brown smoke everywhere and Godfrey could not believe his eyes when he saw the balloon still hanging there as the smoke cleared. Glancing around quickly noticing that no Hun scouts were close by, he swung the flight around for another attack with the Vickers. Godfrey stayed high making sure his flight was going for the balloon and then he joined in diving from above. The balloon burst into flames and there was no telling which machine dealt the final blow, as all were spraying their rounds at the same time. Godfrey wondered if the Observer managed to bail out before the sausage went up in flames. The sight of seven N23’s coming at him all at the same time would probably put the wind up anyone.

Godfrey reformed the flight just west of the balloon and they made their way back to Filescamp without so much as a few archie bursts from the Hun batteries, or the sight of enemy aircraft.

Godfrey took note that Caldwell and Horn did not join them and he wondered if they had run into engine trouble or taken some ground fire. Back at base, while reporting in on the mission, the telephone rang. It was a call from Etrun aerodrome. It seems that both Caldwell and Horn set down there, and in the process Caldwell and Horn collided, destroying their machines and receiving light wounds for their efforts. Both later reported engine failure probably due to ground fire but given the state of their craft it was doubtful if this could be confirmed.

Godfrey was pleased about one thing. He had noted that Bishop had been the consummate pilot and followed all protocol. He felt that he would be able to fly unconcerned, with him in future, if this was the nature of the man.




Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/17 12:59 AM

Well done Mr Wiggins. Good pics Dutch
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/17 01:07 AM

Ignace de Lyons
Adjutant
SOP 107, Flez., Flanders
Recon/ Bombardment.



I got Posted to Esc 26 an they are equipped with Spads. So myself and a bunch of Pilots went off to the local Theater for a relaxing time.

https://youtu.be/lK0gYi1YEZ8

Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/17 09:13 AM

Good show Mr Carrick.

So Mr Wiggens first watching the video it looks you hunted down two balloons, but after reading your story it was only a smoking one, that only did need a finishing kill.
Same I had in a Rnas Camel campaign, shot him, he was smoking and........ nothing, ergggg.

Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/17 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by dutch
Good show Mr Carrick.

So Mr Wiggens first watching the video it looks you hunted down two balloons, but after reading your story it was only a smoking one, that only did need a finishing kill.
Same I had in a Rnas Camel campaign, shot him, he was smoking and........ nothing, ergggg.



Yes it often happens that the Legend Primer rockets are not effective. I prefer the machine gun.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/17 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Ignace de Lyons
Adjutant
SOP 107, Flez., Flanders
Recon/ Bombardment.



I got Posted to Esc 26 an they are equipped with Spads. So myself and a bunch of Pilots went off to the local Theater for a relaxing time.

https://youtu.be/lK0gYi1YEZ8



Oh my!!!! What would the Padre say if he knew you folks were watching such a sinful show! biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/17 05:10 PM

Ignace de Lyons
Adjutant
Esc 26

Oct 21, 1917.

Arrived today, Unpacked ( a Bed Roll and a Bag ) signed in and made the rounds, By late afternoon I did a Test Hop. Sweet, fast, but under armed with just 1 Gun. All the ships seem to be a Wheat color will have to due some re painting at least on mine.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/17 05:14 PM

Mr. Wiggins: What percentage would say that the Rockets failed to Fire ? 60 % or higher ?
Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/21/17 07:11 PM

Another front line patrol 26th of december 1916, flight leader Pierre Lomardon. Starting at 7:00h in the mornings so it was all dark and we were suspecting a boring flight. sleepy
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My rear man just tap me on my shoulder and I did look behind, nothing to explain further.
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Two spots on the upper right wing, could be two Germans, so I went for the height. But it appears to be two French MS parasols.
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After one hour of flying I did made a perfect landing and like the pilot did way back in 1916, shutdown the rotary Engine ehh PC, went downstairs and did eat my breakfast with my wife and after that we enjoyed a good cup of espresso. Guess that is what pilots also did after a early morning flight. Have a nice weekend WOFF'ers readytoeat
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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/17 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Mr. Wiggins: What percentage would say that the Rockets failed to Fire ? 60 % or higher ?


Actually, that is a tough question to answer. They always fire (at least they take off from the aircraft). Whether they actually detonate on impact is hard to say. I am never sure if I missed the target or the rockets failed to ignite it because I only see the target upon release and then my aircraft blocks the view until I am past the target at which point I look back to see what has happened. I really don't think there is a good chance of answering your question.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/17 06:51 PM

Thanks. I guess the true evaluation is a lost to History. I have been looking on the net and thru the books that I have. It came out to Zero infor. So was wondering about the game's position on the subject. Thanks again.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/17 10:17 PM

Sorry for missing last week's status report, but the last two weeks have been awfully busy. Here is the status report to catch everybody back up to the present.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/17 02:29 AM

No problem Mr. Banjoman. We are lucky to have you.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/17 03:53 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26





Oct 22, 1917.

I couldnt find a lot of paint in the sheds, but had enough to paint a number on my ship.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/17 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26





Oct 22, 1917.

I couldnt find a lot of paint in the sheds, but had enough to paint a number on my ship.


Maybe you need to raid one of the hussies makeup staches. I'm sure you would find some nice colors there!! biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/17 08:35 PM

lol
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/17 08:40 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26


22 Oct 1917. Afternoon.


I went up to lines this afternoon and was bounced by a Pfalz. no problem just dive and zoom then add zee speed and run away.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/17 02:33 AM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26


Oct 23, 1917.


I was made 2 section Asst. Flight leader so Stayed down getting my fight together on hand signs to use in the air and a what to do list.. We had a Traveling Gypsy Show come by with a Hypnoses theme. I felt that I was in a Trance all nigh



https://giphy.com/gifs/dracula-HQEizpQq9gd2/fullscreen



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/17 06:28 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Bugues AF

Oct 24, 1917.


Missions escort.

Morning: Our 6 a/c escorted 3 Sopwith's on Recon Spotted Numerous flights of e/a fought off 3 e/a scouts. No losses, no claims,

Afternoon: 2 s3ections 6 a/c + 1 Sections 3 a/c escorted 1 Be2 on Arty spot No contact.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/17 06:29 PM



Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/24/17 07:28 PM

The dead of Gilbert

I started 27th december as a flight leader and Gilbert was my wingman
We had to patrol at the enemy's airfield at Stenay. Weather was bad, snowy and dark.
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And finally after reaching the frontline the snow stopped.
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We could now enjoy the sunset.
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During the patrol at Stenay airfield, we got ambushed by an Halberstad scout. My wingman was in panic and did not stay to me and was shot down. Sorry no pictures because it al was very quick and I had to save my life..
I was diving for home, while the scout was behind me. After reaching the front line he did lowering his speed and stopped chasing.
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Finally I did reach home to bring the sad news.
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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/25/17 01:35 AM

Dutch, great to see your photos and read your stories. Best of luck in your campaign! Robert, glad you managed to keep a leash on Bish. Wonder if it will last... Banjoman, thanks again for the stats!

Carrick, from everything I can recall reading, Le Prieur rockets went off reliably. I cannot remember an account of any getting hung up in the tube. The main comment is that they fired in sequence, and the vagaries of black powder meant that sometimes a rocket had a moment's hesitation before launching so the pilots had to hold their aim to the last second.

I finally got a chance to fly with Geoffrey Corderoy after 11 days in hospital and ran into a stream of atrocious luck, capped with a new injury. And to date he has downed seven EA, six of which I saw break up or crash, but only one of which has been confirmed. I seem to have PO'd the WOFF gods somewhere along the line!

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 9: 21-23 June 1917

21 June 1917 – La Gorgue


On standby with Lee in charge of the patrol this morning. Half an egg in me and not even a sip of tea when the klaxon goes and we are bounding for the tender. Or rather, the other chaps are bounding. I’m doing my “dot and carry one†limp and cursing, and Marchant and Ferrie, the new chap, are taking the you-know-what out of me.

The Pups have been run up by the Ack Emmas. I climb the ladder that Sergeant Norris has banged together for me – grab the upper plane and step over from the ladder onto a wooden block placed on the seat. Just a small bend in the n/s knee and I am in. Step onto the floor, toss the block over the side, belt in, and we’re off. God, it feels marvellous to be back!

It’s not my old mount, A3346. Ferrie apparently flew A3346 into a wayward tree on his first day here. This new one has just come in from depot. It still feels loose and I’m not happy with the oil pressure, which seems to waver. We take off to the west and Lee swings around to the north. He likes to get up to 10,000 over Bailleul before turning to the lines. We climb through 3000 and I note an odd vibration, and then a massive bang. I shut down immediately and fire a washout flare. It’s a short glide back to La Gorgue and a perfect touchdown after three or four S turns. Sergeant Norris suspects a faulty connector rod. It’s not a Sherlock Holmes case. Bit of connector rod fall from the engine when turned.

It rains from eleven o’clock onwards. A new flight commander has arrived from 54, Scott by name. I am ordered to accompany him along with Hughes, another of the new men, Ferrie, Joske, and Odell. We are to shoot up a rail siding near Monchy, which we do handily. I circle while the other make their final passes and begin to regroup. High above a cluster of Albatri make their way southward. Certainly they see us, as Archie has called out all his friends to play a drum roll for us, but the Huns continue on their journey and we return home unmolested.

22 June 1917

Back up this morning with Scott, Odell, Hughes, and a new fellow named Griffith. This time we are to attack groups on Hun reinforcements on the ground north of Loos. We are at 9000 feet over Lille and just turning towards our target when I feel the same vibration as yesterday. Within seconds a connecting rod explodes through the cowling and rips half of it away. I switch off before the Le Rhone can tear itself free from this wretched Pup. It is a long, lonely glide. One hears the guns below clearly. I cross the lines at 2500 feet and realise that La Gorgue is too far off. There is a stretch of open road without too many trees. A double file of infantry is marching away from me as I settle down. Nervously, I restart the engine momentarily to give them an alert. I dare not use the machine gun. They are likely to turn and fire blindly if I do. At the last moment they scatter for the verges and I put the Pup down gently.

After waiting so long to get back into action it seems I am cursed with a conshie Pup! Sgt Norris has ordered a complete new engine as he suspects the connecting rods on this one may all be defective, although nothing obvious can be seen. In the meanwhile, though, the mechanics install a new rod and I must take the same machine back.

In the afternoon we escort three RE8s from No 6 to bomb a Hun assembly area on the northern sector, almost in Ostend. I have not been this far north before. The weather is slightly clearer now, and as we slowly make our way into Hunland the Channel glistens in front of us. Then the sun breaks through and the glowing silver line of the chalk cliffs of England glimmers like the filament of an incandescent bulb stretched across the distant horizon.

Archie breaks the spell. My Pup is thrown upwards, but there is no visible harm. But the oil pressure begins to drop a minute or two later. I try to nurse the machine along. We are down at 7000 feet with the RE8s and too far to glide to safety, so I give the washout sign again and turn west. All alone again, I feel terribly vulnerable alone in the enemy sky with a machine that is giving out half the normal revs. The Pup continues to lose altitude. I finally pass our own balloon line and see the blue smoke patch over the chimneys of Veurne, about five miles off to the southwest. I make for the aerodrome there. Quickly I realise that there is no chance of making it. The revs are continuing to drop. I pick a large grassy field and swoop down in a series of tight turns. I keep parallel to a railroad line, watching closely for fences and power lines. Then with a bump I’m down and hoisting myself out of a dead Pup for the third time in two days.

It is after dinner by the time I’m back in La Gorgue. Cold mutton and a beer in the anteroom. I chat with Scott and can tell that he is wondering if I’m windy. I have a quiet word with Lieut. McNeil, the new RO, and ask him to have a chat with Sergeant Norris. Perhaps he can set Captain Scott straight about my Pup from Hell.

[Linked Image]
Me, gliding home again!


23 June 1917


I am back at the CCS in Merville, scarcely four days after gaining my release from there. Joske led a patrol around seven this morning, and I was to accompany him, Baragar, and Marchant. The weather was filthy, with drizzle and haze, so even at that hour it was dark. Joske’s machine turned onto the cinder track ahead of Marchant. Marchant’s machine started out next, and my Pup from Hell was third.

I opened the throttle and instead of the usual lurch forward, it gained speed only gradually. Using more sense that sight, I was sure that Barager’s machine would be taking off alongside mine in a moment, and I did not yet have enough speed to resist the wind’s efforts to push the Pup into the potato field beside the cinder track. I glanced over my right shoulder and in that instant, my machine left the ground, the Le Rhone coughed and missed, and the whole bloody thing came down and cartwheeled arse-over-teakettle across the aerodrome, shedding wings, propeller blades, undercarriage, and a certain Second Lieutenant Corderoy, RFC.

I awoke in the CCS with my former neighbour and officious VOD nurse Miss Sally Hutchins informing me that she intends to write my mother and insist I transfer to the Labour Corps so as to avoid smashing all our aeroplanes and would the officer like his usual Bass. It’s a rum thing when a field hospital knows one’s drink order from memory!

My head has been cut about, my right shoulder has been separated and pried back into place, and my damned knee has opened up again. It appears I should be here until the end of the month, although if my knee permits it I shall try to get some leave.


Attached picture Pup from hell.png
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/25/17 01:49 AM

Raine: Thanks for the information. sorry about your pilot

Dutch: Dark,but nice pics.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/25/17 05:47 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Bugues AF

Oct 25, 1917.


Railyard strike gone wrong. 6 of us were detailed to do a long range strike with MG ammo down by Loos. The route had us a 800 meters crossing the lines ( we could be heard 10 miles away and seen by the PBI. We took alot of ground fire and lost a ship ? ( Burned ) before the Target area was reached. Over Target spotted and attacked 5 Albatross Scouts that were slightly higher and coming in on our tails. The Flight broke apart and scattered I made a few Head on passes then ran for it with 3 on my tail. I was chased all the way back to the lines when Archie opened up and they went Home.

Target Damage: Very little
e/a : Maybe ? 1 or 2 damaged'
Losses: 1 pilot wnd and 1 damaged

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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/26/17 12:04 AM

Benjamin Kincaid
25 October 1917

Benjamin Kincaid was dead. All the pilots of B flight agreed on that. The man that returned from the hospital was not the mild, timid boy they knew. This man was focused. Overly so, according to some. There was something wild in his eyes and though his speech was clipped and precise, a hint of mania lurked just out of sight, like a shadow at the edge of your vision.

It was this new man that led B flight on the early morning patrol with orders to bring down a balloon just across the lines. Kincaid took off quickly, not waiting for the others to form up. He took off for the lines with a single mindedness that made the veteran pilots uneasy.

They reached the balloon without incident, yet Kincaid did not lead the others down towards it, instead circling above it, seemingly hoping to spot an enemy scout with which to exact revenge.

Abruptly, Kincaid rolled onto his port wing and sideslipped down from 10000 ft to the treetops, agressively swinging his machine onto the Hun gasbag. With one swift pass the balloon was a burning mess and Kincaid wrenched his machine around to head home, seemingly frustrated.

The other pilots avoided him at the aerodrome. This wasnt a hard feat as he shut himself in his tent and did not emerge until the briefing for the afternoon patrol. He was tasked to lead B flight on an airfield attack to Ghistelles.

Once again he roared off alone, leaving the rest of the flight to scramble along behind him. This time, Kincaid had more luck on his hunt. Two Pfalz DIII soared out of the cloudless sky, one bravely trying to buy time for the other to escape.

Kincaid put several bursts into this first foe, forcing him into a spin. Kincaid turned to follow, but before he could reacquire his target, Army had sent the Hun down in flames.

He rolled and lined up on the fleeing Pfalz. This was no expert flyer. Kincaid quickly gained and unleashed a withering barrage. The pilot lost control and began to spin. Kincaid followed him down calling his prey's bluff.

The Pfalz pulled out of the spin well above the treetops and headed towards the nearest airfield. Kincaid wanted this to be clean. He closed the gap. 300 yards. 200 yards. 100 yards. 80. 50. Just as he was about to finish the hun, a burst of machine gun fire from Kiwi tore off the Pfalzs lower right plane, as Kincaids rounds followed shortly thereafter, finding the engine and setting the craft ablaze.

Kincaid was furious. Kiwi was in the process of exiting his machine when Kincaid placed two hands indelicately on his jacket and threw him to the ground. His eyes were aflame with anger and frustration.

HE WAS MINE, KIWI! HE WAS MINE TO KILL.

Kincaid stormed away, leaving Kiwi wide eyed on his back.

The CO recognized the signs. He'd been flying long enough to know; Kincaid was clearly in need of some time to reintegrate after recovering from his grevious injuries. A spot of time as the Sqn administration officer was the ticket.

(Im headed off for three weeks for work and will be away from my machine, but good old Benjamin finally got his butt out of bed and back in the cockpit. I needed an excuse to keep him grounded)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/26/17 07:04 PM

Careful, Kincaid may come down with have a case of " L. M. F. "
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/26/17 07:08 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Bugues AF

Oct 26, 1917.

Escort 2 DH-4's to Roulers.
2 Sec: 5 Spads
1 Sec: 5 Spads

Remarks: Rainy ,dirty weather with No e/a contact.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/26/17 08:33 PM

Raine; Geoffrey is sure having his lot of it, what with denied claims and faulty engines and hospital stays. I found that the Pup is one of the aircraft that has a fair amount of engine failures at times, so play safe and keep your height.

Carrick, Ignace is surviving I see. Good show.

Dark Canuck, very nice story sir. I enjoyed the read.

Best Regards;
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/26/17 10:46 PM

Dark Canuck,

Really great story. Hurry back, because we're craving more Kincaid


Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/27/17 10:30 AM

dutch, that's some terrible flying weather! Great pics though!

Raine, maybe apply for a transfer to a cavalry unit or something? That would be better for your pilot's health. biggrin

Good luck gentlemen, and keep the reports coming! reading
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/27/17 04:58 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF

Oct 27, 1917.


Patrol of the lines: We had 10 a/c in two flights. Met with heavy cloud cover over NML. No contacts were made. The Esc had 1 a/c land short of field total write off.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-10-27 09-43-51-23.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/28/17 04:52 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF
Flanders

Oct 28, 1917,

Morning Patrol:

10 a/c over NML, spotted 2 Recon types and engaged. The 2 flights got 1 e/a. The Bill was a high one with 2 wnd + 1 Destroyed with pilot KIA

Afternoon: Railyard target down by Loos. Little damage done. We have a 5 a/c flight go in with 2 of them getting damaged.

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Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/29/17 09:28 AM

Another dark weather flight, now a patrol over friendly airfield. I', the flight leader and Tristan is my wing man.
[Linked Image]

After we did reach the height we did meet two German Ctype. Only I noticed this plane was much faster, so I could never run into it.
Meantime my wingman was gone same as the other Ctype. So another lone patrol, time for making good screen shots
[Linked Image]


While making this screen shots, 3 German scouts were entering my line of flight.
Sharp turn and a steep diving at 200 km/h to get away. One German Scout could not resist us and while he was in the gun range I leveled up the plane so my gun man could free gun him down.
[Linked Image]

Time for going home and while landing I saw the black cat from my wingman, he made it home. And we have our first claim.
[Linked Image]






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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/29/17 05:17 PM

Good show
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/29/17 05:23 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF
Flanders

Oct 29th 1917.

Kinda got shot down by zee Boche. I led 5 a/c up to Zeldegem on the enemy side of the lines and got bounce by the Huns. It seemed I was the center of attention as I got pasted by all. They shot up the wings 22 holes and hit the fuel tank. I was able to evade the devils and land near the costal factories on our side. It was a close one.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/29/17 09:11 PM

Here is the latest status report. Carrick, have you changed planes? What is listed in the status report doesn't match up with your pictures.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/30/17 07:41 PM

Yes, I will send a report shortly
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/30/17 07:52 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF
Flanders


Oct 30, 1917.

How do the Ami's say it ? I was robbed ! On an Escort flight of 2 Be's we ran into a Jasta full of Scouts. I turned into them fired and went pass into a chandel. At one time, I had numerous Huns firing on my tail. Some my fellow pilots took off then down to one I kept reversing till he passed under me. Ah I had him. I cut power and swooped on my prize firing in short bursts ( I fire 278 Rds at him) I plainly saw his motor stop as I slid pass Zee e/a . It was then I saw my Captaine open fire causing a fire and getting credit for my kill. The Esc lost 1 a/c destroyed + 2 Damaged. The flight knocked down 3 e/a.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/30/17 07:58 PM

I hate when that happens!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/30/17 11:55 PM




https://giphy.com/gifs/Bounce-TV-bounce-tv-l1KvQsIfNt9wRStWw/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/31/17 04:08 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF

Oct 31, 1917.

Patrol over AF's: No contact.


The Milkmaids from the North of us came down to sell cheese.

https://giphy.com/gifs/hocus-pocus-movie-halloween-TpGQsdZsxN9gQ/fullscreen
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/17 01:38 AM

Dutch, I think if I were flying that old Nieuport, I'd be happy to fly in weather where no one could see me! Carrick, some nice photos. Good luck with Ignace.

Finally I get to fly with Geoffrey Corderoy. But he still isn't having a great deal of luck...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 10: 24 June to 3 July 1917

24 June 1917 – Highland Casualty Clearing Station, Merville


Getting to be a part of the furniture at 51 CCS. My knee took some fresh stitches and the shoulder hurts, but otherwise seems all right. My right eye is swollen nearly shut and that is the biggest impediment to flying. The doctors want to move me along the system, but it seems I am not destined for home leave.
McLean pops over to get my report of the accident. We have some new chaps due to arrive. An hour later I am told to pack and be prepared to move. It is now 10 pm and I’m still here.

26 June 1917 – No 2 Convalescent Depot, Rouen

Hellish day yesterday. I was dispatched from Merville to a convalescent centre in Rouen on the slowest train in Christendom, beginning the journey in Hazebrouck. I was classified as walking wounded. The carriages for officers were full and the senior lot had most of the seats, so I stood for the first two hours until my knee could take it no more, and then simply lay down on the floor. After several minutes a colonel said I should be ashamed of myself. I apologized and asked him where HE had been shot. There was a bit of fumbling and bluster, but then the old boy became rather friendly. He rousted the major across from him out of his seat and invited me to share a flask of good brandy with him. The major entertained me the rest of the day with looks threatening impending death.

28 June 1917

Sheer boredom. Haven’t even written in the diary for two days. There are some decent facilities here for the other ranks, with a YMCA hut and billiard tables and badminton, but little for officers to do except stroll about, which I’m not much up to yet. Shoulder is a bit better, and there are exercises to strengthen it. The stitches come out of the knee in a couple of days.

I have taken up darts with a Welsh captain of artillery named, naturally, Jones. I had never really played before. Ridiculous scoring system.

30 June 1917

Feeling much better. Today I got a pass to go to town after first medical parade until supper time. Went to the cathedral and walked to the city market, stopping in a small restaurant for a splendid lunch of sole, small potatoes, and – rarity of rarity these days – a fresh salad made with walnuts and a truly outstanding dressing. I chatted with a couple of Canadian doctors and a newly-arrived American male nurse.

[Linked Image]
View of Rouen

After dinner, back at the depot. Evening medical parade – told I’m to be released as soon as tomorrow. I feel I must do something soon to set myself right with the squadron. To date I’ve accomplished little of record except down one Hun and smash a number of Pups. The Huns I’ve downed that were not confirmed serve only to make me worry that the others will think I’m telling fairy tales. Ah well, back to work.

1 July 1917 -- La Gorgue

As on my first day here just over a month ago, the tender slews and tosses its way down the rutted lane from the main road and drops me off in front of the squadron office. And just as month ago, Major Babington meets me in shirt sleeve, this time with his suspenders hanging down by his legs.

“Good to have you back. Been a bit hectic the past few days,†he says, and begins to bring me up to date. Kay, within days of getting a flight, is dead. He was buried yesterday. Pratt has left for HE. There are new faces in the mess. Dimmock has put up their second pip. There is another new man, a Canadian named Fortin. He has retained his infantry rank as a captain, but is considered like us lowly lieutenants in the air. Joske may get a flight. 43 Squadron has settled in across the field. They are a Strutter squadron.

The hut is different now. Marley was wounded and sent home a week ago, and Pratt of course is no longer here. It’s now me, Barrager, Dimmock, and a Preeston. Lieut. Preeston was an observer in 46 and has just returned as a pilot, so he’s not at all a new fellow, I suppose. I have decided to buy some items to dress the place up a bit, for it’s awfully drab.

At 2:30 I fly again. The task is an escort job. Scott leads, with Lee, Preeston, Holtcombe, Barrager, Dimmock, a new arrival named Holtcombe, and me. We marry up with two BE2s and fly south to Mossy Face Wood for some arty spotting. We encounter nothing except a lone two seater that passes over us on the return leg. I give chase for a moment but soon abandon hope of catching the Hun.

2 July 1917


Lee leads today, a line patrol in the Messines sector. We see nothing and return for breakfast.

At 1:30 this afternoon we escort some BE2s over the Ypres-Menin sector to take photographs. Several Albatri make a quick dash at us and our formation breaks up. Within a few minutes I find myself alone in the sky. Down below I notice movement. A lone Albatros is making for home over the lines. I am quickly on his tail. My first pass results in the EA smoking and its propeller windmilling to a stop. Before I can turn to finish him off he puts down on a shell-torn patch of ground and turns over. At that moment every machine gun the Kaiser owns opens up at me and my Pup is badly hit. I barely nurse it back over the lines before the engine seizes up. I put the machine down at Houplines, just east of Armentieres. The EA is recorded as a “driven down,†since the crash was hidden from view from our lines. This is the eighth machine I have downed for one credited.

3 July 1917

Scott leads us at 5:30 am to escort some RE8s down to the Vimy sector. Archie is heavy, but there are no air Huns today.

Around two this afternoon Joske leads a line patrol to Menen. We climb to 11000 feet and it is breathtakingly cold. The air cuts like a diamond and the clouds are painfully bright. A large group of Albatros scouts appears from the north and we have a short scrap, but we are at the edge of a bank of clouds, so within seconds we are all over the sky. An Albatros emerges from the cloud behind me and tracer flash on either side of my head. Two bullet holes appear in my little windscreen. By the time I pull the Pup around the Hun is gone. I find myself alone and surrounded by towering white walls of mist. I climb above the clouds and there is no one. Nervously I parade north and south, looking for company and finding none. With great relief my time is up and I return home.


Attached picture Rouen 1.png
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/17 12:53 PM

My word, Raine, if it weren't for bad luck, you would have no luck at all!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/17 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by Dark_Canuck
My word, Raine, if it weren't for bad luck, you would have no luck at all!


You're right, DC. I think the WOFF Gods want my ass!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/17 04:47 PM

LOL
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/17 05:02 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.


Nov 1, 1917.

The Esc had 9 a/c showing the flag up by Zedelgem and I was Tail end charlie. The flight spotted a couple of Zee recon types down low we dove on them. I saw both machines go down while they flamed one of ours. Pulling up to re join , I spotted one lone Albatross Scout flying level threw the clouds and scattered rain showers. I made a High side pass firing off Three 9-22 rds Bursts., Then a quick Chandell and dropped on his tail closing the distance and firing. Slowing I held down the trigger and parts and spay stated flying. I passed by him and lost sight in the rain. The Boche lost 3 a/c to our 1 .

One of my wingmates later reported that He saw a Scout e/a as it dove into the ground in that area.



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Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/17 05:43 PM

Terrible luck indeed Raine, considering that historically, the British had a rather liberal policy for awarding kills. biggrin

I'm tempted to join the campaign again, but I probably won't have time until December, and I don't want to start another pilot that barely gets to fly any missions.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/17 08:52 PM

Intrepid Fliers News of the World for June 1917:

June 1
Zeebrugge, Ostend and Bruges were heavily bombed by the Royal Naval Air Service.
June 2
After some of its vessels were sunk by German submarines, Brazil revoked its neutrality and seized all German ships in Brazilian ports.
June 3
Italy proclaimed its Protectorate over independent Albania.
The Independent Labour Party and the Socialist Party met in Leeds to advocate a peace settlement. Among the attendees were future British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and philosopher Bertrand Russell.
June 4
General Aleksei Brusilov succeeded Mikhail Alexeiev as Russian Commander-in-Chief.
June 5
German aeroplanes bombed the port of Sheerness and other Naval establishments on the Thames Estuary during daylight hours.
June 7
The Battle of Messines launched an Allied offensive near the village of Messines in Flanders. The battle began when a number of enormous underground mines were detonated under the Messines Ridge.
June 8
The Tenth Battle of the Isonzo was called off by Chief-of-Staff Luigi Cadorna with only minor territorial gains for the Italians.
June 9
The Russian Provisional Government refused a German proposal for unlimited armistice.
June 10
The Battle of Mount Ortigara began between Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops to gain possession of Mount Ortigara, on the Asiago Plateau.
June 11
Allied Governments delivered an ultimatum to Greece demanding the abdication of King Constantine I.
June 12
King Constantine I of Greece abdicated his throne in the face of pressure from Britain and France and internal opponents - including Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos - who favoured Greece's entrance into the war on the side of the Allies.
June 13
US Major General John J. Pershing arrived in France.
German Gotha aircraft launched a major heavy bomber raid on London in daylight.
June 14
The German Zeppelin L43 was shot down by a British fighter aircraft during a reconnaissance mission in the North Sea.
The British Admiralty approved plans for the convoying of merchant ships.
June 15
The Espionage Act was passed in the United States. The act prohibited any attempt to interfere with military operations, to support US enemies during wartime, to promote insubordination in the military, or to interfere with military recruitment.
All Irish veterans of the Easter Rebellion still in custody were freed by the British government.
June 17
The German airship L48 was intercepted and destroyed by British fighters over the sea near Great Yarmouth.
June 18
Austrian Premier Count Heinrich Clam-Martinitz resigned.
June 19
General Arthur Currie was appointed to command the Canadian Corps.
June 20
The British Sloop HMS Salvia, operating as a Q-ship, was sunk by German submarine U-94 off the west coast of Ireland.
June 23
The P&O liner SS Mongolia struck a mine and sank off the coast of Bombay.
June 25
The first contingent of United States troops arrived at the port of Saint Nazaire in France.
An Austrian counterattack in Trentino recaptured Monte Ortigara.
June 27
Greece severed diplomatic relations with Germany, Austria-Hungary
and Turkey and a state of war was declared.
June 28
General Edward Allenby succeeded Sir Archibald Murray in command of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
June 29
The Russian Summer Offensive began along a broad front in Galicia.
June 30
The British steamer SS Ilston was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB-23 on a voyage from Swansea to France with a cargo of railway material.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/17 08:54 PM

Warbirds Rising News of the World for October 1917:

October 2
The armoured cruiser HMS Drake was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-79 in Rathlin Sound.
The British Government ordered an embargo on trade with neutral nations Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden to prevent supplies reaching the Germans.
October 3
The US Congress passed the War Revenue Act which increased income taxes in order to raise more money for the war effort.
October 4
The Battle of Broodseinde was fought in Flanders at the east end of the Gheluvelt Plateau between the British and German armies. The battle was the most successful Allied attack of the Battle of Passchendaele.
October 5
The Peruvian Government in Lima voted to sever diplomatic relations with Germany.
October 6
US Major General John J. Pershing was promoted to General of the National Army of the United States.
October 7
In Montevideo Uruguay severed diplomatic relations with Germany.
October 8
Leon Trotsky became President of the Petrograd Soviet Presidium.
October 9
The third phase of the Ypres Offensive began with British and French troops taking Poelcapelle. The battle marked the end of a series of successful British attacks during September and early October.
October 11
German forces began offensive operations against the Baltic Islands.
October 12
The First Battle of Passchendaele took place in the Ypres Salient area of the Western Front, during the Third Battle of Ypres. The British launched their latest assaults near the village of Passchendaele but the attempted breakthrough to Passchendaele Ridge failed.
October 15
A French firing squad executed the Dutch-born dancer Mata Hari as a German spy at Vincennes outside of Paris.
October 16
The 10,000 ton British tanker San Nazario was torpedoed by German submarine U-53 whilst en route from Plymouth to Tampico.
October 17
British destroyers HMS Strongbow and HMS Mary Rose were attacked by German cruisers Brummer and Bremse in the North Sea whilst escorting a convoy of 12 merchant ships from Norway. The German cruisers went on to sink nine of the twelve ships in the convoy.
October 18
German forces captured Moon Island and Dago Island during their attack on the Baltic Islands.
October 19
A fleet of 11 German Zeppelins carried out an air raid over Southern and Central England. Three of the airships were shot down over France and Germany on their return trip.
Nils Eden replaced Carl Johan Gustaf Swartz as Prime Minister of Sweden.
October 21
A Turkish attack on the Arab stronghold at Petra was repelled.
October 23
An offensive operation on Chemin des Dames ridge was led by General Philippe Petain when French forces attacked the Germans at the town of Malmaison.
October 24
The Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo (also known as the Battle of Caporetto) began as Austro-German forces crossed the Isonzo River at Caporetto and launched another attack on Italian lines near the town of Kobarid.
October 25
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Boselli resigned.
October 26
A further attack during the Third Battle of Ypres, the Second Battle of Passchendaele took place in the Ypres Salient area in and around the Belgian town of Passchendaele. Canadian divisions continued the advance which had started during the First Battle of Passchendaele.
October 28
Austro-Hungarian forces advanced in Italy to reach Udine and recapture Gorizia.
October 29
Vittorio Emanuele Orlando became the 23rd Prime Minister of Italy following the resignation of Paolo Boselli earlier in the month.
October 30
Reinforced with the addition of two British divisions, a second offensive was launched in torrential rains to capture Passchendaele. The Allies initially held the town in the face of repeated German shelling and counterattacks..
October 31
Allied forces under General Edmund Allenby initiated an attack on Turkish positions at Beersheba in Palestine and launched the Third Battle of Gaza.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/01/17 10:57 PM

Hasse, we would love for you to join again just for the pleasure of reading your stories.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/17 02:10 AM

I agree
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/02/17 02:17 AM

Esc 26 Bulletin Board

Notice to Airmen.

Unless posted to flights, All Pilots are invited to attend a Recital of Dance at Miss Nina's Ballet emporium this Sat.

https://giphy.com/gifs/tina-louise-3otWpszC8foF9lyEBa/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/17 01:02 AM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.


Nov 2, 1917.

Heavy Rain all flights cancelled
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/17 07:32 PM

Albert has been in St. Lucia for the past week on a special mission recruiting nurses for the air service!

candidates

Things will be looking up for our injured pilots!
action at the front!
Cheers and keep those fine reports coming, as that is the only link Albert has to the
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/17 07:36 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.


Nov 3, 1917.

I led the Esc's 6 remaining a/c down to Loos Jct for a Rail Yard attack. Very little damage was done. We pulled up to reform and as we came out on top the clouds. We had only 5 a/c, one was missing. The Esc has a total of 13 machines with 10 flyable but we are down to 5 flying pilots.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/03/17 07:53 PM

Albert has been in St. Lucia for the past week on a special mission recruiting nurses for the air service!

candidates

Things should be looking up in the wards!

Keep the great reports coming, as they are the only links Albert has to the western front!

Cheers mates.]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/17 02:47 AM

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancing-excited-celebrate-NDtizUq0aaG6k/fullscreen
















Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/17 04:59 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.

Nov 4, 1917.

Hq sent Orders to attack the Rail Target again same route same loads. They included 4 replacement pilots that were told to drop their stuff in the mess. We lost 2 of the replacements over the target area. Just to Keen to get at the Boche.? A note in the mess said that Mademoiselle Nina's
Dance Recital would be a Toga Party. Ahh good times. ( click on pic to inlarge)

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/04/17 05:32 PM

Ignace de Lyons.
The Dance Toga Party.

Since, I was on the Morning Run. I was the 1st over at the dance.

https://giphy.com/gifs/hercules-26u4932fE4M89Klzi/fullscreen

Mademoiselle Nina seemed Happy.

https://giphy.com/gifs/hercules-26u4kta72HCUDshG0/fullscreen
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/17 02:20 PM

And I’m back.

6 July 1917, Marckebeeke
Jasta 18

A young officer with a healthy tan on his face jumped down from the back of the tender, which had brought him here and was now idling, waiting for him to disembark. The vehicle stopped in front of the great staircase flanked by two stone lions. Aldi Schwarzkopf waved to the driver with thanks and pulled on the tails of his tunic, turned around and picked up his travel bag. He climbed the stairs of the castle and walked through the large glazed door. The door was wide open to let the cool air in. Despite early morning it already was a hot summer day. The Castle de Bethune had been Jasta 18’s new home for less than a month, but Aldi felt already comfortable here. Nothing can compare to the joys of spending last three weeks with Käte in a small hotel room by the sea, but this came a close second. He was itching to get back in the air and to talk with his comrades. The large entrance hall looked different than he remembered it last time. An adjutant, whom he did not recognize either stood up from behind his desk and saluted.
“You must be Herr Schwarzkopf, please sit down and I’ll see if the Boss can see you now.†He disappeared behind a door before Aldi could respond that he knows the way to his room. He dropped his bag to the floor and sat down wondering what Grieffenhagen could possibly want from him. The adjutant returned and invited Aldi in.
“He’ll see you now. There is just enough time before the patrol.â€
Aldi walked into the Jastaführer’s office and was about to greet his mentor, when he realized it wasn’t Grieffenhagen sitting behind the desk. It was Manfred von Richthofen himself! His blue eyes were inspecting him from head to toe. Aldi wished he had shaved, but instead he smartly clicked his heels and saluted the freshly minted leader of Jagdgeschwader I.
“At ease. Please, sit down.†Aldi heard a voice not unlike his own. He took a chair across from the desk.
“It seems your Staffel abandoned you. Not too worry, we’ll have you sorted soon enough. Our Geschwader needed a place to stay and this castle is a perfect fit for my headquarters. Unfortunately your Jasta had to be relocated. I believe they’re now stationed at Harlebeke, not too far from here. I’m sorry about that. After I’m back from the mission I’ll have my man arrange for your transfer, unless you’d rather stay here? I’m always looking for good pilots and I took the liberty of looking into your file and I’m impressed. What do you say?â€
The offer caught Aldi by surprise. He was speechless. The Baron himself invited him to join his Jasta! What about Grieffenhagen and Paul? He can’t just leave them.
“Herr von Richthofen, I respectfully must decline. My unit and my Jastaführer depend on me. I can’t just leave them.†Aldi felt a sting of regret while saying it.
“I completely understand and respect your decision. I wouldn’t expect anything less of my own Jasta pilots. Know that my door remains open if you ever change your mind.â€
“Thank you, Herr Hauptmann!†Aldi felt relieved.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready for the patrol. My aide will arrange transport to your new base. Good luck!†He shook Aldi’s hand and left the office.
He was still standing there when the adjutant poked his head in the door and said everything’s been arranged. Aldi was on his way to the new field within the hour. Paul will not believe any of it.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/17 05:49 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.
1 Victory

Nov 5, 1917.

After the Party, there were only 5 of us ready for the morning Security Flight in the rain. Somewhere at max altitude over Bray/Dunes Aerodrome we got into it with 2 e/a. Zee Boche was flying 2 seat types and we got both. One went smoking off in the clouds ( I was told ) and the other all of us had shot at broke up and crash in the Bray/Dunes area. Only 4 of us reformed for the flight home. I dont know what happened to the Re-placement pilot.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-05 09-22-28-24.jpg
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Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/17 06:08 PM

Lets hope not being shot down, mr Carrick, always bad when one pilot is missed.

Great story mr Fullofit.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/17 09:51 PM

Hey guys, here is the latest status report. I am leaving to go back to the US on Thursday, my daughter is just about to give birth to my first grandchild. We will be back December 19th, I hope everybody is ok with the status reports taking a break until then.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture ScreenHunter_216 Nov. 05 15.48.jpg
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/05/17 10:37 PM

Thanks Banjoman and congrats!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/06/17 05:44 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.
1 Victory


Nov 6, 1917.


I was Flight Leader for the Esc 6 pilots. The flight left at Dawn to Patrol the area down by Loos and ran into 2 Boche Recon Types. The Flight was able to chase them away. No Claims and No losses.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-06 09-27-34-23.jpg
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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/17 12:46 PM

the new bus[Linked Image]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/17 04:29 PM

Wow, What a Machine. A very Well Done.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/07/17 04:35 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Bergues AF.
Flanders.
1 Victory


Nov 7, 1917.

4 New replacements came in last night, The Captiane posted all to One section and today's Rail Strike mission. I led 2 sections 5 a/c. with a top cover by the 4 New guys. No aerial opposition, and manage to get a fire going in the rain.



Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-07 08-16-27-79.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/08/17 05:35 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.
2 Victories


Nov 8, 1917.

I Added a Hun to the Bag today !. 2 Section ( 6 a/c) was alerted to intercept some pesky Boche was on our side of the lines. We caught up with then near the lines after a bomb drop. I was Tail end charlie by that time so watched my mates smoke ( I saw both go down ) 2 Recon types. As we rejoined 5 Scouts dove on us. After much turning and zooming, I got one off my # 4 a/c's tail ( Rene Fetu ) I must have hit him as he wobbled as I swung back and on his tail 3 bursts later he startled leaking Fuel ? My fangs were out so put the hammer down till the gun jammed after I slowed and swung back on his tail . The bullets struck home and it must have been a pilot Kill because he dove straight into the ground near a church by Teteghern Aerodrome. Total a/c involved 13 Shot down 5 e/a. Our losses: 1 wnd and forced down a/c was a write off.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-05 09-22-28-24.jpg
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Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-08 09-04-31-98.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/17 12:57 AM

Ignace de Lyons.

I took the motorcycle into the city Dressed in dinner clothes to do a little celebrating, but couldn't get into the mood.

https://giphy.com/gifs/xT0xeBFkxDC3PPpcVW/fullscreen
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/17 03:48 AM

Hasse, great to hear from you. We miss you. Fullofit, another Aldi story is a great pleasure. Tell Aldi not to fly for the Baron -- he'll poach your kills. Lederhosen, great skin again. Can't wait to see your new screenies. Carrick, you seem to have really mastered the Spad. Robert, when are you home? I'll PM you soon because I'll be in your neck of the woods in late November.

Geoffrey Corderoy is still struggling to rack up a score of confirmed kills...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 11: 4 to 8 July July 1917

4 July 1917 – La Gorgue


It is good to be back. I am absolutely determined to prove myself here. It has been a month since I arrived here at 46 Squadron. Pilots have come and gone, and I have helped to bury two of my comrades, the latest being poor Kay – Kay, who had deserved a flight so much and had put up his third pip only a couple of days before his death. I am one of the fellows now, no longer a new face to be taken under one’s wing and cautioned to keep out of a scrap. When one arrives at a squadron, one sits near the bottom of the squadron table. We sit by rank here, although all the lieutenants mix in together. Already I have moved closer to the middle of the table.

Today rain and wind keep us grounded all morning, but Lee leads us up through drizzle and mist to Menen shortly after 1:00 p.m. It is a miserable patrol. We must keep under the low cloud and Archie gives us a difficult time. More than once my little Pup is thrown upwards by a near miss. After the requisite two hours Lee gives the signal and we return to La Gorgue and mugs of hot tea.

Big news tonight! We are to move south to Bruay, south of Bethune. We shall share the field with 40 Squadron and their Nieuports. We are beginning to feel that our Pups are past their prime, but Nieuports – my God, the poor chaps have drawn a short straw. A few of our fellows are being temporarily attached to the Nauticals at St-Eloi while their chaps ferry the new Sopwith “Camel†two-gun scout to the front to replace their Tripes. They flew Pups like ours last year before replacing them by Triplanes. Now they consider the Tripe to be obsolete! So we fly Pups and consider ourselves lucky not to have Nieuports…. And in the papers the people at home are complaining that the RFC let the odd Hun reach London. I suppose the strikers in England will want top cover from Camels and we shall have to nurse our Pups into 1918 or even 1919. Oh to be in Whitehall!

But I am going on. At Bruay we shall be under canvas, but at least we shall be rid of our frog pond. Tonight all the junior officers formed a work team to break down the mess and load our kit onto trucks. We then went across the way to share dinner as guests of Major Douglas and the lads at 43.[1]

A couple of days ago, Lloyd Fleming downed a machine he took to be a Hun, but which turned out to be a Nieuport of No 1 Squadron. The pilot is dead and Fleming was called to do the hatless dance [2] at RFC HQ. There is speculation that the incident is part of the reason we are being moved farther south. Fleming is being packed off to the Middle East.

5 July 1917

We took off in drizzle for Bruay and found a gap in the ground mists to head for Bruay. To our amazement we encountered a formation of Albatros DVs shooting up the roads nearby, which are crowded with Canadian troops. A wonderful scrap followed. Pups are totally outclassed by Albatri down low, but the fight was inconclusive and the Huns headed home, quickly drawing away from us.

6 July 1917 – Bruay

Being under canvas in this sodden weather is a big step down from our warm huts at La Gorgue. We have raised a marquee tent for a mess and partitioned it to form an ante-room, but it is still rough going.

The weather begins to clear around noon and we are up after 2 pm with Joske leading. We are to shoot up a rail siding near Loos. Joske led us in. The ground Huns had far too many machine guns deployed for my liking, but we scattered a body of men and horses and left two sheds on fire. On landing, not one of our machines was without holes.

7 July 1917

Up twice today, to cover our fields around Arras in the morning and to patrol the lines near Loos in the afternoon. The cloud is dense, and we see nothing.

On landing there is stunning news. Our squadron is to leave for England tomorrow. The politicians are in a bit of a panic over the big Hun Gotha bombers getting to London and we are to join Home Defence! The chaps are celebrating. Must confess to mixed feelings as I want to put up a score before leaving, but that is unlikely now.

8 July 1917

There is one final flight this morning before we depart, an early show to dispose of a balloon south of Lens. Joske leads. I take station on the left flank of a vee of five Pups. The cloud is solid at 7000 feet and there are isolated rain squalls. We spread out and push through the cloud before reaching the lines. I hate flying in cloud. The water condenses and streams across the windscreen. Peering around the glass, one’s goggles are quickly streaming with water. And out there in the grey nothingness are four other Pups. I let my machine drift farther left and stare at the bubble and speed indicator, praying I stay level. I have known men to emerge from a cloud in a vertical dive without knowing they were about to rip their wings off.

When the mist lightens and suddenly falls away, the bright sunlight blinds me. I look about for the others. They are nearly invisible, about a mile off. I head west and open the throttle. There is a chance that I can find the balloon first. Perhaps I can score once before heading to England.

After ten more minutes I judge that it is time to begin my descent. I throttle back and ease down into the cloud layer. Minute follows minute until I pray that the cloud will clear before I fly into a house or a tree. I break through into a world of steel grey sky, mud, and rain. That is Lens off to the left. Down to 1500 feet, I am rocked by a cluster of Archie bursts. I skid right and scan the sky. As if my magic, there is the balloon, just a mile in front and slightly below. The trick with Le Prieur rockets is to dive on the balloon at a 45-degree angle and line the target up end-on. You let the things loose when the balloon fills the sights and hold the dive until they are all away. I climb to get farther above it and begin the dive, firing my Vickers. At 250 yards the rockets flash and stream down on the sausage. There is barely time to avoid flying into the thing.

I pull up and look back. The balloon is smoking but still hangs there. I turn about quickly, ignoring the Archie all about. On my next pass I start firing from 300 yards and the balloon bursts into flames within seconds. I do a roll over the Huns’ heads and climb back into the cloud, emerging a minute later into an empty sky.

[Linked Image]
"On my next pass I start firing from 300 yards and the balloon bursts into flames within seconds."

Joske and the others never find the balloon. In the rotten weather no one has witnessed my kill and it goes unconfirmed. I am thoroughly browned off. Back at Bruay I discover that they have shipped my ladder off to England so I cannot get into my Pup because of my damaged knee. Ferrie is assigned the job of flying my machine to England this afternoon and I am driven to Calais to take the leave boat home to England.

I prepare for the trip with mixed emotions.

NOTES:


[1] 43 Squadron RFC, flying Strutters, was commanded by Major Sholto Douglas, later 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside, GCB, MC, DFC. In WWII, Douglas became Deputy Chief of Air Staff and AOC Fighter Command.

[2] A court martial or summary trial. The accused is marched in at double-quick time and is not permitted to wear his headgear during trial.


Attached picture Ballon kill uncredited.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/17 04:42 PM

Thanks Raine. I dont think that I have mastered the kite,but I do seem to stay out of trouble in the Spad. I liked your story it has many interesting turns and twist's.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/09/17 05:43 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.
2 Victories


Nov 9, 1917.


Sad day today, Zee Boche got Captaine Tour. He was leading our flight of 6 a/c over Zedelgem showing the Flag and dove on some 2 Seats Types by the numerous Aero parks in the area. I stayed high to cover for fighters ,but none showed. According to his wingman, The capt. made a run then pulled up which allowed the German rear gunner to rake his a/c's Belly. His machine then flipped over and went dove into the trees near the Hun Aero field. It probably look like this:



Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-09 09-52-48-04.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/10/17 05:00 PM

Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.
2 Victories
D E C E A S E D K I A G O N E S O U T H K I A K I L L E D O F F W O R M B A I T

The flight (5 a/c) had attacked 2 A/\lbatross D-V 's up high. as the melee swooped around 5 more Enemy Scouts appeared I chased mine lower down made a pass as I got close to make a sure kill then ran into him Target Fixation ? Greed ? Going too fast ? anyway it was a Mid Air crash.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-10 08-34-02-05.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/10/17 07:23 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn
Verdun, France.


Nov 10, 1917.

In flight school they said that U will be posted to the latest Fighters. Here I am driving a 2 seat Bus ! The C.O. just laughed .

Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-10 11-05-36-51.jpg
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/17 01:51 AM

Carrick, at this rate you'll run out of letters before the end of the war. Do be careful!
Raine, I feel your pain. Those bean counters are a bunch of knobs. Look at it this way, at least now you'll have a chance to bag a Gotha, if he doesn't bag you first.

Capitaine Francois Wagnon on his way to attack Chambry aerodrome.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture Shot11-10-17-20-17-33.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/17 03:22 AM

Fullofit: : Now isnt that the truth soon I will be down to the letter Z. It was kind of dumb getting so close that ya crash into them. How ya like driving the Spad ?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/17 03:26 AM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.

Nov 11, 1917.


Up to the lines and back on Recon. I say, I was a happy to have my Lt. in the Back Seat pat me on the shoulder and point home. The weather was miserable dark and rainy.



Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-11 09-05-45-56.jpg
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/17 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Fullofit: : Now isnt that the truth soon I will be down to the letter Z. It was kind of dumb getting so close that ya crash into them. How ya like driving the Spad ?

Carrick, the SPAD is good for running away and for catching everybody else. It has a cockpit view only a mailman could love, it has a turning radius of an 18-wheeler and it has masonry glide characteristics. It’s all true. How do you manage it?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/17 05:37 PM

Carefully and not full D.I.D.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/17 05:47 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.

Some of the boys and I went into town to soak up some of this French Culture.

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancers-ring-my-bell-xT0xeNAW9YU1WkSlgY/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/12/17 06:16 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.


Nov 12, 1917.

We did an Arty spot this morning. I made a rather bad landing smash up the machine a little.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-12 09-58-47-34.jpg
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/17 12:13 PM

Karl has been sent to Colmar due to low flying miles.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/17 06:02 PM

LOL
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/13/17 06:07 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.

Nov 13, 1917.


The Flight leader suggested a bunch of Touch and Go's during the morning as extra training after my hard landing.. I am still doing a lot of Bump-a-Daisy's. Afternoon was spent on a Recon of the lines My wing-mate took a little damage from ground fire.
Posted By: MadKerbal

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/17 09:41 AM

Hello all, very much enjoyed lurking and reading the tales of all your pilots, I'm hoping that it isn't too late to join. Are there any rules I should know other then what is on page one?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/17 03:17 PM

Mad Kerbal, welcome to the campaign. The first page rules are still good. You'll need to decide which schedule you're flying. If you choose Warbirds Rising, use this date in 1917 as your start point. So, for 14 November 2017 you're flying 14 November 1917. If you choose Intrepid Flyers, the day of the week in 2017 and 1917 will be the same, but this campaign started several months earlier. Tuesday 14 November 2017 is Tuesday 17 July 1917. You can set up an Excel spreadsheet with actual and game dates next to one another and simply drag the cells to create a calendar that lets you keep track of the correct game date.

The DiD campaign folks are fairly forgiving if you get behind a few days and fly several days' missions to catch up, but please don't fly ahead of the current date. And please post you're pilot's story with photos or videos when you can!

Banjoman has been the mainstay of this campaign, keeping all the pilot records up to date. He's away from his computer for a few weeks so it may be a little while before your reported stats appear in the forum.

Enjoy!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/17 10:03 PM

Welcome aboard Kerbal. What Raine said. Also, you can fly more than one pilot concurrently, to keep you going in case one ends up in hospital.
Posted By: MadKerbal

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/17 10:55 PM

Sounds good, I'll (Hopefully) start today, will I still have to start on Two seaters? I understand they can be a little dangerous at this point in the war.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/17 11:04 PM

MadKerbal, you're supposed to start on two-seaters on the first go-around. Personally, I don't think anyone's going to have an existential crisis if you don't. But if you decide to, try the Bristol Fighter for the UK or the Rumpler for the Germans. The former is a first-rate fighter and the latter can fly high enough to avoid many Entente machines until you're on your way home.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/17 11:50 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.


Nov 14, 1917.

Bollicks, more Bumps -a- daisy's upon landing. My riggers are having a fit. Finally got in on the 3rd pass from a Recon of the lines.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-14 15-29-15-26.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/14/17 11:52 PM

MadKerbal: Welcome
Posted By: MadKerbal

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/17 01:05 AM

Sergeant Arthur Edwards
57 Sqn RFC
Transfering to Boisdingam, Flanders.

15th November 1917
Somewhere off the French Coast
Water splashed over Arthur's goggles as the DH4 lumbered through a cloud, he took a glanced at the compass again and made sure it was working with a reassuring tap, 'should see France any minute now
' he thought, hoping that somehow the war hadn't disconnected it from Europe and sent it floating into the Atlantic, Arthur dropped down a few hundred feet, and looked over the side of his new mount to see fields, he leaned back in his seat and breathed a sigh of relief now to find Boisdingam he said to a flock of birds a hundred or so feet below, reaching for his map, With a woosh of wind the DH4 dropped and the map fluttered clear of the cockpit and disappeared against the clouds above.

Damn

At least he was heading the right direction...

Right?
Arthur circled, looking for an airfield, a army base, anything!, yet nothing appeared, he fell back into the chair leting the plane drift for a minute, he could swear he was already going insane, he could have sworn he heard an engine, he stuck his head over the side JACKPOT! [Linked Image]
beneath sat a large airfield, with hangers and workshops and...and MAPS! they can tell me where Boisdingam is! he yelled over the engine, bringing the DH4 in a lazy spiral towards the airfield, planting it down and bringing it to a sliding halt.
A mechanic vaulted over to the machine however before he could ask anything Arthur quickly shot out "hellodoyouknowwhereboisdingamispleasei'mratherlostmymapgotblownoutbythewindandithoughtyoucouldhelp?"

The Mechanic looked at Arthur dumbfounded and pointed off in the direction Arthur had just came "Erm...sure...it's a few kilometres that way."
A few Kilometres 'that way'...the way he came... Arthur was well out of his depth, from an Otago farm to a 375hp biplane...
He was screwed.


(just realised I may have got my dates a little mixed with time zones and all, hope this is all OK.)
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/17 02:26 AM

Good to see a Kiwi pilot in the mix, MadKerbal. Best of luck.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/17 04:39 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.


Nov 15, 1917.


I say, Bit of a bore around here. Up to the lines for an Arty Shoot then back for Tea.

Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-15 08-24-59-99.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/17 05:02 PM

Jeffery Vichers

Note Book: We had a travailing Circus come by so watched the Wrestling mach..

https://giphy.com/gifs/bWgmBzoXmzmGk/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/wrestling-meet-the-spartans-l2QEdQ8XItZm0Toys/fullscreen
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/17 10:22 PM

Good story, MadKerbal. Now I know why there were so many accidents. Everybody kept losing their bloody map!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/15/17 11:47 PM

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 12: 9-14 July 1917

9 July 1917 – Calais


The rest of the squadron had gone from Bruay, ferrying their Pups to England by way of St-Omer or Calais. I left at 6:30 a.m. in a tender bound for Calais along with three men from the squadron stores, the drums of fuel we’d used to send off the final few aircraft, various crates, and a pile of tentage.

The leave boat left Calais at 1 pm so I had little time for lunch before boarding. I limped about the few blocks nearest the dock looking for an estaminet where I might eat quickly, but every establishment was full to bursting with hungry sailors and soldiery. At length a young urchin approached me and, with much gesturing and a little pidgin English, asked me if I was hungry and whether he could sell me some food. He carried a burlap sack on his belt. I gave him a few francs and he burrowed into the sack and emerged with a small package of biscuits and some bully beef which he fairly threw at me before running off. I noted with amusement that both items were British Government issue. The biscuits, I am sure, came over in 1914.

The leave ship was nothing of the sort. I was booked passage on the SS Stockport, a merchant steamer that had finished unloading stores that morning. There were not many passengers, so I was able to find a couch in the small lounge to stretch out on and grab a quick nap. I awoke only after we were at sea. The Stockport was flanked by two destroyers and thrummed its way across the Channel to Dover at a steady twelve knots. By 3:30 I was stumping down the platform and squeezing into a busy second-class carriage bound for Victoria Station.

The strangeness of London after a month of war flying cannot be described. The station was a sea of khaki, but as soon as I stepped outside to hail a cab it struck me that among the thousands of people milling about, scarcely a handful had any comprehension that a war of mud, blood, and lice was raging scarcely 200 miles away. A young woman passed by, looking at my limp with a mixed expression. I’ve been back in England twice since I left in June 1915; each time I’ve brought back a little bit less of my left knee!

After a quick stop at Charing Cross to get sorted at Cox’s, we were off to Fenchurch Street. [1] I had an hour to wait at Fenchurch Street Station before catching the next train so I sent a telegram from the station telegraph office to my parents to announce that I was back home and bought a first-class ticket to Romford, near Hornchurch in Essex. Then I headed outside and a few doors down the street to a tea room where I enjoyed a proper cream tea for the first time in months. Here I discovered I was wrong about Londoners not be aware of the war. Last month a Gotha had dropped its load and one or two bombs had blown down a tall building on Fenchurch Street, close by the station. [2]

[Linked Image]
Fenchurch Street Station, 1917

It was nearly 8 p.m. before I dropped my bag in the squadron office at Sutton Farm. Major Babington greeted me warmly and asked about my trip and whether my parents knew I was in England.

“Better be quick on that front, old boy. The chaps have taken every spare room in the county for parents, wives, and girlfriends. Some, I daresay, have housed all three.†The Major laughed heartily at his own joke.

Sutton’s Farm is a joy after Bruay. We have fine wooden buildings with solid roofs, a proper mess, and a smooth and wide field.

Time for a quick bite and bed. More to follow tomorrow.

10 July 1917 – Sutton’s Farm aerodrome, Hornchurch, Essex


We are on constant standby in case of a raid by the giant Gotha bombers. They were last over three days ago and fairly put the wind up the Cabinet, so that explains our hasty departure from Bruay. We are to spring into action on a phone call from Home Defence Group and then patrol from just north of here down across the Thames and back.

Major Babington is newly energised and we are in the air several times daily, practising formation work and diving attacks on Gothas. Between these flights we have lectures and engage in energetic discussions about the best way to knock down the big Hun bombers.

Received a telegram from Mummy. She is coming on the 12th and asked me to find her a place. My father is working in the city, attached to the General Staff. This is news.

11 July 1917

Permitted to explore the area this afternoon under the guise of a navigation exercise. I flew down the Thames and back over the city. Great fun.

[Linked Image]
Flying past the Royal Observatory at 1 pm, checking my watch against the drop of the time ball

There are no accommodations available in the local area. Sergeant Norris, who has been my lead mechanic since Sgt Purchase’s last leave, has put up his mum at a farm about a quarter-mile off. He says she has a large room with two beds and that it would be good company for her if my mother wants to stay there. Not sure how it will go over, but I have no choice.

12 July 1917

Mummy arrived today and moved in at Stoneway, the farm house where Sgt Norris’s mum is. I see her tonight.

More formation work today, plus a barrier patrol for two hours which I got to lead. Scott and Joske came along and it was topping to be flying the streamers with them looking on.

Was permitted off base after dark and met my mother and Mrs Norris at a public house in Romford. Sgt Norris turned up, a little nonplussed to find me at table. We got off to an awkward start, but Mummy went on so about how she and Mrs. Norris have ever so much in common and how wonderful it is to have a roommate and who would have thought that two women would be off having adventures at our age. Sgt Norris and I were both laughing so hard at the two of them that rank was soon forgotten. We enjoyed good beer (for wartime) and sausage and egg pies – pure heaven! We were there until closing at ten and enjoyed the walk back to the field. The good sergeant’s name is Ambrose! We resolved to dress in mufti next time we joined the ladies.

14 July 1917

The Kaiser seems to have called off the air war. Not a Gotha to be found anywhere. Perhaps they’ve heard that 46 is here and decided to stay abed. Mother left today. We caught up on so much over the past few days. Father is working at Whitehall on a new infantry doctrine, under a general who was his company commander in South Africa. He is enjoying it thoroughly. Something about taking the shackles off operational planning, but of course Mother had no details.[3] She brought a basket of sweets and fancy foodstuffs, one for me and (I think) a larger one for her darling Ambrose Norris, with wishes that the good sergeant “keep my machine in proper running order.â€

Off with the lads to London tonight!

NOTES

[1] Cox & Co. of London served as agents to the British Army from 1758 to 1923, processing cheques and handling insurance and other financial matters for British officers. Their Charing Cross office was open around the clock during the Great War to cash officers’ cheques on arrival in London. Corderoy would have been in need of sterling once he was back in England, and presumably had been issued a cheque in British currency before leaving Bruay.

[2] No 65 Fenchurch Street was hit in the Gotha raid of 15 June 1917. It was a five storey building of offices, shops, and flats. The front of the building collapsed, killing many.

[3] LtCol Corderoy was part of a group working on SS.143 Instructions for the Training of Platoons for Offensive Action. This 1917 publication set out new platoon organisations and drills for tactical training and was the first pamphlet published by the British Army that clearly explains the role of the platoon in the attack. It established doctrinal procedures that remain current to the present day.


Attached picture Greenwich.jpg
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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/17 03:18 AM

Wonderful detail.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/17 11:15 AM

Great stuff as always, Raine. Welcome to the war Madkerbal!

Ive found myself over in Blighty for the last three weeks for work. Unfortunately, Ive had no time for exploring, but I did get to visit an airfield that No 203 sqn (RNAS 3 Sqn) occupied for a time in the early 2000s. It is neat to touch that kind of history.

I should be back up in the cockpit soon. See you in the (un)friendly skies!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/17 02:48 PM

Nice read! Thanks Raine. I needed that. I sorely miss flying DiD but I should be up as soon as my new monitor arrives. I'm waiting for a G-sync to arrive.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/16/17 05:03 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.


Nov 16, 1917.

Up to the lines twice today, the 1st was a Recon then a Arty Spot. I did manage to get down on the Field with the second go around. Improved a bit wot ? Additionally, put in for Scouts.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/17/17 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.


Nov 16, 1917.

Up to the lines twice today, the 1st was a Recon then a Arty Spot. I did manage to get down on the Field with the second go around. Improved a bit wot ? Additionally, put in for Scouts.


Carrick, see if you can get Jeffery into a Pup as it is much more forgiving. Particularly on landings!! biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/17/17 04:51 PM

Mr. Wiggins: LOL Its the Trees around the field or maybe the high landing speed ? I generally , manage to get in on the 2nd or 3rd try. Maybe, I need a Helicopter for that AF. In the mean time hope my transfer comes in before I have a really bad landing.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/17/17 04:55 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.


Nov 17,1917.

Up to the lines for a Recon. No enemy a/c ever seem to be around although Intell says there are 2 Jasta's + Numerous Recon units in the Army II Corp area.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/17/17 10:44 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F. ( Flown early due to busy day tomorrow. )
Verdun, France.


Nov 18, 1917.

Another Milk Run, The Sqn dispatched 2 of us for a photo Op of the Enemy side of the lines. It didnt take too long and we had 3 French N-24's for Escort. I managed to Land on the 1st go around, but the Bumps -a-Daisy 's were enough to make U weep.

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Posted By: MadKerbal

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/18/17 01:57 AM

First Entry
18 November 1917
Journal of Arthur Edwards
57 Squadron RFC

I'm finally here! France at last!
I'm flying these two seat jobs called DH4s, remind me of the Tin Sheds on the Farm back home, roll's about as well too, but it has a gun on the front and another in the back, so I can't really complain too much.
[Linked Image]
My observer is a Welshman by the name of Ronald Stephens, seems a nice enough bloke but has unfortunately led to a number of jokes regarding sheep from the rest of the squadron.
First flight was on the 16th, went for a few circuits of Boisdingam, Not getting lost over France again that's for sure! However a few white blobs on the ground caught my attention, I decided to circle in low and caught a snapshot on my camera, They were BLOODY SHEEP even in France I can't escape the daft animals.
[Linked Image]
Anyway, The next day I was to follow the CO to the front lines and then turn back home, I followed the chaps out and was thoroughly unprepared for the mess of Trenches, craters mud and whatnot, how anyone can fight in such a mess is anyone's guess.
[Linked Image]
I arrived back about 9:00, was up for a good hour, saw nothing, caught a good shot of our flight heading over Jerries lines though, so there's that.
[Linked Image]
First flight is later today, Part of me is looking forward to it, and if anyone asks that's what I shall say, but to be honest I'm scared as hell, who knows what will happen when I face the Hun, will I be able to front up to his Fokker in my flying Tin Shed?

Here's hoping it doesn't come to that.

Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/18/17 01:50 PM

Marker ball

Very nice first report Sir! Welcome to the fray.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/19/17 01:37 AM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Marker ball


Heh heh, Robert! That darn autocorrecting!

Raine, another one of your well developed and detailed stories. I've enjoyed the read. I'm rooting for your pilot to get one of the Gothas, maybe even a Zep! Just don't lose any more of your kneecap.

MadKerbal, looking forward to more of your stories. Perhaps we can read more about the sheep?
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/19/17 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Marker ball


Heh heh, Robert! That darn autocorrecting!

Raine, another one of your well developed and detailed stories. I've enjoyed the read. I'm rooting for your pilot to get one of the Gothas, maybe even a Zep! Just don't lose any more of your kneecap.

MadKerbal, looking forward to more of your stories. Perhaps we can read more about the sheep?


You said it mate!!
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/19/17 02:18 PM

.

Just spent a most enjoyable hour catching up on everyone's adventures, super stuff as always gents. MadKerbal, welcome to the WOFF skies and to the DID Campaign, keep up with the great reports. Raine, as noted by Carrick and others, the details you continually add to your stories are really outstanding. I see that Banjoman will be away for a while longer so I'll hold off on the hours medals until he returns and posts the updated stats. Watch your six everyone!

.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/19/17 05:10 PM

Welcome back. RAF Louvert.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/19/17 05:17 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.


Nov 19, 1917.


I did a solo Recon this morn. Bertie's machine took a header and broke its Prop trying to stand on its tail. The flight went smoothly and upon landing ( 2 tries ,but got down ok ) The X.O. said to pack, I was Posted to an SE 5a Sqn over at Lealvillers and my peaceful life is over.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/20/17 03:37 AM

Thanks for the encouraging comments, guys. Lou, I'm particularly happy you've dropped in and enjoyed this stuff. And Mad Kerbal, that was a great first report. Loved the sepia toned photos! Dark Canuck, let me know when you're back in Canada. I haven't forgotten our plans to go for some funny pops.

My pilot, Geoffrey Corderoy, has had ridiculously bad luck, so the poor fellow is in for a change...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 13: 15-22 July 1917


17 July 1917 – Sutton’s Farm, Hornchurch, Essex

Still no Huns have appeared over England to disturb our idyll. We fly as much as possible and Major Babington is often us leading us. He is very keen. Over the past few days we have worked on close formation flying. The idea is that we will be able to present a concentrated assault on enemy formations. I have suggested using Le Prieurs to break up the Hun formations, but everyone seems to make fun of the idea. I am determined to press the point. I know that for my own part, if I were flying a machine the size of a church in a pack with a few other flying churches and some idiot fired a volley of rockets at me, I’d flinch more than a little!

I am not fond of the close-in formation work, although the chaps seem to put on a bluff front about how topping it is. My stiff leg makes the needed rudder work difficult, which renders the whole business a bit dodgy. More than once I have found myself within a foot or two of disaster.
Today I was assigned the lead again. That did not happen before we were at Sutton’s Farm, but this is the fourth time. Perhaps the chaps find it better to form on me than the other way around...

Rain today. Still, we did a cross-country jaunt, occasionally diving on objects as if they were a formation of Huns. Just as we neared our aerodrome we came screaming out of the clouds onto a column of army lorries. One ended in a ditch. The chaps we buzzed noted our squadron markings and I spent fifteen difficult minutes in front of the major while he entertained me with asservations of mental inferiority and low birth.

Colonel Higgins, OC Home Defence Group, visited today and dined with us. Seems like a good man, but he’s under a great deal of pressure from the political types. Also, my father has invited me to visit him in London Thursday. I shall try to get permission to leave. The Times reports that Churchill is back in Cabinet, now in charge of munitions. It’s a good place for a pushy sort like him. [1]

[Linked Image]
"Just as we neared our aerodrome we came screaming out of the clouds onto a column of army lorries."

18 July 1917

More training today, and back in the leader’s role with Joske as 2 I/C. Some touchy formation work, but particularly proud of my navigation is worsening weather.
Rain this afternoon and evening. Have a pass for London tomorrow after all, so telegram to Daddy.

19 July 1917

Wonderful day! Left Romford at 11 this morning and had lunch on the train, although by the time it arrived at my table I needed to bolt the food down before we pulled into Fenchurch Street. I met father after his work was done and we walked about for an hour until I could walk no more. At seven we dined on roast beef at Simpson’s-in-the-Strand. Only the smaller than normal portions said there was a war on. He went on about his work, which he thoroughly enjoys. My uncle is looking after the sheep back home in South Moreton. Daddy promised to pay for a new uniform as he was embarrassed to be seen with me in my everyday RBR tunic with its castor oil stains. He went back to work and I headed joyfully for Hawkes.[2] Daddy is staying at the Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall [3], so we said farewell outside the restaurant. I took my life in my hands by navigating the pitch dark streets in the rain, trying to weave my way on foot across intersections through the streams of motor taxis and buses that raced past without benefit of headlamps. I arrived back at Fenchurch Street just in time for the last train.

[Linked Image]
Simpson's-in-the-Strand

22 July 1917

At 8 this morning the triple klaxon outside the squadron office sounded and we raced for our hangars. As we struggled into our flying kit the major announced that we were to leave our usual beat and fly direct to Felixstowe. Gothas had been spotted by one of our lightships and, by means of wireless, Home Defence Group had plotted that they would make landfall close to that town.

Although I was to lead our group I took off nearly a minute behind the others because I could not climb into my Pup unaided. It did not take them long to form up on me. We climbed steadily as we followed the north bank of the Thames for nearly fifty miles. Arriving over Colchester at 14,000 feet, we spotted Archie in the distance over Harwich. A few minutes later I noticed movement below and made out five immense white machines flying directly towards us, about two thousand feet below. I waggled my wings and led the flight down – Gullah, Joske, Hughes, Lee, and Dimmock. The wires sung and the engines screamed. I picked the Hun on the right of the formation as it seemed nearest, and I levelled off behind the big bomber, firing long bursts all the way in from 250 yards.

Suddenly I found myself in crossfire. My Hun was a little ahead of the leftmost Gotha, one of whose gunners opened up from abeam. The rear gunner of my target Hun then found his mark and my poor little Pup began to take hits from two directions. But this was an attack I was determined to press home. I kept firing and saw my tracer hit around the main compartment of the bomber and then saw rounds hit its right engine. Suddenly my head was thrown back as if I’d been holding it over a wasps’ nest. Everything burned and I couldn’t see. I kicked the rudder to the right and dived away, and must have avoided a collision by only a few feet, for I’d continued the attack far too long. I pulled my glove off with my knees and held a bare hand to my face. I could feel several small splinters protruding from my forehead and cheeks, and wiped the blood from my eyes. A glance over my shoulder told me I’d scored. A very large fireball was streaming a trail of smoke downwards. Up above, my comrades were swarming about the other Gothas.

[Linked Image]
"A glance over my shoulder told me I’d scored."

The engine sounded rough, so I set course for the nearest field at Rochford. Every few minutes I needed to wipe away the blood. The engine suddenly stopped. For nearly ten minutes I drifted silently to the southwest. Faint hammering of distant machine gun fire was audible over the whistling of the wind, but I could make out nothing. My Pup settled gently onto the grass of the aerodrome.

I was given a drive to a nearby hospital where a doctors and nurses treated me as a hero when I told them the flamer was mine. It seems that a round had struck the cabane strut and shattered. Fragments of the strut and bullet found their way to my face and neck. I was ordered not to fly for a week or two because the whale grease we coated ourselves with was likely to cause infection. The Pup was too badly damaged to repair quickly, so the good fellows from No 37 at Rochford arranged a car to take me back to Sutton’s farm.[4]

I got back around four in the afternoon and made my report to Lieut. McNeil. I’d no sooner washed up and examined my cut-about face than McNeil came to my hut and told me the CO wanted me in his office.

Major Babington began abruptly as I stood to attention before him. “How many Huns have you claimed, Corderoy?â€

“Ten, sir,†I said.

“And how many have been confirmed?â€

“One sir, although I’m confident about today’s Gotha.â€

The major gave me a look – a look like Nero contemplating whether Saturday’s playbill should involve Christians and lions or Christians and leopards.

“Today’s Gotha,†he said, “really?†Then, in a voice so low and so even as to be bone-chilling, he murmured “It may interest you to know, Corderoy, that you lost Mr. Gullah from your flight today. He fell in flames. No Gotha fell. Just Gullah.â€

There was nothing to be said. Tears welled up in my eyes. Major Babington continued: “Captain Joske tells me you are quite unable to control your machine well enough for close formation work. Further, I am told you are scrubbed from flying duties for yet another week – the third such medical restriction in a month.†He stared at me for what seemed like a full minute. Then he said “You, sir, are a bloody ornament here and I need air fighters.â€

My chin was quivering uncontrollably now. A tear traced its way down my cheek, stinging when it got to one of the iodine-stained holes made by today’s splinters.

“Captain Joske has spoken for you. He thinks your claims might generally be founded. I lack his faith, Corderoy, but I shall give you a chance to prove yourself.†There was a long pause before he went on. “60 Squadron’s RO is on leave. You will take his place until you are fit for flying. After that whether you fly or not will be up to Major Patrick, the squadron commander. Mr. McNeil has your travel papers. Be gone before dinner. Dismissed.â€

An hour later I was sitting in Rumford station in front of a mug of cold tea, wondering how I would tell my father what had just happened. The manila envelope with my travel papers lay in front of me. Number 60 was at Filescamp Farm, near Arras. I was to make my way directly there by way of Southampton and Boulogne. I’d need to have my new uniform sent there, I realised. I would have to go to Hawkes in the morning first thing before catching the train. I wondered what the new squadron would have been told.

The train arrived.



NOTES:


[1] Winston Churchill had been sacked as First Lord of the Admiralty after Gallipoli and spent early 1916 in France as a battalion commander with 6th Bn, Royal Scots Fusiliers. He returned to Parliament later that year and was appointed Minister of Munitions on July 1917.

[2] Hawkes & Co. was established as a military tailor in 1771, and has been at its current location at No 1 Savile Row since 1912. Following a 1974 merger with Gieves & Co., another renowned tailoring firm. The establishment is today known as Gieves & Hawkes.

[3] The Royal Automobile Club was established in 1897 as the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland. It is the second oldest motoring society in the world. In 1907 the Club received a Royal Charter from King Edward VII. The RAC was by 1917 one of London’s finer private clubs.

[4] One flight of 37 Sqn operated from Rochford in the summer of 1917. Also at Rochford was No 11 Reserve Squadron, training for night operations.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/20/17 08:20 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France


Nov 20, 1917.

A Flight was just returning from the Dawn Patrol and I was introduced to the C.O.

https://giphy.com/gifs/airplanes-wwi-xUOxforQRuzpFTFIY0/fullscreen

He said that I was to be shown the taps then go on the afternoon Patrol with B flight as a spare. Off the ground at 1305 we were above the lines near Loos and ran into a Flight of Albatross Scouts. I couldnt get in position,but fired off 58rds from long range ( No Hits) I did see 3 Huns go down 2 Flamers and a Green Tailed machine without part of his top wing. Bloody marvelous ! no one was lost.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/21/17 12:14 AM

Raine, that's preposterous! Who's your witness? I'd like a word with him. I could feel the guts of that Hun on your goggles. If I were you, I'd ask for a refund. I mean ... tough luck!

Dick Greyson in 48 RFC on the other hand was promoted to 2nd Lt., had gotten cocky in his Brisfit, took on two Ketten of D.Vs all by himself with the rest of his flight watching on, picked up at least one entire German flight on his tail, got shredded to pieces and exploded mid-air.
Posted By: MadKerbal

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/21/17 02:32 AM

Second Entry
20 November 1917
Journal of Arthur Edwards
57 Squadron RFC

So much to write about since last time, so I'll start with the flight on the 18th.
It went wrong.
Escorts never showed and for some reason the CO decided to let me lead, so I dumped the bombs in no mans land and headed for the nearest airfield, Geoffrey, the chap who was flying with me lost his engine in the circuit and had to plant the kite down in a field, Wrecked the Kite and got himself a few days off for his trouble.
The flight on the 19th should have been easy, a simple scouting job they said, Bah, simple I wish, while the escorts did show up (Same squadron, I'll make a note that Escadrille 3 is F***ing useless.) they proved of no assistance whatsoever and hightailed it out of there when a pair of Albatrosses showed up.
[Linked Image]
We tried to make it to the nearest airfield but I found one of the Kraut's targeting me, so I yanked the DH4 around and gave him a taste of the Vickers gun, we danced our way down to about 1000ft, and I got a good burst in, he spiralled into the ground just next to a forest and the kite spread itself across the grass.
As I turned for home I ran into the second, whipped my plane around and closed to a few yards and let him have it, he did the same as his 'Kamraden' and spiralled into the ground, hopefully the claims office will give me the victories, imagine that! 5 missions and I've already shot down a hun!
[Linked Image]
Anyway, I'm bombing an Airfield Today, flights at 11:00, after I get back I'm going to see if I can hitch a ride to the crash sites,
I'm thinking that a Kraut rudder would make a nice decoration in the mess hall.





The roar of aero engines and the chatter of machine gun fire roared above No Mans Land, an extremely one sided fight took place above, 6 Albatross against a pair of DH4s, one remained steady, throwing back defensive fire, the other shook about, like the pilot hadn't made up his mind, it curved left, a Hun machine up close and firing, a number of bullets lancing there way across the machine, a bullet cracked through the observer's shoulder, another through the Pilots thigh, and a brace smashed through the Oil line, spraying hot oil across the engine and windscreen. Fire. the young Kiwi made his first good decision of the fight, and hit the magnetos, the engine shuddering to a stop, one propeller blade hanging broken in the airflow, He flung the machine into a spiral dive, throwing off the aim of the Ace behind him, who closed to get a shot....
Closer...
Closer...
Too Close.
The Albatross smashed through the top of the DH4, collapsing the top wing onto the cockpit and its occupant and shattering the Tailplane, The DH4 burst into flames again and fell to pieces, a figure leaping clear from the back, and like the aircraft he had departed, dropped away from view, falling like a stone.


Sergeant Arthur Edwards
28/10/1898 - 20/11/1917.

Captain Ronald Stephans
?/?/? - 20/11/1917.

Soon
[Linked Image]
(After a day or 2's break to actually simulate the mentioned Transfer.)

Thanks for making me feel so welcome guys, Think I'll try to survive more then 5 missions this time.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/21/17 12:42 PM

Raine

Sorry your fellow is having such a time of it. 60 Sqn has a few good Aces so hopefully better support for kill confirmations. Really enjoyed your report. I see good old Winston has got himself into it.

MadKerbal- Very nice report and capital pictures sir! I'm enjoying your efforts!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/21/17 04:48 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France

Nov 21, 1917.


Frightful time this morning. On Dawn Patrol mixed it up with 7 Scouts. 5 of them came down to fight while 2 stayed high. I got off a few rounds ,but barley managed to keep them off me. Heard later B flight got 1 Albatross for 3 of ours damaged. ( my a/c had a lot of holes. ) Afternoon flight, Went off to intercept some Hun 2 Seat types by Menen. Spotted them down low so dived. I made 1 pass then lost him in the clouds. While looking around, saw an E/a in flames. Our 5 a/c flight claimed 1 e/a + 1 damaged out of 3 spotted. Losses were 1 destroyed + 1 pilot wnd.

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/21/17 08:35 PM

R.I.P. Arthur Edwards. We hardly knew ye.

Welcome to the fray, MadKerbal. Nice opening story, if a little short. winkngrin
Posted By: MadKerbal

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/21/17 10:38 PM

Worst part was that both claims were rejected due to 'lack of visual corroboration' despite the fact there was an observation balloon a few Miles away, if only they could confirm victories instead of trusting a flight lead who's already landing.
Then again it wouldn't really matter to Arthur anyway, poor lad, he was so excited to get his first kill.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/17 05:44 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France


Nov 21, 1917.

Up with B Flight in the rain over Bapaume and dove on some Albatross Types coming head on at our 5 a/c. The 7 came straight at us then one cut to the left in front of me. I fired off 102 rds. The e/a went into a while spin. I had to keep a heads up as the other Huns were around. I damage one other e/a then the fight was over. The Flight claimed 2 e/a's for the Loss of 1 + 1 damaged.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/22/17 10:54 PM

J. Vickers

2nd flight Late afternoon over Loos.

The Sqn had 8 machines up for Patrol and we got into a fight over a Hun A.F. with 5 of them ( they were the Black Tailed Bunch ) Dive zoom Twist and Turn. I couldn't hit a sausage, but the flight would later claim 2 for the loss of 1 + everyone had a few holes. It got so dark at Dusk that I had to put into Gorgue Aerodrome and spent the night. Thank goodness they had Sprites and a Truck because we headed into town to sample the local culture.

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancers-burlesque-l2QDXLRlp2GxTI9a0/fullscreen

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/23/17 01:04 AM

Looking good Carrick!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/23/17 04:51 PM

Fullofit: I keep huming that song Staying Alive.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/23/17 04:56 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France

Nov 23 1917.

Morning flight: Balloon attack A flight got the gas bag ,but lost a machine.

Afternoon: B Flight 's 5 machines on a Railyard Target. We did some damage in the light rain. One problem was that supply only had enough 25 lb bombs for 2 a/c so we went low. No losses ,but 2 damaged.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/24/17 01:04 AM

Carrick -- Nice bombing pics!

Mad Kerbal -- Best of luck with your next fellow. I hope it's another New Zealander.

Here's the next installment. I am anxious to get back in the air. Geoffrey Corderoy meets the successor to Albert Ball...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 14: 23-27 July 1917

27 July 1917 – Filescamp Farm, Izel-lès-Hameau, Artois, France


These have been full and emotion-filled days. I have never been in such a funk as I was on Tuesday whilst sitting in the London and Southwestern Pullman to Southampton.[1] It felt my flying career were as good as done. So many of the chaps at 46 had reported Huns as “driven down,†only to have someone at Wing later phone to say some ack-ack chaps had seen an enemy machine fall around the right time and place. Then voilà, the thing was confirmed as a kill. In my case it had been the opposite. I alone knew that I’d bagged at least eight, probably nine Huns with that squadron. I’d downed Huns in flames or seen them break up in the air or crash into the ground, yet without a witness my claims remained just that, claims. Only once had I claimed a “driven down out of control.†Then a few days ago I’d pressed my attack on a Gotha over Felixstowe, been hit by splinters, and pulled away. My glance back showed me a fiercely burning machine falling from the Hun formation. I claimed the Gotha, only to learn that the burning machine was one of our own. And now here I was, dropped from 46 Squadron as a fellow whose claims were suspect and whose physical ability to fly close formation with the others was under question. It wasn’t bloody fair!

The countryside paraded past in a blur as I sat with my forehead against the glass of the carriage window. I should have savoured this remaining time in England, but I was thinking of my uncertain future.

I slept on the Channel crossing, the first sleep in two days, and was awakened by the ship’s horn as we approached quayside. Boulogne had changed since I last saw it in the spring of 1915. Then it had still the air of a French fishing and holiday town, albeit one awash with bellowing NCOs. But now – my God – it was a bit of England. The signs, the voices in the streets, the books in the shop windows were all English. It was the beating heart of our war effort.

My orders were to take the train from the Gare Central at midnight. It was mainly a goods train and the officers’ carriages were full, so I joined some New Zealanders in an “Omms an’ Chevoos†[2]. We arrived at Abbeville before six and had a day to wait in the Officers’ Rest Club before a 5:30 pm train to No 2 Aircraft Depot at Candas. Arrived Candas at 10 pm to find the officers’ accommodations full. I paid my own hotel in the village and returned for breakfast. The food at 2 AD pilots’ pool was in short supply and the little left when I went to the mess at 9:30 am was horrendous, matching the overall bleak atmosphere of the place. To make matters more annoying, the orderly room insisted I pay for messing and accommodations when I cleared out!

It was nearly noon when I was informed by the mess steward that a vehicle was outside to take me to my squadron. Bundling up my kitbag and stick, I stumped down the stairs looking for the usual tender. Instead I saw a fine Crossley 20/25 staff car. A young, smooth-faced major stepped out from behind the wheel and extended his hand. On his tunic he wore the ribbons of the DSO and the MC, with a rosette signifying a second award of the MC.

“You must be Mr. Corderoy. My name is Patrick, OC Sixty Squadron. Climb aboard.â€

William Charles Kennedy-Cochrane-Patrick is a well-known character in the RFC, although I’d never met him in person before. He has been flying in France since 1915 and has a reputation as perhaps the finest pilot in the Corps. I was not expecting this encounter, as I’d been told that the commander of 60 Squadron was Major Scott.

Patrick explained that Scott had been recently wounded and invaded out.[3] Patrick had just left as a flight commander at 23 Squadron to take command of 60. “Mr. Guy, our RO, is on leave and you’re my new factotum until he’s back and you’re cleared for duty.†He drove like he flew: quickly, precisely, freely. It was up to others to move out of the way. En route, Major Patrick gave me his précis of the new organisation.

“Good crowd, a little wild. Of course we had Ball, poor chap. But now there’s Captain Bishop, the Canadian. He’s striving to be the new Ball. The jury is out on that. There’s Captain Caldwell and Captain Molesworth. You’ll meet the others.â€

The Crossley swerved to avoid a farm cart and nearly sideswiped an oncoming ambulance. “The jury’s out? Why do you say that, sir, if I may ask?â€

“Oh he’s good, Bish,†said Patrick. “A bit intense, though. Major Scott was quite keen on him. He up for a VC, you know.†This was the first I’d heard of it and I asked about the award. “You’re the RO, Corduroy,†said the Major. “You can read the file for yourself.â€

The rest of the way, the Major questioned me about me. I told him as accurately as I could about my trouble with my knee and with holding extremely close formation, and I recounted as well as memory permitted my round of denied claims and the rocket I’d got about the mistaken Gotha claim. Patrick said only that he’d fly alongside me as soon as I was fit again and judge things for himself. As for claims, he suggested that it was a run of bad luck, and then said that some of the chaps at sixty had seen the “other side of the coin.â€

We had tea and cheese sandwiches in Doullens and arrived at Filescamp at one o’clock. The aerodrome was wonderfully fitted out, more like a holiday camp than the typical RFC utilitarian cluster. Filescamp itself was a large white manor house with the walled enclosure and substantial outbuildings typical of good French farms. It stood in a large rectangular area of woods, ponds, barns and trails, at the northwest corner of which stood an orchard. The squadron’s officers and NCO were housed in neat Nissan huts and the men in long, well-tended barrack buildings along the north side of this rectangle. Hangars lined the west side. All around the farms were wide-open fields for the aircraft.

[Linked Image]

I claimed a vacant bed-space in one of the huts, introducing myself to a fellow named Rutherford, and then made my way to the squadron office to start work. There was a mass of correspondence to plough through. After an hour I went in search of the disciplinary sergeant-major, whom I should need as a bit of a mentor.

Sergeant-Major Aspinall was a former Guardsman and the very image of his type. Everything about the man was crisp and shiny, from his hair and trim moustache to his gleaming Sam Browne and boots. He brought me on a tour of the squadron and introduced me to so many men that my head ached trying to remember the names.

I returned to my correspondence until five, when I made my way to the mess. Scarcely had I ordered a drink when some silly bugger jumped on my back and covered my eyes, shouting “Debag the new boy!†Although two others reached under my tunic to snap off my braces, my knee collapsed painfully and the four of us fell to the floor. The fellow on my back cracked his head on the bar as we fell and knocked himself out cold. My walking stick rattled across the anteroom floor.

I shouted in pain, holding my knee. The two conscious types sized up the situation and quickly apologized. Captain Molesworth and Lieut. Beck then introduced themselves and bought me a new drink. The slight, wiry fellow on the floor was still out cold. “That’s Bishop,†said Molesworth, and poured his drink on the chap’s nether regions. “I say, Watson,†said Molesworth as the stain spread across Bishop’s trousers, “I do believe it’s an inside job.â€

NOTES:

[1] The London and Southampton Railroad operated between London Victoria Station and Southampton from 1838 to 1922, when it was bundled into the Southern Railway. It operated with rather luxurious Pullman carriages.

[2] Standard “40 and 8†French carriage marked “Hommes: 40, Chevaux: 8â€.

[3] Maj Scott was wounded in combat on 10 July 1917.


Attached picture Filescamp.png
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/24/17 06:01 PM

Thanks, normally I take them too late, but these did workout fine.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/24/17 06:03 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France.

1 Victory


Nov 24, 1917.


Up and down twice in the rain today. No contact
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/24/17 06:19 PM

Raine; seems Corderoy has joined Godfrey's unit! The claims thing should be getting better now!

P.S. thanks for the post of Filescamp airfield. Food for thought and possibly a new WOFF airfield update in future.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/25/17 04:00 AM

Jeffery Vickers



I had my rigger check my Lewis and its mount. Every things much slicker . I gave him a full bottle of some French wine and Cheese.

https://giphy.com/gifs/wwi-airplanes-3ohs7Vl2kr4q5iRHB6/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/25/17 04:48 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France

1 Victory


Nov 25, 1917.

I got picked off by the Huns today. B Flight's 5 a/c were close escort for 3 DH-4;s over Monchy. A Jasta of Scouts dove on us and the melee became Bedlam. In no time the Buggers had 3 a/c on my tail so did the Blue Max thing but took hits. I landed in our lines but with a bullet in the leg so its off to the Hospital for 6 Days. I latter heard the final tally was Enemy 1 DH-4 and 1 SE + 3 damage ( including mine forced down ) for 0

Attached picture CFS3 2017-11-25 08-30-07-39.jpg
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/26/17 01:10 PM

Ben Kincaid
November 1917

Good ol Ben's November has been rather tame compared to October. Shortly after the incident with Kiwi and his ensuing assignment as the Adjt/RO, the Sqn transfered to England, just west of Dover.

Here he calmed down a good bit and relearned to enjoy flying. Leading frequent trips around the countryside. It was peaceful and tame. Well, except for the time Flt Lt Andrews engine exploded into flames near London. Sadly he didnt make it.

After almost a month of regular patrols, chasing ladies and pints at the pub, Ben put in for a transfer back to France. It is time to get back into the war...


After my real life trip to a RAF station in Cornwall, Im thinking that the infrastructure hasnt been touched (or the bathrooms cleaned) since the Second World War. At least the pubs in town were amazing.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/26/17 03:43 PM

Awesome Report on the RAF station at Cornwall
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/26/17 03:58 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, west wing
2nd floor. Row 3
Bed 4.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.

Nov 26 1917. Just a note am doing fine or so the Doc said.


https://giphy.com/gifs/general-hospital-doctorsnurses-3o6fJ8yXCbNt8DOSDm/fullscreen


Thank goodness my Nurse is cheerful


https://giphy.com/gifs/ZAmYKLXwiRLr2/fullscreen
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/26/17 05:53 PM

Raine, I get this funny feeling Bishop and Geoff aren't starting on the best of terms. Hope they make up and work well together in the air.
Carrick, what's the prognosis? How many days left?

July 29, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

A few weeks have passed since Aldi Schwarzkopf’s leave to the seaside with Käte. The life at the new aerodrome had been idyllic so far. One mission in the morning and one in the afternoon of each day with not much activity seen this far behind the front lines. The C.O. is trying a new tactic regarding new airplane allocations. The experienced Jagdfliegers get to keep their tried and tested old Albatros D.III early’s, while the new, inexperienced arrivals are stuck with the brand spanking new Albatros D.Vs. According to Grieffenhagen this will level the playing field. Old hands are experienced enough to handle the relics, while the new blood gets the advantage of new machines to make up for their inexperience and give them a fighting chance.
The hunting grounds are rich in all kinds of prey, but with these old birds only the Pups seem to be fair game. Everything else flies faster, higher and better than the Albatros. Aldi doesn’t get much opportunity to make any impact in the air and his victories seem to consist of inferior or already damaged enemy planes that are not worth mentioning. He yearns for a better mount that will equal or surpass the qualities of the recent enemy offerings.

[Linked Image]

Käte on the other hand, has her hands full with von Richthofen. After nearly getting another hole in his head curtesy of a British gunner, he is now recovering in one of the hospital beds with Käte at his side. The Baron is making her read his fan mail from his admirers and she cannot stand it. All she can do is stop herself from rolling her eyes any time she’s near him. In her latest letter to Aldi, Käte called Richthofen a prat. This was right after Manfred made her read a letter from a nun from a convent in the Tyrol mountains, who kept his picture on the wall of her room. When Mother Superior found out, she ordered the picture be taken down, but the nun cleverly painted over the Ace of Aces’ uniform in the picture to make it look like a nun’s habit and thus managed to keep the picture on the wall. Käte can’t wait for the aristocrat to leave and let her get back to work.

[Linked Image]

The war continues.


Attached picture Aldi.jpg
Attached picture Kate.JPG
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/26/17 10:28 PM

Fullofit: E Gad ! Man U R suppose to land on the ground not on an Airplane. 5 more days out of the War.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/27/17 02:37 AM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Fullofit: E Gad ! Man U R suppose to land on the ground not on an Airplane. 5 more days out of the War.

Carrick, great advice, but in Aldi's defense he was helping the other guy land.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/27/17 04:59 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, west wing
2nd floor. Row 3
Bed 4.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.


Nov 27, 1917.

Ah, the Wards day nurses have arrived. I say, splendid. Breakfast will be soon.


https://giphy.com/gifs/nurses-julie-cole-l2RnHZ5myXaQxTiN2/fullscreen
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/28/17 10:17 PM

28 Nov 1917
Flt SLT Benjamin Kincaid

My transfer has finally come through. After leading the majority of 3 RNAS on a navigation exercise I found the CO standing on the side of the field waiting with the news. It is a bittersweet moment. I spent the last year with this squadron sharing in their success and pain. Even so, I am glad to be gone.

I spent the better part of three days back to my new home. Well, old home really, as 1 RNAS is stationed at Bray Dunes, being the unit that replaced us. I am even back in the same tent I stayed in with 3 RNAS. I have run into several familiar fances, which only adds to my joy.

Being the new guy again has its frustrations. I have been assigned a Tripe, even though 95% of the Sqn is flying Camels. There are four replacement Camels sitting in a hanger, but I have to earn my way back into the cockpit of my one true love.

The Chaps seem a decent sort. Even though Im a replacement, my year spent at the front has earned me a small amount of respect. I do believe, however, that I am being babysat in the air. My wingman is the most experienced chap in the Sqn, having been flying since 1915. No matter as he is friendly enough, though tragically named Benny Byington.

I am excited to return to the fray. I have shaken the bloodlust that led to the unpleasantness with 3 RNAS, but being back in France is suprisingly comforting. The tedium of England is forgotten quickly here.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/17 12:39 AM

Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Canuck. Now U will be in the Thick of It !.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/17 12:46 AM

Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, west wing
2nd floor. Row 3
Bed 4.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.




Nov 28, 1917.

Wheeled in and out for fresh air Then in the late afternoon a new development.


https://giphy.com/gifs/night-nurse-nat-nightwolf-3o6fJ3qvEWw9Z1IA0w/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/17 02:09 PM

Nicely written Dark_Canuck.
I just spent a couple of hours with Raine yesterday and he tells me you live not far from him. You two should get together for a chat. I can tell you from experience that Raine is a wealth of knowledge in things related to WW1 and the US Civil War.

Sorry to get off topic here. I look forward to more of your posts regarding Be Kincaid.

Cheers mate!
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/17 10:06 PM

We do have a plan to meet up at sone point. Hopefully soon.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/29/17 11:32 PM

Flt Sub Lt Benjamin Kincaid
1 RNAS
29 Nov 17

Well, it was not a quiet first sortie with 1 RNAS. Right into the fire as they say. The CO tagged me to lead B Flight, half because my reputation as a solid navigator and aggresive leader and half because it meant that it would keep the flight together and prevent my aging Tripe from falling behind the Camels.

We took off into the crisp air and headed in a dogs leg path towards the lines, passing over Neuiport along the way. As we reached the lines I spotted a pair of Hun two seaters lazily soaring over our trenches.

I waggled my wings and headed towards them, uneasy at the prospect of facing the rear guns. Two seaters have brought me nothing but pain so far. Fortunately for me, I spied their escorts: two DIIIs with Jasta 29 markings.

None of the Huns saw us coming. I pulled up to the rear of the lead DIII as easy as you please and let out a burst at short range. What would jave been a certain kill with my Camels twin Vicks just wounded the bird with my tripes lone plinker. Drat! The chase was on.

I persued my victim for about five minutes before I was finally able to land a killing blow, shooting off the upper left plane and leving the hun pilot a long time to think about his mistakes on the way down.

Vic Rowley, a big hulking lad who flew more gracefully than he walked, had made short work of the other DIII. We headed back towards our side of the lines.

We had only made it a short distance before I noticed I was flying alone. The rest of the flight had peeled off to deal with the pair of two seaters. I swung around to join them.

I saw the other Tripe, flown by my fearless wingman Benny Byington, close in for the kill on one as Vic finished off the other. I figured it was as good as done as I saw tracers from Benny land on the Hun craft. Suddenly both aircraft jerked unnaturally and burst into flames. Twin tails of smoke chased the stricken craft downwards.

I couldn't believe it. I'd only known Benny for a day, but he was the most experienced pilot in the squadron by far. He was loved by everybody. The mess would be a somber place tonight and I would be to blame for leading the patrol that killed the Sqn hero.

We formed up and headed towards home, each alone with our thoughts. We were all jerked out of our reverie as we realized we had flown right into the middle of a right proper scrap. SPAD VIIs were tangling with another portion of Jasta 29.

I tried to jump in and help, but after two near collisions I headed towards Bray Dunes, not willing to die for no reason. As I neared, I spied a lone DIII pulling onto the tail of a damage SPAD who was making an approach onto the airfield. Not very sporting, I thought.

The hun must have been new or too focused because he never saw me coming. I let out a burst and was once again frustrated by the lack of stopping power the one gun had. It took my six passes to chip away at the DIII enough for it to crash about two miles from the airfield. I managed to find a parking space on the crowded field that was now host to members of three different Sqns, as the SPADs had all taken damage and felt that this looked like a good a place as any to count their holes.

I was more than pleased to discover that, contrary to my initial belief, the Sqn did not, in fact hate me for Benny's death. Vic came over immediately and clapped me on the back. He had only words of comfort and steered me to the mess, with his awkward gait. We drank. Everybody drank. We sang songs in English. We sang songs in French. We toasted our fallen comerades. We toasted our living comerades. We drank some more. We all woke up with headaches.

Mine was slightly lessened when the CO informed me that one of my two kills had been confirmed. Vic was visably cured of his hangover when he was informed that all three of his claims were confirmed. A huge smile crossed his face. He looked at me and asked impishly: Drinks?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/30/17 03:35 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, west wing
2nd floor. Row 3
Bed 4.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.


Nov 30, 1917.

I am being released today. I will be given a 48 hr pass so thought that I would spend it in Rouen taking in the sights. I will miss the cheerful day nurse.




Attached picture s-l1000.jpg
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/30/17 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, west wing
2nd floor. Row 3
Bed 4.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.


Dec 30, 1917.

I am being released today. I will be given a 48 hr pass so thought that I would spend it in Rouen taking in the sights. I will miss the cheerful day nurse.




a 48 hour pass spent keeping the day nurse company off hours wouldn't be a bad second choice either !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/30/17 11:41 PM

Mr Wiggins :


https://giphy.com/gifs/26n7aOK7ll5zFqL4I/fullscreen
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/17 04:06 AM

It's great to see the stories picking up. Fullofit, I hope you're right about Kate. I don't trust the Baron, you know. And Dark Canuck, welcome home to the land of cold beer. Hope we can connect soon. And congratulations on Kincaid's kill. I hope he gets his Camel soon.

I'm on the road, but thought I'd add an installment to Corderoy's story. This is the last one while he is scrubbed from flying. I'm looking forward to getting into the air again in a new aircraft...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 15: 28 July 1917


28 July 1917 – Filescamp Farm

Life at 60 Squadron has been generally pleasant the past few days. The squadron is in the midst of re-equipping with SE5s, wonderful-looking machines, but most of our work is still being done with our old Nieuports. Major Patrick turned a blind eye to my medical status and let me take up a Nieuport this morning. He flew another and we played follow-the-leader. No mean feat! The man is certainly every bit the man of legend. He took off and immediately zoomed into a roll, and then he dived on the hangars, avoiding disaster by mere inches. We flew west past Doullens, stunting in and out of clouds. Then he performed a snap roll, something I had never done and was afraid to attempt, especially in a delicate machine like the Nieuport. After we landed he demonstrated to me how it’s done and sent me off with instructions not to return until I’d done a dozen of them. He also advised me to leave an extra twenty yards’ gap when flying formation. Apparently he agreed with Major Babington that my formation work had been compromised by my bad knee.

Late this afternoon I decided to get out of the office and get some practice on the Lewis gun, which I hadn’t seen since my early training days. Sergeant-Major Smyrk, our technical sergeant-major, set me up with a corporal armourer who put me through the paces. My Nieuport (the oldest Type 23 we had) was rolled out to the butts and the ack emmas propped its tail up on a trestle. My ladder was placed alongside the fuselage and I climbed in. The Nieuport is a sweet coquette of a machine, light and beautifully fitted-out, although sparser on instrumentation than the Pup. A trigger attached to a Bowden cable fired the gun. I settled into the seat and thumbed the trigger button. The Lewis, fired a quick ten-round burst. Unencumbered by any synchronizing device, it has a greater rate of fire than the Pup’s Vickers.

The armourer stood on the ladder beside me and looked into the cockpit. “Keep your finger off the trigger, now, sir. I’ll talk you through the drills.†We began rehearsing I.A.s and stoppages. “Weapon fires, weapon fires, weapon stops. Cocking handle full forward,†he said. This meant an empty drum. I struggled to release the catch on the quadrant mount and slide the gun back. The butt nearly hit me square in the mouth. I dodged at the last second and took a painful crack on the cheek. “Oooh, be careful, sir,†the corporal said helpfully. I slammed a new drum into place, cocked the weapon, slid the gun back into place, and fired a five-round burst.

“Good, sir, but what would you do if you were certain the drum was not empty?â€

“Misfire drill?†I said uncertainly. The corporal nodded and this time I pulled the gun down and drew the cocking handle back twice, ejecting rounds. I slammed it forward and fired.

“Weapon fires, weapon fires, weapon stops.†This time he said nothing else. I quickly pulled the gun down and reached to feel the cocking handle. “Cocking handle not quite fully forward, about where your palm hits it,†the armourer said. I hesitated momentarily. This was a Number 2 stoppage, likely a damaged round or a separated cartridge. I reached for a cocking handle extension, basically a section of pipe that you slip over the cocking handle and pull on like hell. “Good sir, that’s about all you can do.â€

We continued onto other drills – hard extractions, misfeeds, etc. A familiar voice called up to the armourer. “Get down from there, Corporal Curtis, and give me a go at him.†It was Bishop, our star turn. The slight Canadian is one of those “hale fellow, well met†types who is forever pulling pranks and slapping one on the back. The ORs love the chap, and most of the pilots, too. And he is certainly the talk of the RFC with a VC pending and 36 kills to his name. He was still in his flying coat, a lovely brown leather creation with a broad lambswool collar and lining that must have cost two months’ pay. [1]

Bishop hadn’t really spoken much to me since I’d accidentally knocked him out the day I’d arrived. But now he was most helpful, telling me what stoppages to work on and which weren’t worth the effort in the air. We rehearsed for another ten minutes, despite my protesting that I really needed to get to the office and record his combat report. Then he pointed out something that I’d completely missed – the Lewis gun on the upper plane is angled about ten degrees above the horizontal, so my sights need to be adjusted to line up with the point of impact at a given distance. “Make it close,†he said. “Start with 75 yards, and consider bringing it into 50 if you can get away with it.†He called down instructions to the armourer to make this adjustment.

I dismounted awkwardly and stumped after him towards the office, thanking him for the help. “Tell you what,†he replied. “Let me go get washed up for lunch and file my report for me, would you? I’ll drop my and sign it after dinner.†I nodded, and he dictated quickly. “With Captain Caldwell and Lieutenant Gunner, about 10000 feet somehwere south of Lille. Spotted 3 EA over Phalempin and left the patrol to chase them. Got behind one and fired 20 rounds from each gun from 200 yards. The EA, an Albatros type, burst into flames and his pals took off. I chased one and fired about 50 rounds from the Vickers and 30 from the Lewis, but he kept diving away and I came home. Got it?†I nodded. [2]

“Any witnesses?†I asked.

“Like I said, it was a flamer. Call about if you’d like, but Colonel Pretyman knows my worth.†[3] And with that he wandered off. The armourer approached with my flying gloves, which I’d worn for the stoppage drills in the Nieuport but forgotten on the seat.

“’E’s a right sharp one, our Captain Bishop,†he said.

I nodded in agreement. “But I wish he’d fly alone less often. I’ll have to spend the whole bloody afternoon calling every battery on the front to get confirmation.â€

The corporal tut-tutted like I was a particularly obtuse schoolboy. “Career goes, career goes, career stops,†he said to himself as he turned away to the ORs’ lines.

NOTES:

[1] The costly coat was a gift from Lady St. Helier, a London County Council alderman and grande dame of London society who’d met Bishop when he was in hospital before joining the RFC and who had taken to him as the grandson she’d never have (her son had been killed earlier in the war). Bishop even called her “granny.â€

[2] The newly-arrived SE5s were struggling with unreliable engines and synchronising gear at this time, and 60 Squadron pilots were ordered not to cross the lines in them. It was a simple matter therefore for an Albatros to escape the faster SE5.

[3] LCol George F. Pretyman DSO commanded 13 Wing, to which 60 Squadron was subordinate.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/17 04:32 PM

Raine: Nicely done story especially the Gun Drill. The way that it was woven into the story line blended well. I say, Well Done.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/17 04:58 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, west wing
2nd floor. Row 3
Bed 4.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.

Dec 1, 1917.



I left the Hospital and met some friends from the Embassy for a tour of the Hot Spots.

https://youtu.be/t4k6SYRYSCg

https://youtu.be/Ckxjw2hOoUg
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/01/17 07:22 PM

Raine, I too enjoyed the weapons drill. All that was missing was some overzealous soldier yelling CHECK after the "weapon stops" portion.

Good to see Geoff making friends with Mr Bishop. Never hurts to have friends in the right places!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/02/17 12:59 AM

Raine;

I'm a little late commenting on Corderoy's last exploit, however I had to say I found it very instructional and entertaining. I was looking forward to the interactions with Bishop. Nicely done Sir! Your previous post with the picture of Filescamp Farm has set me on a developmental binge to redo Filescamp and Isel Les Hameau airfields as they should be. I guess I will have my hands full for a bit.

Cheers
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/02/17 01:17 AM

I fully agree, Robert. Another bang-on story by Raine.

Quote
Your previous post with the picture of Filescamp Farm has set me on a developmental binge to redo Filescamp and Isel Les Hameau airfields as they should be. I guess I will have my hands full for a bit.

Go, Robert go!
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/02/17 03:13 PM

2 Dec 17
Flt Sub-Lt Benjamin Kincaid

Life in 1 RNAS could not be better. The chaps ate in great spirits. A result of high scores and low casualties, I imagine. For the first time in a long time, I can feel myself smiling freely and laughing heartily. Their enthusiam and camaraderie is infectious.

Ive bonded well with Samuel Kinkead, Kink for short, is a loud humorous South Afrikaner, with a fondness for pranks. He lost his brother in a flying accident a few months ago, and he is determined to live so their mother does not have to go through that pain again.

My other new friend is Herbert Rowley, an Englishman from Crich, who goes by his middle name, Victor. He is fond of shouting it out after crushing me at any game I attempt against him. Table tennis and chess are his favourites and I have found myself lacking against him in every match.

Our patrols the last three days have been wonderfully dull affairs. Twice over the lines and once essentially circling our own airfield, never for much more than an hour or so. The greatest excitement occured this morning when James Foreman had to turn back due to a dud engine and ended up landing in the field next to the aerodrome, almost on top of our always grouchy neighbour.

The only stress right now is I am awaiting confirmation on a DIII I drove down several days ago. If it goes through, I will be an ace, like the majority of the rest of the Sqn.

It seema I have been made "de-facto leader" of B Flight on patrols. I am most comfortable out front and it means the other chaps dont have to worry about me amashing into them with my attrocious formation flying abilities. Everyone wins.

Rumour has it the replacement pilot for Benny will be arriving tomorrow. It will be nice to have an assigned wingman again, as it it tough to learn someones tendancies when they rotate every flight.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/02/17 04:47 PM

Thanks so much for the comments, fellows. They are greatly appreciated. Dark Canuck, I'm enjoying Kinkaid's tale and am dying to hear more of life in Naval One.

This has been a long spell without flying, so here, before I head to the airport, is another installment in Corderoy's story...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 16: 29 July 1917

29 July 1917 – Filescamp Farm


The weather has been mixed today and few orders have come down so flying has been kept to a minimum. I’m back in the office all day. Lieutenant Guy, the regular RO, returns from leave this evening to relieve me of my duties as acting RO. This has been a good introduction to the squadron and especially to Major Patrick. The Major is a thoroughly sound fellow, and although he is new to squadron command he is taking to his role with confidence. I believe he wants to put his mark on the place. The squadron has been something of a boys’ party under Major Scott. Captains Molesworth and Bishop are indefatigable wags who carry on like prefects. Captain Caldwell, a New Zealander, is more of a proper leader in my view. The three of them live in a Nissen referred to as the “Hotel de Commerce,†which serves as a second mess and scene of drinking and merriment.

The Major has been conferring with the Great Man, as Sgt-Major Aspinall is generally called. From what I hear he wants to strike a balance between the light-hearted atmosphere he has found here and the sort of professional operation he wants. A few minutes ago I overheard him saying that the squadron was his weapon against the Hun and it’s in need of a good cleaning and oiling. The Great Man is in full agreement but seems to be cautioning him on the approach. I heard Bishop’s name mentioned, and also Lieutenant Fry's. Fry left the squadron shortly before my arrival. Unfortunately, the Major has just asked the Sgt-Major to close the office door and my day just got less interesting.

No tea for me. Am about to write up more combat reports for Wing. Captain Bishop went up with Captain Caldwell and Lieutenant Gunner. Gunner’s guns jammed and then Caldwell’s. Gunner was lost and Caldwell headed home. But when Caldwell noticed that Bishop was in a tight spot by himself he returned to the fray despite being unable to fire his weapons! I shall give Major Patrick a detailed report, as Caldwell’s bravery is certainly deserving of praise and recognition. Bishop has filed a claim for a lone Albatros, which he shot while alone. The EA fell completely out of control, he says. Caldwell could not confirm. I shall be on the phone all evening looking for word of Gunner and confirmation for “Bish.†I could not get confirmation of Bishop’s kill of yesterday.

The Great Man has left and Major Patrick has just come out of the office. Directions are to submit both of Bishop’s kills without comment and focus on getting word of Gunner.

Lieut. Guy has just returned. Round, somewhat darkish face and moustache. Looks more like the attendant at a Turkish bath than an officer type. Very pleasant chap, though, and very polished manner of speech. I have brought him up to speed and shall head to the mess to celebrate my liberation.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/17 02:37 AM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France

1 Victory


Dec 2, 1917.

B flight went up in the rain to escort Re 8's. I had to drop out as we were forming up. My motor was running rough and I couldnt get more the 60 % power. The flight saw no action.



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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/17 01:35 PM

Finally had some time to catch up.
DC and Raine, great stories!
It always amazes me how much research goes into each and every story you post, Raine. I’ve said it and I’ll say it again. The amount of knowledge these stories contain blows me away. Keep it coming.
BTW, at least now we know who gets credit for all Corderoy’s kills. There has to be balance. Did the famous aces get special treatment when it came to confirmations?
Carrick, don’t forget your scarf! Winter is coming.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/17 01:41 PM

.

I was also able to get current with everyone's adventures this morning whilst sipping my coffee.

Raine, Geoffrey is best rid of the priggish Major Babington, the man did him a favour sending him to 60 Squadron. Back in France with the likes of Bishop and Molesworth I predict Corderoy’s luck will turn round in all regards, confirmed claims included. Speaking of claims, he’d be smart to allow Bishop the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the wobbly ones, I hear the fellow can change his temper considerably when his integrity is questioned. Loved the misfire drill. Superb write-ups all of them.

Carrick, looks like Jeffrey enjoyed his stay at hospital as well as his two-day pass but now it’s time to get back to the task at hand. By the way, tricky landing in the dark there at Gorgue. And as mentioned by Raine, great snapshots of the bombing results from that earlier sortie. Well done.

MadKerbal, love the vintage photos. Tough show though on young Arthur’s untimely demise. Hope to see you back soon with a new pilot.

Dark Canuck, congratulations on Benjamin’s transfer back to France and his old digs at the Dunes. Rough start though, here’s hoping him a more mindful guardian angel then poor Byington’s and a confirmation on that Alb. The RNAS can always celebrate another ace.

Fullofit, hardly seems fair that the old hands should suffer with the clapped-out mounts while the green fliegers get the latest equipment. What happened to “rank has its privilege†eh? Fingers crossed Aldi will be blessed with a spanking new machine soon. And I don’t think Käte is the only one who has found the Baron to be somewhat of a prat.

Wonderful reports everyone, most enjoyable. Oh and Robert, Filescamp is on my list of aerodromes to be built at some point in the future. smile2

Cheers All!

.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/17 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Did the famous aces get special treatment when it came to confirmations?


Great question, Fullofit! My impression, as least with regard to the RFC, is that it made a small difference, but that in Bishop's case it was more significant. I can't go along with Greenhous's cartoonish portrayal of him as a liar on a huge scale, nor can I agree fully with Peter Kilduff's willingness to cut him slack on anything that can't be definitively called a lie. I'm working on a statistical review of Bishop's claims, cross-referencing four different works. Early indications show a significantly higher occurrence of sightings and claims in his lone wolf missions. The bottom line is that Bishop was undoubtedly a brave man and a fine shot, but he was a classic and (when helpful, a charming) narcissist given to wishful thinking and blatant exaggeration and fantasy. His first CO, Jack Scott, clearly supported him, as did his wing commander, LCol Pretyman. There are so many oddities about Bishop's claims and about the irregular path his VC recommendation took. I think he became untouchable. When Patrick took over 60 the Bishop bandwagon had too much momentum for anyone to check.

Lou, great to hear from you. Hope you're enjoying the weekend read.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/17 02:56 PM

Fascinating stuff, Raine!

On top of all the other wonderful features of WOFF, we should probably also add that WOFF UE is one of those rare handful of games (perhaps the only one) that has actually contributed to scholarly research in an area of significant historical interest.

Well done!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/17 04:11 PM

Thanks Raine, I have a feeling that if MvR were playing WOFF he’d probably finish with only 55 kills, or less.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/17 04:38 PM

Lou, I'm already working on Filescamp! biggrin

I will send you the mod for the first test when it is done.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/17 05:44 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France

1 Victory
Dec 3, 1917.

2 flights, the only fight was on the 1st Patrol.

Dawn Patrol over the lines, our 5 a/c dived on 7 to 8 e/a's We lost 1 they lost 1. I managed to get off a few bursts at a blue and red e/a then lost everyone in the dark skies so RTB.

Afternoon: The Sqn's 7 a/c covered the Aerodromes. No enemy contact.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/17 08:26 PM

Late afternoon at Lealvillers:

While outside the Mess, I spotted a monoplane looking for a place to land. I figured it was some Frenchie looking for Juice. It turned out to be Wing Commander Park paying a visit. He did a few touch and goes to show that he kept a hand in it then left . I say, Marvelous\\

https://youtu.be/d3Acn5809Ho.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/03/17 09:17 PM

You really had to be crazy or brave, or both to fly these things. Thanks Carrick. Enjoyed that one.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/17 12:36 AM

Flt Lt Benjamin Kincaid
04 Dec 17
1 RNAS

"What was his name again? Corey, Carney?" asked Kink.

"Carey," I answered with frustration as we sipped our coffee in the mess. Not even two hours after joining the Squadron, he was gone. Killed in a collision born out of his own greed, inexperience and stupidity. "Why do they send them to us so green?" I lamented, "Eleven hours of flight time is not enough to survive here."

The boy had arrived about an hour before the daily patrol, plunking his kit down atop the free cot in my tent and smiling with that eager smile all the foolish boys wear when they first arrive at the Front. We barely had time to exchange pleasantries before it was time for the briefing from the boss. It was going to be an easy jaunt, perfect for getting your feet wet. A simple Friendly Lines patrol, to the front and back. Nothing to worry about, with Fritz usually staying on his side of the fence.

We were sending out the full cast on this one, two full flights to conduct the run, with me in the lead of B Flight. I instructed the young lad to stick close, pay attention and keep out of any fights. Just circle above, keep your eyes open and try to learn a bit about surviving.

I figured it would be easy enough to keep my eye on him, with him flying the only other Triplane in the Squadron. We left Bray Dunes, circled to 12000ft and headed South-East towards the lines, with nothing but clear blue skies to accompany us. The young lad seemed to be doing fine with formation flying, which was a good start and left me feeling pleased. We reached the lines without incident and, just as we were turning back, I caught a glimpse of something headed West off my starboard side.

Figuring it to be a group of friendlies flying that far behind our lines, I figured we would head in that direction and say hi, giving the new lad a bit more stick time and a better tour of our operating area. As we got closer, I found it a little odd that the group of planes was turning to face us. I climbed higher, trying to increase our height advantage in case I was wrong as to their allegiance. By the time we saw the little black crosses, we already knew the game was afoot. We had a five hundred foot height advantage and equal numbers, with A flight turning away before they saw us head West.

They turned out to be a group of DIIIs. The Huns controlling them were very good. Soon we were spread across the sky, twisting, turning, dancing and trying to give each other a gentle caress from our guns. We were doing well. I saw at least two huns go down under the guns of Camels. In the fight, I lost track of Carey, caring more about keeping the huns from getting me in their sights and trying to get them in mine. After a protracted battle I did manage to send a conclusive burst into the cockpit of one of the bloody huns and I watched him lazily spiral into the ground, with Vic Rowley keeping watch.

I looked around to see what could be seen and spotted a group of ours going after a lone DIII making a run for his side of the lines. I cringed as I watched no less than four of our machines were crisscrossing and overlapping in an attempt to get a firing position. I swore to myself as I saw that one of the bunch had an extra set of wings. I flew over helplessly, expecting to see disaster at any second. I saw Carey fire a burst into the Hun and the DIII caught fire. The poor Hun was still alive and fought valiantly with the controls to bring himself down under control. I cant even imagine the horror and terror that he experienced on the way down.

I began a long slow turn back towards the North, sighing relief, when I heard a loud bang and saw a separate smoke trail and a triplane wobbling unsteadily away, circling towards the ground. In his excitement of victory, he lost sense of his surrounding and plowed full on into Richard Minifie and sent them both into the dirt. Miraculously, Richard survived with minor wounds. Carey was not as lucky.

Stupid kid. Poor, stupid kid.

I was pulled out of my funk by an orderly instructing me to report to the CO's office. I quickly drained my coffee and headed towards the office, exchanging a confused glance with Kink as I left.

The CO was a weary looking man, aged well beyond his 32 years. I stood to attention and announced myself. He instructed me to come in, giving no hint in his tone as to the purpose of this visit. He looked at me with a hint of sympathy and asked how I was doing. He seemed pleased that I said I was in good form.

"Good then, Ben, because there are three things I wish to speak with you about. First, it is time to bring this squadron fully into the present. You are being assigned a Camel. Get re-familiarized with it as soon as you can."

"Yes Sir!" I replied with a grin.

"Second, I have received confirmation on both your victory from today and your other outstanding claim!"

I have to admit, this was beginning to feel a bit like Christmas had come early. This put me up to six victories! I was now one of the top scorers in the squadron.

"Finally, it has come to my attention that you are strolling around the aerodrome out of dress. This is unacceptable and I am going to have to take steps to prevent this kind of nonsense." He slowly walked around his desk holding my gaze. My eyes betrayed my surprise. I had no idea what he was talking about. He cut me off with hand as I tried to stammer out some kind of reply. His intense stare broke into a large grin.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Flt Lt Kincaid! Now off to the mess with you. I'm sure your compatriots will be expecting you and your money. Dismissed."
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/17 01:27 AM

Congrats DC! Terrific tale, two confirmed kills, and a promotion. What a day! Thanks for the great read.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/17 02:40 AM

Fullofit:

Thanks hope to find more of those. Its kind of a pain because I dont have a movie maker program. ( Need cuts that fit a small time frame, cant edit ect, ) Hopefully, I may find more.

Wow 2 kills and U R a new guy ! Good going. D.C.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/17 03:05 PM

Finally...survived to the plane of choice.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/17 04:46 PM

Awesome !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/04/17 04:52 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France

1 Victory

Soggy morning had to fly in light rain chasing Recon types. Our 4 ships did no good they were that much higher than us.

2nd flight in the same weather,but attacked an Aerodrome The flight did good work ( my bombs under shot and exploded far short.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/05/17 01:45 AM

Congrats on the upgrade to Camel, DC. Hope I don't see these for a while.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/05/17 02:23 AM

Thanks Fullofit. I love the Camel. It took a long time for me to learn how to get her to sing just right, but at this point in the war I feel like I can dictate the tempo of most engagements.

May we never meet in the sky, but always in the mess.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/05/17 04:25 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
1 Victory


Dec 5, 1917.


Bollicks ! I had to be up for the dawn Patrol and flew in scatted rain showers Monchy then East to Cambrai. My second flight was an AirField attack. This time my bombs hit on the Field. I did notice that some bloke had hit the living quarters. I say, is that Cricket ?

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/06/17 05:44 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
1 Victory


Dec 6, 1917.


Sq scramble : E/a's over St. Vaast. We spotted them ( 2 Hann ? ) nosing over for home. Too High and Too late to catch them.

Rail Yard attack: B flight's 5 a/c did some good work.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/07/17 03:27 AM

Great to be back in the air, although the campaign weather has not cooperated. Wonderful stuff here from Fullofit, Carrick, Lederhosen, and a special tip of the hat to Dark Canuck.


Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 18: 1-11 August 1917

1 Aug 1917 – Filescamp Farm


This morning I awoke early, keen to get going, but the splatter of gusting rain on our tin roof told me all I needed to know. There is no flying to be done.

I flew yesterday for the first time in a long while. Captain Bishop led with Major Patrick alongside. Blake, Rutherford, Soden, Pope, and I rounded out the pack. We escorted two RE8s over to Oppy to drop bombs on a Hun crossroad where reinforcements are coming up to try to contain our big push. Blake and I kept our Nieuports fully opened up to keep pace with the others’ SE5s. It was a bumpy ride due to heavy cloud and intermittent rain. We saw nothing, which was just as well given that I was more concerned with keeping station on Bishop’s right.

Today is blissful idleness. Have just finished toast and tea, with Gentlemen’s Relish from Beck’s latest tuck parcel. Topped it off with a pipe of fine Latakia from Horn’s supply. Passed about shortbread biscuits from a lovely Fortnum & Mason hamper my Aunt Margaret, Dad’s sister, has just sent. Uncle Robert, bless his soul, had a fine bottle of Old Pulteney added to the hamper, which I am hiding from the band of marauding riffs that I live with.[1] When the sun is over the yardarm I shall retire to my virtuous couch and partake! God, what a war.

I share a hut with Rutherford, Beck, and Pope. Beck is our latest arrival and a splendid fellow. He has sworn me to secrecy, for I have learned he is only seventeen and his parents do not know he is in France. Jack Rutherford is a lanky Canadian who has grown up in a French-speaking part. He is given to cursing in the style of Quebec, which apparently consists mainly of citing the name of religious objects: “tabernacleâ€, “hostâ€, “ciboriumâ€, and so forth in a most unusual way. Madame Titus, the wife of the farm’s proprietor, heard him one day and was scandalised. [2] Rutherford explains that people curse by what they are afraid of – for the French Canadians, God; for the English Canadians, sex. “Poppy†Pope is the comic of the troupe, another tall man and one of those fine officers so common among the Anglo-Irish. Poppy took note this morning of the absence of the three flight commanders from the Nissen by the Mess, the one called the Hotel de Commerce. He obtained some paint and has re-named it the “Abode of Love.†There shall be blood.

4 Aug 1917

We have not flown this month, although the war grinds on for the PBI. Major Patrick asked me to run for president of the Mess Committee. PMC is a thankless task, especially as the rowdy element in 60 Squadron smash anything decent one acquires in hours and one must be forever wheedling for money. The Major said he’d listened to Pope and I talking about restaurants in London and thought I’d improve the quality of dining. I said I should be happier as Vice rather than PMC, and I would look after special dinners and events rather than day to day messing. Thus I have taken on a new secondary duty.

There is an Indian brigade training in the neighbourhood. I intend to put on a pukka Indian army mess dinner soon. If the meal can be made genuinely hot, perhaps I shall be relieved of duties.

5 Aug 1917

The rain stopped driving horizontally today and simply fell vertically from the sky, so we were ordered over to remove a Hun balloon south of Lens. Molesworth led the way, and only Blake and I flew Nieuports, the rest being SE5s. We rigged out with Le Prieurs for the show. I flew on Bishop’s right and led the way in. As I fired from 200 yards the balloon suddenly ignited. It surprised me, and I was quite sure I’d bagged it. On our return I discovered that Jack Rutherford was also firing when the balloon went up. Lieut. Guy offered to split the kill, but I said to give it to Rutherford as he was apparently only 100 yards from the sausage when he saw it smoke.

The Major later confided that he thought it was damned decent of me in light of my trials with claims at 46.

This afternoon I was on standby with Blake, Beck, Horn, and Pope. The Major gave Bishop a couple of days off and told me to take command of the flight. Nothing stirs like seeing the streamers attached to the tail of one’s machine for the first time.

Oh joy! The klaxon sounds and we hustle to the hangars – enemy patrolling over our lines east of Bapaume! The chaps shout insults to me as I “dot and carry†my bad leg over to my “gridâ€, as our machines are called here. Twenty minutes later we are at 9000 feet over Mossy Face Wood and still climbing when a flight of Albatri passes directly overhead. The two formations see each other simultaneously and a thrilling scrap begins. I try to stay high and soon find myself a yellow Hun with a black tail. We circle and I manage to put about half a drum in his direction. Suddenly the Hun turns and dives eastward. I turn inside him and am directly behind. The poor fellow is rocking back and forward as he dives. He does not look back. I close to nearly touching the Albatros and then, not without a pang of guilt, thumb the trigger. The tracer seems to plunge directly into the pilot’s back and the EA falls out of control. I lose sight after a few thousand feet. Blake falls in to my left soon after and gives me a thumbs up sign. He has seen the machine crash. I fly low over our airfield and fire a red flare – normally Bishop’s drill, but I am now a two-kill star turn, so I claim the privilege.

We have a modest celebration tonight in honour of my second confirmed victory. The RO confides that the Major has made some special mention of me in his reports. Some day!

[Linked Image]
"The tracer seems to plunge directly into the pilot’s back and the EA falls out of control."

6 Aug 1917

Over to Athies to shoot up a rail yard. Major Patrick leads and we do a fine job of scaring the Hun. Poor Blake does not return and no one has seen him fall. We are hoping to get news. Rain all afternoon and evening.

7 Aug 1917


Another balloon raid. Major Patrick leads and spoils the morning for us by flaming the sausage on his first pass before any of the rest gets a go.

Weather clears a bit in the afternoon. Uneventful jaunt over the lines, the Major leading again. It is a squadron show so the Huns stay far off to the east. We turn petrol into noise for two hours and return for tea.

Nothing heard from Blake. He is presumed killed. Rotten luck.

11 Aug 1917


Day four without flying weather. Two nights ago I pulled off my Indian mess dinner. Our stewards were fully kitted out in long white jackets with high collars and turbans. I promised each man a night of free beer in the OR’s mess for playing along. Our two borrowed Indian cooks outdid themselves. We had pakoras, chipati, a savoury chickpea stew, and a curry the cooks called shabdkosh, which I learned is goat. The meal was a great hit, although breathtakingly hot, and many drinks were poured into the mess piano that evening.

Only after the meal was over did one of the corporals tell me that they had heard a rumour in the village that our Punjabi chefs de cuisine had been seen buying a couple of dogs from some Australians. The rumour has, unfortunately, got around.

Today the squadron received the news that Bishop is to get the VC for his show in early June where he claimed three Huns while shooting up an enemy aerodrome. The evening celebration was, in a word, riotous. Molesworth and Bishop led the festivities and following a dinner of roast beef, Yorkshire, and two veg (culinary adventures now distinctly frowned upon) we played Mess rugger with a cabbage, debagged Caldwell, and passed Brigadier-General Higgins through a window to his car. Lieutenant-Colonel Pretyman escaped soaked in champagne. I slipped away quietly around eleven to share an Old Pulteney with Captain Caldwell, a fine officer and a New Zealander. He gave me to understand that he was not a hundred per cent confident that Bishop’s VC was fully merited and suggested that Fry’s departure was due to his feeling the same way. I recalled the conversation that I’d overheard a couple of week ago between the Major and Sergeant-Major Aspinall. Fry’s name had come up before the CO’s door was shut.

We agreed that Bish was a fine pilot and a great shot, and that he was a top scorer without a doubt. He was simply too focused on his personal record for our taste. “Ours is not to reason why,†we agreed, and poured another whiskey, perhaps two.

It is late. The piano is hammering away and the songs are getting louder and flatter in tone. The weather should break tomorrow. Already there are some stars visible through the cloud. We’ll need the sleep.

NOTES:

[1] Editor’s note - With apologies and profound thanks to Robert Wiggins, scholar, gentleman, and lover of fine malt whiskey. It was great seeing you last week.

[2] Les sacrés are the quintessential Quebecois curse words. In WW2, these religious oaths from French Canadian soldiers shocked the residents of Normandy, who christened the Canadians les bâtards du curé [the priest’s ba$tards].


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/07/17 08:18 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
1 Victory


Dec 7, 1917.


Up twice in the dark skies, but at least no rain. The Sqn put up 2 flights of 4 a/c. We did spot 2 high flying Huns but our kites just fell out of the sky at that High altitude.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/07/17 10:39 PM

Raine;

The latest report I think, was one of your finest Sir! A right proper effort indeed! Would that I could, but other fine WOFF things beg my attention winkngrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/08/17 06:48 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
1 Victory


Dec 8, 1917.


Off in the dark rainy skies chasing E/a reported over St. Vaast , Our 6 a/c were carving circles when the Flight Leader Broke right and we followed. Towards Vimy then with fuel at 62 % turned towards Lens and Bingo. There slightly lower and in a clear spot were 2 Recon types. Flight Leader 2lt. Roy nailed the 1st. I covered Sgt Watson as he scored on the second. On the down side, one of ours was missing by the time we RTB.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/09/17 12:02 AM

Carrick, you're on a roll. Keep 'em coming.
Raine, wow! 2 weeks worth of reports in one fell swoop. I wish I had Uncle Robert!

11 August, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

It is a dark day. The Jasta CO’s new orders have come through. He is leaving the outfit to teach at the flight school near Valenciennes. His experience will be of great value there. At least this is how Heino Grieffenhagen explained it to his crestfallen pilots. Paul Strähle took it as hard as Aldi. Apparently Grieffenhagen was his mentor as well. As a small consolation Paul will be the one to ferry him to the school. It will be a long night.

12 August, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

The new Jastaführer has arrived. Everyone thought it would be someone from within, but to everyone's surprise and awe, Rudolf Berthold takes over on direct orders from Ernst von Hoeppner himself. The Iron Man is a legend and a veteran who has been flying since the start of hostilities.

[Linked Image]

Everyone is in shock that the previous Staffelfürher of Jasta 14 is here and he did not come alone. His protégée Ltn d R Josef Veltjens is here as well. Together they aim to whip the unit into shape. Aldi took exception to this view, being of the opinion that the unit is doing just fine, despite Strähle’s unshaven appearance. Things are done differently on the Flanders front than on the other, much more quiet sectors. The new boss will have to realize that soon, or he is in for one rude awakening.
This morning, the Bavarian called everyone to attention before the mission. A line formed in front of the airplanes being readied on the field. He walked quickly and with purpose with Seppl right behind him. Josef Veltjens preferred to be called Seppl.

[Linked Image]

They both stopped in front of the pilot lineup. Seppl took his place at the end of the line. Berthold looked at the Reichskriegsflagge as if to be inspired by it. The Imperial German War Flag flapped assuringly in the light breeze, whispering the next words to Berthold and to him alone. He took a step forward and begun:
“Kogenluft has sent me here with one purpose: to make this unit the best in the entire Luftstreitkräfte. I will make it the best in the world. To achieve this we will train and we will train hard. I will not accept any excuses. I will not accept running away. I will not accept engine problems. I will not accept ammunition running out.†He paused to survey the reaction of his pilots. Nobody moved a muscle. Paul blinked.
“Our road to greatness will be long and difficult, but I am confident we will succeed. I expect everyone to perform to their best abilities and when this is achieved I expect you to improve upon it. The training will start immediately. I will lead this patrol. Gentlemen, to you aircraft and make Keiser proud! Make Germany proud! Make me proud!†With that he put on his flight gloves and walked over to his machine. Aldi was not impressed. His first impression of the new CO was that Berthold’s devotion to duty will kill them all. He climbed into his cockpit and begun starting procedures.
Their mission took them near Mariakerke and as luck would have it, this was the first time Jasta 18 encountered the new British plane. The Camel.
Berthold was the first one landing on the field below with his engine shot to pieces.
Aldi watched with disbelief how easily the Camels carved through the formation. It was akin to watching wolves tearing apart a flock of sheep. He picked up one on his tail and begun taking damage. This new plane had no problems staying with the Albatros in a spinning dive. He would probably end up sitting beside Berthold in his shot up machine (or worse) if it weren’t for someone behind them taking potshots at the British Navy flyboy. The Camel disengaged and went after his attacker. Aldi gathered his wits and looked around. The battle was scattered all over. He noticed one of the new airplanes flying low, probably damaged. The German pilot made sure there were no other hostiles around and dove.

[Linked Image]

His twin machine guns caught the wounded bird and a ribbon of smoke started to trail behind his prey.

[Linked Image]

Now they were on even terms. Aldi aimed and squeezed the triggers again and again. The battered Sopwith dove in a wide uncontrolled arc and crashed into the trees below. Aldi saw Seppl finish off another Camel nearby. The white arrow on his fuselage was instantly recognizable. They formed up and turned back to Harlebeke, with the rest of Jasta returning in ones and twos shortly behind them. The new boss’s excursion did not go as planned. Aldi was glad to be back home and desperate to get his old D.III upgraded. Accomplishing that may prove more difficult than shooting down a Camel.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/09/17 02:24 AM

Wow. Great read, Fullofit!

Aldi is going to have his hands full dealing with Camels in the air and his new boss on the ground. Really enjoyed this story.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/09/17 04:51 PM

Thanks Raine, just trying to keep up with you in some small way.
I’m afraid Camels will prove to be Aldi’s Achilles’ heel. (Or SE5s, or Brisfits, or SPADs)
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/09/17 06:32 PM

Great reads folks, wish I could convince myself to get up in the air but I'm afraid Filescamp build fetish is occupying all my time at the moment. Keep up the great submissions as it keeps me active in the WOFF skies, if only in a second hand way.

Best Regards
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/09/17 06:35 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
1 Victory


Dec 9, 1917.


Went along on a Balloon Attack, I acted as High cover as one of the chaps took out the gas bag. We lost another a/c that day due to weather ? Motor ? E/a ? He just didnt come back.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/10/17 02:47 AM

Robert, we are missing your fine reports. Take care of your fetish and come back to do some paperwork.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/10/17 04:05 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Robert, we are missing your fine reports. Take care of your fetish and came back to do some paperwork.


Soon I hope.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/10/17 12:29 PM

Wow, great stuff here. Raine, that one might be the best yet! Fullofit, I love Aldi's adventures. Keep them coming. Carrick, your bite sized daily updates are perfect for sneaking in at work during a break.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/10/17 07:28 PM

lol Thanks, But Bite Size ?
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/10/17 09:09 PM

Single serving. Readable anytime! Just enough WOFF to keep me going!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/10/17 10:00 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
1 Victory


Dec 10, 1917.


No flight posted so helped out in the Hanger till we got a break in the rain showers. I took a short walk on the road in the woods and met a lady selling good luck trinkets. I bought one that she said is a charm that repels lead then back to the hangers.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/11/17 06:12 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
1 Victory

Dec 11, 1917.


B flight , 5 a/c, was posted for Patrol in scattered rain showers and lite wind. Over the lines we pulled up in a climb thru the dark clouds where it would be lighter with good viability in rain. As we did a shower of e/a dove thru us ( where did they come from ? ) 1st one then another passed by probably as surprised as we were,but Firing as they went. I spotted a 3rd one slightly lower and nosed over firing a long burst from both guns ( about 102 rds or so no Hits were seen) as I couldn't get a good bead on him. then he too flashed by and was gone in the rainy clouds below. No claims. However, 1 of ours was missing and presumed destroyed.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/11/17 06:24 PM

Fullofit:

Stay away from the Camels or the Englander's will get your Pilot.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/11/17 11:12 PM

DC, when are we gonna see a new report from you?
Carrick, staying away from the Camels is not an option. They're faster than the D.III

13 August, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

Aldi was wrong about Berthold. His devotion to duty will not kill them. It will get them better planes and with the arrival of Camels, not a moment too soon. After yesterday’s fiasco, Berthold promised to take it up with Kogenluft and requisition new airplanes. His goals cannot be achieved with the equipment he is currently forced to make use of. To Aldi’s great relief new machines will arrive within a week. The mood on the base has improved considerably. Everyone is excited to get their hands on new planes.

14 August, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

Early this morning a flight of DH.4’s paid a visit and bombed the aerodrome. Not much damage, but Strähle’s machine is now a pile of ashes and matchsticks. He is unable to take part in the morning patrol and hitched a ride in a tender to the Flugpark for a replacement.
Meanwhile, Aldi and the rest are patrolling the front near Menen. Berthold and Seppl are part of Kette Eins. A marauding flight of Brisfits and Tripes attacks out of the clouds and drags them across the lines where the fight takes place. After the indecisive duel Aldi returns along with the rest of his flight home at low altitude where they encounter a solitary Tripe with some battle damage. Aldi aims for the low hanging fruit and goes after him with the rest of the flight keeping close behind. The battered Tripe doesn’t react to Schwarzkopf’s maneuver. The pilot is either badly wounded, or didn’t notice the Albatros moving in behind. Aldi brought the throttle all the way back to prevent overshooting his target. The twin Spandaus shred part of the lower plane and the Sopwith goes down in an uncontrolled spiral, hitting the ground with a bone chilling crunch heard over the droning of the Mercedes engine above. Aldi increased the throttle and begun to climb, looking back one last time at the growing column of smoke and dust.

[Linked Image]

At the base, Strähle is back with his new mount and a wicked smile. He did not get just a replacement, he is now the pilot of the new Albatros D.V! The lucky Schweinehund took advantage of some clerical error at the Flugpark and was assigned the newer machine. He flew back as fast as possible before they realized their mistake.

[Linked Image]

Aldi still needs to wait until the end of the week for his new ride to arrive. A lot can still happen between now and the end of the week.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/17 01:13 AM

Fullof it:


Your Post brings up Aldi 's problem. Which machine was Better a D-V or a D-III ? I have read conflicting reports about the two machines . In his spot, I would think that transferring to a a Pfalz D-IIIa Jasta or an Elite Sqn beginning or awaiting to re equip with The DR-1 would keep the

https://youtu.be/u8E2QK-JfwA


at Bay.




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Posted By: MadKerbal

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/17 04:29 AM

Been a bit busy lately with life and (Gasp) other games, finally jumping back into the DID, although I've had to abandon the pilot I was planning to fly 2 missions in, so instead of a German I think I'll try an American flying for the French.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/17 11:55 AM

Im hoping to get back up soon, Fullofit. A wicked flu took out last week and the weekend, and it is my better half's birthday this week.

I start vacation soon as well, but sometimes that leads to even less flying!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/17 05:28 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
2 Victory's


Dec 12, `9`7.

I had a tin of bullybeef before going up on a Armed Recon over Monchy. By Jove, what a party. The Sqn had 7 a/c up and we dropped in on 5 Huns lowered than us near the Hun A.F.'s. Bollicks ! machines all over going to and fro. I damaged one then pulled over by one and shot off his wings till my guns jammed. I went RTB. The chap , I brought down had a black stripe on his a/c belly. We lost 1 Pilot wnd + 1 Destroyed ( pilot KIA ) for 3 Huns Destroyed + 1 Heavy Damage.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/17 08:28 PM

41 Sgn

I was awarded the Military Cross so we are having a

Big blowout tonight then into the city for drinking and to soak up some French Culture.

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancing-3o6fJ1Pyq8hkwp51NS/fullscreen
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/12/17 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Fullof it:


Your Post brings up Aldi 's problem. Which machine was Better a D-V or a D-III ? I have read conflicting reports about the two machines . In his spot, I would think that transferring to a a Pfalz D-IIIa Jasta or an Elite Sqn beginning or awaiting to re equip with The DR-1 would keep the

https://youtu.be/u8E2QK-JfwA


at Bay.



Carrick, I'm no expert, but if one's to believe Wikipedia, then it seems many pilots preferred to keep their D.III's, but in WOFF I'll take a D.V over D.III any day. BTW, congrats on the Military Cross, just make sure you won't get cross-eyed from soaking up all that French culture.

DC, make sure you're in fighting condition before you decide to fly. Get well.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/13/17 03:31 PM

Flt Lt Benjamin Kincaid
1 RNAS
12 Dec 1917

I rolled off of my new cot, glad that the world had finally stopped spinning. When he had reported to the flight line last Tuesday, Roderick Dallas, the CO had laughed out loud, told him he looked like pounded clay and ordered him back to bed. By the next day, I had been ordered back to the aid station to get properly checked out. I had a fever of 104 degrees and was ordered to bed and force fed fluids by a nurse that I am still not convinced wasn't working for the other side. I spent three days at the aid station essentially in isolation, at first afraid I was going to die, then in fear that I wouldn't.

I was welcomed back to the Squadron with suspicion, until I proved I was no longer a carrier of the plague. It was then, as I tried to collapse into my bed again, that I learned my "buddies" had decided to help me out with disinfecting and had taken my cot out of my tent and burned it in one of the barrels that serve as an airfield marker at night. Then, deciding that it was starting to become unlucky, they burned the cot that had previously hosted our last two doomed fliers. Too tired to complain, I just collapsed on the ground inside the tent and slept.

Vic and Kink took pity on me and "liberated" a new cot for me. I didn't ask questions. After that, it was back into the routine. I have been spending much time becoming reacquainted with the Camel. After the few weeks in the Tripehound, I greatly appreciate the extra durability in a dive and the extra machine gun. I feel quite safe in the air.

With the proximity to Christmas, it seems both sides are content in putting in the bare minimum and the skies have been delightfully empty on my patrols. The closest we've come to action is when we saw a Hun two-seater, without any trace of escort, trying to get some glamour shots of our boys on the ground. We approached to introduce ourselves, but the Hun bravely turned tail and fled, saving us all a scrap.

The weather has certainly turned cold and the air bites on patrol. I jokingly asked why we are fighting for a land where the air hurts our faces. Kink, being from South Africa, proceeded to describe the wonderful creepy crawlies and snakes that exist on his continent. I am now even more glad that I live in a cooler climate. Ugg, could you even imagine? Spiders as big as a dinner plate? Snakes longer thank a house? I'd rather fight the Baron and his circus every day than face those horrors.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/13/17 07:32 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
2 Victory's


Dec 13, 1917.


How rude to be pulled out of bed for a dawn Patrol and after last night too. Anyway we ( the 4 of us ) did spot and chased 2 Recon types. our ships were falling out of the sky at that height and the e/a just calmly flew home.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/17 02:50 AM

Fullofit, best of luck with your new machine. Hope it arrives soon.

Carrick, congrats on the MC.

Dark Canuck
, enjoy your Camel!

I think Geoffrey Corderoy may soon need lessons in diplomacy.

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 19: 12-15 August 1917

12 Aug 1917 – Filescamp Farm


First mission today is a ground attack on an enemy marshalling yard near Douai. There are hangovers all around, and although Bishop’s should be the worst, he has prevailed upon the Major to take Molesworth’s place as leader and Molesworth is to take the afternoon patrol.
Three SE5s and two Nieuports, mine and Pope’s, beat the place up for fifteen minutes, scattering Huns everywhere and setting fire to a shed. On my third dive at the yard I take a heavy burst of ground machine gun fire through my right lower plane. It begins to warp and groan, so I pull out gently and wave goodbye to the others. Fortunately I see no Huns on my long, lonely flight home.

In the afternoon, Major Patrick leads a squadron show to rough up the Hun field at Roucourt. My journey is short, for five minutes after takeoff, still in view of Filescamp, a camshaft bearing goes and I shut down the Le Rhône quickly and glide back to safety.

The others have a good time of it, causing much consternation to the Hun with no casualties in return. Lieut. Guy, the RO, directs me and three others to fly our remaining Nieuports to the AD and return with newly-arrived SE5!

My new “grid†is outstanding. It is fitted out like a fine racing car and, like all SEs, sports a synchronized Vickers in addition to the Lewis I am now used to. Its Hispano-Suiza produces 150 horsepower and the thing goes like a bullet. One can dive it with much greater confidence than the Nieuport as well. I spend the afternoon zeroing the guns and fussing over details, and the riggers square the machine up for the morning.

Bishop had lunch with “Boom†Trenchard today. He has been told he is up for leave in a week and will not be back to France after. He said in the Mess tonight he plans to meet or top Ball’s record. He has been credited with 42 Huns to date, and needs one more to reach Ball.

13 Aug 1917

Five-thirty and we are off to the lines east of Bethune, where Hunnish activity is reported. Brimming with excitement, I race across the field and form up behind the Major, who is leading the flight. No sooner have I turned east when there is a hellish bang and violent shaking begins. I switch off. The Hisso is prone to failure of the gear reduction system. I am lucky there is still a propeller in front of me, no matter how still it may be.

Beck has worse luck. An hour before his first flight in his new SE5 he is transferred to 40 Squadron, who have had casualties. There is not even time for a proper send-off.

In the afternoon we have a line patrol on our southern sector, Caldwell leading. Nothing is seen.

Bishop claimed two more, flying alone again. The Colonel sent his congratulations, which were read at dinner.

14 Aug 1917


Another attack on an airfield today, the first time I have used Cooper bombs, which are affixed to a rack beneath each wing. They are so much more effective than merely shooting the place up, and can be applied much more safely. The target was an aerodrome near Douai. We saw a group of scouts landing at another field a couple of miles off, but we did not bother them and they did not bother us. A very good arrangement, in my view.

Afternoon patrol at 1 pm. Molesworth leads and we stand watch over a pair of DH4s that take photographs of the enemy lines from Lens up to Lille. A formation of Albatri passed beneath us on three occasions but we did not engage them. I am beginning to think the average Hun is getting windy.

15 Aug 1917

A squadron show again, this time at 5:30 am. Bishop leads and Caldwell comes along for the fun. It is one of the first line patrols in a while and we are very keen to test our SEs. The weather does not cooperate, for we have heavy cloud and rain squalls. We head north towards the scene of the fighting at Passchendaele, climbing all the way. Today we are on high patrol, up at 14000 feet where after getting soaked below the clouds we freeze solid above them.

We do not have long to wait. Barely have we crossed the lines when a formation of Albatros DVs approaches from the south and we head straight for them. I pick one that is yellow with a black tail. It zooms up ahead of me, a climbing turn that would have my old Nieuport at the edge of a stall. But in my new grid I snap quickly onto his tail and hit him hard with a good long burst. The Hun spirals down. In control or out? I follow, and suddenly break away when Bishop’s blue-nosed SE rises up directly in front of me, firing. The Hun does a snap roll and turns under us. Bishop breaks left and I roll to the right. The Hun has levelled out and I close to a few yards and fire directly into the cockpit area. I see the pilot fall forward and the machine begin to tumble. Bishop again cuts in front and I break off. I do not hear Bishop fire.

I turn I search for the Hun. We have followed him down to 3500 feet. The Hunnish lines lie below and it is devilishly hard in low light to pick out an aircraft against the ground. I see nothing except Bishop, who also seems to be searching.

I turn westward and in the distance see an all-yellow Hun heading southwest for his lines. I dive on him, the Hisso giving maximum revolutions. I close too quickly and fire only about 30 rounds before I break off. The Hun nosed down vertically at low altitude. I turn about but the Hun has vanished.

[Linked Image]
"I close too quickly and fire only about 30 rounds before I break off. The Hun nosed down vertically at low altitude."

On landing, Bishop comes up to me and slaps me on the back. He thanks me for helping “corner that damned Hun.†It is clear he believes it is his. I tell the others I must use the loo before seeing the RO. I wash and shave and change clothes and go to the office only when the others are gone.

“Did Captain Bishop mention a yellow Albatros with a black tail?†I ask.

“Let me see,†said the RO. “Didn’t mention the colour, but said he shot one down that was bothering you.â€

I thought for several seconds. “Don’t mean to upset the apple cart, old boy, but I fired 40 rounds into that machine, then in a second go I put another 30 rounds directly into the pilot’s back.â€

Lieut. Guy looked a little ill.

“Do what you will. I claim one yellow and black Albatros completely out of control at 2000 feet just northwest of Dadizele. I also claim a second Albatros, all yellow, about a mile south of the first one. Out of control at 1000 feet.â€

“Any witnesses?†asked the RO.

“You may put down Captain Bishop, if you wish.†As I turned to leave I noticed Major Patrick staring at me through the crack in his office door.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/17 06:23 AM

Oh, I can hardly wait for the next episode Raine! I fear Corderoy has opened the proverbial Pandora's box !!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/17 02:51 PM

Raine; Nicley written story and a good pic.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/14/17 10:42 PM

DC, very apropos report. Feels like you were writing from experience winkngrin
Raine, I'm beginning to think Corderoy is due for another forced transfer. And now I hate Bishop. Thanks!
Carrick, stay away from the night entertainment and you'll be fine.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/15/17 12:49 AM

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Nightly French culture entertainment ? I guess I can always sleep after the War !

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancing-steam-punk-di-ahna-3oxHQDZjfGuO3RdLtS/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/vintage-burlesque-pinup-VfsGXzIlZ1lgA/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/15/17 12:57 AM

Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
2 Victory's


Dec 14, 1917.


Bit dodgy , We were attacking a balloon near Vimy, but lost 2 a/c. My flight did ok . I covered 2lt Roy as he got the Gas Bag and then home. A Flight seemed to have got the chop by ground fire or misfortune. as their flight consisted of the 2 lost kites.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/15/17 03:10 AM

Corderoy adds one to his score, but two others are rejected...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 20: 16 August 1917


16 Aug 1917 – Filescamp Farm

Very happy to be writing this tonight, as it has been a hectic day with some near misses.

Up and off at 5:30 this morning, Capt Molesworth in the lead. We are to bag a Hun kite balloon north of Lille: Hunt, Pope, Chidlaw-Roberts, and me. Chidlaw-Roberts is an old Sandhurst classmate. He is new to us, but not to the RFC. He has been on Fees until now, and before that was an observer with 2 Squadron. He has taken up the empty space in our hut and is a welcome addition. He has a portable gramophone, which is responsible for making our billet a bit of a gathering place.

I have a good run-in at the balloon, with Archie all about. It smokes but does not burn so I turn quickly to have another go. Molesworth beats me to it and send the gasbag down in flames. The two men in the basket escape with parachutes, just drifting clear of the crumpled, flaming balloon. It makes one wonder why we have not got them.

We begin to form up when there is a frightful “thwack-thwack-thwack†and holes appear in my left upper plane! A group of vee-strutters have jumped on our backs and a twisting scrap starts. I see a Hun with purple and green wings pass in front and give him a burst with no result. Another Hun fires at me from close behind. I have lost too much speed climbing after the attack on the balloon, and the Hun is hard to shake off. A second joins him and I now have my hands full. Every time I just about have one of them lined up, the other hits me. The SE5 is a rugged grid. My old Nieuport would have already collapsed around me.

I get another quick shot away at a Hun when my windscreen shatters in my face. Three star-shaped holes appear in the Triplex. It is time for tea, I decide, and at the first opportunity dive for home. There is still not much height, so I pass over the Hun lines at less than a thousand feet. Every Hun in Christendom opens up at me – rifles, machine guns, Archie. I am quite sure I saw a shovel fly past. Again and again I hear bullets strike canvas, wood, and metal. My SE is handling a little odd, but the old Hisso keeps going and I soon pass over our trenches. I see the whites of a thousand faces looking up and can tell they are Highlanders. The Jocks are cheering, God bless them, as I do the aerial high hurdles over the shattered treetops.

Ten minutes later I put down at La Gorgue. The familiar cinder landing ways are difficult to put an SE5 down on, compared to a Pup anyway, but I settle in nicely. The place is home to an RE8 squadron [1] and No 35, flying Big Acks. [2] I enjoy a fine breakfast in the old mess while waiting for the tender from Filescamp.

As soon as I return I am required to mount up and join Bishop and Caldwell for an OP along the lines by Vimy. We cross at 10000 feet and spot a large group of Albatri about 2000 feet higher, harassing some RE8s and a flight of Pups. We climb to engage and drive off the Huns. They dive away and we follow, but they have too much of a lead. Just as I turn and begin to climb westward, I spy a yellow Albatros with a white tail heading east at 6000 feet over Bois-Bernard. I intercept him and we tangle for nearly ten minutes. I hit him with a full deflection shot and, as he falls out of a turn, get behind him for the coup de grâce. The Hun spirals down and crashes. The sky is empty and I set course for home.

[Linked Image]
"The Hun spirals down and crashes."

Over drinks I learn that the yellow and black Albatros from yesterday, the one Bishop claimed, has been credited to me – my third official victory. Major Patrick submitted my other claim, but Wing assigned it to Bishop. Besides that one, our resident stunt merchant has also been granted a claim from one of two flights he took alone later in the day. That brings his count up to 47, and he is now three kills ahead of Ball and quite pleased with his achievements. Major Cochrane-Patrick tells Bishop he is ordered to stand down from further flying and prepare for his leave. Bishop protests, but stands a round of drinks and I am quite happy to take advantage of it.

Despite my having describing the crash of this afternoon’s unwitnessed Hun in my report, Wing has not confirmed it and it is noted only as “driven down.†Caldwell joined me for a final drink and commented that it was rotten luck. I quoted Plutarch to him, something I recalled about philosophy allowing one to derive pleasure in any circumstance – as even obscurity can be enjoyed for it frees one from being envied.


Notes:


[1] 15 Squadron.

[2] Armstrong-Whitworth FK8.


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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/15/17 03:59 AM

Raine, another excellent tale. I always look forward to your reports.

I see that Mr. Bishop is in fine fettle over besting Ball's score and did not choose to contest your claim for his own. Young Corderoy likely would not have fared so well against a living war legend and owner of 47 kills!

Quote
I am quite sure I saw a shovel fly past.

Ha!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/15/17 07:21 PM

Raine: another fine story.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/15/17 07:28 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
2 Victory's

As the newly appointed B Flight Leader, I took 4 a/c up to Vimy in the dark and rainy skies. No contact.

Afternoon Formation: Promoted to 2 LT. and introduced to the Sqn's 4 Replacement Pilots while my three seasoned pilots were promoted ? to " A " Flight.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/17 01:59 AM

Carrick, congrats on the promotion!
Raine, that was some story, kept me on the edge of my seat. I was glad Corderoy made it back and congrats on that confirmed kill. Snatched that one from under Bishop's nose. Can't wait for the next instalment!

19 August, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

Finally! The new airplanes have arrived. Aldi could not contain himself. It felt just like Christmas when he was a little boy. He practically ran out onto the airfield to see his new plane. The riggers and the armorers worked late into the night to get it ready for this morning’s patrol. Aldi stopped short of his new bird to take it all in. It was an Albatros D.V. The large headrest had already been removed unlike the early models. He came closer and extended his arm. The smooth plywood fuselage felt warm to the touch. He gave it a light tap and the hollow sound reassured him of the structure’s sturdiness. Aldi walked around the machine touching and prodding all surfaces. The feel of the doped fabric on the wings gave him the sensation of lightness. He thrummed the cross-bracing tensioning cables with his forefinger to check their tautness. The riggers did a good job. The metal panels on the nose were glistening. Aldi gave it a pat as if it were a horse, imagining the plane snorting with pleasure. He thought of Käte. What would she say if she saw him right now? Would she laugh at this display of affection, or would she be jealous? He checked the Wolff wooden propeller for any pebble damage, there was none. The plane was in pristine condition. It pleased Aldi beyond measure. Once he walked around to the rear he gave the rudder a tug, there was no discernible play. He was finally ready to fly! The Startwärter was waiting to strap him in and get him on his way. Aldi climbed into the cockpit. Everything seemed familiar and in the usual place. He will have no problems with getting used to his new mount.
Typically the ground crew starts and warms up the engine before the pilot gets in, but Aldi was too excited to do anything else but sit in the cockpit and go through the procedure. It seemed the mechanics also were glad to work with a new piece of machinery. They have strapped him in. The smell of freshly varnished wood filled his nostrils. He inhaled deeply.
He moved the control column through its full range of motion. Kicked the rudder bar. Checked that the throttle moved through its full travel. He gave a half turn to the water pump greaser can and reached up to the right to pull the radiator cooling handle all the way back for maximum ventilation. He made sure the ignition switch was in the “Aus†position, the spark control lever was retarded and the throttle closed. One of the mechanics climbed on top of the wheel and reached behind the engine block between the Spandaus to open the compression release handle. He then stepped in front of the airplane and hand rotated the propeller six revolutions to draw a fresh fuel mixture charge into each cylinder. The compression release handle was then closed again. It was now all up to Aldi to switch the magneto to M1 position and rapidly crank the hand start magneto. The electric current from the magneto surged to the spark plugs, which in turn ignited the fuel mixture inside the cylinders. The engine coughed and roared to life, expelling clouds of exhaust smoke. Aldi kept the idling engine between 200 and 250 RPM to fully warm up for 5 minutes, he then slowly increased to 600 RPM and switched magneto to M2 position and checked for RPM drop. He then switched to both magnetos and moved the spark control lever to mid position. Once he was satisfied the engine was running smoothly, he fully advanced the spark control lever and opened the throttle to check against the RPM readings on the tachometer. Everything checked out, he was now ready for take off. Aldi reduced the throttle back to 300 RPM and waited for everyone else to get ready.
It was time. Once again he opened the throttle. The powerful Daimler-Mercedes D.III 6 cylinder engine growled effortlessly up to 1400 RPM and the Albatros started to roll and pick up speed. Aldi noticed the top plane moving in relation to the fuselage. This was the result of not employing cross-bracing in the wing’s center section and the fact that the fuselage itself changed shape slightly when not on the ground anymore. Something he has to get used to. His Albatros climbed well. Another half-turn of the water pump greaser can. A chore that has to be repeated every 10 minutes or so. Easily forgotten during a fight. Once up in the colder air, Aldi closed the radiator and reduced the RPMs to 1300. His two Maxim LMG 08/15’s glistened in the murky sun obscured by the grey clouds. Aldi could tell the guns were itching to prove their worth, just as the pilot himself was itching to test them.
The flight plan took them close to the front lines. They could see explosions below, but their main concern was scanning the skies for enemy fighters, not the potato-heads below. They were on the return leg now and the Schwarm flew into a bank of clouds. When they emerged on the other side they were greeted by the rear ends of 6 or 7 British pushers. Aldi immediately gave the signal to attack, but it wasn’t necessary. The flight was spreading further apart to attack more efficiently. Schwarzkopf was already looking through the sights, aligning his plane with the Englander in front of him. “Hardly the target to test the abilities of his new aeroplane,†he thought to himself, but a kill is a kill.

[Linked Image]

The bullets started to spark against the engine block of the Fee in front. The canvas around was being shredded to pieces as well. One more volley and the pilot slumped in his seat. The machine lurched up and then immediately dove towards the ground with the gunner pinned by the centrifugal forces, presenting him the front row seat to his inevitable demise.

[Linked Image]

Schwarzkopf glanced to his right just in time to see another Gitterschwänze plummet to the ground curtesy of his Jasta.

[Linked Image]

There was no time to admire the handiwork, another quick kick to the rudder and the next machine was lined up for slaughter. Aldi repeated the procedure. Quick bursts of his guns found the heart of the enemy’s plane. This time the prop begun to rotate slowly and then stopped completely. Black smoke billowed from the wrecked motor. The enemy bus begun to lose altitude and then entered into a spiral. Aldi followed, noticing that this time the gunner was the first one to go, while the pilot was wrestling with the controls.

[Linked Image]

It was futile, the large bird was mortally wounded and despite pilot’s valiant efforts it ploughed into the countryside below. Aldi saw two more bombers go down. The rain commenced to come down in sheets as if the Earth was trying to wash away the spilled blood. The Schwarm formed up and set a course to Harlebeke. The D.V’s have now been baptized by fire. Perhaps next time they’ll meet a more evenly matched foe. Aldi will be looking forward to the next test.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/17 02:07 AM

Fullofit, that was a hell of a read. And a kill too! Great research and even lent writing. More Aldi, please!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/17 03:47 AM

I say Old man. well done story.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/17 04:33 AM

Wow, Fullofit, just wow!

Where to begin? You have a real talent for writing--you even make the engine start-up procedure sound exciting! I could also feel the excitement in Aldi as he prepared to take his new mount into the sky! And then the clinical, almost cold, fashion in which he dispatched his foes. Aldi is no longer that innocent, wet-behind-the-ears pilot who used to feel pity for those that duty called on him to dispatch. This is a deadly business now, and there is much work to be done.

Finally, did you really emerge out of some thick clouds to suddenly see that flight of juicy Fees in front of you? Imagine the terror your opponents must have felt when you and your schwarm suddenly emerged behind them out of the billowing clouds, as if you were devils released from the steamy pits of hell itself! Well done!
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/17 11:47 AM

I will join in the praise! Great stuff Fullofit. This thread is pure gold.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/17 01:20 PM

Flt Lt Benjamin Kincaid
15 Dec 1917

It was a rookie pilot mistake that got him. He should have known better. He did know better. He had drilled younger pilots about it before, and yet here he was.

"MARCH THE GUILTY #%&*$# IN," roared the Wing Commander, clearly miffed he had to travel out to the airfield to conduct a summary trial. Something about due process and innocent until proven guilty quickly flashed through my mind.

My escorts snapped to attention as the Sergeant Major called out the cadence at double quick time. And so the hatless dance began.

There was no fighting it. Not only was it pointless, but guilty #%&*$# was appropriate in this case. I had missed the morning briefing yesterday, due to a rather successful evening in Dunkirk. I had awoken in a bed that was not my own, with a rather wonderful companion. Unfortunately it was long after I was due back at the Aerodrome.

The Wing Commander went back and forth through the formalities: the reading of the charge (AWOL), the reading of the particulars and facts, witnesses, a chance for me to speak on my own behalf and finally the decision (a shocking decision of Guilty). It was very kind of Sqn Comd Dallas to act as a character witness on my behalf, as it most likely saved me a harsher punishment.

In the end I was fined two weeks pay, confined to the aerodrome and put on extra duties until the new year. Almost worth it for the fine lass.

The afternoon saw me back leading B Flight on a line patrol. As we flew along the lines I couldnt help but feel pity for the PBI. It had turned bitterly cold and it seemed the only source of heat along the whole trench system was the artillery shells that landed with depressing regularity. Once again I was reminded of the blessings of being a pilot.

The Huns decided to come out and play today. We met up with a flight of V strutters with markings I did not recognize. We picked our partners and began a different sort of dance than I performed that morning.

He made a mistake, entering a climbing turn, bleeding off too much speed and allowing me a perfect chance to close and engage. I checked my tail quickly and lined up a beautiful deflection shot. I watched the tracers begin to converge on the cockpit when both my Vickers jammed.

I swore and checked the cocking handles. Both partially forward. I attempted to wrench them backwards, but they were stuck tight. I hammered away at them while I watched my prey sail away towards his side of the lines. Great. Another Hun with a chance to learn from his mistake. I had just created a better enemy pilot. Next time it would not be so easy.

Unable to clear the jam, I turned for home. The battle was inconclusive all around, with everyone returning.

I sighed as the others turned for the mess. I headed to the duty room. It was going to be a long few weeks.

As I reach the duty room a message comes in from HQ. We are to transfer back to England tomorrow!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/17 03:44 PM

Thank you Gentlemen.
Raine, researching is a pain in the ass!
BB, it was actually the other way around. The Fees came out of the clouds in front of them, but who's counting? Yes, Aldi is now pitiless. War will do that to you.
DC, the things men will do for some action. Great report, could feel your frustration with the jam.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/17 03:56 PM

24 RFC, Baizieux.
2 Lt. Edward Nygma hard at work.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/16/17 04:04 PM

DC,

Had a great time with your description of Kincaid doing the hat less dance before the Wing Commander. Great job!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/17/17 02:26 AM

Good Reading everyone.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/17/17 02:26 AM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
3 Victory's


Army I Corp wanted a Balloon taken out by Vimy. B Flight had the duty so it was Right then you new guys stick to me like Glue . Off in the rainy skies, we spotted and attacked a balloon. I led the flight of 5 down and Bang the balloon went up in the dark sky. I felt really joy-vile about it. Until later the C.O. said that we hit the wrong Balloon. We were over Oppy instead of Vimy. Opps !





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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/17/17 02:47 AM

At least you had the right idea! Better luck next time.

BTW, why is it always so gloomy wherever you fly? It seems you are always flying in heavy weather. You really should talk to someone about that! smile
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/17/17 04:40 AM

Its just the Historical Weather for that month in 1917. Mostly dark and Rainy. ( The pop up screen said it was the wrong one )


Speaking of ideas, I remember a bad one a while back. High diving in Winter.

https://giphy.com/gifs/diving-practise-best-cube-3oxHQpW864h86DurXa/fullscreen
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/17/17 03:06 PM

.

Wonderful morning coffee reads today gents.


Raine, outstanding storytelling as always, truly enjoy all the details and references you bring in. I am glad to see that Geoffrey is at last garnering some confirmed victories for all his efforts. I'm guessing he's sent enough down uncounted to be an ace twice over at this point. You mentioned Bishop's lunch meeting with "Boom" and I found it personally timely as I've just begun reading Andrew Boyle's "Trenchard: Man of Vision" after receiving a beautiful 1st edition of the book as a gift.

Fullofit, your reports, like Raine's, are just rich with detail and historic tie-ins, a pleasure to read. So Berthold and Veltjens are the hired guns that are going to whip the jasta into shape, eh? Getting the latest Alb is certainly a good start and it's obvious that, despite his initial reservations, Aldi approves of at least that much of his new leader's plan, especially given the first showing they had.
Also, concerning Nygma, quite the flamer there.

Lederhosen, congrats on the new mount, she's a beuaty.

Carrick, more super snapshots of Jeffrey's sorties, the fellow knows how to light up the night. Well done on receiving the MC, it is one of the more coveted of the British gongs to be sure. As for hitting the wrong gasbag - feh - HQ will get over it. Now then, about that high dive ...

MadKerbal, get that new American pilot up and running with the French.

Dark Canuck, I see Benjamin has been busy since returning to France; ace status, a promotion, and nearly court-martialed; quite the trifecta. Tough luck for poor young Carey, another lad gone off to sing in the Choir Invisible. And further tough luck on the sudden impending return of the squadron back to England. Hope you've beaten back the flu bug.


Again, great stuff everyone.

Cheers!

.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/17/17 06:50 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
3 Victory's


Dec 17, 1917.

Morning Patrol Monchy to St. Vasst: After popping out of the clouds at 2000 meters, we could actually see the dull Sun. I spotted a 5 a/c Flight of huns below so led the flight around for a bounce only to run into a 2 a/c Flight of Albatross Scouts. I went head to head withe these 2 while my flight dove on the 5 below. I missed mine but split them up. Then it was zooming , turning and diving. The Flight claimed 3 Huns destroyed for one pilot wounded. I can vouch for Sgt Davis as I had a ringside seat for the shoot down, Jolly good show !

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/17/17 06:56 PM

RAF Lou: Thanks. I gave up on Diving ,but showed my sister how to ride a Bike.

https://giphy.com/gifs/fails-riding-a-bike-bikecycleing-xT0xeAO2FwyKKKZKaA/fullscreen
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/18/17 12:45 AM

Good day gents! Been off a while, back until Christmas, then I am off again for a while. I think I can get use to this retirement thing. I highly recommend it.

Nice to see some new names in the grinder. Great stories to boot.

Fullofit, you have taken your stories to a new level bud! Has Raine been giving you classes? Keep it up.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. I will catch up soon.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/18/17 02:21 AM

Great to hear from you MFair. Pull up a chair and stay a while. Thanks for the kudos and yes, I’ve been schooled by Raine in the finer art of research. I don’t like it, takes too much time and keeps me away from flying. Maybe one day, when I have more time. What did you call that thing, retirement? Thank you for the holiday wishes. Have yourself a wonderful Christmas as well and a great New Year! Hope it’ll just keep getting better.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/18/17 02:34 AM

Lou, your summary is spot on. Aldi respect of the man is growing. Berthold provided them with the best tools for the job and expects results. Not an unreasonable request. And Veltjens is a man of action, always coming home with a trophy. Berthold, not so much.
As to E. Nygma, fire was inevitable after being “riddled†with bullets. winkngrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/18/17 06:17 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
3 Victory's


Dec 18, 1917.


We got the chop up over Vimy this morning. B flight;s 6 a/c was following 3 Albatross Scouts looking for a chance to dive on them. Around the next cloud bank, we fell in with 5 Pfalz type Scouts and it was Katie Bar the Door. Sgt Bath got it 1st. He became a Flamer then mine got the hits in the fuel Tank so no where to go but down. I heard that night that Davis also was wnd in the Melee. The other chaps got back with Holes all over. No claims .

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/18/17 06:21 PM

yippee, MFair is back
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/19/17 03:21 AM

Lou, thank you so much for your comments. Honestly, sometimes when I'm not sure I feel like writing I ask myself what Lou will read on Sunday morning and get back to work!

MFair, congratulations again on your retirement. I turn that age this year, but I've figured our that in order to retire the way I'd like to, when I retire I'm going to have to work. duh Carrick, you're a genuine WOFF machine. Keep the reports coming!

Finally, Corderoy has caught a break!

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 21: 17-18 August 1917

17 Aug 1917 – Filescamp Farm


Last night’s after-dinner drinks turned into a genuine bacchanalia, for orders came through for Bishop’s posting to HE. I wished him well and he was very friendly. After a while Poppie Pope, Hunt, and I went with Grid Caldwell to the Abode of Love and finished Grid’s gin, then joined some others in firing off Very lights.

This morning we get to sleep in until six-thirty, and the Major takes up a composite flight – Rutherford, Young, Hunt, and me – plus a Canadian fellow named John Crompton. It is a tough one, a distant offensive patrol to Pronville, almost to Cambrai. The weather is fair and Archie accompanies us closely all the way from Monchy. I count bursts and try to calculate the cost of munitions the Hun throws at us without result.

We approach the area of Riencourt, where the Hun has an aerodrome. I check behind and see that Hunt, Ruthford, and Young have left the formation and are scrapping with some Huns that have dived on us. I fire a flare to warn the Major and turn back to assist. By the time I arrive there is only a lone Albatros, abandoned by his mates. Hunt is on his tail. I get a full-deflection burst, but there is simply too much traffic to try for the Hun. I climb for some specks in the distance, but they are too high and pull away easily. Major Patrick rounds us up and we put in our time without further adventure. Hunt returns frustrated. His Hun put down at Riencourt, and the ground fire was too intense to follow.

Horn has temporary command of Bishop’s flight. Who will get the command is still up in the air. The main contender is our my old schoolmate Chidlaw-Roberts.

At three in the afternoon, Major Patrick gives Caldwell a break and takes me, Hunt, Ruthford, and Young on a patrol to escort some Fees on an artillery shoot on Hun positions north of Lens. The Canadian Corps has a big push on to take the high ground around the town. [1] As soon as we arrive over Lens a group of six or seven Albatri dives on us and a wild melee breaks out. At first it is every man for himself. Twice I come within a few feet of colliding with my own comrades. I see a rust-coloured Hun on Rutherford’s tail and leave the fellow I am circling about to shoot him off. My first burst seems to take effect, for he tumbled away and spins towards the mud below. I am determined not to lose him and dive down. The wires scream and the wings groan. I see Young diving on the same Hun. There is time for only one burst and I hit the Hun again. This time his spin tightens and he corkscrews through a yellow gas cloud and disintegrates.

[Linked Image]
"My first burst seems to take effect, for he tumbled away and spins towards the mud below."

Young and I find each other, open our throttles and head back over our lines to gain altitude and find some more friendly faces. At 5000 feet I circle about, but no one is in sight. We begin to climb westward. My grid has nearly reached the green fields beyond the lines when I notice motion off to my right. About a mile north of me and 2000 feet below, a single machine is heading east. I snap around and dive. It is another Albatros and he does not see me coming. I close to 100 yards and begin firing in three-second bursts. The Lewis empties and the Vickers hammers away. Suddenly the machine erupts into flame. I have not seen this happen close up and the effect is brutally disturbing. I break away before I have to look too closely.

[Linked Image]
"Suddenly the machine erupts into flame."

Back at Filescamp I make my report together with Young, who corroborates both kills. The Major endorses the claims and Wings gets back with confirmation within the hour. Perhaps my luck has finally changed. These are recorded as my fourth and fifth official victories. Major Patrick says this is noteworthy and I am hopeful of an M.I.D. [2]

Hunt was seen to put his machine down between the lines and we have been waiting all day for a call.

18 August 1917

Staines, our batman, wakens Rutherford and me at five. We are up at six for another escort show, this one to the Cambrai area. Chidlaw-Roberts has been given a flight after all and he is to lead with Major Patrick as 2 I/C. It is long, wet, and cold, and we see nothing.

In the afternoon I am permitted to lead Chidlaw-Roberts’s flight on a northern offensive patrol, all the way to Ypres. He is my number two for this one. I am determined to find some Huns today. Yesterday’s success has my blood up. We glimpse some suspicious machines through the heavy cloud, heading south. Despite chasing and climbing for a half-hour, we lose them in the walls of grey vapour that tower to 10000 feet and return to Filescamp empty-handed.

Hunt has still not been heard from. He is taken off the roster and noted as missing.

Several of the NCOs have put together a credible concert band, and they put on a good show in C Flight hangar. The good Major supplies a keg of beer, and officers are directed to have no more than one so that the other ranks can enjoy themselves. The officers organise a whip round and Young and I get to Izel to buy two more kegs. The music improves greatly as the night goes on.

NOTES:


[1] This refers, it seems, to the Battle for Hill 70. The Hill was the vital ground overlooking Lens. The battle began on 15 August, and by the 17th the Germans were counter-attacking aggressively. The FE2bs that Corderoy escorted were bringing down fire on the enemy assembly areas.

[2] Mention in Despatches.


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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/19/17 02:47 PM

Another excellent story, Raine. And 2/Lieut. Corderoy is now an ace. Congratulations! Perhaps his early struggles with claims are now in the past. On the other hand, I hope his first flamer on his fifth claim doesn't turn out to be a bad omen.

Meanwhile, a drink to Geoffrey's health! cheers
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/19/17 03:00 PM

Finally salvaged a few minutes to read your report Raine, before heading out for the day. Yes, another nice one. I liked the reference to Hill 70. Glad to see the claims finally going through, and of course, the disappearance of Bishop should settle things down a little.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/19/17 07:53 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
3 Victory's

Dec 19, 1917.


Targeted an Aerodrome near Monchy, we did some nice work this morning. However we did loose one of the New Guys 2nd Lt. Herbert ( ? )

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/20/17 12:44 AM

Raine, hmmm... playing with the Very lights. You know that guy that got hit with one died the next day...
Congrats on the kill confirmation and acedom! So, Bishop's out of the way. Time to go to work and earn your pay.
Carrick, nice fireworks!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/20/17 04:01 PM

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 22: 19-20 August 1917

19 Aug 1917 – Filescamp Farm


Early patrol – southern offensive patrol, down along the lines towards Cambrai. It is drizzling as I walk along the well-beaten path through the orchard to our hangar. There is time for a quick smoke and a cup of tea proffered by Corporal McGlashon, my trusty rigger. We chat for a few minutes while Sgt Nicod runs up the SE. Caldwell is leading today and lets me know the news that Molesworth’s transfer to HE has come through. He is leaving this afternoon, so there will not be time for a proper binge. I’m feeling well binged-out in any event. I wonder who will get Moley’s flight.

We are off: Jenkins, Caldwell, Chidwell-Roberts (along for the fun, apparently), Crompton, and Young. We passed over Monchy-le-Preux and continued, dodging muddy grey cloudbanks, southeast through seas of Archie puffs. There is a Hun aerodrome at Riencourt-lès-Cagnicourt. I am leaning over the side looking for it when I see out of the corner of my eye Caldwell’s grid climbing away. Seven Albatros scouts have emerged from the overcast and are on us, and it is a hot time. Two approach me head on and the bullets snap past. I skid sideways and fire. Some small debris flutters in the air as the Hun flashes past. Now it’s time to gain some height. The SE is a bit sluggish and I adjust the mixture, nearly stalling out of a turn. The two Huns are firing again. This time a couple of rounds punch into my left upper plane. Everything holds together. Good on you, Farnborough! Snap left and get behind one of the Huns. A quick burst causes him to spin away and down, looking for an escape.

My hands are full with the other Hun for a minute or two until Crompton jumps on his tail. At that very moment, an unseen Hun hits my machine. There is a hole in the fabric a foot from my right shoulder! I spin and dive away, not levelling out until I am at 3000 feet. About 600 yards off is a lone Albatros, perhaps the one that dived away from me earlier. He is heading towards a low wall of cloud. In a few seconds I am on his tail, firing until he pitches over and tumbles towards the earth, streaming smoke. I climb away westward and return home alone, low on ammunition.

[Linked Image]
"In a few seconds I am on his tail, firing until he pitches over and tumbles towards the earth, streaming smoke."

At lunch we toast Molesworth and I wish him all the best. He’s a stout fellow, but we never really got to know one another well. Then we are off on our afternoon patrol. We are to escort some Fees over the lines to Vitry to bother some Hun reserves. Major Patrick is leading. In the hangar, he notices that I am not longer using a ladder to climb into my machine and asks me to take station on his left wing. “Bring it in a bit closer this time,†he says. “I want to see whether the leg is still affecting your formation work. It looks much better.â€

Patrick is an all-too-uncommon leader who knows that pride and trust are his best tools. He makes me want to give peak effort all the time. Over the lines, Soden signals a wash-out and leaves us. Then Young turns back too. Now we are only three SE5s and two Fees. We approach the objective and a large group of Albatri dive on us. We see them late and are badly outnumbered. I have three of the buggers on me at once and, while I hand out some punishment, my grid starts to take hits. When the right moment comes, I dive away at full throttle and head for our lines. Two Albatri follow, but I am drawing away. As I cross the lines and pass the first of our captive balloons, one of the Huns turns back. I wait a minute and then turn on the remaining EA. The fight is short and furious. After several head-on passes I hit him and, as his machine staggers, I zoom and turn onto his tail. He dashes eastward, but I close on him just as we reach enemy lines and the ground fire begins to worry me. A long burst from my Vickers and Lewis sends the machine tumbling down. A thousand rifles and machine guns are now pointed my way and I am lucky to get out without serious damage. Caldwell and Crompton each return with claims as well.

It has been a good day’s work, two EA claimed. Unfortunately neither is witnessed and therefore my official bag remains at five. The Major has given Lieut Guy directions to note all unwitnessed claims as such, and Wing is responding with a more conservative view about crediting kills, or so it seems. On the other hand, I have good news. The CO is pleased with my station-keeping on his wing today, and I learn that he sent in a W3121 recommending me for an MC for my two-kill performance on the 17th inst., and it has already been approved through Wing and Brigade. I shall remain hopeful.

20 Aug 1917

I get to lead a patrol today when Caldwell’s grid goes wonky on him shortly after take-off. We are carrying bombs to our Hunnish friends at Menin aerodrome. I lead us in and get out quickly, leaving several shops and hangars in ruin and flames.

Afternoon is a northern offensive patrol, and I am hopeful for more Huns. There is too much cloud to see anything, though, and we return after two hours of pointless flying.

Off to the bath house in Izel with Caldwell and Chidwell-Roberts, then to dinner in town.


Attached picture 19 Aug rejected kill.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/20/17 05:42 PM

ahhhhhhhhhh the stories are smooth and well written. good job.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/20/17 05:48 PM

2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
3 Victory's

Dec 20, 1917.


Mixed it up with the Huns over Vimy while Escorting 2 French 1 1/2 ers. The flight chased the Scouts down to the deck claiming 2 e/a destroyed for 0 losses. I had 1 Hun flash by at the start of the fight then I made a side pass at another but over shot due to speed. Looking around , I was alone so RTB.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/21/17 01:45 AM

Finally Corderoy is coming into his own. Excellent battle description Raine and too bad about missing out on another confirmation. If they only had gun cameras ...
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/21/17 06:15 PM

2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
3 Victory's

Dec 21, 1917.


B flight flew in the dirty weather up tp Vimy then back . No contact with the Huns.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/21/17 09:03 PM

41 Sqn Mess.

I say , I Took a Hike around the field under the dark sky, I was just looking for exercise, but ran into a Milk Maid with a basket of Apples so bought the whole thing of shiny Reds and walked back to the Mess. Jolly good what ?

https://giphy.com/gifs/lil-red-riding-hood-xULW8lJ4Xl7RLzC2xq/fullscreen
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/21/17 10:37 PM

Hey guys, I'm finally back from the states. It will take me a little while to get caught up on all of the stories, but I think I can have the latest status report on Sunday. I know you guys want to see a picture of my new granddaughter so here you go.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/21/17 10:44 PM

Gorgeous...but can she pick on a banjo? Glad to see you back, and hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/21/17 10:45 PM

Not yet, but she will. biggrin
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/21/17 11:03 PM

Banjoman, glad you are back save. That is one beautiful bundle of joy! Enjoy and I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/17 12:41 AM

Welcome back Banjoman. Good looking kid, but ... why only one head?
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/17 02:00 AM

Beautiful young'un there Banjoman! I hope you enjoyed your trip.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/17 02:09 AM

She,s a beauty Banjoman!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/17 03:29 AM

Congrats Banjoman, Shes a Pip.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/17 03:59 AM

She's a cutie, for sure!

A nice Christmas present, Banjoman. Congrats!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/17 04:18 AM

A good few days. Promotion to Lieutenant, and two more confirmed kills...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 23: 21-24 August 1917

21 Aug 1917 – Filescamp Farm


It has been a warm day in more ways than one. Wing called late yesterday evening with new orders. We were to put on an extra DOP to the Douai area to keep the air-Huns pinned down. The enemy has been pushing back hard at the Canadian along the Arras front and we need to do our bit. The Major therefore cobbled together another flight, pulling Caldwell and me off later patrols and adding Soden, Horn, and Crompton.

Our SE5s gave us no end of trouble when we first got them. Our new Constantinesco synchroniser helped us shoot off our props, and the Hisso packed it in with monotonous regularity. We had not been allowed over the lines with them for the first few weeks. But after the first month, our ack emmas had ironed out many of the problems. While they were still not ready to set endurance records, we were increasingly taking our mounts deep into Hunland.

Major Patrick led us away, six strong. We climbed to 10000 feet and patrolled east past Douai and then back to Monchy. On our second circuit, we had just passed Cantin when the temperature gauge showed that the Hisso was running hot. I gave the washout signal and throttled back, but the temperature rose until the needle rested hard against the post at the maximum position. I began to think of the Hun I’d sent down in flames a few days ago, and switch off. The better part of ten miles lay between me and the lines, but the wind was light from the south. Archie is much louder like this, I thought.

[Linked Image]
"The better part of ten miles lay between me and the lines..."

Luck was with me. I passed over our lines at 2000 feet and put down safely out of sight of the Hun, landing by a cart track in our gun lines. I spent two hours with a battery commander from the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, a fine fellow from Nova Scotia who introduced me to the art of drinking black rum and water, although due to the lack of sanitation, he omitted the water!

[Linked Image]
Gen Currie, OC Canadian Corps, reviewing his troops who have been relieved after taking Hill 70, near Arras.

Back in time for a bit of soup and another patrol, this time escorting some DH4s on a photo shoot in our southern sector. Most the jaunt is quiet, until we get to the area of Pronville. The Major is leading again and as he turns westward, he and the rest of our group disappear behind a bank of clouds. I am bringing up the rear. Looking behind, I see two scouts emerge from some clouds about a mile behind and a little higher. I begin to climb and study them. After a few second, the leading machine banks and I see the angled wing-tips of an Albatros. The two Huns are beginning to spiral downwards, preparing to land at Pronville. And they haven’t seen me.

In a flash I close on the trailing Hun, then throttle back. My grid inches closer and closer until I am scarcely twenty yards from his tail. It takes two medium-length bursts, about 50 rounds, and the poor Hun falls over on one wing and begins spinning down vertically, streaming smoke. I dodge into the nearest clouds, expecting more Huns to emerge.

The others are not to be found, and I return after another half-hour. To my surprise, Major Patrick saw my Hun’s death-dive and confirms my kill! Number six is in the books. To top off my day, my name is back on the leave roster, and it could come soon.

23 Aug 1917

It rained all day yesterday and I was duty officer, so there was no heading for town. As a consolation, though, I learned at noon that my promotion to Lieutenant has come through. Corporal McGlashon took great delight in laying out my best tunic on my bed after lunch, two pips already in place!

The morning is drizzle, and no flights are up. By eleven, the sun breaks through and the air is hot and sultry. I am to lead a patrol at 12:30, and Captain Chidlaw-Roberts will play number two. The Major will tag along as one of the rear markers, too. We are back to the Douai area, where the air is alive with Archie and where there are more Hun aerodromes than anywhere else in France.

We are nearly ready to leave Douai and head home when I sight a cluster of EA approaching from the north. I am particularly pleased that no one else saw them earlier. I turn and climb to meet them. The fight is short but intense. Several of the Huns have no stomach for the brawl and make only a feint before diving away to the east, but I manage to get behind one and do some damage. I follow him down as far as I dare. After my final burst, he tumbles down, but the ground fire is too intense to confirm that he has crashed. The others are regrouping above and I climb to take the lead. This Hun, an Albatros, will go down as merely “driven down.â€


24 August 1917


Up and out before dawn this morning. Line patrol in our southern sector, and I am permitted to lead again. This time we seen nothing and return to spend the morning in deck chairs in the shade of the orchard. Crompton is attempting to learn the penny whistle, but is appallingly bad at it. During lunch, Horn purloins the offending instrument and has a mechanic arc-weld it to a heavy steel bar.

Caldwell lets me take the lead once again in the afternoon, a five-machine patrol escorting some RE8s to photograph the Hun lines beyond Passchendaele Ridge. From 8000 feet the battlefield is an image of hell. The ground no longer resembles even a ravished countryside. Rather it seems a hideous moonscape: water-filled craters flowing one into the next, gleaming green and putrid where the sun breaks through to them. No roads, no ruins, no trees, no clear trenches, just watery desolation.

Archie is busy. We are silhouetted against low cloud just above us. Estimating height is made simple. Still, no one is seriously damaged and after ninety minutes we turn for home, dropping down to 7000 feet. We are approaching Polygon Wood when three Albatri pass from right to left a thousand feet below. How they have not seen us is a mystery, but they parade like swans. I study the sky above and all seems good, so it is a thrilling dive on an unsuspecting enemy. I pick the nearest Hun and fire from very close range. His machine immediately tumbles and falls into the mud below. There is no doubt about number seven!


Attached picture After Hill 70.png
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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/17 05:59 AM

Geoffrey is chalking them up regularly now I see. Also a nice pic of Currie! That's a new one for me. Nice report Raine.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/17 11:06 AM

Flt Lt Benjamin Kincaid
1 RNAS
Dover

The nightmares started almost as soon as I returned to England. Every night I dream of fire and death. The complacency of England makes it hard to concentrate at the best of times and how easy would it be to forget something one day. Or miss a tick in the engine. Benny Thomas learned that. Juat a loud bang and a streak of flame and smoke. I'd say it was a pretty conclusive test of the rigging.

I am not without my own mishaps. My engine konked out about 30 seconds after takeoff the other day. I had 10 seconds to figure out how to avoid the trees that rose ominously in my path.

I didnt miss them. I had to pull myself from the burning wreckage. I spent the rest of the day shaking uncontrollably and the night screaming in terror.

I am beginning to hate England. Especially as my punishment continues and I am unable to leave camp or drink. The only good news is I have passed the 25 hour mark in my logbook. Most pilots dont live that long, especially those around me.

Im trying to think of some other happy news. Christmas is in a few days. My sister sent out a package. I havent opened it yet.

The boys are making merry around Dover. The joy at being "safe" in Blighty seems to spur them on to new levels of debauchery. Drinking an women seem to be the way to fill time between patrols. It seems that Victor has fallen head over heals for a local girl and has been courting her with all the single mindedness of an ace going for the finishing shot.

The girl is the daughter of one of the local blacksmiths. I hear she is an intelligent and strong woman and is having none of his advances. It gives him something to do for the next couple months I guess.

I will be off. There is paperwork to fill out before tomorrow's patrol. Maybe we will finally find out which side my riggers are on.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/17 06:18 PM

2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
3 Victory's


Dec 22, 1917.


Hq must be Crackers. They sent the 8 a/c Sqn on a Show the flag Monchy to St Vaast then circle for 22 minutes. Just over the lines we were scattered by 5 ? Albatross Scouts and as we reformed 5 Pfalz Scouts dove on us. I almost got a Albatross type ,but he scooted away then as I claimed I couldnt get a bead on the diving e/a. Right bank and slightly diving I shot past my last chance to bag one. 2 e/a had dropped on my tail and were shooting at me. so it was Pedal to the Metal and Run for home in the dark rainy skies. The Sqn claimed 4 Destroyed for 1 lost. + damaged to 3 a/c

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/22/17 11:30 PM

2nd Lt. Mark Fairchild
56 RFC
Liettres
August, 1917

Lt. Fairchild sat on a table in the medical tent getting his arm bandaged. A nasty cut on the upper arm courtesy of the Hun archy while attacking Douai aerodrome.

Rhys Davis stuck his head in the tent. “How’s the arm ol’ boy?

“Just a nick†Mark replied. “I will be ready for the next mission Sir.â€

“That’s the spirit yank! if the rest of your countrymen are as game as you we could end this show pronto! IF they were here†he said sarcastically.

Mark was used to the American jokes. It upset him at first but learned he would have to get used to them or have a miserable time. It had been a long journey to a medical table in France. He had joined the army in 1913 and served in the cavalry during the Poncho Villa campaign in Mexico. It was there he volunteered to be an observer in an airplane the first time America used them. He was hooked. Not being able to join the American air service he had gone to Canada and joined the RFC. Being in the cavalry and being an “experienced observer†he had no trouble being accepted.
He chuckled to himself at the “experienced observer†part. He may have stretched the truth a bit.

This wound came on his second mission after returning to 56. Two months ago his flight had attacked 3 bombers and just when he fired his last burst that sent the Hun machine in a nose dive to the ground the observer hit his machine and a bullet broke his leg at mid thigh. He was lucky to have made it back. How the bullet missed the artery was a miracle. His longtime wingman Fluke had been killed on the same mission he learned later. To add salt to the wound no one saw his DWFC tumble to the ground. At that his confirmed total stood at 7.

It was a long 2 months and 2 operations to get back on his feet, even though he still walked with a very pronounced limp. Still, it was good to back among his friends. He had gained their respect and they had earned his.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/23/17 12:36 PM

.

Banjoman, great to see you back in camp. And your new granddaughter, well she is cute beyond measure. Also, while the fluffy bear headgear is nice, I really think grandpa should get her an even nicer WWI-style flying cap.

Carrick, those Pfalz are really giving Jeffery and his crew fits, much more so than the Albs. As for the milk maid you encountered, she may have been selling more than apples. Also, and I mean this in the kindest and most supportive way possible, you might want to consider letting someone else give lessons on how to ride a bike.

Raine, so Geoffrey is an ace at last, high time I’d say. And up for the MC with a promotion to boot, looks like the powers-that-be have realized the man’s worth. Add to that Bishop and Molesworth both being packed off to HE and I’ve a hunch there’s a permanent flight leader’s spot for Corderoy in the near future as well. Now he just needs to see that his mount doesn’t leave him sitting on the wrong side of the mud – those Hissos are not to be trusted.

DC, Kincaid is unfortunately not alone in suffering the nightmares. Such terrors of mind and spirit, if left unvanquished, will kill a man surer than any Hun’s bullet. Here’s hoping our young flyer can find some inner peace and regain his focus for the job at hand. Certain Native American tribes taught their warriors a philosophy for dealing with war that was summed up simply as this: “Today is a good day to dieâ€.

Mark, it’s great to see your pilot back in the virtual fray despite his immediate wounding. Methinks he needs to exercise a tad more caution. Also, on a personal note, I’m going to give the retirement thing a try myself at the end of this year. Four more days at the job and then I hang it up, not that I’m counting mind you. biggrin

Wonderful stories gents, thanks for sharing, and Merry Christmas!

.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/23/17 05:01 PM

RAF Lou: lol ur funny Thanks a lot. U R correct about the Milk Maid she also sells Red Riding Capes

Regarding the Pfalz D IIIa. When they fly lower than us, we can give them a rough going over. Equal height its 50 - 50 on a good day. If the e/a are higher than us then I know that I will loose a few good pilots that day. The Albatross D-V, D-V uprated and D-Va We ca hold our own except in a prolong turning fight. or close in and diving.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/23/17 05:14 PM

2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
3 Victory's


Dec 23, 1917.


I Bagged a Green Tailed e/a over Reincort AF. The flight claimed 2 a/c. B flight had Patrol over Monchy when we spotted a flight of 3 Camels in fight with numerous e/a ( 7 or 8 ? ) far below. letting down so we could get to grips and help out, we arrived over Reincort A F. I spoted mine going into a landing circle so dropped in behind and Rat a tat, tat, tat his wing came off. ( a full drum lewis and 104 rds Vickers) The Intell Officer thinks my kill may have been a Flight leader or Sqn Leader because of the Red stripe on the top wing.

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Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/23/17 06:30 PM

Fantastic stories from everybody in this thread!

I've been playing around with a couple of ideas for a German pilot. Depending on my real life schedule, I may enlist one soon. I really miss DID flying!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/23/17 09:38 PM

Hasse: Great to hear U R flying again.

https://giphy.com/gifs/college-seinfeld-jerry-9izBkcgrL8wOk/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/therundownbet-funny-happy-3o6fJ2VYOHh2Rzc8Uw/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/23/17 09:48 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's


Dec 23, 1917.


Afternoon Formation: The Maj. confirmed my 4 th victory. My wing mate Sgt Watson passed around a letter from his Sister telling about the War Shortages at Home.

https://giphy.com/gifs/garden-party-alexandra-dane-3o6fIQv9p2uxWd5iNO/fullscreen
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/24/17 01:34 AM

These all have to be some of the best reports.
Raine, good luck with that SE5 and the engine troubles. Hope it doesn't give you too much trouble now that the confirmations are coming in more often.
DC, seems like keep getting the short end of the stick lately. Hope your pilot snaps out of that depression soon.
Carrick, congrats on the latest victory, you Big Bad Wolf!
And finally Lou, ... I didn't realize Klingons were from North America. You learn something new every day. wink

26 August, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

It was a beautiful summer morning. Aldi was sitting outside getting ready for the show. Today Paul Strähle will be test flying a captured SPAD. It will be quite a treat to find out what this latest French bird is capable of and how it compares to their new Albatros.
"Der Truer Husar" was playing on the gramophone nearby. On the table beside him sat the Ersatz coffee. Aldi took a sip of it and made a sour face. This stuff was terrible.
His right arm started to hurt again. He adjusted the sling and made his arm more comfortable. It was nothing serious. The gunner of the Strutter got lucky yesterday and grazed Aldi above elbow. He did not live long enough to brag about it. Nevertheless, the injury removed Schwarzkopf from flight roster for the next six days. So, here he was sitting and observing the going ons. He was already getting restless and contemplating if he should pick up smoking. He wasn’t fond of the activity, but without flying to keep him occupied he needed something to do.
Paul just showed up in his flight gear. He was now speaking with the Idflieg officials who came this morning to observe the test. They were discussing the flight plan and maneuvers they wanted him to perform. Aldi watched from afar. Once he saw Strähle salute, he knew they were done. Paul walked over to Aldi sitting at the table.
“Well, wish me luck and make sure those numbskulls manning the Flak batteries don’t shoot at this SPAD.†He patted him gently on the shoulder, reached over and grabbed Aldi’s cup. He took a gulp and made a face as if he just drunk poison. Strähle spat out the entire mouthful and looked at Aldi with reproach.
Aldi smirked and wished his friend good luck: “Hals und Beinbruch!â€
Paul walked over to the SPAD, spitting every other step. The French machine was being readied. The Hispano Suiza V8 engine was already resonating with its characteristic deep rumbling. Aldi heard the story: the Spanish engine was so mistrusted by the French that to prove its reliability it had to run on the test bench at full power for 50 hours nonstop before it would be accepted. French engines had to run for only 15 hours to pass military scrutiny.
Strähle was on the runway, picking up speed, climbing over the trees and disappearing over the nearby town. A minute later he was back buzzing the airfield performing stunts as instructed. He started with simple chandelles, then advanced to wingovers and finally some aileron rolls and barrel rolls. The programme also included a tailslide, split-s, inside loop and a series of dives. These last maneuvers impressed Aldi. The speed this machine could achieve in a dive without shedding wings was impressive, unmatched by any of the German counterparts. Strähle then proceeded to make a series of low level passes over the aerodrome. One of them came so close to the windsock that Aldi thought the tip of the propeller trimmed it a bit.
“What a show off!†Aldi has never seen Paul fly so well. He made a mental note to congratulate his friend on such precise flying. Finally the SPAD was on the final approach and landing with a heavy thud. Strähle was out of the cockpit in an instant walking briskly towards Aldi. He threw his gloves on the table, making sure they don’t touch Ersatz.
“So, how is it?†Aldi was curious of the machine’s handling.
“It’s good but unstable. I nearly crashed into that windsock. The bloody thing is a death trap. I’m glad it’s them flying this brick and not us. I’ll stick with the Albatros, thank you very much.â€
He slumped onto a chair beside Aldi and reached for the cup again, stopping himself just short, quickly remembering the taste of the contents. “I have to pick up smoking.†He leaned back, closed his eyes and shifted his face in the direction of the sun. Aldi looked at him, also closed his eyes with his face facing south. It was a beautiful summer morning.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture SPAD VII.JPG
Posted By: rtoolooze262

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/24/17 02:28 PM

Just love drinking my morning coffee, and reading these reports! Fantastic reading!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/24/17 06:01 PM

2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victorys.


Dec 24, 1917.

We ran into Huns over Cambria at max Height. The Enemy Flight were a mix of Albatross and Pfalz Scouts and were diving on our 4 a/c when my motor Stopped . Bollocks! I could only nose over and try for a high speed start up. As I dove I got off a few pot shots. Then the motor caught and I was back in the fight with a Hun on my tail. In conclusion, I lost the Hun after crossing our lines. The Motor went U/S and I was able to land on a road near one of our balloons. We lost 1 pilot in that fight. No claims except for maybe 1 damaged.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/24/17 08:08 PM

OK, sometimes you need to leave well enough alone. Leaving tomorrow for my retirement trip. Going to the farm in north MS until I am tired of it. “One more mission†I think to myself. My pilot was full of himself after having his last 2 claims confirmed bringing his total to 9 in 41 missions.Today’s mission was a Railyard strike and making one more pass my wing or wheels hit something and my career ended in a fiery crumpled heap across the lines. Yep, get a little cocky and you die. One day I may even learn that lesson.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Congratulations on your retirement Lou. I know you will be spending all your time making improvements to this wonderful sim for all to enjoy. Stay safe gents.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/24/17 09:23 PM

Hey guys, here is the latest status report. Since I've been gone so long please check to make sure the information is correct for your pilot.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/25/17 03:21 PM

Merry Christmas everyone!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/25/17 08:14 PM

2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Dec 25, 1917.

Stayed down today with the Riggers and Mech types fixing up my new Kite. Although not a really New a/c , we put in new flying wires and a new factory fresh Motor,. The Maintenance officer said that my old motor was shot , ( No compression technical language ? ) parts of the old kite they could save were Guns Tanks ect. Additionally, Hq had sent down an Order awhile back dropping the Number system on machines and to start using Letters as Pilot Identifiers by end Jan 1918 In addition too changing the Sqn I.D. So we did it all. As a treat, I trotted up to the farm on the Northside of the Field and brought some cheese, eggs, and wine from the Farm Maid that lives there. along with giving her my share of Tins of Bully Beef.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/25/17 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Dec 25, 1917.

Stayed down today with the Riggers and Mech types fixing up my new Kite. Although not a really New a/c , we put in new flying wires and a new factory fresh Motor,. The Maintenance officer said that my old motor was shot , ( No compression technical language ? ) parts of the old kite they could save were Guns Tanks ect. Additionally, Hq had sent down an Order awhile back dropping the Number system on machines and to start using Letters as Pilot Identifiers by end Jan 1918 In addition too changing the Sqn I.D. So we did it all. As a treat, I trotted up to the farm on the Northside of the Field and brought some cheese, eggs, and wine from the Farm Maid that lives there. along with giving her my share of Tins of Bully Beef.

https://giphy.com/gifs/witch-in-forrest-kayleigh-noelle-3o752i7AcBeoCXBa4o/fullscreen


OH My!!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/26/17 07:12 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Dec 26, 1917.


Intercept: Hq wanted a flight to catch a Reported recon plane between Lens and Loos. B flight put up 4 a/c while our high cover was 3 a/c. After spending endless time circling over the area, we turned for homw and over flew a pack of E/a under us coming out of the cloud banks. Wot a Mess. I saw 2LT Ebaneser fly off into a pack. It was the last I saw of him. Twisting and making pot shots, I kept alive. I spotted Sgt Tim ( Tiny ) getting boxed in so I tried to turn and help but too many e/a s in the way then a Flamer and he was gone. With a dozen holes and a Hun behind me, I dove for home.
The Sqn lost 2 a/c for 1 claimed. Total e/a sighted ? Engaged ?.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/27/17 06:14 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Dec 27, 1917.

Escvort Mission for 2 DH-4's to St. Vaast. No contact
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/27/17 06:28 PM

Ooooh Carrick, what is this Escort mission! Some special top secret thing? biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/28/17 07:13 PM

Just a recon of factory's I guess I should have put no contact with e/a Hun ? I Hope that everyone had a good Holiday
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/28/17 07:32 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.

Dec 28, 1917

I say, bit dodgy this morning. The sun was out a little more this morning ,but we still couldnt see well. The Sgn had 7 a/c up in 2 flights mine had 5 with Top cover of 2. Max Height over Monchy on a show the flag flight we caught some e/a ( 5 or more. ) I waved for a descending turn and the fight started. We did well, no kills for me , 2 went right down then maybe 3 ? as I was keeping out of harms way and shoeing the Huns off my wing-mates. I spotted both of A Flight's Top Cover in death dives. The Huns got Sgt Marley and Sgt Bob Cartchit. The enemy formation must have had Top Cover that I didn't see. I started taking hits from a diving Hun so nosed over in a corkscrew then full power and headed home. The flight claimed 3 destroyed for 2 lost + 2 damaged.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/29/17 03:37 AM

I hope everyone had a happy Christmas. I've been catching up with Corderoy's career tonight, so here is the latest...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 24: 25-31 August 1917

25 Aug 1917 – Filescamp Farm


With Molesworth gone for HE, there is an open flight commander spot and I am hoping to get the nod although it will be a long shot as I have just been made up to Lieutenant. The Major has not shown his hand yet, and he is allowing being to lead C Flight sometimes and Horn others. This past week, however, I have led every patrol I’ve flown.

Our hut is wonderfully cozy. After Beck left we got a new boy, Randolph. He is an Etonian and innocently insufferable, but he is regular receipt of Fortnum and Mason hampers so the hut is a genuine tuck shop.

Today, 25 August, I had Randolph over the lines for the first time. It was to have been a gentle indoctrination. We married up with three RE8s west of Arras and followed our lines down to Bapaume, where we dashed over to let the Harry Tate merchants drop some bombs on a body of troops in a wood just behind the Hun lines near Havrincourt. They wasted no time and regrouped, and we all made our way joyfully homeward. The mud of the front passed beneath us and the RE8s made for the field at Bapaume. I relaxed for a moment, for as everyone in France knows, Huns never appear on our side of the lines.

That was when five big, nasty Albatros DVs decided to dive on us from out of a fluffy great cloud. Oh, what a scrap it was! For several minutes it was all one could do to avoid bashing into one another, but at length I found a nice purplish Hun and followed it down to under a thousand feet. The fellow had the wind up terribly and was weaving one way and the other, trying to make his own lines. Horn was my 2 I/C and locked onto him as well, but I was able to cut inside him and bag the Hun for my eight confirmed kill. I owed Horn a drink that night. There was no big celebration, though, for Randolph was missing.

Just as the evening was breaking up, the fellow waltzed in grinning from ear to ear. He’d been a guest of the French for the afternoon and was driven back to us in style in a Renault staff car, quite drunk.

[Linked Image]
"The fellow had the wind up terribly and was weaving one way and the other, trying to make his own lines."


26 August 1917

This morning I lead a patrol to attack a balloon down near Cambrai. Unfortunately the engine goes wonky and I glide to the French field at Lechelles, very close to where my Hun came down yesterday. I am happy to learn from the “capitaine†that the German pilot was uninjured despite crashing heavily and had been entertained over lunch in their mess before being bundled off. Horn, who took over command of the flight, bags a balloon while I am enjoying coffee.

We go back to the Cambrai balloon lines in the afternoon. Randolph leaves us with a dud engine before we cross the lines. I am determined to get a balloon to match Horn, but despite leading the attack and firing nearly a hundred rounds, the balloon I target does not burn. And to make matters more frustrating, Horn follows behind and flames the sausage with his first burst.

Randolph puts down at Courcelles. His machine stalls as he approaches the field and he hits a tree, killing himself.

27 August 1917

This morning I lead a long offensive patrol along our southern sector but see nothing.

In the mid-afternoon, Caldwell lets me lead his flight as we escort three Strutters from 43 Squadron. There is not enough praise for the chaps who fly such obsolete machines into Hunland day after day. They are taking frightful losses, but never flinch.

The sky is hazing over as we take off, and towering clouds are building up like grey galleons, promising rain. We rendezvous with the Strutters near Arras and head across the lines south of Monchy, where Archy is thick and accurate. There are some nasty bumps that throw our SEs about and I give the sign to spread out the formation. The Strutters turn southwest at Marcoing, a little northwest of Cambrai, and begin their photo run. Ten minutes later they turn northeast to do it all over again. Their task complete they head home.

Visibility is not good, but what little sun there is catches the wings of a Hun two-seater heading east as we head west. Two Albatri escort the machine and I lead our SEs to the attack. The Huns put their noses down and dive away, except for the rearmost, who turns to meet us. He is a gallant fellow, for it is five against one. For several minutes he ties us in knots. We are afraid to attack, for the Hun is in the middle of our group and we are afraid to hit another British machine. Finally, I see him pull up to take a crack at Pope and manage a full-deflection burst straight down into the top of the Albatros.

The Hun spirals earthward in big loops, an obvious feint. I follow him down over the mud of no-man’s-land as he swoops lower and lower. He is drawing me onto the Hun lines, and I level off at 2000 feet to wait for him to pull out. He will have a run of four or five miles to reach Pronville and I should be able to catch him. But to my surprise, the spiral does not stop. The Albatros hits the mud with its left wingtips and cartwheels across the shattered terrain, disappearing in a ball of flame. Caldwell has followed me down and confirms my claim. I now have nine confirmed victories.

31 August 1917

It has rained for four days without respite. The field is sodden and the huts swarm with earwigs. A new man, Pellyn, has taken Randolph’s place. His family isn’t as well heeled, though, so we must fend for ourselves when it comes to fine dining. He is a bit shy, but may have a sense of humour.

Last night we attended a concert at 11 Squadron across the way. Some very funny acts, especially one sergeant who did a perfect send-up of General Trenchard. Even the Wing Commander was doubled over.

There are rumours of a move. We shall hate to leave Filescamp if they are true. This place is as close to home as one can be in war.



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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/29/17 04:33 AM

Nicely done story once again, Raine. However, as a Yank, I was thouroughly mystified by the following passage:
Quote
...he is regular receipt of Fortnum and Mason hampers so the hut is a genuine tuck shop.

Good work with the two confirmed claims. It seems that young Geoffrey's fortunes are on the rise, at least if his Se5 doesn't conk out on him first!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/29/17 05:05 AM

BBob,

Thanks for the comments!

Fortnum and Mason is a fine food shop on Piccadilly in London that has been a provisioner to the Royal Family and to many well-heeled British households since the 1700s. Its hampers (gift baskets) are legendary. I've attached a photo of one.

A tuck shop is a snack and candy shop, rather like a canteen, often established in private schools (known, of course, as public schools in Britain).

Attached picture F&M.jpg
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/29/17 03:58 PM

Ah, thanks for the explanation.

I gathered that F&M was a purveyor of fine goods or consumables, but wasn't sure exactly what. I was less sure what a "tuck shop" was. Makes sense now. I also now understand the meaning of the phrase "to stop in for a nip and a tuck."

Nip = cheers
Tuck = readytoeat
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/29/17 04:38 PM

Glad that's cleared up. I had no Idea of what was being referred to or who.


https://giphy.com/gifs/survivorau-survivor-l0IsIHxbX5SOY7PwI/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/am85-cine-mexicano-peliculas-mexicanas-3ohuAtheUMemXZS82A/fullscreen


I do know that in California the phase Nip and Tuck refers to :

https://giphy.com/gifs/90s-comedy-retro-dfDZQ0z8uUI5W/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/celebs-YvF0w8agEetgs/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/29/17 05:25 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Dec 29, 1917.


Chase away a Recon Type from over St. Vaast. B flight had 4 ships up and found a lone Recon type among the dark clouds. I got a few shots off before he disappeared into the cloud banks and the Escorts ( 2 Vee Strutters ) came down. Dive zoom, twist turn then I was all alone so RTB. No claims , No losses. except for 1 pilot wnd. The met is forecasting bad weather on the marrow so will head in to the city on pass.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/31/17 12:14 AM

My Sqn Mates and I went into Abbeville to party while the Rainy weather closed in on the area. Ah, the french culture is resplendent in the City. Dec 30, 1917.



https://giphy.com/gifs/traci-lords-r7RgmEjgkNp4I/fullscreen



and their was a charming moment.

https://giphy.com/gifs/girls-aloud-raised-eye-brow-3o6fIZFaTlFquPSLTO/fullscreen
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 12/31/17 08:08 PM

The latest status report on last week's activities.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/01/18 12:22 PM

.

The DID Centenary Challenge Commendations Officer is pleased to present the following awards.


To pilots of the Entente Alliance

75 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Capitaine Francois Wagnon)
75 Hours Medal presented to: Raine, (Lieutenant Geoffrey Corderoy)
25 Hours Medal presented to: Carrick58, (2nd Lieutenant Jeffery Vickers)
25 Hours Medal presented to: Dark_Canuck, (Flight Lieutenant Benjamin Kincaid)
25 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (2nd Lieutenant Edward Nygma)
25 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Sergeant Dick Grayson)
25 Hours Medal presented to: MFair, (2nd Lieutenant Mark Fairchild)

To pilots of the Central Powers

150 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Rittmeister Aldi Schwarzkopf)
50 Hours Medal presented to: Lederhosen, (Offizierstellvertreter Karl Steinhorst)


Well done Gentleman, you make your respective countries proud! You may pick up your spiffing new gongs on the table below. Of further note, Happy New Year!

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/01/18 04:40 PM

Yea, It is a Happy New Year.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/01/18 06:15 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Jan 1, 1918.

Morning Formation: Reported one man AWOL ( Too much Fun in the city ? ) Received the 25 Hr. WOFF Gong award The C.O. put Abbeville Off limits till we find the missing pilot. Formation Over, I led B flights 5 a/c up over Monchy chasing Hun 2 Seater's. We found 3 at over 2800 meters I missed on my approach and had to swing back ending up the last a/c. Spotted 1 e/a going down ( Bowman got the kill ,but was Wnd) + Watson was heavy damaged) then it was over, so we RTB.

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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/01/18 11:09 PM

Thanks Lou! Happy New Year to all!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/18 12:12 AM

Happy new Year!
Banjoman, thank you for the stats and Lou, thank you for the gongs!

Intrepid Fliers News of the World for the past month - August:

August 1
The Vatican published a Peace Note from Pope Benedict XV suggesting an initiative on which a peace might be based.
August 2
General Lavr Kornilov succeeded General Brusilov as Russian Commander-in-Chief.
Artillery shelling continued at Ypres, but infantry advances were suspended due to torrential rain.
August 3
Austrian-German forces recaptured Czernowitz in Bukovina on the Eastern Front.
August 4
Liberia declared war on Germany.
August 5
Richard von Kuhlmann was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Germany.
August 6
The Battle of Marasesti began when German troops launched an attack against Russian and Romanian forces.
August 7
The British steamer SS Iran was sunk in the Azores by the German submarine U-155 whilst on a voyage from Calcutta to London.
August 9
Count Moric Esterhazy resigned as Premier of Austria.
August 10
The British Labour Party decided to send representatives to a consultative conference in Stockholm.
British forces attacked on the Gheluvelt Plateau but achieved only small gains in the offensive at Ypres.
August 11
Arthur Henderson resigned from the War Cabinet when his idea for an international conference on the war was voted down.
August 12
German Gotha bombers attacked Southend and Margate in a bombing raid which resulted in dozens of casualties.
August 14
The new Chinese President Feng Kuo-chang (Feng Guozhang) declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary.
August 15
The Battle of Hill 70 began between the Canadian Corps and the German Sixth Army along the Western Front on the outskirts of Lens in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.
August 17
The second Allied general attack in the Ypres Offensive, the Battle of Langemarck began. Both German and British forces were severely hampered by adverse weather conditions.
August 18
Italian forces battled against the Austro-Hungarians along the Isonzo River again in the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo.
August 20
The Second Offensive Battle of Verdun took place on the banks of the River Meuse when British troops launched an assault on the Verdun battlefields.
August 21
Sandor Wekerle was appointed Prime Minister of Hungary for the third time in his career.
August 24
Italian forces occupied the summit of Monte Santo and continued their advance towards the Bainsizza Plateau during the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo.
August 25
The Battle of Hill 70 came to an end. The localised battle had included extensive use of poison gas on both sides and ultimately the goals of the Canadian Corps were only partially accomplished.
August 26
British forces captured enemy positions east of Hargicourt. French forces launched an attack on the front at Verdun and captured Le Mort Homme.
August 27
The United States replied to the Papal Peace Note. President Wilson rejected a peace based on the Pope's proposals and implied that there was no chance of peace until the German people overthrew their government.
August 28
The Moscow State Conference closed after 3 days. It had been convened by the Provisional Government to mobilize all the counterrevolutionary forces in Russia.
August 29
The British steamer SS Treloske was sunk by the German submarine U-93 on voyage from Barry to La Spezia with a cargo of coal.
August 31
Louis Malvy resigned as French Minister of the Interior after he was blamed for not suppressing pacifist agitators.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/18 12:13 AM

News of the world for Warbirds Rising - December:

December 1
The last resistance in German East Africa ended when General von Lettow-Vorbeck withdrew his troops across the Rovuma River into Portuguese territory.
December 2
The suspension of hostilities between Russian and German Armies began prior to the truces arranged between official negotiators.
December 3
The first session of the "Truce Delegates" took place at the Brest-Litovsk headquarters between Russia and the Central Powers.
December 4
The British withdrew from their initial gains at Cambrai and the offensive ended.
December 6
The Finnish Parliament declared independence from Russia under acting Head of State Pehr Evind Svinhufvud.
December 7
President Woodrow Wilson signed a declaration of war against Austria-Hungary.
December 8
British troops launched a final advance against the Ottoman Empire and entered the city of Jerusalem.
December 9
The Ottoman Army retreated and Jerusalem was taken by British forces in Palestine. The fall of the city marked the climax of an offensive against the Turks which had begun in October with the capture of Beersheba.
December 10
Panama declared war on Austria-Hungary.
December 11
General Edmund Allenby formally entered the Old City of Jerusalem. It was the first time that Jerusalem was in Christian hands since the Crusades.
December 12
A convoy of British ships was attacked by four German battleships. The destroyer HMS Partridge was torpedoed and sunk.
December 14
General Maurice Sarrail was recalled from Salonika by French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau.
December 15
An armistice between Russia and Central Powers was signed on the Eastern Front at Brest-Litovsk.
December 16
Sir Edmund Allenby was made GCMG (Knight Grand Cross of Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George).
December 17
The armistice agreed upon between the new Russian Government and the Central Powers came into effect.
December 18
The United States passed the Eighteenth Amendment, also known as the Temperance Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture, sale or
transportation of intoxicating liquors.
December 19
Two United States submarines, USS F-1 and USS F-3, collided while maneuvering in exercises off the coast of California. USS F-1 sank within ten seconds or the impact.
December 20
The first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations, the Cheka was established in Russia by the Council of People's Commissars after a decree issued by Vladimir Lenin.
December 21
The Battle of Jaffa was fought over two days between the forces of the British Empire and the Ottoman and German Empires during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The conflict ended with an emphatic victory for the British.
December 22
A secret pact regarding the future of Poland was agreed between Germany and the Russian Bolshevik Government at Brest-Litovsk.
December 23
The Independent Republic of Moldavia was proclaimed at Kishinev.
December 26
The Defense of Jerusalem was one of three battles which made up the "Jerusalem Operations" along with the Battle of Nebi Samwil and the
Battle of Jaffa. The engagement began when the Turkish Army launched a counter-attack against British infantry on the outskirts of the city.
December 27
Sir Rosslyn Wemyss was appointed First Sea Lord of Great Britain.
December 30
The final objectives were achieved at the climax of the Defense of Jerusalem when the whole front line was secured by British troops.
December 31
The British fleet messenger carrying troops and medical personnel, HMS Osmanleh was sunk after hitting a mine at the entrance to Alexandria Harbour.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/02/18 05:02 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.

Jan 2, 1918.


He would have been my 5 th Victory, but No one saw it and it was over the enemy lines. Our 8 a/c were over Monchy Escorting a Lone Recon RE 8 . The Sqn had just completed a turn when I spotted a lone e/a going for the Recon. Flipping over , I dove for the e/a who had turned chasing the RE 8. I was too late to help as the RE 8 flamed and headed down, But did get on the e/a tail. A full Lewis drum and about 50 some rds of Vickers his Top then Bottom wings came off. What I didnt see was the rest of my Flight had engaged 3 other Huns ( nailing 2 ) so No witness + Over enemy held Monchy no proof. = No Confirmed Victory.. We had only 1 a/c damaged + the RE 8 Lost.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/18 02:42 AM

Lou, thank you so much for the New Year's visit from the Gong Fairy. These are always so welcome and so well done. Banjoman, once again, thank you for your dedication.

Here is the latest from Geoffrey Corderoy, who has finally made it to ten victories...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 25: 1-3 September 1917

1 Sep 1917 – Filescamp Farm


The Major has me leading an ad hoc flight he puts together from the keenest and least tired of us. This lets us put up two extra patrols each day.

We are up and in the air at 4 in the morning, which is to say 4 in the middle of the night. It was my first patrol in complete darkness in France, and is quite the thing to put the wind up, knowing there are six or seven other machines bobbing about the sky in close proximity. We are on a line patrol east of Bethune. A new man, Smith, is with us. I tell him to stay on my tail and not to try scrapping unless it’s to shoot a Hun off my back.

By our second circuit the sky is growing pale. We are at 13000 feet and I have been shaking uncontrollably, but now it stops. The cold is numbing my body beyond shaking. I take turns holding one hand between my thighs, then the other. But all discomfort is quickly forgotten when a large formation of Albatros DVs close with us. We are among them in an instant. What a jolly tangle it is! For several minutes Albatri and SEs swerve and zoom and dive, missing each other in heart-stopping flashes and taking unaimed cracks at one another. Then I see a Hun machine turning under me and fall on his tail. He is yellow with a red nose. My first two bursts hit him and must clearly do damage, for the machine trails grey smoke, or perhaps it is petrol. He loops under me again and I follow. A glance behind tells me that Smith is still with me. The Hun spirals closer and closer to the ground. Tracer is streaking past from machine guns below. One final burst sends the Hun down. Smith, however, takes a small piece of shrapnel to his derrière. He leaves me and heads to Hesdigneul, the nearest field. I am down to my last drum for the Lewis and probably my last hundred rounds for the Vickers, so head home.

[Linked Image]
"My first two bursts hit him and must clearly do damage, for the machine trails grey smoke, or perhaps it is petrol."

The second ad hoc patrol is at noon, so no lunch for me. This time it’s a DOP to Douai, a favourite playground for Huns. We have a brief scrap with some Albatri. I nearly bag one, but Major Patrick gets on him first and sends him down. We escort two RE8s to photograph Hun roads and rail lines near Cambrai. When the two-seaters are finished we turn west. After seeing the RE8s safely across the lines I turn and lead us after three Albatros scouts I spot off to the north. We are low on fuel and have only a few minutes for the chase. One by one the other SEs break off and head home. I follow the trailing Hun nearly to Pronville before getting a crack at him from 200 yards. The Albatros shudders and begins to spin vertically down. I lose him in the ground haze, so claim him as merely driven down and hope he is seen to crash. Unfortunately, this one cannot be confirmed, but the good news is that Smith will recover in a week or two and has confirmed my Hun from this morning, so that makes ten victories in the official books.

General Higgins drops by for a quick dekko [1] at the place and – unexpectedly – to present me with my MC. He was put out that I hadn’t put up the ribbon yet, but I was not sure of the protocol. We follow dinner with a modest celebration in the Mess, with plenty of singing and some roughhousing. One interesting bit of news – we are to be re-equipped with a new model of SE with a more powerful, and we hope more reliable, engine.

3 Sep 1917

Heavy rain for the second day, so no war flying. We have begun to pack up for the impending move, which we hear will bring us closer to Ypres and the bitterest fighting. We hate to leave Filescamp, as it really is quite cozy here. Our souvenirs are coming down in the anteroom and there are plans to bring the bar and perhaps even the fireplace with us.

Letter from home this afternoon. Mother is asking again when I will get leave. My younger brother, Billy, is starting at Wellington and my older brother Reg is talking about joining the RFC. Mother is imploring me to write to him and dissuade him. If he does not join the RFC, I am afraid he’ll end up in the infantry, where he will endure danger and discomfort in equal measure. I wish I could speak to my father alone.

NOTES

[1] dekko = look, as in "to take a dekko at". From the Hindi "dekh", to look.


Attached picture Kill #10.png
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/18 10:28 AM

arggggg.... many a fight but too few claims to put in. Karl finally baught the bullet while trying toooo hard to get that next victory.
Oh well

[Linked Image]
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/18 12:36 PM

Oh no. Rotten luck Lederhosen!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/18 01:17 PM

Oh, Lederhosen. Sorry for you. New year, new pilot, I suppose.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/18 06:06 PM


Raine: Good story as always.


Leaderhosen:

https://giphy.com/gifs/the-big-c-MRYWe9yOB3B60/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/jeff-goldblum-jurassic-park-world-qr7dWYeTpZAWs/fullscreen




What bad luck. I know that I have done the same thing too much greed , Get that next kill, Then U have to bit the big bullet . What a Nasty Taste.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/03/18 06:15 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Jan 3, 1918.

First Flight : It was a cover the airfields ( Get in ur flight time led by the Cpt ) flight. No Contact. just a kick back ride around with 11 a/c.

The second was short. I just got up when the motor sputtered and loss power ending up in a field. The mech's think that it was a clod in the line or the fuel too lean.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/04/18 01:43 AM

Raine, great report and congrats on the 10th.
Lederhosen, ouch!
Carrick, time to sit back, relax and grab a cold one while they work on that engine.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/04/18 03:15 AM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd LT., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
lealvillers, France.
4 Victory s

Jan 4, 1918.


The Mech's said my Kite would be down for the week ( due to Rear echelon work needed ) so they gave me one from the Spares to fly. It was the Sqn Hack. I Went up for a little formation flying Test fly then off on a Bombardment of a Railyard near Vimy. The Cpt. led our 12 machines from 2000meters down to 500 meters in lazy circles over the target thru cannon fire to attack. I must say, it was a wonder no one got hit. Since I was so close to Douai Aerodrome, I just had to pop over to say hello.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/05/18 04:48 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd LT., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
lealvillers, France.
4 Victory s

Jan 5, 1918.


The Cpt had the 12 of us Orbiting Loos when 2 e/a showed up off to the East. As tail end a/c I only got one firing pass in before my flight mates sent both 2 seat machines into death dives.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/06/18 06:50 PM

Jeffery Vickers
LT., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight
lealvillers, France.
4 Victory s


Jan 6, 1918.


I Got Wnd today. I was part of a flight attacking 3 Hann's near Bapaume on the enemy side of the lines We knocked down the e/a flight of 3 then as we reformed the 6 of us were hit by 3 Vee Strut Scouts with Green Tails. I was hit in the for-arm the kite had 21 holes in it. ( down for 6 days) The flight loss 1 Destroyed + 3 Damaged. for 3 Hann's ( I swear one was mine ) ,but no witness as everyone was shooting at everybody and claiming everything + 1 Albatross damaged ( mine) As I was loaded into a ambulance Truck for the ride to the Hospital The C.O. tossed in my 1st Lt bars seemed I got promoted and wave bye.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/18 01:48 AM

Great shots Carrick. Congrats on that downed Albatros even if not confirmed. Looks like you're finally getting some nice weather. Too bad you'll enjoy it in the hospital.

6 September, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

Aldi’s machine was darting between dark and thick clouds followed by the reminder of his flight. Kette Eins was here somewhere as well but it kept out of sight. They were circling above the balloon which they’ve been tasked to protect. It was difficult staying in formation, let alone looking out for any enemy threats. Aldi checked his watch, it was nearly time to return home when he thought he saw some movement at 2 o’clock. A few specs appeared momentarily and immediately disappeared in the thick clouds. Aldi adjusted the heading to investigate. He begun scanning the area intently, but the specks did not resurface. The Schwarm continued on course toward the last position of the contacts, but without any success. Aldi kept on pushing and cut across the cloud in which his query had disappeared. He expected to be confronted on the other side of the cloud, but when he punched through there was nothing. Schwarzkopf started to doubt there even was any contact made.
He made a fist with his right hand and opened it again. His arm started to feel uncomfortably numb. He was deemed fit for duty, but the arm wasn’t healing as well as he would have liked and was still sore, the pain increasing with each minute. He promised himself he’ll just take a look behind this next cloud bank and then bring his Kette back home. He came out of the cloud mist and was faced with a blood curdling sight. CAMELS! They were ready and waiting.

[Linked Image]

Aldi begun to maneuver violently to avoid being rammed and shot at by the enemy. It appeared as if everyone in his Schwarm had picked up an enemy plane on their tail. Aldi’s opponent was easily keeping up with him in tight circles just above everyone else. Schwarzkopf was pulling the control column with both hands and craning his neck to keep the enemy in view.

[Linked Image]

Suddenly another Camel jumped out in front of him. This one was following one of Aldi’s wingmen, not realizing two Spandaus were now aimed directly at him. Aldi let his machine guns sing for one second. The bullets hit the port wing causing the Camel to spin. Aldi didn’t follow. He was already up side down trying to shake off his pursuer, who managed to get behind him. The enemy fire was wide. Aldi was pulling another tight circle with the enemy in close pursuit and his arm was burning with pain. He wished he could just disengage and take a straight line to the nearest airfield, but he knew the enemy would be all over him, making it an easy kill. He had to endure. One more dive. He flew into a cloud and abruptly changed direction. His Albatros burst out of the cloud, but the Camel wasn’t anywhere to be found. He felt sweat trickling down his back. His head instinctively began to move around and his eyes begun to scan the surrounding sky. He noticed a number of individual scraps below and one of the Britishers trying to make his way across the lines. Aldi’s pain immediately forgotten was replaced by the thrill of the hunt. Gently, he set an intercept course and put his plane in a dive. There was nothing else to do but to ride his kite down, aim at the retreating enemy and wait for the plane to fill his sights. 300 meters, 200 meters, 100 ... “Los!†The barrage hit the Camel’s cockpit.

[Linked Image]

Aldi pulled up just in time to see the Sopwith turn over and dive into the ground. Schwarzkopf circled the wreckage getting his bearings. It would be a short hop to the airfield near Rumbecke. He made the necessary course correction and steered his plane with his left hand letting his right hand rest limply on his lap. That’s when he noticed in the distance another British pilot just beneath his own flight altitude. Aldi reluctantly grabbed the steering column with both hands and gently set an intercept course. The Camel jockey hasn’t noticed him yet and continued back to his own base in a straight line. It didn’t take long for Schwarzkopf to catch up to him and get on his tail. It only took two bursts for the engine to catch fire. The pilot desperately tried to bring his stricken aeroplane down safely to the ground before the flames reached the cockpit.

[Linked Image]

Aldi was too tired to follow and finish him off. There was no need. The Camel suddenly dropped its nose and crashed into the trees below with a burst of flames, smoke and dust setting adjacent trees on fire. Aldi looked around one more time to get his bearings and gingerly aimed at the nearby airfield where he landed posthaste. He sat in the cockpit of his parked Albatros for a good 10 minutes before attempting to climb out. The mechanics were fussing around thinking he’d been hit. All he needed was some rest.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/07/18 09:40 PM

Here's the latest status report.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/08/18 01:59 AM

Banjoman: Thanks for ur work on the Status Report.

Full of it: That s the second e/a that I think ( I know I got) where even the pop up screen which lists the a/c and witness doesn't even Pop up Its like the game is telling me Don ' t even waste the Key stokes reporting it.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/08/18 02:05 AM

Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, East wing
2nd floor. Row 2
Bed 11.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.

Jan 8, 1918.

Well, my old day Nurse seemed Happy to see me back. although my other nurse seemed to be busy

https://giphy.com/gifs/nurse-blink-182-xT0xeJOfZRCgJyopk4/fullscreen

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/08/18 11:04 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, East wing
2nd floor. Row 2
Bed 11.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.


Jan 9, 1918.


I say Governor, My night nurse is spot on. I might be here a while.

https://giphy.com/gifs/xT0CyBXUFkMfazmuTS/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/09/18 04:48 PM

Raine, Fullofit, and Carrick I just started catching up on you fine report and it's giving me the urge to get back up in the air again now that my latest modding is finished. Keep the reports coming folks because I enjoy the read and the dekker at the pics biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/10/18 12:03 AM

Robert, looking forward to you getting back into the swing of things. Your reports have been greatly missed from this thread.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/10/18 01:46 AM

Yes Mr Wiggins, the water is fine hop in.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/10/18 02:41 AM

Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, East wing
2nd floor. Row 2
Bed 11.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.


Jan 10, 1918.

I am doing much better they let me outside to walk around the grounds with the other injured

https://giphy.com/gifs/hospital-benny-hill-3ohc18HyKEc1YMnV8A/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/11/18 03:19 AM

Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, East wing
2nd floor. Row 2
Bed 11.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.


Jan 10, 1918.

I joined in as the Staff jogging group ran by so that I can be re-leased on the 11th ( 2 days in Paris )

https://giphy.com/gifs/jogging-benny-hill-nurses-running-3o75247wbgH8XVyqVG/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/11/18 11:12 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Bldg 4, East wing
2nd floor. Row 2
Bed 11.
62nd Casualty Clearing Station
and Hospital.
Bussy-le-Chateau, France.


Jan 11, 1918.

The Doc said I can leave tomorrow so sent an orderly to get my ticket on 1045 am Train to Paris where they say Sin began.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/12/18 12:27 AM

Carrick, can’t wait to see what trouble Jeffery gets into in Paris.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/12/18 01:28 PM

Hey all! It has been too long since I've submitted a report. Tough to get in the air over the Christmas Season. Not much new to report with Benjamin, but here goes...

Flt Lt Benjamin Kincaid
1 RNAS
12 January 1918
Dover

The long days of peace and quiet have turned into long weeks of the same. Only patrolling and the occasional trip into the local area break the monotony and boredom. The nightmares have continued. They are worse on days I don't fly. It seems the further I am from death the less I sleep. I cannot reconcile in my brain the longing I feel to get back to France juxtaposed with the fear I have of a fiery death.

I look half dead already. The lack of sleep and loss of appetite have left me looking gaunt and worn, more a ghoul than a man. I feel very little when I am on the ground, as though my emotions and surroundings have been painted grey. Once I leave the ground, however, the joy of flying always returns. Only this allows me to persevere.

I have been looking for a way back to France. Due to my recent transfer to 1 RNAS, the powers that be have made it very clear that I will stay right where I am for the time being. Even if I did transfer, I would end up right back in Blighty again a couple months later when the rotation happened. I should have joined the RFC, but alas I am stuck.

I hear rumours in the mess of a potential merger between the RFC and the Royal Naval Air Service. Whispers on the wind you might say. Of course it is all hogwash anyways. It's always "I heard it from a guy who worked with a friend whose cousin is a janitor at HQ." If it does happen, however, I could look to transfer into one of the Camel units who are perpetually at the front. Oh to be in combat again.

I do still maintain a semblance of a social life. I stick very closely to Kink, whose company I still very much enjoy. Endless rounds at the mess at least help pass the time...Maybe we will go back to France soon.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/13/18 03:46 AM

Jeffery Vickers
# 33281
Cell 4
Block 2
La Sante Jail
France.

Jan 12, 1918.


Bit of a sticky wicket Wot ? Its not my fault really. I was on the Train and the conductor said Paris was a Big city so I would need a Guide. He gave me an address 13 Rue de Liberty to give the cabbie at the station. When we got there I me a Lady and gave her the fee ( 50 franks or so ) Then among the sound of whistles a lot of Gendarmes showed up and Here I am till the Military Police or the Wing Commander picks me up this afternoon or tomorrow. . I say, Boulder Dash !

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/13/18 04:40 AM

I was afraid something like this might happen.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/13/18 05:35 PM

Fullofit: It was just a question of time, a Young man in the Big city.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/13/18 05:42 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Jan 13th 1918.

Free at Last, Free at Last, compliments of Wing Commander Parker. The Gendarmes place me on a Train back to the Front and ( I think ) they told me in French to stay out of Paris. Upon arriving back at the Field, The C.O. put me on the late Patrol up to Bapaume.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/13/18 05:45 PM

He He!!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/14/18 05:14 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Jan 14, 1918.


I say old chap, it was a bad mission. Our 11 a/c were attacking an Aerodrome in the Roulers section and things went wrong. The rain didnt help seeing the e/a, We had to fly at 7000ft from the lines to the target, and finally, being spoted and attacked by 8 or more Pflaz Scouts on Patrol above us that put the Icing on the cake. We lost 2 Forced down POW's or wnd/ dead + 1 Destroyed + 3 damage d ( mine had 6 holes ) for 0 e/a and all bombs fell short of the target, I was 1st to spot the e/a and fired off 7-14 rds to Alert the flight then broke right swinging around and into the e/a got off a few shots at one only to become the target of many. Nose over and full power I dove out of it and RTB. Lucky to be back.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/14/18 07:28 PM

Here's the latest status report.

[Linked Image]



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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/14/18 11:13 PM

Thanks for the stats Banjoman!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/15/18 08:40 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Jan 15 1018.


No flights due to weather.
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/15/18 08:44 PM

No doubt no flying in 1018, carrick biggrin .
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/16/18 02:29 AM

I finally have a chance to catch up with Geoffrey's story. Fullofit, I really enjoyed Aldi's last adventure. And Dark Canuck, good to see you posting!

This has been a really eventful few days for Geoffrey Corderoy!

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 26: 4-7 September 1917

4 Sep 1917 – Filescamp Farm


Rain. Spend a depressing day putting things in crates for the move. Word is in that we are bound for Ste-Marie-Cappel, near Cassel. The new field is slightly farther from the lines, but it is in the Ypres sector. We shall be expected to clear the skies over the never-ending push at Passchendaele Ridge. It is no longer a push, to tell the truth, but a slow drowning in an infernal soup of mud, death, steel, fire, and poison. How the fellows on the ground stick it is beyond me.

Richthofen, the squadron pig, is with great ceremony handed over to M. Tetus. We once again paint the poor creature, this time in khaki with roundels. A newly-promoted flight commander, the pig sports a red streamer on its tail. The old farmer feigns appreciation, but his face hints that he suspects the pig was his to begin with.

5 Sep 1917

Flew an OP along the southern sector this afternoon but saw nothing. More rain tonight.

6 Sep 1917

Great day today!

In the air before six in the morning, leading a patrol with Rutherford, Horn, Soden, and a new chap, Hamersley. We are to marry up with three Harry Tates and waltz between Mossy Face Wood and Cambrai, taking pictures of wayward Huns. The day is sunny with towering cumulus clouds. If the cloud doesn’t hide them, one can spot Huns a long distance off. There is haze down low.

On our way south over Monchy, the Huns welcome us with their usual hate and it is necessary to change altitude frequently. The trick to throwing them off their aim is to make flat turns with only the rudder. If the Hunnish gunners can’t see our machines bank, they assume we are flying straight. It’s grand fun to be shot at without success!

After some time the RE8s seem to finish their work. We fly southwest to our lines, but then their leader decides to do it all over again. Far too keen. We turn northeast and head back from Mossy Face towards Marcoing. After about twenty more minutes, the leader signals to head home. Just then I see a stream of black smoke stain the haze below – a machine is burning! The sky above is clear of Huns so we turn to explore. Quickly it all becomes clear. A half-dozen French machines are in a scrap with a large group of Albatri and a smaller scout. It is one of the new triplanes the Huns have introduced. We dive to the attack, wires screaming. I see the triplane on the tail of a Nieuport and close quickly on it. The Hun has not seen me and I fire all the way from 150 yards to point-blank. The little green-grey triplane shudders and erupts in flame.

[Linked Image]
"The little green-grey triplane shudders and erupts in flame."

Up and away I soar. We have put the wind up the other Huns who are now tearing for home. I head west, searching for our two-seaters and spot them west of Mossy Face. A lone Hun triplane is tangling with a Nieuport close to the RE8s.

Hamersley has formed up on my wing and we join in. The Hun tries for home, but our SEs are quicker. My first burst causes pieces to fall away from the Hun’s upper right wing. I move aside and Hamersley finishes him off – his first kill. My first impression is that these Fokkers are like butterflies, pretty and nimble, but delicate.

In the afternoon I lead another show, escorting more two-seaters east of Monchy. We mix it up with some Albatri and lose a new lad, Aldaine. I damage two of the Huns, but a near miss by some Archie forces me to turn home. The petrol tank is holed and the engine packs it in as I cross the lines. I land close to Lechelle and make it home to Filescamp late. There is much news.

Horn has seen my flamer. I now have eleven confirmed victories. Major Patrick tells me I have been promoted temporary Captain and will lead a flight permanently. To top it all, I am to drive to Candas and bring back a new machine, one of the improved SEs with the 200 horsepower geared engine. Oh, and I’ve been put in for another decoration, although the Major is playing coy about it. I buy several drinks for the RO, but he is sworn to secrecy.

7 Sep 1917 – Ste-Marie-Cappel

We leave in the morning. My old squadron, 46, began to drop in shortly after first light. They are overjoyed by the accommodations at Filescamp, and are only too please to inform us that we shall be under canvas at Ste-Marie-Cappel, from which they have transferred.

Major Babington landed around eight o’clock, and Major Patrick assigned me to show him around. There was a lovely touch of evil to Major Patrick’s idea, as he knows how Babington and I did not exactly see eye to eye when I was at 46. I think he wanted Babington to see my three pips and MC. I must confess, however, that Major Babington was extremely gracious and expressed sincerely pleasure at my success with 60. He went so far as to confide that he’d been a little quick to judge me back in England.

At nine-thirty, I lead the second group off the ground and turn slowly over Filecamp Farm to salute the place. My greatest regret is that I am leaving just when my promotion would have given me a private room in the Abode of Love, our flight commanders’ Nissen.

[Linked Image]
"I lead the second group off the ground and turn slowly over Filecamp Farm to salute the place."

We make our way north at 5000 feet on a clear morning. The River Lys passes beneath and I confirm my position from the configuration of roads and rail lines. Just then Jenkins pulls alongside, waggling his wings furiously. He points up and to our left. Two Hun two-seaters are approaching and are set to pass directly over us. I turn eastward and open the throttle. The 200 hp Hisso sounds wonderful and I catch up quickly.

The nearer Hun is the one on the right. I am behind and below. I begin firing long bursts at 300 yards and close quickly, breaking off at 150 yards before the gunner can get his sights on me. In the new SE5A, it takes only seconds to pull again of the enemy machines, DFWs. I turn towards my target again, this time firing from abeam. I hold the triggers down and let the Hun fly through a stream of Vickers and Lewis rounds. I turn for another pass, but the DFW is spiralling down. In a dive, I hit him again with a full deflection shot from directly atop. The spiral continues, lower and lower. Below, a road runs parallel to the Lys. A long line of lorries is heading eastward toward the front. The enemy aircraft makes one last spiral and slams into the field, barely 50 yards from the lorries. I can make out Tommies waving their tin hats to me.

Chidwell-Roberts was close behind on my last to cracks at the Hun. This one is confirmed as number twelve!

[Linked Image]
"The enemy aircraft makes one last spiral and slams into the field, barely 50 yards from the lorries."


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/16/18 02:39 AM

Corderoy is getting lots of action I see. I wonder if he got any time on the tennis court before leaving Filescamp biggrin
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/16/18 03:04 AM

Robert,

He lost badly to Caldwell, so left it out of his diary. salute
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/16/18 03:06 AM

Raine, wow you’re on fire! Well, not like that Dreideker but you know what I mean. What is this I hear about Richthofen? Glad Corderoy has hit his stride. Great report!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/16/18 03:08 AM

OOps, My typing went bad sorry, I ment Jan 15, 1918.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/16/18 06:34 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Jan 16, 1918.

Up and down in the dark: we were on a before sunup cover the Airfields at max height. As we made the turn over St. Omer my motor chugged to a stop. I had bags of altitude so put it down a Omer A.F.. The ground types thought it might be Icing in the lines ,so they replaced the lines and drained the tank. I had a bread and jam and wine then off I went back into the still dark skies.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/17/18 04:58 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.


Jan 17, 1918.


Bright Spot, we had a bit of sun before the weather closed us down. B Flight made for a Balloon by Loos and Popped It. Cpt Roy our Flight Commander , who Flew with us on that mission, gave the kill to Davis ( a new Guy ) all of us was shooting at it so who can really say ?

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/18/18 11:58 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
4 Victory's.

Jan 18, 1918.

Added a Hun to the bag. Jolly good show, much diving , zooming and Twisting turns, B Flights 7 a/c were on an Escort of 2 Harry Tates Between Lens and Loos. We spotted e/a coming in on us to the East in two flights as we crossed the lines. I took my wing-man ( Davis) and swung into them as the smaller Flight broke up. I had one e/a do a Head on and I fired, but I don't think I hit him. I replaced the Lewis Drum as we banked in a cloud layer then headed back to the fight. As we cleared the cloud layer a lone e/a dove pass me and just sat in front me so I held down both triggers and his wing came off. Rejoined the flight completed the mission and RTB. We had No losses , a few had holes, both RE 8's safe. and I scored the only e/a shot down.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/19/18 12:25 AM

Way to go Carrick. Is it confirmed?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/19/18 03:04 AM

Finally caught up with the story...

Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 27: 8-20 September 1917

8 Sep 1917 – Ste-Marie-Cappel


Driving rain and no war flying today.

The new aerodrome is a bit of a disappointment. For one, there are no Nissen huts. We are billeted in two rows of bell tents at the edge of a smallish field. As a flight commander, I enjoy my own tent, which I have floored with duckboards. The ground outside is sodden and we are infested with earwigs. So far, we don’t have a squadron mess. Each flight is establishing its own. We reserved a shed on the field for use as a small bar and tea room with a few odds and ends of furniture, but as yet we lack a stove, which is sorely needed.

This afternoon, Caldwell and I wandered into the village, a cluster of brick buildings around a very old church with a square tower topped with a pyramidical steeple. I found a small café run by an old woman named Duclos, and used my schoolboy French to negotiate a proper messing arrangement for our two flights. Touring the village took scarcely a half-hour. The slightly larger town of Cassel is perched on the wooded hill above our valley. I’ll be giving that a visit soon.

11 Sep 1917

Tuesday p.m., and it has rained without stop since Friday night. I spend the day in the squadron office, a wooden building with something of a solid roof. Being a flight commander brings a great deal of “bumfâ€: aircraft record cards, immunisation reports, writing next of kin (we lost Aldaine last week and I had to compose a letter to his people praising a poor fellow I hardly knew), etc. etc. etc.

The best part of the job is really getting to know the men who keep us flying. They are a stalwart lot, hard-working, profane, and terribly funny in a thoroughly rude way. I have taken several walks with Sergeant-Major Aspinall. The Great Man is a font of wisdom.

12 Sep 1917

Walk to Cassel with Horn for lunch, shopping, and to have a photograph taken in my newest uniform with three pips and an MC up. I am hoping for leave soon, as I don’t trust the post to deliver such a thing intact. Have a stove for our little anteroom at last.
Letter from home. Father is back from London for a week and reports on all the farm work waiting for me when I am on leave. He has heard a rumour that I may be gazetted for a DSO. Ripping!

14 Sep 1917


Finally off the ground. We are in the air before dawn to chase some Huns that are dropping bombs on assembly areas near Ypres. I have never before done any serious night flying.

Six Albatri attack us in the half-dark. Tracers fly past, destroying one’s night vision. Vague forms, wraithlike, flash by. Friend and foe are indistinguishable, and it is impossible to resist firing at any movement in front. As the sun pushes through the haze the Huns take shape. Duncan, Soden, and Rutherford each claim one before we are done.

Rutherford promoted Lieutenant!

In the afternoon we fly to Vlissighen, on the Channel coast. Drop some bombs on the Hun field there and go home. A very large group of Huns pass above us when we are low and deep into Hunland, so I lead us out to sea to avoid them.

15 Sep 1917

Southern OP – down past Arras. Near Lens we run into a large group of Albatri flown by some very spirited Huns. For five minutes or more I fly for my life, twisting and turning, unable to get a shot away. Then suddenly I am alone and spy a lone EA, yellow with purple wings. I dive on him and fire 50 rounds from close range. His machine smokes and dips into a wood, its engine stopped. Horn confirms this as my thirteenth victory.

In afternoon we escort some French Sopwiths on a reconnaissance of the southern sector. A couple of Albatri made a dash at the two-seaters. I tangle with one, a black machine with a white band on the fuselage. The Hun is very skilled. I scarcely touch him and return with 25 holes in my machine.
Major Patrick joins us at dinner and toasts me as a “Hun-getterâ€. He is very pleased with the way B Flight is pulling together.

Hamersley rubbished my machine last week and this one has one of the French-built Hispano-Suizas with the 2000/1500 gearing. Compared to the British-built Hisso in my first SE5a, this one is giving me fits. It leaks oil from the seals and the carburettor is wonky, causing intermittent power loss.

16 Sep 1917

Line patrol near Ypres. Two combats with groups of Albatros scouts. Horn bags two and Rutherford one. B Flight is running up a score.

19 Sep 1917

Three days of rain. Attended church service at St-Omer Sunday. The vicar is a good fellow and lets the men smoke during his sermon. No fool him – they stay awake that way. There is an equipment officer there who wishes to sell his Standard Model “S†for only £70. I have given him a £10 deposit and will get the rest when I go on leave. The machine uses little petrol and I have plans to try for a short trip to Paris one day.

Very glad of the rain. I am beginning to tire of fighting, but must keep up a front. It will be ripping to get a break from it all soon. Still no news.

20 Sep 1917

Southern OP this morning with takeoff before sunrise. I lead us east to the forming-up place and suddenly there is a hellish grinding and banging. Once again the gears are fusing and I am lucky to get switched off before my propeller decides to depart the scene. I am near Droglandt and fire a flare. They show a searchlight and a flare path. The aerodrome is built into a field of beets, I believe, and has two crossed cinder landing areas. I cannot make the illuminated one so come in straight on the strip that is barely visible. Fortunately the machine touches down safely and rolls to a stop just short of the hangars.

Breakfast with the Navals makes for a better morning than Hun-chasing in half-light. The others return in two hours, chilled to the bone and having seen nothing. The fitters arrive and work on the SE all morning, and I am able to enjoy a mug of grog in the wardroom before taking off for the short hop back to Ste-Marie-Cappel.

[Linked Image]
"I cannot make the illuminated one so come in straight on the strip that is barely visible."

There is a thunderous roar from the east. The push near Ypres has resumed with great force. All leaves are cancelled, so it seems I shall be here for a bit longer.

Late morning – defensive patrol north to the Channel coast at Petit-Synthe. See nothing and A Flight returns after the appointed time. I lead B Flight east to the lines and south as far as Ypres. Near Menen we meet with a slightly larger group of Albatri and mix it for quite a while. I get behind a yellow Hun with a red nose and drive him down in a spin, but lose sight of him. I cannot say for sure that he was out of control. Lieut. Guy will make some calls, but I doubt if this one is a good kill. Horn claimed one he met down low, a Hun with a “dark noseâ€. There is a good chance we are talking about the same EA.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/19/18 05:24 PM

wow,Raine: ur pics are getting as dark as mine.
Fullofit: Yes that D-IIIa makes 5 confirmed
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/19/18 05:31 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
5 Victory's.


Jan 19, 1918.

I made Ace with that kill from yesterday, but it doesnt seem like I am on a roll. B flight was up twice today, the 1st was a show the flag flight near Douai . W e lost 1 a/c to cannon fire or motor problems ? The 2nd flight was a line Patrol the flight spotted and chased three 2 seat types knocking down 2 of them. At that height all my machine could do was crawl so had to just sit and watch. The flight of 6 had 1 destroyed , 2 pilots wnd and a total of 4 SE 5a 's damaged

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/20/18 05:50 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
5 Victory's.


Jan 20, 1918.


B flight had the Dawn Patrol over Vimy today. Scattered rain got everyone wet, but no enemy contact. We did have 1 a/c crash on landing at Base. Poor Chap, got bashed in the nose by his a/c gun butts and a broken arm. Lets see thats 4 pilots left in B Flight and 5 left in A flight. Not much to fight the Huns Wot ?

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/20/18 06:35 PM

J. Vickers

Late night.

Since the Maj had put the closest city Off Limits, I had to resort to Disguise in order to celebrate . Also soaking up the Culture wasn't a bad Idea.


https://giphy.com/gifs/peter-sellers-fisherman-priate-3o7522HOXPZ49IST2U/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancers-top-of-the-pops-1960s-dancing-l0HUe8ngMJJhYjdFm/fullscreen
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 02:12 AM

I know it's late in the game but I'd like to join in if no one has objections. I want to come in as a Yank but it will complicate things because the report form is not set up for it. This will complicate things. I will, I guess have to list myself as an American in French service. There is another complication in that there were no enlisted pursuit pilots in the AEF. What should I do about that? I want to come in with the 147th Aero. They did not get off the boat until 18 March so there will be plenty of time to do the training flights in QC and do some sort of flying in a French two-seater unit. I don't know if the game will allow me to transfer to American service from there so I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it. Any suggestions or further requirements?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 02:27 AM

Welcome aboard jerbear. I say the more, the merrier and it's never too late. I don't think the sim will let you transfer to a different nationality mid-career. You pretty much would have to re-enroll as the same pilot and keep your score manually. Banjoman should be along soon to weigh in. I believe he mentioned updating the form to include American service when the time is right.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 02:33 AM

Raine, looks like you are starting to have fun. Be on the lookout for the blue Albatrosen with red noses.
Due to some Belfort Cathedral modelling commitment and other pesky RL events I’ll have to keep this report short and to the point.

19 September, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

Line patrol in the Ypres area. Good weather with excellent visibility. A flight of pesky (yet colourful) SE5s gets in a scrap with the Experten of Jasta 18. A yellow nosed ‘Sopwith’ is shot down in flames by the leader of Kette Zwei, Aldi Schwarzkopf.

[Linked Image]

A few minutes later Klein is shooting another one with a distinct blue nose. Klein’s guns jam and Schwarzkopf finishes the job.

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The rest of No 60 Sqn return back home empty handed. On the way back home Aldi performs the customary circuit of honour around the airfield to signify a victory.

(At this stage of the war German pilots were still referring to the new SE5s as Sopwiths)

20 September, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

Yet another beautiful day. Balloon defence mission yields another victory for the red nose squadron over the French. One of the quick SPADs underestimates Albatros’ agility and pays for it with his life. Usually the boom and zoom tactics work brilliantly but not when they’re combined with greed of engaging in a turning fight.

[Linked Image]

The French pilot realized it too late and wasn’t able to outdistance his opponent before being damaged too severely.

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His engine gave up and became easy pickings.

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He spiralled out of control to crash into the trenches. The defiant Schwarm returned to Harlebeke to toast another victory over their despised enemy.

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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 12:05 PM

Welcome jerbear! Best of luck in the skies. Fullofit, Raine and Carrick, excellent stuff as always. It keeps me inspired to make time to post.

Flt Lt Benjamin Kincaid
13 RNAS
21 Jan 1918

Kink was transferred out this week. I didnt take it very well. The nightmares were worse that night than they had ever been. Nothing but a series of increasingly horrible fiery deaths. At breakfast I was told my screaming woke have the squadron.

Breakfast was a quick affair of toast and coffee. We would eat something heartier after our navigation exercise. The air held the type of piercing cold you only find on a clear day in the heart of winter. It helped serve to wake me up and sharpen my senses.

The exercise was as routine as routine could be. Up the coast to the north for about 45 minutes, turn circle around the "target" for 20 minutes and saunter back to base. Good enough to pad the logbook, but hardly exciting. It sure beat spending time on the ground. We took off at exactly 0800 and the flight passed without note.

Upon my return, however, I was informed that Dallas was waiting for me in his office. It started as I expected. He was worried about me. He wasn't sure what to do etc. He surprised me when he proposed his solution: a transfer to the newly renamed 13 RNAS in France. 13 RNAS had been created on the 15th of January from the core of a Seaplane Defence Squadron. They had been flying Pups and the Sopwith Baby Seaplane, but had received Camels a few days ago. I am to transfer in, take over B Flight and ensure my charges have mastered the Camel.

I could not be happier. It was as if a massive rock had been lifted off my chest. I wanted to leave right away, but Dallas insisted on having a farewell lunch. In the meantime, I hastily packed my essentials that would fit in the Camel with me. My other personal effects, meagre as they were, would follow shortly.

Lunch was a rather boisterous affair. Vic Rowley gave a very nice speech, describing me as a hornet in the air, and the food was as good as it had ever been. It is truly amazing what a military cook can do with so little.

I cannot wait to make it back to France! Huzzah!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 02:09 PM

Geoffrey Goddard
RFC1
Flanders
January 11, 1918
Five plane patrol of our lines east of Armentieres. Peaceful flight with no activity. One of our flight cracked up on landing but he is ok.

January 12
Five plane patrol of enemy lines southeast of of St-Vast. No contact. Another peaceful flight.

January 13
Intercept mission northwest of Loos. Intercepted 4 Rumplers at 10,000’. Poured 400 rounds into one killing the observer. Lt. Romano came in and with one burst it exploded into flames. Engaged another and must have hit the pilot as it nosed over and went straight down. My engine was hit and running rough so headed for home. One of our machines did not make it back. Someone said they saw him go down trailing smoke. I filed my claim.

January 14
Five plane patrol of our lines near Monchy. Lots of air activity. 4 Phalz started to dive on us but decided against attacking 2 flights of Nieuports. Later Capt. Clason dove on a lone EA over the line and we followed. List sight of everyone in the dive and pulling up found myself side by side with a Hun! He did not engage and I could not catch him. Gave up and headed home. Clayton claimed one.

January 15 to 18
Rain. No flights. My Rumpler was confirmed.

January 19 and 20
One flight each day with no contact.

January 21
Airfield attack. 6 of our planes attacked Villiers airfield. Archie and groundfire was horrifying. We all made it back with all of our planes taking damage. The CO said “Well Done!†I felt like I needed a drink.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 05:39 PM

Full of it: Ur becoming a Hawk among the chickens . Well done.

Canuck and MFair: Nice reads.

Jerbear: Welcome.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 05:45 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
5 Victory's.


Jan 21, 1918.

Escort Mission: Photo Recon 1 DH-4 B Flight escorted to St. Vaast No e/a Contact.

Patrol over enemy A.F. near Oppy: A lot of cannon fire 2 SE's damage, I dislike these Show the Flag missions, no enemy contact as we were just targets for the ground Fire at 18oo meters. Post Script: 2 replacements came in.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 07:54 PM

Jerbear, Fullofit is correct. The sim won't allow you to transfer as an American from another nationality's squadron to an American squadron. I had this problem in the other DID campaign. What you will need to do is just enlist as an American in a French unit and fly as normal and when it's time to transfer to the American unit just close out his career with the French and re-enlist in the American unit. Obviously, in the sim, you will be starting over but in my reports, I can keep his history together and the transition will appear smooth. Does that make sense?
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 08:05 PM

Here is the latest status report.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 08:19 PM

Thanks Banjoman and Fullofit, I will send my first report on Saturday. I will continue to fly two-seaters with the Frenchies until 23 March when the squadron disembarks from the "Northwestern Miller" at LaHavre. I guess if I want to fly during that period I had better get another pilot for Intrepid Fliers if I want to fly since there wont be any air activity for the 147th until,. 2 June when they took their first patrols. The game startes that career on the same date.. Thanks again, will let everyone know how things go when we get "Over There."
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 09:31 PM

Welcome to the fray jerbear. Good luck to your pilot.

Thanks for the report Banjoman, I will register my new pilot.

Thanks carrick. I have decided to model my reports after yours. To the point. Leaves more time for flying, cutting wood, horses, hunting, leather work and honey do’s. this retirement is hard work!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Full of it: Ur becoming a Hawk among the chickens . Well done.

Thanks Carrick!

Dark Canuck, glad your pilot is finally shipping out. Perhaps now he'll be too busy to sleep and have those awful nightmares?

Banjoman, thank you for the continued stats updates. Please note Esc. N57 has been transformed into Esc. SPA57. We need more of your reports.

MFair, glad you're still posting your reports. They seem sparse rather of late.

Sorry guys, I'm cracking the whip here. Carrick and Raine are excused.

22 September, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

The Schwarm was out in full force on this day patrolling enemy lines above Menin. The weather was surprisingly good and the flying conditions were excellent. As soon as Aldi brought his flight on station, he noticed distant specks moving toward his formation. He couldn’t tell at this distance if it was friend or foe. He adjusted his course to intercept and checked his guns. The battle for the Menin Road was raging below, but his main concern was a group of unidentified airplanes coming closer and closer. Finally the shapes started to become clearer and more recognizable. They were in range and Aldi finally realized what his flight was up against and could not believe his eyes. The silhouettes were familiar, but Aldi still had problems believing it. These were archaic Morane Parasols, vastly outclassed by their own Albatros V-strutters. The British pilots were either very brave, very stupid or desperate. Their offensive must have called for every available airplane to participate in the operation, no matter how old.
Schwarzkopf led his Kette in the attack on the helpless Englanders. He was fully aware of the rear gunners in these 2-seaters and approached the enemy from below. The crews in the Moranes didn’t turn back when they saw their attackers and kept their formation intact. Aldi was impressed by their bravery. He selected one of them on the extreme right and directed the rest of the flight to pick one for themselves. The monoplanes came up fast, Aldi was able to let loose a few bursts from behind before his target slowed down significantly with a damaged engine and Schwarzkopf was forced to swerve out of the way or risk a collision. He pulled up and saw the gunner of the stricken plane training his weapon on him.

[Linked Image]

Thankfully the speed difference was too great for the rear gunner to swing his guns fast enough to take a shot. Aldi breathed a sigh of relief after helplessly watching the barrel of the gun being aimed at him. He swung his machine around for another run, but one of his wingmen was already finishing the job. The Parasol was already diving on its side trailing a thick plume of black smoke. Same scene was playing out all across the sky.

[Linked Image]

Monoplanes were falling out of the sky one after another in quick succession all smoking profusely. It was all over inside one minute. Aldi watched dark traces of smoke crisscrossing the blue sky where the brave men of the Royal Flying Corps made their last stand just a moment ago. Aldi gathered his Kette and returned to Harlebeke without any casualties. While in the landing pattern circling the airfield he kept thinking of the crews that senselessly laid their lives for their country. He began to think that this war will not be won by the men with the greater sense of duty or more courage. The enemy has just demonstrated that they are just as determined as the German pilots and the victor will have to be determined by other means. What these means are, he did not know. All he knows right now is that he has to get ready for the next mission, shoot down more enemies or fall himself.

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Posted By: AceMedic88

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/21/18 10:22 PM

Oh god...

A Morane in latter 1917. That's a terrifying thought.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/18 02:40 AM

MFair: Leatherwork: we have that in common, albeit I just tinker with re-dyeing and cutting Gun Holsters so far. As for Reports, I copied the ones from BoB the cut the size down for more Flying time ( the wife wanted more Yard Time and shopping with her.) as time went by.

Full ofit: The French used everything outdated machines . What was the Nickname Albatross Fodder ?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/18 03:55 PM

Fullofit, I have been getting a few things off my bucket list. It is nice to be back in the skies! Nice screenshots as usual!

Carrick, i sent you a pm on the leather work

Geoffrey Goddard
RFC 1
Flanders

Jan. 22. Attacked another airfield southeast of Douai today. CO says Good Job! One of our flight was missing but showed up before dark no worse for wear. We all took damage. I do not like these missions.

Jan. 23 I lead six planes on a deep offensive patrol around Douai. Southeast of Douai I spotted 3 two sweaters and we climbed to attack. They immediately turned away but we gave chase. We caught up with them over a Hun airfield and lining up on one sent it down smoking and spinning. I saw another going down and to my horror saw one of my flight collide with the third. Forming up with the remaining 4 planes we continued patrol. Out of the clouds above 6 DV’s appeared and dove on us. I was hit immediately and went totally defensive. Instruments shot out but good control. Turning into one Hun another appeared in front of me. I heard and felt the collision but my machine seemed ok. I dove for the clouds and home. All the way home I looked at the 3 holes in my windscreen and wondered why I was not dead! Back at our home field I learn 3 of my flight were killed. Together we had downed 5 planes but that did not help my feelings much. I filed a claim for the DFWC.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/18 05:41 PM

Fullofit, haha, never thought I would get nagged to spend more time flying a flight sim. Seriously, being away in the states for such a long time has dampened my spirit concerning the DID. I guess being away for so long has just gotten me out of the habit of flying every day. I promise I'll crank something out in a few days. Btw, my British pilot ran into your boys yesterday but it was an uneventful meeting. Would you be offended if he refers to you and your boys in an unflattering manner? biggrin
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/18 05:45 PM

Mark, oh no, not more of those dreaded 2-sweaters. biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/18 11:02 PM

You Guys rock!

Bamjoman, forget the States and ship out to France, your spirits will be lifted instantly. Just look at Dark Canuck.
Originally Posted by Banjoman
Would you be offended if he refers to you and your boys in an unflattering manner? biggrin

And this after Aldi's newlyfound respect for the valiant foe? Alright, but nothing obscene, unless ... it's some kind of euphemism for women's breasts.
Go Banjoman!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/22/18 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Mark, oh no, not more of those dreaded 2-sweaters. biggrin


Banjoman, some things never die!
Posted By: carrick58

enemy sweaters - 01/23/18 01:14 AM

I guess u could say that They were Hanging There ? yep

:

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/23/18 01:20 AM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
5 Victory's.


Jan 22, 1918.


Raided a enemy A.F. over at Monchy. I was the Bomb assessment person so was the last one over target. I dropped my 4 bombs and caused a little damage then home and Tea.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/18 04:09 AM

It's great to see the posts coming back. Fullofit, hats off once again for a great story and the best WOFF pictures on the web! MFair, old friend, really glad to see you back! Jerbear, welcome to the war. I hope you enjoy the campaign. DiD campaigning is where WOFF comes truly alive. And Carrick, you're a machine, man. Do you eat or just fly? Amazing! And Banjoman, I really hope you can stick with us to the end!

I'm finally caught up with my writing. Corderoy was just promoted Major in the game, but I'm keeping him a Captain a while longer until it works with the story. He has downed four EA in the past few days, certain kills, but the confirmation gods are angry again...

Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 28: 21-25 September 1917

21 Sep 1917 – Ste-Marie-Cappel


“B†Flight is well settled in now. I am blessed with Horn as deputy, and Soden, Rutherford, Crompton, and a new man called Rowley. Soden, Rutherford, and Crompton are all Canadians (although Soden has lived in England since he was a boy) so we are a high-spirited and profane lot.
In the air before first light again, this time for a meeting with several RE8s, which we accompanied south to Monchy. Very hazy and cloudy down low. The sunrise about the cloud layer is breathtaking. Uneventful patrol with no Huns about at all.

Late morning patrol south of Monchy again. We are to attack the Hun balloon line there. I lead, diving from 4000 feet to 2000 feet over the final mile and firing more than 100 rounds. The Hun balloon ignites as I pass by. We circle the area and drop some Cooper bombs on the balloonatics on the ground – just for good measure. The others can witness the kill, so the balloon is recorded as my fourteenth victory.

22 Sep 1917

We are back to Monchy at first light. There is another balloon close to where we bagged yesterday’s. It does not go up when I attack, but Crompton is close behind and gets the kill.

In the afternoon we have a northern OP in the Ypres sector. We spot a large group of Albatri heading south over Menen. I try to manoeuvre to approach them from the east, but the Huns spot us and a wild engagement follows. I damage one, then another, then another, but it is impossible to do more than fire short bursts, for every time one settles on one Hun another drops in behind. For a few minutes I am entertaining two of the Huns and decide I’ve had enough. I put my grid into a spin and dive through a cloud, pulling out over the smashed town at 2500 feet. Before turning for home I look about and discover a lovely fat Albatros only 500 yards away, heading for a nearby aerodrome. I am on him in seconds and send him down.

Rowley, it seems, saw all this from a distance, so the Albatros becomes number fifteen!

Our last SE5s were returned to the AD today. All SE5a types from here on.

[Linked Image]
"For a few minutes I am entertaining two of the Huns..."


23 Sep 1917

Lead the dawn flight, with Caldwell along for the jollies of it all, to attack the Hun field at Riencourt, south of Monchy. We make a mess of the place and get away untouched despite heavy Archie.

In the air again at one-thirty this aft, this time bound for Halluin. Jenkin joins us. As we approach the target we see several EA circling to land. It is not healthy to mix with Huns with bombs aboard, so I lead the lads right through the circling Albatri and let the bombs go among the hangars and sheds. Then we each pick a partner for the dance. I get behind a yellow machine and close to ten yards before firing. The machine lurches over and spins straight down. There is too much Archie to dawdle and watch him crash, so I break away to the south and fire a flare for the others to regroup for the flight home.

Back at "home", the first two Nissens are up and the Major has assigned the first to the flight commanders, so we are nicely settled in. Caldwell set up a work team to build “bedroom†partitions and a sitting area. We have a fat little Canadian stove which keeps the evening chill at bay, and two of the squadron’s many dogs, Kate and Black Boy, have moved in and sleep on an old blanket in the corner.

In the late afternoon we borrow a tender and, with a larcenous corporal named Connors, head out on a scrounging expedition in Hazebrouck. The town is a rail hub, and anything khaki en route to Ypres passes through it. The shops, still seemingly untouched by war, abound although the prices are somewhat high. We find a good second-hand shop and buy a plain table and seating for six, a pair of armchairs, a bookshelf, threadbare carpet, and a smaller table so that Caldwell can set up his gramophone. Near the station we visit a YMCA canteen serving tea and meat pies, after which we collect some champagne and a couple of bottles of brandy to serve guests at our official hut-opening.

Back at the field, Chidlaw-Roberts has landed with “A†Flight and has bagged a Hun. We start our little get-together when they get out of the squadron office. The party grows, our comfortable Nissen filled with squadron mates seeking respite from their stifling tents. The brandy disappears quickly, but Major Patrick shows up with a bottle of whiskey and then authorized a raid on the squadron anteroom supply.

24 Sep 1917

Out at dawn. Orders are to provide cover for some Camels who are to strafe Hun formations moving up near Lille. The chaps from 43 do a wonderful job beating up on ground Huns! Several yellow Albatri approach from the south to attack the Camels and fail to see us. It is too easy. We pounce on them like gannets and both Rowley and Crompton claim a Hun. I circle about with one who tries to get the protection of a balloon position, but he is too late. A long burst sends him crashing into a tree line. I file a claim but none of the other chaps saw my kill. Lieut. Guy promises to call around.

Lunch of bully and tea – there is no time to make for our little mess in the village. Back up at one p.m for Southern OP. Attack seven Albatri over Monchy and find one that is terribly good. He holes my grid two or three times, but makes the mistake of turning towards Horn, thinking he had me. I get behind in a flash and drive him into a spin, then follow him down and finish him off. Second claim of the day!

At tea the mail arrives. Letters from Reg, who has defied Mother and joined the RFC after all. He is bound for Oxford for training. Lieut-Colonel Scott visits and he and the Major join my flight for dinner in town. Madam Duclos does up goose in a red wine sauce with asparagus. Colonel Scott is duly impressed. He seems like a first-rate fellow. He misses his time with 60 Squadron [1]. We talk for some time and he asks me if I got to know Bishop well. I told him honestly that Bish and I were not close. I always felt there was no real room in the man’s world for anyone else. After Scott left, Major Patrick told me to tread lightly around the Wing Commander. Bishop was, apparently, something of a protégé of his.

25 Sep 1917

In the air a little before seven this morning, and have the pleasure of Caldwell tagging along. We are to shepherd some RE8s to attack troop columns behind Passchendaele Ridge. I ask the armourer to rig up bombs for our grids. The flight over is peaceful, not another group of machines in the sky, it seems. One the RE8s have done their best, I lead our flight down to release our 25 pounders among what appears to be an encampment and training area, then climb away to find our lambs. It takes several minutes to regain our height of 8000 ft. The RE8s are a couple of miles off to the east and we are still turning towards them when one fires a red flare. They are under attack. Six Huns are on them.

It takes another couple of minutes to reach the scrap. As soon as we are spotted, four of the Huns dive away. Only their leader and one other remain. Rowley and I attack the leader, who puts up a stout defense. I know that our SE5a machines are faster than an Albatros DV, but this EA seems to outclimb us. We fight for nearly ten minutes before I get a chance for a shot. It is a full deflection attempt, but I aim in front of the Hun and let him fly through my spray of rounds. Something must have hurt his machine, for he straightens out and dives eastward. The SE takes only seconds to get on his tail and I fire as he crosses his lines. Tracer flashes past me from hundred of guns below, as I am down to 1200 feet. The Hun turns on his back and crashes. Rowley should be my witness, but I cannot find him.

I am barely over our trenches when the engine loses power. The ground below is a cratered swamp. There is no chance of reaching the fields beyond. My only hope is to put the grid down on the banks of the Lys, where the land is slightly less torn. I switch off, holding the machine off the ground as long as possible. At length, it stalls onto the mud. Thankfully it does not somersault, but it swings around until the undercarriage collapses. I am out of sight of the enemy artillery and quickly find my way into our own gun lines, where I can call the squadron. I have to walk three miles to the nearest road. My wait there is not long. A tender arrives with the recovery team. It leaves them and drives me back.

At Ste-Marie-Cappel, Rowley has not returned. Lieut. Guy informs me that he has been on the phone again today, but none of my three claims from the past two days can be confirmed. Wing was approached but instructed him to mark them as driven down only. I wonder if my conversation with Lieut-Colonel Scott was impolitic.

There is one more flight. I replace Duncan from Caldwell’s flight. He took my place earlier while I was struggling through mud in my fug boots. We are to head for the line Estaires-Lille where there has been heavy activity. We sight two German two-seaters and dive on them. I manage to close in on one from behind and below while the gunner is distracted by another SE. I fire a long burst and the machine streams white smoke, and then suddenly tumbles vertically 8000 feet into the mud below. None of the others can absolutely confirm that it crashed, so this one remains in the “To be determined†column.

[Linked Image]
"I fire a long burst and the machine streams white smoke..."

Spent most of the evening in the hangars with Sergeant Nicod. He explains to me that many of our engine problems are because of the gearing on the French-built 200 hp Hispano-Suizas. The gears are not properly hardened, he says. He has been indenting for British-built parts to replace them. A few of our grids have British Wolseley Adders, a license-built version of the Hisso. These are apparently far more reliable. The problem is that the needed parts are not forthcoming, and most machines are still arriving with the French engines and gears. As we speak he runs up a French engine on a bench mount. As I watch, the vibration from the gears cause the thing to leak oil frightfully. Within a minute or two, the bench is thoroughly coated. [2]

“If the Hun was a sporting man,†he said, “he’d take a tea break until we got this bloody mess sorted out.â€

NOTES:

[1] Alan John Lance “Jack†Scott commanded 60 Squadron from March 1917 until July, when he was wounded and replaced by Major William Kennedy-Cochrane-Patrick. As of September 1917, he was a lieutenant-colonel and commanded 11th Wing, II Brigade, Second Army, of which 60 Squadron was part.

[2] By autumn of 1917, the engine situation was serious. The RFC knew the units were defective, yet had little choice but to send the SE5s up and hope for the best. The French, who used the same engines in their SPADs, complained that the machines were grounded two days out of three! To add to the early woes of the SE5a, the radiators leaked. Newly arrived aircraft commonly had their factory-installed radiators replaced at the Aircraft Depot before going into service.


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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/18 04:11 PM

Raine, crackerjack story from the master! Congratulations on the victories. Geoffrey is making a bit of a reputation for himself.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/18 05:33 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
5 Victory's.

Jan 23, 1918.


We lost 4 a/c today.

Mission: Dawn Patrol. Ran into 2 flights of Enemy Scouts I broke mostly to the right got off some shots then caught a packet in the wing a lot of ripping and flapping noise with tha/c pulling hard left. All I could do was corckscrew down out of the fight. Later, A Flight posted a missing Pilot.

Mission: Balloon attack. I was in the 2nd Vee of 5 a/c diving on a Gas Bag near Vimy. The dive seemed too Steep so eased off power and pulled up Watching the 1st Vee firing the Bag exploded and to my Horror all 3 a/c became Torches and crashed one after the other.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/18 05:38 PM

Just a note: This is the 1st time that I ever saw a Gas bag take out 3 a/c. Talk about game immersion Wow. In the past I have seen, In OFF, 1 plane crash in a balloon, a mid air by a gas bag, diving on a balloon and going into the ground. But 3 a/c This ?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/18 10:28 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
6 Victory's.

Jan 24, 1918.


Another Balloon mission this one by Monchy. Cpt Roy said that the rest of the Sqn will fly a diversion , 5 a/c, while I would take Davis as my wing man and get the gas bag. A flight would provide 3 a/c as Top Cover. We flew at 1500 meters then dropped down to the Balloons height for the final run in amid lite snow falling and no enemy fire. I held down both triggers till the balloon went up in flames and my Lewis went empty followed by my Vickers jamming after firing 223 rds. Then it was full power and Home for Tea with No Losses. Later the Maj tossed me a Gong , Air force Medal, said Its yours. Victory 6 confirmed


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/24/18 10:31 PM

Raine: Great Reading with rich detail.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/18 03:28 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

12 Jul 1917 @ 15h21 Patrol to the lines North of Lens.

Godfrey jousted with Mongoose as they crossed the field returning from a quick tennis match with Grid and Moley. It had been the usually outcome with Grid and Moley quickly putting Godfrey and Mongoose in their place. He hoped that one day soon they might just be able to hold their own against the pair.

The sun was on the descendant and the afternoon was beginning to cool off but both of them were in quite a sweat after the match and decided to go wash up quickly as they were soon to be on the afternoon patrol.

The pair met up again on their way to the mess to grab a quick bite and some tea on their way to the briefing room. Godfrey had developed quite a liking for Mongoose. He had only been with them since June but was showing some great skill in the air and was generally up for anything. A right jovial chap indeed.

They arrived at the briefing just in time. The “B†flight team, Berkley, Grid, Billy and Pappy were already in their seats and mixing it up some. Bill, Beck, Moley, Horn, and Jack of “A†flight were animated in some tactical display.

The C.O. brought things quickly to order and outlined the mission for the day. They were to Patrol up to Lens, Turn north east towards the lines, and cross over towards Harbourdin, then in a wide arc turn north west towards the Lys river and the rail yard south of La Gorgue at which point they were to set a course to return to base. The objective was to note any concentration of enemy troops in the area and note any buildup around Harbourdin.

They took off from Filescamp at 15h21 attaining a height of 5900 ft just north of the field before setting out towards Lens. The sky was generally clear with good visibility interspersed with some mixed cumulus and wispy streamers.

At 15h41 they arrived over Lens at 6600 ft with “A†flight trailing well behind.
At 15h48 they crossed the lines at 7700 feet and it was shortly after while scanning the skies that Godfrey noted three albatross types at l1 O’clock high. They were about 1500 feet above and turned east, probably having sighted “B†flight. Godfrey took the flight up in pursuit. It wasn’t long before one of them peeled off and came down to dance. The other two continued east.

Godfrey kept his eye on the advancing Albatros DIII which skidded by him on his port side. He noted the markings of MFJ1. Turning to attack, Godfrey quickly backed off when he noted that the rest of his flight were like a pack of hungry wolves all but forming a scrum around the Hun. He observed the chase which ended rather quickly as the Hun plowed into the earth below raising a cloud of dust. Godfrey circled as the flight began to reform and once they were all in place he noted that Mongoose was missing. There was no sign of him anywhere and Godfrey had to conclude that he had either gone under or returned across the lines. He greatly hoped it was the latter as he reflected on the days earlier events.

Reformed they quickly made up time arriving over Harbourdin at 15h54 at 7700 feet and receiving a welcoming archie barrage. There were two Albs circling to land below and Godfrey could only surmise that these were the very same two who had left the engagement earlier.

Having noted the aircraft on the field, Godfrey added those mental noted to his report and took the flight west towards the rail yard south of La Gorgue. They arrived there at 15h02 and then headed south to Filescamp.

Back at base Godfrey reported in as did all the others but none could say what had happened to Mongoose. Reports later came in that he had been forced down on our side of the lines south east of Neuve Chapelle with what were assumed to be mortal wounds.

A day that started out stupendously was now full of despondency. Godfrey preyed that things were not as bad as reported. He had developed a great liking for Mongoose. He tried to put the issue out of mind and headed for the mess for something stronger than a tea.




Gentlemen, I have been just catching up with everyone's reports and thanks for providing an excellent read over my morning's two cup wakeup.

Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/18 04:24 PM

Carrick, MFair, Robert -- thanks greatly for the comments. As much as I enjoy writing these stories, it is comforting to know they are enjoyed by you. There seems to be some change in store for Corderoy...


Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 29: 26 September 1917

26 Sep 1917 – Ste-Marie-Cappel


“Lovely morning, sir!†says Corporal McGlashon. “I’d open your curtains, sir, if you had any. Or if you had a window.†I look up from my pillow at the corrugated metal of the wall curving over the bed. The corporal lights a small oil lamp on my chest of drawers. Although I can’t see from my cubicle, it seems still dark outside.

“Time?†I mumble.

“Five on the nose, sir. Patrol is at six. I’m told to inform you that you have new orders, sir.â€

The good fellow leaves me some hot water in my shaving bowl. I splash some on my face and soap down and rinse my chest and underarms before pulling on a singlet against the chill of the morning. I shave quickly. Some of the chaps skip shaving in the morning, but I find it uplifting. Besides, if I were to be shot down, God forbid, I don’t want the Huns to think that we lack discipline. Not only that, but it’s damned hard to get a good shave once you’ve smeared your stubble with whale grease before a flight.

I head over to the squadron office, noting that my knee is feeling better than it has since my last wound. At this rate, I might even play cricket in the spring, although football is still probably out of the question. And I need to preserve an excuse for not dancing, at which I have always been appallingly bad!

Dunkirk was bombed last night, and German raiders have been reported at several points along the front. Our southern O.P. is cancelled, and we are to remain on standby from six o’clock until relieved by Caldwell’s flight. There is time for a quick tea and toast over in the “A†Flight mess tent. Caldwell is there and says he will join me if we are called up before eight. His time in France is nearly up and he is looking to add to his bag of Huns. A fine example of a rugged New Zealander, Caldwell is perhaps second only to Major Patrick as a pilot, but he is frankly not a fine shot. Despite that fact, he has nine Huns to his credit.

A couple of minutes before six the klaxon sounds and a runner from the office tells me that enemy aircraft were spotted heading west over Armentieres, and we are to intercept over St-Omer, just fifteen or so miles to the west. It takes forever to run up the engines, but at last we are bouncing over the grass and airborne. I turn immediately and climb towards the still-dark west.

The sun gradually spreads its light and warmth in front of us. It is a fine morning, a piercing blue sky speckled with only a few fluffy clouds. Jenkins pulls alongside and waggles his wings. He has caught sight of two aircraft, now heading east. They are two thousand feet above us and a mile and a half to our south. I turn gently towards them, opening up the throttle. It is still not certain if they are enemy.

It takes a minute or more before I see the triangular shape of their tailplanes. Most un-British, it seems. The machines are greenish-brown. The French seem to favour buff-coloured machines. We level off behind and below the pair of two-seaters and gain on them quickly now. Their black crosses now stand out. The closer machine is on the left and I claim this one as mine, drawing up closer and closer. Now I climb and begin to fire with both Vickers and Lewis. The Hun banks and begins to spiral down. He is still under control. This time I dive on him from above and fire in front of him. He flies through my stream of rounds, noses down, and tumbles earthward. I see the flash of his hitting the ground just north of Strazeele.

[Linked Image]
"He flies through my stream of rounds, noses down, and tumbles earthward."

I climb to rejoin the others, who seem to have dispatched the other Hun. For a minute I consider proceeding to St-Omer, but the Huns we have packaged off to the underworld are likely those seen over Armentieres. There is no sign of Archie over St-Omer, and not another aeroplane in the sky except our six SEs, so off we go for the lines. I am in a sporting mood this morning and in high snuff about the two-seater. We therefore go Hun-hunting, patrolling from Lille up to Menen. I spy a group of scouts heading south – we are both around 10000 feet, and we turn to approach them with the morning sun at our back.
We are still about 800 yards away when they spot us and a wonderful tangle begins. I circle about with one EA for a long time, neither of us able to get in position for a shot at the other. After what is probably the hundredth rotation, we are down to 1500 feet and the Hun makes for his lines, just south of the Lys. I follow, but almost immediately begin to take hits from the enemy trench lines. There is far too much hate coming in my direction so I break off and head home, quite alone now.

Back at the aerodrome, the others show up singly. All are in fine fettle. Beside the two two-seaters, which Caldwell swears were DFWs, Horn has claimed two Albatri, and Crompton and Jenkins one each. The Major listens in on our report and calls me aside for a bit of a dressing-down for not proceeding to St-Omer as directed. He ends by expressing his congratulations on our success with the Albatri.

Lieut. Guy, the RO, confides that the Major has spoken “rather strongly†with the Wing Commander about my recent claims being denied, which has resulted in some good news. Through Brigade, the Wing was able to confirm the DV that I downed behind Passchaedaele Ridge. It was seen to fall by one of our balloon detachments. They around confirmed yesterday’s DFW claimed near Halluin, as the wreckage was spotted by a DH4 exactly where I’d reported it!

There is no question about today’s kill, which fell so close that we plan to drive there later today, so now my count of official victories is up to eighteen.

Shortly before one the klaxon sounds again. Our machines are run out and as I sit watching the temperature gauge, Lieut. Guy informs me we are to patrol the lines for ten miles from Menen south. Hunnish machines are directing artillery onto our guns.

Approaching at 9000 feet, we see two specks in the distance, flying parallel to our trenches about a mile to the east of them. I set course to intercept them, but lose them in the haze. After about five minutes I am ready to conclude that they have headed home, when suddenly I spot them only a few hundred yards ahead and below! We dive quickly onto them, firing. Unfortunately, neither EA goes down right away. Mine circles down until we are low over the trenches. He then breaks for home. I follow him as he passes an enemy balloon position, making for a front-line field. I fire nearly 200 rounds from a distance, but the ground fire becomes too intense to stay with the Hun. As I turn away, though, I see his propeller is stopping. I claim him as driven down, but not as a kill.

[Linked Image]
"Mine circles down until we are low over the trenches."

Around four o’clock, just as we gather for tea in the common anteroom tent, a pair of RE8s land and word quickly passes around that General Trenchard is here. This is only the second time I have seen the great man. Major Patrick greets him on the field and invites him to tea. We scramble to help the stewards set up and dress a table.

The General enters with his odd but brilliant ADC, Major Baring. While the General sits down with Major Patrick, Baring works the room like a politician. He knows nearly every man by name, questions our equipment officer about the details of parts and supplies, invites Crompton to sit by him and pulls out his chair as he sits so he falls on the ground, and invites Black Boy the dog to enter the tent and eat some of his lunch. He regales us one moment with Anglo-Saxon poetry and the next with a ribald verses to the tune of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.†With all of this going on, I am nearly disappointed to be invited to sit with the General and Major Patrick.

The General congratulates me on my latest victories, and informs me that I would be getting my leave within the next two weeks. He passes to me an invitation from the Palace to attend an investiture on 20 October, at which I should receive my DSO. And he does me the honour of presenting me with a mounting that includes the crimson and blue ribbon of that award alongside the white and blue of my MC. He directs me to take off my tunic and put it up at once.

And then, to my great surprise, he informs me that the paperwork is in for my promotion to major and that he will personally ensure that I can put up the rank before the investiture. Of course, he says, it will mean leaving Sixty Squadron and taking command of another squadron or a school.

“A squadron, I hope, sir,†I stammer.

The General stays only for a brief walk-around with the CO and Major Baring, but the evening is momentous. We walk into town for dinner at our little mess establishment, and somehow manage to fit everyone inside. Major Patrick announces the DSO award, which is already old news. Much wine and champagne is drunk, and I implore the fellows not to smash up the furniture and glassware of Mrs Duclos’ little estaminet.

We stagger back to the mess tent at the field, where our squadron’s little ragtime band, led by Sergeant Nicod on the piano, has got the festivities well under way. By ten I am feeling the drink and stagger back to my virtuous couch.



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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/18 04:39 PM

Robert, I've just watched your last video. You have the ground detail at a higher setting than mine, and I have to say that Filescamp Farm looks absolutely wonderful. What a masterful job.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/18 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
Robert, I've just watched your last video. You have the ground detail at a higher setting than mine, and I have to say that Filescamp Farm looks absolutely wonderful. What a masterful job.


You flatter me Sir, but I fear that with all the details in that facilities group it may be too intense for some systems so I may revisit it some time to take some out if necessary.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/18 05:53 PM

Raine and Robert,

Masterful stories, as usual! Thank you.

Robert, Filescamp Farm does indeed look beautiful. Very pretty flying weather, too!

Raine, congratulations on the promotion!

Carrick, I haven't forgotten about you. Your stories are like the hors'doeurves for the main course. Tasty, but not overly filling! biggrin
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/18 06:09 PM

Bob: Lol.

Hey Mr. Wiggins is flying.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/18 06:12 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
6 Victory's.

Jan 25, 1918.


The Sqn put up 7 /ac for afternoon low altitude Patrol between Monchy and St. Vaast. I flew as a spare. No contact
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/18 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Bob: Lol.

Hey Mr. Wiggins is flying.



pilot winkngrin
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/25/18 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
Raine and Robert,

Masterful stories, as usual! Thank you.

Robert, Filescamp Farm does indeed look beautiful. Very pretty flying weather, too!

Raine, congratulations on the promotion!

Carrick, I haven't forgotten about you. Your stories are like the hors'doeurves for the main course. Tasty, but not overly filling! biggrin


Thanks Bob
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/18 10:29 AM

Flt Lt Benjamin Kincaid
13 RNAS
24 Jan 18

The day started like any other. Woken at 6 for pre flight toast and coffe before a hasty briefing and a stroll across the frozen field to the waiting crates warming gently in the winter sun.

I had slept well the night before. My nightmares had stopped since I got back to the front. I feel comfortable here. This is where I belong.

I was to lead B Flight on a patrol of our lines from Neuiport down south. As we xlimbed at the first waypoint two seaters on a bombing mission flew overhead, their black crosses bringing hate on an assembly point below. New Mission!

We chased the two seaters North, out over the channel. That is when my wingman, a young far too eager man by the name of Simon Caldwell, noticed the V strutters that were escorting and peeled off to face them.

Simon was my biggest project. He had 4 kills and was desperate for a fifth. It was damn near all the lad could talk about. He had a habit of ignoring orders and being the first in lone to attack and enemy.

In this case, the Huns took the bait and we engaged in a great furball. We picked oir partners and wrnt at it. My month and a half away from combat showed. I found it a bit difficult to lone up a good shot, but I did manage to keep the Bosch off my tail.

My prey grew tired and made a dash for his lines. I slowly closed the distance. A quick check of my tail showed only Caldwell anywhere in the vacinty, covering me a little closer than comfortable.

As I drew within range I suddenly heard Caldwell open up on the Hun from what sounded like right behind me. Not wanting to be in the way I began a gentle bank right, just as the hun broke hard right. Suddenly there was a great smash and a sickening crunch, as I was thrown around the cockpit. I heard my engine make a high pitched wine and then felt a blast of searing heat as it exploded in front of me, firing a stream of burning oil at me. I felt the dive begin. I frantically looked around. My left wing was severely damaged. I saw Caldwell in a predicament.

The fire I had feared so long had come for me. The panic was overwhelming, the pain unbearable. The rose up to meet me. The peaceful sleep I had craved had come for me.

--And when he gets to heaven, to St Peter he did tell, one more soldier reporting Sir, I've served my time in Hell.-- Frank Bernard Camp

Rest In Virtual Piece Mr Kincaid 26 Jan 1917 - 24 Jan 1918
6 Victories
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/18 03:11 PM

Carrick, that was a real horror show! Seen it happen but never that many collide at once.

Raine, a major now. Congratulations!

Robert, fine video sir! Good to see you up and about again.

DC, condolences. I have lost many a pilot to mid air collisions. I feel your pain.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/18 03:20 PM

Nice read Canucks, over my morning coffee.
It reads like a Rod Serling episode!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/18 03:34 PM

Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 30: 27-28 September 1917

27 Sep 1917 – Ste-Marie-Cappel


The talk in our hut last night was all about the German flier, Voss. Apparently while I was hob-nobbing with the GOC, Major Baring regaled Caldwell and Chidlaw-Roberts with the account of Voss’s fall. Baring visited 56 at Estrée Blanche yesterday morning and got the whole story directly from McCudden. Voss was flying a triplane and was harrying an SE – only later did we realise that this was our own Hamersley, who had become separated from Caldwell in a late afternoon patrol on the 24th inst. Hamersley had reported being chased by one of the new Hun machines, but that it had been driven off by some other SEs.

As it turns out, the other SEs were eleven machines from 56, and Voss single-handedly took them all, holing all eleven before being shot down by a young Etonian whose name I don’t recall [1]. Now if we can only put paid to the Baron, we shall we a great deal safer!

...

In the air at the dot of five this morning, bound for the far northern sector to attack the Hun balloon lines east of Diksmuide. We go straight in and cause the balloon to smoke. Its observers jump by parachute, one landing safely and the other poor fellow falling quickly with the silk fluttering uselessly like a streamer. As for the balloon, it smokes but does not burn and the Huns quickly haul it down. One can see that they do not rely on their winch, instead using a secondary cable and pulley arrangement, with the end of the cable tied to a lorry which drives off at high speed, bringing the balloon down in seconds.

Second patrol is up at 11:15 this morning. I lead Jenkins, Hamersley, Duncan, and Rutherford back to the balloon lines. I fire until my Lewis jams, and Jenkins finishes the balloon off while I clear the stoppage. We drop some bombs we have brought along on the balloon’s ground crew and climb back up to 9000 feet before heading south along the lines.

We have not gone far when I spot movement below. A lone Albatros is chasing a Camel across the lines. I dive quickly, forgetting even to signal to the others. At my first burst the Hun tries to zoom up but I catch him and fire a second, longer burst into him from behind and below. He levels out, obviously hurt. I fire again from directly behind, and the Albatros rolls onto his back and dives straight down into the mud of no-man’s-land. Shells from our guns are falling nearby and my machine is buffeted by their passing. This is not how I want it all to end, so I climb eastward, preferring the Hun Archie that greets me to the terrifying prospect of meeting a 60-pounder in mid-air.

[Linked Image]
"I fire again from directly behind, and the Albatros rolls onto his back and dives straight down into the mud of no-man’s-land."

Jenkins is able to confirm my Hun, which is now officially number 19! I wanted to bag twenty before my leave comes up. It would be ripping for my father, whom Mummy says has become apt to boast of my recent successes.

28 Sep 1917

The night Huns have been busy in our rear areas and there are reports of several high-altitude incursions, so we are on standby from five-thirty. There is not long to wait before the klaxon sounds at quarter before six. Lieut. Guy shouts the details to me as I sit in the cockpit waiting for the Hisso to warm up. This one is different. Huns have been spotted heading towards Hesdin. We are to patrol an area from a place called St-André-au-Bois down to Abbeville. There is apparently an aerodrome at St-André, but the place is not marked on my map, so the RO makes a pencil mark.

The day grows brighter as we climb to the southwest, and by the time we are at 8000 feet the sky is painfully bright and absolutely clear. If there are Huns about we shall certainly spot them. The outline of Hesdin is now visible off to my left, blurred by the bluish haze from a thousand chimneys. Jenkins spots the Huns first – a pair of two-seaters up around 12000. They are circling as if to re-form. I lead us after them as quickly as I dare. The engine seems to be running hot this morning.

I lead Jenkins and Horn after the machine on the right, while Caldwell (who is on a day off, but who came along for the fun of it) leads Rutherford and Pope after the other. The Huns are heading east now as quickly as they can, but our machines are faster. We overtake them just west of Béthune. Mine takes dramatic evasive action as soon as we begin to fire. The poor observer cannot return fire as he is too occupied trying not to depart his machine.

Caldwell’s Hun is already going down, leaving a smear of smoke across the morning sky. He dives on mine and, in one burst, causes a wing to detach. Caldwell is a notoriously bad shot, but this morning he has put on a fine show and has two kills to boast of.

...

I lead “B†Flight on a southern OP at noon. We climb to 12000 feet, and the air is frigid. We pass Monchy on our left and continue south-southeast. This time I see the enemy first – two observation machines a mile off to the east. The chase is on. One of the machines is trailing an antenna, and I can see the observer frantically spooling it in. This time I choose not to attack from behind and below. Instead I veer away to the left, out of range, and overtake the EA. When I am well in front I turn towards them. The nearer machine, a DFW type, is being attacked from behind by an SE. I approach from ninety degrees. Both Huns will pass directly in front of me, right to left. I begin to fire and see the farther flash through my stream of tracer, then the nearer.

The nearer Hun instantly noses down and begins to spin. There is no flame and only a wisp of smoke. I am sure this is a ruse, so I throttle back and follow him down, taking care to check above for a trap. There are no other Huns about. I watch the purple and green two-seater scribe lazy circles in the air, ever lower, and await the inevitable moment when he will pull out and dash for home. But he does not. The EA hits the ground between the lines and simply vanishes in an eruption of mud. There is no fire, no smoke. The machine and the two souls aboard it have simply ceased to be.
It is my twentieth victory.

[Linked Image]
"I watch the purple and green two-seater scribe lazy circles in the air, ever lower..."

Notes:

[1] This was Arthur Rhys-Davids who was himself to fall a month later.


Attached picture Kill #19.png
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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/18 04:41 PM

Wow, Nice with my morning Cup of coffee.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/18 04:47 PM

13 Jul 1917 @ 05h33 CAS for troop movement, escort 3 FE2b from Ste. Marie Cappel.

Godfrey groggily arose at 4 am as his batman announced there was to be an escort run at 05h30. Sitting on the side of his bed he spent several seconds trying to focus and regain his mental capacity. The loss of Mongoose had put him in a funk the night before resulting in a rather large consumption of liquor in the mess. He splashed warm water on his face, neck and chest several times, and then quickly toweled off and began the dress procedure. At 04h15 he was approaching the mess tent for breakfast when he became aware of a loud mix up going on inside the tent.
As he opened the door to enter, all became silent and he squinted his eyes against the bright lights as he entered. Standing right in front of him no more than 10 paces was Mongoose with a huge grin on his face and backed by the rest of “A†and “B†flights. Godfrey just stood there with his mouth open for what seemed an eternity, before he finally spoke. “Is that you Mongoose?†was about the only thing he could think of to say. “In the flesh Albert, but just barely!†came the reply. Minutes later as they all sat around the breakfast table having their tea and toast, Mongoose regaled them with his harrowing near brush with death.

During the melee with the Hun the day before, Mongoose had some how crossed the path of the Hun while the rest of the boys were jostling for position behind the hun, and in those few seconds the Hun had put several well placed rounds into Mongoose engine and fuel tank before being forced to breatk off in an evasive manouver. As soon as he became aware of his faltering engine Mongoose headed west, just managing to cross the lines into friendly territory.
He was intent on finding a good place to put down as fuel was low and the engine was making some terrible whining grinding noises. Suddenly his engine erupted in flames and his worst nightmare became real. There was no time for planning. He was a couple of hundred feet from the ground and he jerked the craft into a steep dive, pulling out just above the earth and trying vaily to put his craft down between the shell holes just behind his lines.
He quickly released his harness, ready to jump out as soon as it was safely possible to do so. He could already feel the intense heat down by his feet.
The first touchdown was a huge bounce and then the craft nosed into a shell hole and everything went blank. When he awoke he found himself 30 feet in front of his burning craft, covered from head to toe in mud but otherwise unhurt. A somewhat miraculous miracle had occurred. The early reports of his death were the result of normal front line communications.

Godfrey, waggled his head back and forth, head down munching on his toast and said “Just like a mongoose, in and out before the devil has a chance to reap his harvest!†“devil you say!, well I’d like to think the Lord has other plans for me Albert! Hopefully he has forgiven me for all my sins!â€

The tent broke out in laughter as the adjutant stepped into the tent and announced that “Your attendance is requested in the briefing room if you please†And another round of laughter broke out as the men rose to attend.

The morning’s mission was a CAS for troop movements. We were to escort 3 FE2b’s arriving from Ste. Marie Cappel, to the lines near Athies, back to the rail yard south of Etrun where the FE2b’s would set down, and then return to base at Filescamp.

The mission was quiet other than for some Hun archie and the flight returned to base safely. The elation Godfrey and the others felt at the return of Mongoose had time to settle somewhat so that by the evening things were back to normal.
Instead of a big drunk, there was pleasant song, humour and a few rounds in the mess before and early bed.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/18 04:59 PM

Jeffery Vickers
2nd Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
6 Victory's.

Jan 26, 1918.

Morning Patrol : No contact.

Late Afternoon: Patrol Vimy. 41 Sgn put up 5 a/c and off we went as the Sun was sinking in the sky. Over the P.B.I. in the lines , we spotted and attacked 8 Scouts with Green Tails. Everyone circled then the zooming and twisting started. I got a good bust into a V strutter with Red on the body then He spun away ( Hits ? ) Next up the 2 on my tail. What a mess weaving bobbing and Reversals. One broke away and split for home ? After pulling ahead I did a reversal as he weaved to the right and I was on his tail in the gathering darkness. I pulled up close and fired. The Lewis was empty. My Vickers gun got off 9 rds then the Breech exploded. ( double load of powder ? bullet seated too deep ? ) The e/a was smoking then dove away to the port side. I re-loaded the Lewis and looked for the Hun but he was gone in the darkness and by then I was somewhere over Oppy so RTB.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/18 05:11 PM

41 Sgn Mess.

The flight reported 3 destroyed for 1 SE lost. Mine would been #4 but the claimed was rejected since the a/c went down in Enemy Area and No witness.

I did have a lovely dinner with some sisters from a neighboring Farm


https://giphy.com/gifs/witches-candel-light-xULW8gL6Nnf9kIYc6Y/fullscreen


https://giphy.com/gifs/meeting-eye-contact-bar-room-xULW8DlG7AkQUmlpss/fullscreen
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/18 08:20 PM

Dark Canuck, hell of a way to go. It's happened to two of my past favorite DiD pilots. Robert, it really is good to see you back. Carrick, hope you enjoyed your coffee with the read. Keep the log entries and pics coming!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/26/18 09:07 PM

Thanks
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/18 04:36 AM

14 Jul 1917 @ 05h58 Patrol to Harbourding and Phalempin

Godfrey awoke to the constant ping of rain drops on his nissen roof. It was 03h40 and he surely needed more rest, but that was not to be. His batman Clive knocked on his door and announced his presence. Godfrey responded “I am already up Clive, that damned rain kept me awake most of the night!†Clive responded “Yes Sir! It is now 3h40 Sir!†I am on my way Godfrey responded.

Having completed his usual morning duties, Godfrey stepped out fully dressed for the mornings mission, headed to the mess for some quick breakfast and then the briefing room. As he entered the room he was aware of the machines being run up on the field. The C.O. was already starting his briefing and identified that the morning mission was a run up the lines east of Givenchy and then west over Lens, where “B†flight was to take a NE direction towards Harbourdin and Phalempin, and note any build up at those airfields. It was to be strictly an OP unless the Huns decided they wanted it otherwise.

The briefing complete, the men began leaving for the field. Godfrey hustled up to Mongoose and suggested it would be nice if he brought his mount back in one piece today, and gave him a slap on the back as he sported a slight snicker. “I’ll see what I can do†replied Mongoose, returning the snicker and holding back on a throaty chuckle.

It was “B†flights show this morning and they all formed up over Savy reaching an altitude of 4600 ft at 06h12. Godfrey glanced back as he started his run towards Givenchy. He noted Berkeley on wing, and Bill, Jack, Mongoose, Horn and Pappy all in place in the flight as they headed north through the rain.

Cloud cover was low and the sky a dreary grey as they passed over Lens and the lines. They had turned NE on course for Harbourdin and Godfrey could soon make out the field in the distance. It was 06h20 by his wrist watch and as he wiped the rain from his goggles he noted a nice fat sausage hanging in the air directly in his path. “TOO, Godfrey murmured to himself. Not to be missed!†He waved his arm as he waggled his wings and pointed down towards the location of the Hun sausage. He began his descent in the driving rain and was soon within firing range. He loosed several bursts on the balloon and noted it start to smoke as he passed closely over it. Glancing back he watched as it burst into flames, and then quickly climbed out to rejoin his flight just in time to pass over Harbourdin field. They circled there several times as the Hun archie sent up an abundance of greetings. Godfrey quickly took the flight on towards Phalempin, not wanting to overstay his welcome.

At 06h38 they passed over Phalempin and promptly received the same welcome there.

He noted that there was little activity at either field. No aircraft on the fields of either aerodrome and none in the air. It seemed like the only ones foolish enough to be flying in this weather were his squadron.

Godfrey turned the flight west to the lines and upon passing Lens once more, turned the flight south towards Filescamp. They all landed there safely at 07h06 and reported in on their mission findings. It didn’t take long for the men to shed their wet flying suits and hustle to the mess for some warm tea, sausage and eggs.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/18 03:35 PM

Raine and Robert, nice to catch up on the ongoing novels! Nice vids also.
Carrick, did your breech explode in game? Never seen that.

Geoffrey Goddard
1RFC
Flanders

Jan. 25
I am temporary assigned to A flight as we do not have enough planes for 2. We are equipped with the newer SE5a! More speed and twice the firepower. DOP around Douai. Thankfully we had no contact.

Jan 26
Patrolled around our base with a five plane flight. Approaching La Lovie at 4000’ we see some EA attacking some observation aircraft trying to land. We dove in and I got behind a DV with a black and white striped fuselage. With 2 bursts it exploded in mid air. It was all over in minutes. We all made it back unscathed.

Jan 27
My DV was confirmed. Today we are to patrol enemy front lines east of Armentiers. Dove on 5 Phalz over NML. I got one and sent it into a spin. Didn’t see it crash as it was obscure cloud but it seemed to me he was not going to pull out. Found myself alone in low visibility so returned to base and filed my claim.

Jan 28
I am to lead one other machine to bust a balloon near Ypres. We approached the balloon at 3000’. Archie and ground fire was fierce but I focused on the balloon and as I went by it I felt it explode. Looking over my wingman gives me a thumbs up and back to base for breakfast we go.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/18 05:29 PM

I feel DiD renaissance! Excellent stories everyone. Just had some time to catch up. Love it all! I have to let Aldi go up in the air soon. Too busy with clerical work lately.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/18 05:48 PM

.

Renaissance indeed! I also just caught up with everyone's exploits and very enjoyable it was. Wonderful stuff as always folks, thank you for sharing. And it looks like there should be a few gongs coming as well which I will post after Banjoman sends up his latest chart.

.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/18 07:06 PM

MFair:

No not in the game. I have a separate set of simple roll the dice Rules for a supplement . For example, If you land close to the lines damaged/ force down Roll dice 1-6 U make it back otherwise POW. Gun jammed ; 12 Explodes 6-11 bent bullet jammed can not un jam. anything under a die roll of 6 its a normal jam with a chance to un jam ect. Its kind of Fill in the blanks types of rules. Providing the Game showed it was a gun jam or a forced landing in the 1st place.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/27/18 07:17 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
6 Victory's.


Jan 27, 1918.


This for That : Dawn patrol: No contact
Afternoon: chased 2 Recon types away from the PBI near Loos. 2LT Dawson, knocked one down the other nosed over and was gone. I couldnt get in position at that Height.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/28/18 03:02 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
6 Victory's.


Jan 28, 1918.

B flights 5 a/c had Escort duty. Escorted 2 RE 8's up to Monchy and back No e/a contact.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/28/18 03:27 PM

Carrick you keep this thread alive Sir!!
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/28/18 07:21 PM

Sgt Collin Sitwell
62 Sqn RFC
St Omer, France

What an adventure! Pilot training had flown by in what seemed like days. Capt Triggers was a fantastic instructor, even if he was a bit prone to monolouging about his experiences with the BE2c in the early stages of the war. He was especially fond of bringing up the exploits of some chap named Alan Farmer.

I managed to build up over 9 hours of flying all in the BE2c. I feel quite ready for the show. After my last solo flight (a sightseeing tour of London at midnight) I received orders to join my squadron in France.

62 Sqn RFC had just arrived at St Omer days earlier. They would be headed for their home field at Serny on the 1st of February. Unfortunately, on the crossing over, one of the Brisfits had been forced to ditch in the channel. The good news was the pilot Lt James and his passenger Cpl Clark were quickly rescued by a patrol boat based out of Dunkirk. In addition to bolstering up the pilot ranks, I was tasked with ferrying the replacement FE2b out to the Sqn.

When I arrived I learned that the CO Maj FW Smith had taken the majority of the Sqn into town for an impromptu celebration of finally reaching France. I learned the Sqn's inglorious history from the Equipment Officer and current duty officer Lt
AV Sutton. Apparently, 62 Sqn had been mobilized to head overseas twice previously, both times being cancelled at the last minute. Maj Smith took over in October of 1917 and was tasked with bringing some very green pilots up to snuff before reaching the front.

Lt Sutton was surprised to learn I was a pilot. There was a time when Sgt pilots were common, but now it is rare to see one without a commission. Im sure it will cause some consternation, but Ill be damned if I let it get in the way of my flying.

I am very excited to meet the other chaps!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/28/18 09:56 PM

Canuck;

Nice report intro to Colin Sit well! I doubt his first encounter with Hun flak, will "sitwell" with him! biggrin

I hope he makes a good of it!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 02:16 AM

Canuck: Nice writing
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 02:20 AM

Great start Dark_Canuck! Looking forward to Collin’s adventures. Has he met his gunner yet?
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 10:28 AM

Thanks all. Collin will meet his gunner soon, Im sure. Plus, Im sure his first flight in an FE2b will be eye opening. It has a bit more zip than a BE2c I am told.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 04:51 PM

Dark Canuck, I hope that you're going to be flying at night if you're tooling about in a Fee in late '17 or early '18! Best of luck with your new man. I'm hoping to be able to connect in person soon as I've just signed on for some work close to you. Be in touch.

It's a real DiD renaissance right enough these days! Let's keep it going. The government has promised that as soon as the war is over, they'll end this new income tax thing!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 04:51 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
6 Victory's.

Jan 29, 1918.


Got One. The morning Patrol was a wash out, but things were popping on the afternoon Escort. B flights 6/ac were over Vimy protecting a lone Sopwith Recon type. From our port side at a lowered height came 6-8 e/a scouts V strutters slicing through the sky painted Ride and Blue. We met them Head-on then I did a reversal seeing an e/a with a stopped propeller go by. Then another e/a flashed under me, I kicked the rudder and went after him. Firing from 200-100 yrds I nailed him he just broke apart. Looking around, as I reloaded the Lewis I saw one chasing a wing mate so fired on him at long range emptying the gun and my Vickers. The e/a kept going and headed home. 41 Sqn lost 1 a/c but knocked down 3 + 1 forced down. Total 4 with 1 of them mine.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 05:06 PM

Carrick, you dodged a bullet, perhaps. Isn't that Udet in the fifth photo?
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
Carrick, you dodged a bullet, perhaps. Isn't that Udet in the fifth photo?

It looks like Udet's Albatros. Good point, Raine.
Posted By: elephant

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 07:54 PM

Actually, it's Albatros D.V 2171/17 of Oliver Beaulieu-Marconnay (Jasta 18)
Udet was flying with Jasta 37, at that moment...
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 08:35 PM

Elephant is absolutely right. That's an LD on the side, not LO! I saw what I thought was "Lo", Udet's girlfriend's name and made a guess.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 09:34 PM

Actually it’s a 4D merged together - emblem of “Bauli’s†cavalry unit, Prussian 4th Dragoons.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 09:52 PM

Was he a good pilot ?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 10:07 PM

25 or 26 victories. None in Jasta 18.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 10:27 PM

Wow, looks like I did dodge a bullet
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 10:39 PM

Jeffery Vickers
Lt., Rfc
41 Sqn, B Flight Commander
Lealvillers, Flanders.
France
7 Victory's.



DECEASED DECEASED DECEASED KAPUT !

While on a high altitude show the flag mission, he went into a flat spin that became uncontrollable. He crashed just west of Lens. Possible causes a lack of oxygen ? Lack of power for air speed at that height ? passed out from fumes in cockpit ? passed out from drinking to stay warm at that altitude ? 1 other a/c from 41 crashed cause ? Vickers last date reacting to the news https://giphy.com/gifs/crying-movie-film-f6kQijbjqbjeE/fullscreen

( while playing the Game, I was on auto pilot the a/c just started falling out of the sky , on screen, I took over but couldnt get it to spop the flat spin and going upside down switched back to auto pilot , but the AI could not recover. Why ???????? the next screen showed 2 pilots crashed KIA. ) What a Bummer !. Not to mention, I didnt get my morning Coffee because I had ran out.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 10:58 PM

If you were flying a Camel, spins can be hard to pull out of, depending on the nature of the crafts attitude at the time.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/29/18 11:05 PM

I agree, They were brave men to fly in those death traps.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/30/18 01:07 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Spa 83, GC 14
2 Section
Vauberon, Marne.

Jan 29, 1918.

Arrived this morning from Flight Training with N-17,s. The comandant show me the controls and introduced me to the Spad 7 and my fellow drivers. We went up for and area orientation about an hour. then and afternoon Patrol of the lines with 2 section. My fellow aviators kept me safe as the enemy flight shot threw us my 1st look. The section claimed 2 shot down for 2 Lt Damaged.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/30/18 01:25 AM

Carrick, sorry about Jeffery. Good luck with Kefir. That's a mighty nice shot, that first one!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/30/18 02:24 AM

Carrick, rough go with Jeffery. Best of luck with the new garcon!

Geoffrey Corderoy has had quite a week. I fear he is experiencing a bit of Albert Ball's spirit of recklessness...


Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 31: 29 September to 1 October 1917

29 Sep 1917 – Ste-Marie-Cappel


Corporal McGlashon brings me tea at five and an hour later I am climbing into the early light of a cold autumn morning. I shall buy one of the new coverall-type flying suits when I get to London. Duncan got one at Harrod’s and they are, he says, toasty. We have four bombs each and we are bound for Menen aerodrome to roust the poor Huns out of their slumbers.

We turn north over the shattered town and spot the field at the north side, picking out a distinctive windmill as our landmark. Quick in and quick out, leaving smoke and flame behind. We climb over some low cloud and enjoy the crisp air. But three Albatri approach from the south. We are four, Horn having turned back with a dud engine. There is a short, hot scrap before I get behind a yellow EA with a red nose. My last burst hits him behind the cockpit and the machine falls out of control. There is another moving in behind, so I do not get to see my quarry fall. Duncan dispatches the Hun on my tail and suddenly it is all over. We have bagged two for sure, and possibly mine as well. Our breakfast is well earned.

I am in high spirits when we get to Mrs Duclos’ for second breakfast. Caldwell comments that he has not heard me shout and laugh so much in the mess. Perhaps I am discovering where I belong.

Shortly after noon is our second patrol. This time it is a DOP over to Wasquehal. There is not much traffic today despite the perfect conditions. We stalk and attack a high-flying Rumpler, which I damage and which Hamersley finishes.

My Albatros of the morning has been confirmed by the PBI! Good lads and drinks for the RO! That makes 21.

[Linked Image]
"There is a short, hot scrap before I get behind a yellow EA with a red nose."

30 Sep 1917

The armourers have fitted our Vickers with the new ammunition belts with the disintegrating metal links. We are in the air at first light on a southern OP to test them. Soden spies a pair of Rumplers about a mile ahead and a little above as we approach Bethune. We stalk them as far as the lines. Crompton and I take the one on the left. I pull up under him and fire. Immediately, petrol vapour pours from the Hun and it begins to tumble down, its pilot likely dead. Crompton and I come perilously close to colliding. The second Hun falls to Soden. The Rumpler is confirmed by Crompton -- victory number 22.

Before lunch we have our second patrol. This is another southern sector OP. There is a fierce tangle with a large group of Albatri. I drive one – a yellow machine with a green stripe around its fuselage – into a dive, but I cannot say for sure whether it was in control or not, so it remains merely “driven down.â€

[Linked Image]
"Immediately, petrol vapour pours from the Hun and it begins to tumble down, its pilot likely dead."

1 October 1917

We take off at four and form up over Droglandt, where a beacon is shown to allow us to assemble. We are carrying bombs again and are destined for the enemy field at Masny, south of Douai. In daylight this is a very dangerous area, but Wing believes we can get in and out before first light and do some serious damage.

Wing is right. We sweep in at only 1000 feet and meet nearly no opposition from ground fire. My bombs straddle the hangars and I zoom to our regrouping point south of the field. By the time we turn west, the place is truly alight. We spotted some machines on the field at Roucourt. I am tempted to pay them a call, but I have a new fellow named Scarborough with us and I want to bring him home.

Again we are back up in the late morning, patrolling at 11000 feet from Lille down to Lens. I see a pair of two-seaters in the distance south of Houplin and we give chase, but a large formation of Albatri approaches from the north. We are in danger of being cut off. The Hun scouts do not appear to have seen us, for they make a leisurely turn to the north. I climb northeast, placing our five machines between the Huns and the low sun. Then three of the Huns turn towards us and the surprise is ruined. If we are to fight outnumbered and without the advantage, I prefer we do it closer to home, so I lead our SEs westward. Now the entire Hun formation is following us.

I want to turn on them between our trenches and the Lys, but Crompton is 2 i/c and he turns with Duncan to meet the Huns, who have a slight height advantage still. I turn with Scarborough and Hamersley to support them.

What a brawl! For several minutes I have two or three of the Albatri taking turns at me. I get snap shots at them, but they hit my grid at least three time. There is a ragged hole in the upper plane not far from my head. Then I catch one blue machine in a steep bank and rake it with a long burst. The Hun puts down his nose and dives away with Hamersley and Scarborough behind. I am alone with the remaining EA, a black-coloured machine with a white ring around its fuselage. The wind is not strong today, so we drift eastward only gradually. Already the fight has gone ten minutes. I get a crack at the Hun as he approaches head on, full left rudder letting me fire obliquely into him as he flashed past. He is damaged and can no longer out-turn my SE. I quickly get behind him and fire. The Hun noses down, trailing smoke. I watch and circle as he spirals lazily downwards and slams into the mud close to the German lines.

I circle and wait for our scattered patrol to re-form. Down below, barely 1000 feet above the shell craters, the sun catches the wings of an eastbound machine. It is a yellow Albatros. I dive on the Hun and within seconds am firing. I hold the triggers down until we nearly collide. The Hun slips away in a bank and dives straight into the earth. Two Huns in the space of a morning!

[Linked Image]
"The Hun noses down, trailing smoke."

Hamersley is able to confirm both, so numbers 23 and 24 are in the books.

Get summonsed to the squadron office after tea. Major-General Trenchard wishes to convey personal congratulations. We are becoming rather good pals these days! He says he intends to mention in Comic Cuts that I have destroyed nine enemy aircraft in the space of a single week, and he promises to submit a recommendation for another decoration (“Make a note of that, Baring!â€). I am wise enough not to ask about leave.

A little over a week ago I was feeling a tad nervy and longing for leave and home. Now I suddenly feel rather giddy and would happily keep going here in France. Over drinks, and perhaps I am drinking a bit more than usual, I ask Caldwell to let me know if I start to act rashly. I have seen others lose their judgement when they are played out. I do not yet feel played out, but it would be rotten to get myself killed when so close to some time at home. Caldwell reminds me that he too is due for leave soon, and tells me he’ll bloody well take me with him by force.



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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/30/18 02:37 AM

Really enjoyed that report Raine. Corduroy is becoming quite the deadly Hunter.
Hope he stays safe and keeps one eye on his six.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/30/18 03:45 AM

15 Jul 1917 @ 05h00 Intercept incoming North of Vimy

Godfrey awoke to a scramble at 04h40. No time to wash or eat. He quickly put on his sidcot, fug boots, grabbed his scarf and gloves and rushed off, adjusting his hear gear. Both “A†and “B†flights were quickly greeted by the C.O. in the briefing hut as they rushed in. “There is no time for leisure here fellow, so don’t bother to sit down. The forward observers have reported by W/T that there is a flight of Huns crossing the lines near Vimy. I want “B†flight to take the advance on this one with “A†flight flying top cover to assistâ€.
There is the possibility of thunder storms with the heavy cumulus out there today, so take appropriate care. That is all.â€

The men all quickly left the hut and ran to their Nieuports. They were soon airborne 20 minutes after the scramble call.

Godfrey lead his flight composed of Berkeley on wing, Grid, Beck, and Horn due North. There would not be the usual circling north of the field to attain altitude. They would have to achieve maximum while on their direct flight to Vimy. “B†flight composed of Bill, Moley, Jack, Mongoose, and Pappy were close behind. By 05h20 both flights were at 6500 ft heading to the lines.
At 05h25 they crossed over at much the same altitude. “B†flight attempting to gain cover altitude had dropped back. The visibility was poor with the flights in and out of cloud and mist. At 05h27 while at 6600 ft and climbing, Godfrey spotted a black speck off his starboard nose and turned towards it to investigate. Soon another became visible slightly farther on. They appeared to be circling but it was not yet possible to identify the crafts.
As shortened the distance Godfrey noted the closest one had the profile of a Hun scout of the Albatros type. The Huns had not noticed their approach and Godfrey took his flight in to take the advantage of surprise.

Godfrey soon began an attack on the first Albatros of the DIII variety with markings from Jasta 5. After several volleys the Hun began to descend with Grid on his tail to finish the job. Godfrey searched the skies and spotted several more which were clearly out of range but soon his eyes fell on one low off his port side and he took to it like a peregrine on a pigeon.
He again scored several hits but not enough to do serious damage and it soon became clear that the Huns had the advantage of speed and were able to pull away from the N23’s in level flight. Godfrey let him go and searched again, finding two more Huns coming east from the lines. One of which he was able to approach head on and swing onto it’s six. He sent many volleys into the craft and watched as pieces kept breaking from it with each volley and yet it still continued to pull away, until finally the Hun made a fatal mistake and broke into a tight left hand turn that allowed Godfrey to close on him, and note that the Hun’s craft had alternating white and red bands around the fuselage length. It didn’t take long for The Vickers to finish of the Hun and send him smoking into the ground. Godfrey was down now to about 1500 feet and began to climb out as the Hun flak started to become to proliferous. Berkeley was still on his wing and they quickly met up with the rest of the flight. They had travelled well behind enemy lines and were somewhere near Douai. Godfrey took them back across the lines and circled for a time looking for “A†flight which never materialized.

“B†flight returned to base and reported in to the R.O.
It sees that Godfrey had the only confirmed kill. Grid was unable to catch his hun. As they were reporting, The men could hear the engines of some N23’s overhead and stepped out to observe. Three craft were circling to land, two of them looked a little wobbly. It was Bill and Jack coming in poorly with Moley close behind. Soden and Pappy were missing from the flight.

There was some extreme tension evident by the quietness of the men of “B†flight as they watched the Nieuports touch down. Everyone rushed out to the field noting that Bill and Jack’s N23 had shot up control surfaces. That said, the men themselves were not harmed. They reported that Mongoose and Pappy had gone down just inside their lines and that they had observed in both cases that the pilots had managed to extricate themselves from their crafts.
There was hope that they weren’t seriously injured.

Word came in from the front line trenches that Soden and Pope had been recovered with light wounds but their N23’s were totally destroyed. Both had been hit by the same flak explosion which went down as a freak incident. Both Jenkins and Rutherford had suffered similar damage from flak. The Hun batteries were noted as being rather dangerous around the Douai area as a result, and so it was noted to be extremely careful in that area.

Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/30/18 12:13 PM

Fantastic stories everyone. It is nice way to start the day before the coffee hits the system.

Carrick, Im sorry to see Jeffery head west. Best of luck with your new one.

Raine, Mr Corderoy is becoming quite the hunter! Stay sharp. And after your comment I realized that 62 Sqn flies the F2b and not the FE2b. Certainly not confusing at all. No wonder I usually stick to the Pups, Camels and Tripes!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/30/18 05:50 PM

Thanks all. I was really surprised when the a/c went un controllable maybe I should have just left the AI on instead of trying to fix it. Oh well !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/30/18 05:54 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Spa 83, GC 14
2 Section
Vauberon, Marne.

Jan 30, 1918.

The Esc. mixed it up with a Bosche Jasta this morning . The odds were kinda even both of us had 10 a/c in 2 flights. The A/c broke up into sperated fights after the Melee started. I got in some good shots at zee e/a 's , but nothing went down.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/31/18 02:27 AM

Raine, Robert and Carrick, another set of fine reports.
So, Geoffrey all of a sudden is the Sierra Hotel pilot on the Western Front. What’s his secret? Dating brass hat’s daughter?
Godfrey is due for a new crate. It hurts to watch the Hun get away.
And Kefir is lunging headlong into the fray. Good going!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/31/18 02:43 AM

Lunging into the fray ? He got pushed !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 01/31/18 05:35 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Spa 83, GC 14
2 Section
Vauberon, Marne.

Jan 31, 1918.


Relocated to new AF near Paris. Its called Thiers-sur-theve. Theres a place called Chateau de la Fem not far from the city Fine dining and atmosphere .


https://giphy.com/gifs/singer-cc-rider-3o7526IiGfqGmHltUQ/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/01/18 03:17 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Spa 83, GC 14


Feb 1, 1918.


Raining outside so a formation was held in the Mess. Attention To Orders: Spa 83 is to keep its Staff Members in the Rest area near Paris while the Rest of the Pilots are reassigned as Re-placements to other Esc's Signed General E. Clair HQ 1st Army. With that, I was ordered to Report to Esc 38 , equipped with Spad VII 's, at La melette, in Verdun. The other pilots went to different Esc. Good thing I went to the Chateau instead of unpacking.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/01/18 10:43 PM

Yes the DID Campaign is strong! Nice to see everyone flying. Nice reports, screenshots and videos.

Geoffrey Goddard
1RFC
Flanders.

Jan. 29th
My balloon was confirmed. The Phalz was rejected. I was told all of my claims would not be confirmed but it was still a let down. Today we are to escort a single DH4 to note troop movement near St. Vaast. Shortly after rendezvous my wingman signaled engine trouble and turned back. Now we are two. Once over the lines Capt. Clayton did a Wing over and I followed but could not see why. I followed the best I could and on we were headed straight east at 3000’. Soon I saw his quarry! A DV over Haurboudine. He dove and missed the mark. I followed and with 2 bursts it exploded in mid air. Feeling very full of myself I started to form up with Clayton about a mile off when tracers began whizzing past my head! Bullets smash into my instruments and windscreen. Making a climbing turn I am in a duel with another DV. Ground fire and Archie is finding its mark as I am low over a Hun airfield. One Archie round hits close and I feel and hear a loud bang. Something like a hot iron hit my thigh. “Your in a real fix now old boy†I thought to myself. As soon as I have the sun behind me I straighten out and head west. I can surely out run him in an SE. Now my oil pressure is dropping! I climb to 3000’ and hope the old girl can hold together. My adversary is still in full chase. Just befor the lines the engine starts to give out and I switch off and make a dive for our side. I make a bumpy landing just in front of our trenches. I unbuckle and run like a scalded dog to the nearest trench. Back at base I filed my claim and considered myself lucky to be alive.

Jan. 30th
I am now an ace! Clayson witnessed my DV.

Jan. 31st
E machine patrol of our fields around Leiettres. No contact but a fine day. 4 still missing at mess. 2 wounded and 2 missing and presumed dead. We have no spare machines but we carry on.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/02/18 01:34 AM

good reports all.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/02/18 02:00 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.



Feb 2, 1918.

Assigned a/c # 8 , A well used and worn down machine, in the last Vee in 2 section. Posted to the afternoon Patrol ( 10 a/c) of the lines. We passed under a Bosche flight of five and they came down on us. The flights scattered and I was chased for awhile til I did a reversal. The e/a passed under and I swung to the right getting on his tail and Wa La ! I had him. The machine fell next to one of our balloons ( confirmed ) The Esc claimed 3 destroyed I spotted 2 smoking going down + my kill. No losses.


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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/02/18 03:04 AM

Carrick, some terrific photos are coming from Kefir! MFair, it's so good to see you back in the air. Your Geoffrey gave me a scare there. I hope you can keep him going to the end.

Geoffrey Corderoy is about to get his first real leave, which should let me get off on my visit to France and Belgium in a few days. Watch for photos...


Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 32: 2-7 October 1917

2 October 1917 – Ste-Marie-Cappel


Weather is getting brisk. Have the later patrol (8:15 am) so plenty of time for tea and toast. Chatted with Scarborough, our new lad. Very pleasant fellow, a little older than some of the others. He is married, too, but very fearful for his wife. He served with the South Staffordshires, but transferred to the RFC to avoid posting to Ireland last year. His mother’s side of the family is Irish, it seems. He is a natural pilot, but somewhat windy. The poor fellow is lost. I have ordered him to take the rear position in our flight and to dive below us if we come into contact. It is the only way these days for new men to stay alive until they acquire a sense for war flying.

The day is absolutely cloudless after a night of light rain. We are bound for a Hun aerodrome east of Menen. Scarborough drops out over the lines and turns about. We have a good go at the field, shooting up several hangars and dropping bombs on the sheds. On the return trip a formation of Albatri passes overhead, escorting a pair of two-seaters. We begin to climb to surprise them, but they see us first and streak down on us like gannets. In the first few seconds of the melee, I take hits on the left side and feel the lateral controls go mushy. Jenkins quickly comes to my rescue. Despite difficulty keeping the machine level, I am able to bring it around with a lot of rudder and spot the Hun that hit me diving away. I go after him and surprise him with a burst from close behind. The EA begins to smoke and noses down, crashing into the mud beside the Lys and between the lines. Jenkins confirms the kill, which is my 25th.

We are back east of Menen in the afternoon and again encounter some aggressive Huns. I hit one which spins away. Hamersley finishes him off. I damage another, and this one falls a minute later to Rutherford. We have had quite the day!

As soon as I land I ask Sgt Nicod to examine Scarborough’s machine, but he informs me that it was yet another case of a defective camshaft. To top it off, Scarborough’s machine lost its prop and crashed on landing at Bailleul and the poor fellow is in hospital.

[Linked Image]
"The EA begins to smoke and noses down..."

3 October 1917

Morning is defensive patrol to Furnes, up close to the Channel. Rain soaks us in the cockpits before we take off and I shiver all the way up to 8500 feet, just above the heavy low cloud layer. It is grey even at that height. There is little chance of seeing anything.

It is Soden who spots them, a pair of DFWs. The man is a marvel. I swear he smells the Hun sometimes. The two enemy machines are a little above us and are heading east. Over Hondschoote, our Archie begins a hearty welcome, coming closer to our SEs than to the Huns. By a prearranged signal, I drift off to the left of the Huns while the others attack in pairs to keep the observers off balance. I turn in from the front quarter and hold the trigger paddles down for a long burst from abeam. The nearer DFW flies through my tracer and immediately begins to tumble out of control. The pilot must have fallen on his control column. I spiral down and note the position of the crash, next to a small stone bridge where a lane crosses a stream close behind our lines. Number 26 is in the books.

At three we fly a second defensive patrol, this one down to Albert. Pope downs a two-seater.

[Linked Image]
"I spiral down and note the position of the crash..."

6 October 1917

Rain all day yesterday and today. At least I have received a wonderful letter from home. My father has been home for several weeks, awaiting a new task from the War Office, and I am invited to make use of his flat in Fitzrovia when I get to London. They really are topping, for they are not insisting that I proceed straight home when I get to England.

As if by some divine plan, my leave comes through. I am to depart 60 Squadron on the 8th and report to the Aircraft Depot, where I shall either be required to ferry a machine to England or given a travel warrant. Once back in England, I shall be a free man until the 18th, when I am to report to the Hotel Cecil for further orders. On the 20th there is the investiture at Buckingham Palace. After that I shall be assigned elsewhere – where that may be is still a mystery. All I know is that I shall miss the people at Sixty dreadfully. I came here in a terrible funk after a bad experience at 46, and since my arrival success and fortune have been companions.

I wanted to visit Scarborough today, but we have received news that the poor chap has died. His injuries were not serious, but a cut on his face became septic and he went quickly. I spend the afternoon with Horn going through his kit. There is usually some salacious material to be consigned to the stove, but poor Scarborough was a genuine vicar, it seems. He had asked me to bring some letters and a few personal items to his wife if anything happened to him. Like a fool I had assured him that such a thing would never me necessary. I read the address on one of his wife’s letters: she lives in Oxford. I shall be close enough once I get home. Here’s a little task to cast a shadow over one’s leave!

There is to be a farewell binge tomorrow night. Caldwell is leaving the squadron too. Major Patrick, Caldwell, and I take a walk into the village and enjoy a couple of bottles of champagne. I struggle to express myself, but let Patrick know how much his trust and support have meant to me. He is the best of men.

7 October 1917

The major wanted to excuse me from flying today, but I insisted on going up again.

The rain stops at eight and we take off at 9:15 to shoot up Hunnish rail transport near Loos. The clouds are still low so we cross at 4500 feet and get frightfully knocked about by Archie. We play about the countryside, shooting up some marching Huns and supply waggons, and then setting some sheds alight at a rail yard.

We return intact. There is one more patrol, the last of our day at four o’clock. Both Chidlaw-Roberts and Caldwell insist on coming along, together with Soden, Horn, and Duncan. We are to meet with some French two-seaters and escort them to take photographs behind the front at Passchendaele.

One last flight over the horrid moonscape of the salient. The Frenchmen take their time while I scan the low cloud above, fully expecting the Baron’s entire circus to emerge like the Valkyries. But it is a ride in the country this afternoon. We see our companions safely home and return to Ste-Marie-Cappel one final time.



Attached picture Kill #25.png
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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/02/18 02:26 PM

Raine, enjoy your trip and be safe in your travels my friend. Looking forward to your return.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/02/18 03:20 PM

Absolutely wonderful reports, Gents. I shall endeavour to put one up shortly, as Collin and his Sqn have now reached the front lines.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/02/18 08:25 PM

Yes, very nice reports all.

Enjoy your sabbatical Raine. Take lots of pics!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/18 01:17 AM

Another set of excellent reports everybody. Raine, do you have a new squadron in mind or are you just going to pick one out of the hat?
News of the World for the month of January 1918 (Warbirds Rising):

January 1
The Swedish steamer SS Eriksholm was sunk by the German submarine UC-58 off the coast of Aberdeen whilst on a voyage from Methil to Goteborg with a cargo of coal.
January 2
The British Government formed the Air Ministry which had responsibility for managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force.
January 3
The Air Council took over management of Britain's air services from the Air Board with Lord Rothermere, the first Air Minister, as President.
January 4
The British hospital ship HMHS Rewa was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel as she was returning to Britain from Malta carrying wounded troops.
The Russian Bolshevik and Swedish Governments formally recognised the independence of Finland.
January 5
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George outlined British War Aims in a speech to Trade Union delegates.
January 6
Germany and France recognized the independence of Finland.
January 8
Speaking to a joint session of Congress, President Wilson of the United States proposed a fourteen point program for world peace. These points were later taken as the basis for peace negotiations at the end of the war.
January 9
The British Beagle class destroyer HMS Raccoon ran aground in bad weather and sank off the North coast of Ireland with the loss of all hands. The battleship was en route from Liverpool to Lough Swilly to take up anti-submarine and convoy duties in the Northern Approaches.
January 10
The British Government assured the Russian Bolshevik Government of their support in the creation of an independent Poland.
January 12
The British steamer HMS Whorlton was torpedoed and sunk by the UB-30 in the English Channel with the loss of all hands.
January 14
German destroyers bombarded Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast of England.
The former Prime Minister of France Joseph Caillaux was arrested on charges of high treason.
January 15
General strikes were held in Prague and Budapest as workers' peace movements gathered momentum.
January 18
The Russian Constituent Assembly convened in the Tauride Palace in Petrograd in order to write a constitution and form a government for post revolutionary Russia.
January 19
Following a 13 hour meeting the Russian Constituent Assembly was dissolved by the Bolshevik Government, an action that is generally reckoned as marking the onset of the Bolshevik dictatorship.
January 20
At the Battle of lmbros, a naval engagement outside the Dardanelles, the Turkish cruiser Midilli (formerly the German SMS Breslau) and British monitors HMS Raglan and HMS M28 were sunk.
January 21
Sir Edward Carson resigned from the War Cabinet.
January 22
The Russian Bolshevik Government protested about inaccuracies in the reports of proceedings at Brest-Litovsk negotiations.
January 23
Negotiations between the Russian Bolshevik Government and the Central Powers were suspended at Brest-Litovsk.
January 24
The German Chancellor Georg von Hertling and Austrian Foreign Minister Count Ottokar Czernin made public their replies to statements on war aims made by US President Woodrow Wilson and British Prime Minister David Lloyd George.
January 26
The Irish passenger steamer SS Cork was torpedoed by German submarine U-103 whilst travelling from Dublin to Liverpool.
January 27
Lieutenant General Sir Launcelot Edward Kiggell resigned as Chief of the General Staff to the British Expeditionary Force.
January 28
Increasingly frustrated with the continuing Great War 100,000 workers took to the streets of Berlin, demanding an end to the war on all fronts.
January 30
Negotiations were resumed between the Russian Bolshevik Government and the Central Powers at Brest-Litovsk.
January 31
Martial Law was declared in Berlin due to the escalation of the workers' strikes.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/18 01:19 AM

News of the World for the month of September 1917 (Intrepid Fliers):

September 1
German forces attacked the northernmost end of the Russian front during the Riga offensive.
September 2
German troops attacked and crossed the Dvina bridgehead on the Eastern Front.
German Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz and other conservatives founded the Fatherland Party to oppose peace initiatives.
September 3
German bombers raided the Chatham naval station in Kent resulting in over 200 casualties.
September 4
German submarines shelled Scarborough on the Yorkshire coast of England.
September 5
German forces captured the strategic port of Riga as Russian troops retreated and evacuated the city.
September 6
Sun Yat-sen became the Generalissimo of the Military Government of Nationalist China.
September 7
The Harland and Wolff built ocean liner SS Minnehaha sank after being torpedoed by German submarine U-48 off the Fastnet Rock.
September 8
General Lavr Kornilov headed a revolt against the Russian Provisional Government and organised a march on Petrograd.
September 9
French Prime Minister Alexandre Felix Joseph Ribot resigned after losing the support of the Socialists.
September 10
Alexander Kerensky assumed the dictatorship of Russia and issued a proclamation declaring Lavr Kornilov a traitor.
September 11
The first party of British POWs were repatriated through Switzerland and reached England.
September 12
The Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo ended when the attack was halted. Italian troops had captured five mountain peaks before the offensive petered out and the Austro-Hungarians eventually held their positions.
Paul Painleve replaced Alexandre Ribot as Prime Minister of France.
September 14
General Lavr Kornilov was arrested at Mogilev, accused of plotting the overthrow of the Provisional Government.
September 15
The Provisional Government proclaimed a Russian Republic under Alexander Kerensky.
September 17
The British steamer SS Queen Amelia was first stopped by gunfire from the German submarine U-95 and finally sunk by a torpedo from UB-62.
September 20
The third general British attack of the Ypres Offensive, the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, took place in the Ypres Salient in Flanders on the Western Front.
September 21
Count Bernstorff's (German Ambassador in London) correspondence with Berlin concerning German intrigues was published.
September 22
German forces stormed Jacobstadt on the banks of the Dvina river, forcing the retreat of Russian troops.
September 23
German flying ace and rival of the famous Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen, Werner Voss was shot down and killed by British fighter pilots near Frezenberg in Belgium.
September 25
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George committed to an extension of the British line in France at the Anglo-French Conference in Boulogne.
The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge ended in an Allied victory as British troops had successfully held their lines against German counter-attacks.
September 26
The Battle of Polygon Wood was a successful joint Australian and British attack when their forces advanced against the Germans and occupied all of the Polygon Wood.
September 28
The Battle of Ramadi was fought between the British and the Ottomans as part of the Mesopotamian Campaign.
September 29
The British operation at Ramadi concluded after the Ottoman garrison was quickly outflanked and captured.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/18 02:08 AM

Fullofit,

Thanks for the news update. I applied for a transfer a few days ago, knowing I'd be away for a couple of weeks, but even though I've advanced the calendar the transfer hasn't come through yet. So I may need to put the delay into my story. The plan is to take over 70, flying Camels, which I've never done on DiD.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/18 02:55 AM

Ok, hope the transfer goes through. Enjoy the time off.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/18 04:14 PM

Thank you for the monthly news Fullofit. I always enjoy reading it to get a big picture of what is taking place.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/18 04:24 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
1 Victory


Feb 3, 1918.

Dawn Patrol came early, Took off with 6 a/c came back with 6 all we did was chase a Recon Type.

Afternoon; While doing a line Patrol with 3 a/c in a Vee formation, we spotted a Melee below us and to the East of Spads and E/a Scouts. Diving under then up, I glued myself on to a e/a that was on the tail of a friendly. I pumped 44 rds of machine gun ammo at him. He broke off and went home. IRTB.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/18 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Thank you for the monthly news Fullofit. I always enjoy reading it to get a big picture of what is taking place.

MFair, my pleasure.

8 October, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

Fog. Thick fog. Aldi could not believe they had orders to fly in this muck. You could barely see the propeller spinning in front of you, let alone be able to track the enemy. Was the enemy as crazy as them to be up here looking for trouble? Apparently yes. The reports have come in that the enemy planes were spotted flying in this area. Intercepting these intruders will be tricky. Aldi’s only consolation was that his unit’s brightly painted machines were visible even in this mist.

[Linked Image]

It helped with avoiding collisions, but as a side effect it made them easier to spot by the enemy. The situation improved slightly, the fog dissipated and was replaced by dark clouds. Then the rain came and with it a flock of SPADs. They swooped down from the cloud cover and mixed it up with the Albatrosen. The German machines had the advantage of being more maneuverable, but the French had the speed. Despite their best efforts the Albatros scouts could not attain superiority. The fight was a huge windmill of planes turning in large circles with neither side being able to fire. It’s almost as if they were all too lazy to fight. The maneuvering was just a formality. Something to write down in their battle reports. The melee eventually fizzled out with the French machines making a beeline for the trenches and the safety of their own airspace. Schwarzkopf’s flight gave a weak chase and turned back before the front lines.

[Linked Image]

The “fight†left a bad taste in Aldi’s mouth. It seemed the French were toying with them and the Jasta was powerless to do anything about it. The fog returned.
A surprise was waiting for them when landing at the base. A lone SE 5a was sitting on the field. It looked very out of place among the bright blue and red machines. 2Lt J. J. Fitzgerald of No 60 Sqn had gotten lost in the thick fog and had to land at Harlebeke when his engine failed. The mechanics and the pilots alike were surrounding the machine with serial number B507 trying to get a better look. Aldi was one of them. It partially made up for the dismal outcome of their patrol.
[Linked Image]


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Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/03/18 09:29 PM

Funny looking Cowling on that SE, what's up with that?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/18 02:16 AM

Adding the SE was a nice touch. Reading the prose was like driving down a long stretch of road then a Twist.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/18 02:27 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
1 Victory

Feb 4, 1918.

My 1st flight was short. Zee motor had no [power so put it back down.

The second flight was target Rich. Lt. Madon led us up to Rethel zee Bosch were everywhere. I saw at lest 2 flights high to the 3 NE 1 flight above us 2 flights West of us and 1 flight of 6 Scouts close and below us. Our 2 flights of 4 dove on the lower e/a a real Hit them Hard and run for it. 2 Section claimed 2 a/c destroyed. I Section claimed 1 destroyed. ( they also lost 1 Spad ). As wing man, I covered my leader No kills but did shoot up 200 rds of ammo.

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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/18 12:31 PM

Sgt Collin Sitwell
62 Sqn RFC
Serny

It took the better part of the 1st to get the squadron moved from St Omer to Serny airfield. I was lucky enough to fly, but those stuck taking a lorry were caught in a dreadful traffic jam in the center of Lumbres. We settled our gear hastily in the Nissan Huts and hurried to consecrate the mess.

I was getting to know my observer 2Lt Harry Hollcombe fairly well. He was a very young man, just 19. He was extremely keen and had so far treated me almost as a fellow officer. This was made easier by Maj Smith's order that all pilots and observers, regardless of rank would share the officers mess.

Harry, was a North Englishman. He spoke with a thick accent and seldom had anything other than a smile plastered on his boyish features. He was easy to like and I was glad to be paired with him.

The other pilots werent as quick to make friendly, but there did not seem to be any malice directed my way. It seemed everyone was excited to start.

The plan was for us to spend several weeks flying practice patrols before getting into the real action. The plan lasted until afternoon tea before the telephone rang and B Flight, to which I have been assigned, was sent up to invistigate reports of enemy aircraft flying over the trenches.

It was terribly exciting and, at the same time, terrifying. I gathered some comfort from Harry strapped in behind me with his two machine guns and pushed the throttle forward to chase after B Flight.

We headed North for a short ways before turing East and heading for Loos, climbing as fast as the Brisfit can. She seems a sturdy craft, able to do whatever it is that is asked of her.

Upon reaching the lines i spot specks in the distance. I signaled to the flight leader, Captain Morrow and we were off in persuit. In my excitement I pulled out of formation and started to outpace everyone else. As I closed, I saw the offending craft were Rumplers. I decided to approach from slightly below to ensure the rear gunner couldnt get me before I got him.

I rapidly closed and fired a long burst from short range. My rounds went everywhere. I saw several hit the hun, but it carried on unharmed. As this happened I came into range of the second Rumpler, who took the opportunity to rake my kite with bullets. How Harry and I werent hit is a mystery.

I spun away quickly, and turned West, only realizing now that we had crossed the front and were in Hun land. It was the my motor quit on me. My eyes went wide as I came to the awful realization that the hun had put a hole in our fuel line.

I set out in a glide for safety. We crossed the German trenches at a fine altitude and aimed for an army encampment just across a river. I misjudged the approach and cone frighteningly close to ending up inside several of the tents, but managed to avoid disaster.

From there is was a quick telephone call and a long wait for the lorry back to Serny. Harry and spent the time reliving the fight over and over. We decided that if we get another crack at two seaters, I will fire a burst and the turn left to give Harry a good shot with his guns.

We dont get a chance on either the second or third, as a storm front brings snow, rain, and misery to France.

We also learn that Morrow brought down the Rumpler I damaged, scoring the first victory for the squadron.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/18 02:08 PM

.

Dark_Canuck, sounds like Sgt. Sitwell needs to work on his tactics for attacking a formation of 2-seaters. He has a fine mount in the Brisfit and should be able to fly rings round all the Hun B/R buses and a fair number of the scouts as well. Best of luck to him.

Carrick, condolences to the Vickers family on their loss. Here’s hoping your latest French aviateur has a glowing career, and not because his kite is ablaze.

Fullofit, I’ll never understand HQ’s insistence on sending up planes in that pea soup, and it doesn’t matter which side of the mud your stationed on, they all do it. Beautiful screenshots. I assume Aldi and his crew treated their uninvited guest to dinner and drinks before sending him off to the higher-ups. Also, thanks for the monthly news, always nice to catch up on events.

Raine, Geoffrey has really found his stride, it’s no wonder Boom is taking notice of him now. His transfer to Camels is going to bring him a whole new style of combat in the air though, I hope he can adapt to it as he will soon have to fight his way out of every scrap he enters. The Camel is a deadly adversary in the right hands but you cannot run away from a tight spot with her. On a personal note, I hope you enjoy your upcoming trip. Do be sure and post many pictures here for us all to green over.

MFair, good to see you still hanging about. Congrats on Goddard achieving ace status.

Robert, Albert and his flight had some serious AA to deal with. The Hun gunners must have been using the height of the clouds above them to zero in on their targets as well as they did. Nice video and it shows clearly how nasty Archie was.

Wonderful reports as always Gents, thanks for sharing.

.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/18 09:07 PM

Here is the latest status report. Sorry, I missed last week guys, but it has been crazy busy here in sunny Guatemala.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/18 11:32 PM

Banjoman, thanks for the stats. don't worry about last week. We appreciate what you do when you can. What's happening in sunny Guatemala. Is everyone there jealous of our snow? (Please change Gaston Yount's unit from N57 to SPA57. Thanks!)
Lou, unfortunately I don't know if Fitzerald was treated to any festivities, although I would assume so - Berthold was a nice guy after all biggrin . My sources only indicate that he was taken prisoner. When are we gonna hear from your pilot?
Canuck, close call on that first contact. Heed Lou's advice and give it beans!
Carrick, congrats on that first victory. I see you're finally getting some nice flying weather. Time to bring along some French girls for a walk. wink

Originally Posted by Ace_Pilto
Funny looking Cowling on that SE, what's up with that?

Ace, it seems each version had a different one.

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Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/04/18 11:35 PM

.

The DID Centenary Challenge Commendations Officer is pleased to present the following awards.


To pilots of the Entente Alliance

50 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Lieutenant Edward Nygma)
50 Hours Medal presented to: Carrick58, (Lieutenant Jeffery Vickers, posthumously)
100 Hours Medal presented to: Raine, (Major Geoffrey Corderoy)
125 Hours Medal presented to: Robert_Wiggins, (Major Albert Earl Godfrey)


To pilots of the Central Powers

175 Hours Medal presented to: Fullofit, (Rittmeister Aldi Schwarzkopf)


Well done Gentleman, you make your respective countries proud! You may pick up your spiffing new gongs on the table below.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/05/18 12:09 AM

Thanks Lou, I'm weighing my plane down with all these decorations.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/05/18 05:13 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
1 Victory

Feb 5, 1918.

The Esc escorted a 1 and 1/2 er over the enemy Troop encampments. 2 Section had 5 a/c at the beginning then 1 turned back , Motor ? , Over the troop area amid cannon fire the # 2 a/c turned into a fireball then broke up. ( enemy fire ? Oil Fire ? ) I started spootinf enemy Flights high and around us then our Top Cover 4 a/c got into a melee with 6 or so Scouts below a flight of 3 recon types. I peeled off to help. As I positioned myself for a good shot , I pull the trigger, but after 4 rds it stopped. I had to pull away and rejoin my section only to fly under 6 e/a scouts above me. 3 of them nosed over and dove to in front of me an d one behind. I nosed over and full power flying through a hail of led ( collected 16 holes in my a/c., but made past them and the lines RTB. Top cover claimed 1 e/a destroyed, 2 section 0 e/a. Esc losses 2 Spads.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/05/18 05:27 PM

Thanks for the flashy gong Lou. I'm afraid Albert's chest will be getting heavy.

CARRICK YOU ARE A ONE MAN EFFORT HOLDING THIS THREAD TOGETHER!!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/06/18 12:47 AM

Thank you , Mr. Wiggins. I just luv this game and cant wait for WOTR with another AAR report to fill out.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/06/18 01:10 PM

I had the distinct pleasure of sharing a beer with Raine last night. It is a true joy to spend some time with someone who shares similar interests. Thanks for taking the time to meet with me!

Sgt Collin Sitwell
62 RFC
5 February 1918

Flying above the lines feels similar to trying to make your way through Kings Cross Station. There are kites all over the place going about their business. We were ordered to make our way back to the lines East of Loos to once again discourage the Hun from setting up shop. B flight again got the task, with A Flight providing backup. A whole squadron show! I felt almost safe flying along in formation with eleven other busses.

Leading B Flight was Captain Campbell. Not five minutes after we reached the lines, he waggled his wings and turned off course. I followed and after a minute of searching the skies finally spotted the three Rumplers that had caught his attention.

I tapped Harry and pointed, receiving a sharp nod and a feral grin in reply. We were going to bag one of these Huns for sure. I let Campbell choose his victim first, and I lined up on the Rumpler to the left of the formation. I closed quickly from below the Huns firing line. As I grew closer I fired several bursts trying to hit the gunner or pilot. I saw the gunner slump forward and slammed the throttle forward, pulling alongside. Harry lined up his shot with care and with one short burst, sent the Rumpler is a violent spin downward.

Captain Morrow was following us closely and waved to acknowledge his view of our victory. I looked about, but saw no one other than Morrow in the once crowded sky. As I turned for home, the Rolls Royce engine gave a series of weak coughs and died. It seems in the excitement of the hunt, I hadn't noticed our fuel lines had been struck and we were now, once again, out of petrol and on the wrong side of the lines.

At about this moment the Hun Archie crews woke up from the mid morning nap and decided to give us a right royal welcome to the war. Black puffs appeared all around us, like small balls of hate. I glided us as quickly as possible for the lines and searched for a suitable field to put down.

The landing was as smooth, despite the best efforts of a farmers fence to jump into our way. We landed a few hundred meters from a large stone manor house that I hoped had a telephone. As we approached, a semi hidden sentry with a blue square patch on his shoulder stopped us. I recognized this patch and his regimental patch immediately. Royal Canadian Regiment, 3rd Canadian Division. My old infantry regiment. This should be interesting...
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/06/18 02:57 PM

Fullofit,, very nice touch with the captured machine. Yep, flying in the soup is no fun.

Carrick, good luck with the new pilot. Be careful.

Dark Canuck, it would seem you are having some close calls. Lets hope that changes. A beer with a fellow WOFFer! It would not get any better than that.

Banjoman, no apologies needed Sir! You are doing us a great service.

Lou, hanging around? You hurt me Sir! winkngrin I am usually here every day and get a mission in almost every day. Thank you most sincerely for the medals, maps and countless mods you have spent time and energy on to make this sim even more enjoyable than it is.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/06/18 05:08 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
1 Victory


Feb 6, 1918.

Another Escort mission, this time a photo hop for a lone a/c. No e/a contact although you could see numerous dots over on the enemy side of the lines
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/06/18 11:23 PM

Geoffrey Goddard
1RFC
Flanders

Feb. 1st, 1918
Only 12 of 16 pilots are available to fly. Olson and myself are to patrol our lines from our base to Lechelle. Saw 5 EA below us but did not like the odds and stayed high. No other contact.

Feb. 2nd and 3rd.
All flights cancelled due to weather.

Feb. 4th
Intercept mission of 5 machines. Capt. clayson leading. Nearing our patrol area near Cambrai Capt. Clayson went into a dive and we followed. He pulled out at 5000’ leveling off headed southeast. Near Gonnelieu I made out 5 EA below. We dove in behind them. I picked out one Albatros and made my pass with no luck. Pulling up I latched on to another befor Clayson came in above me shooting at the same machine so I dove out and let him have that one. I spotted another below me and rolled in behind it giving it a good burst. It started trailing petrol and I I followed it down to tree top level befor it noses into the ground. Pulling up, Clayson was on my left and a little above. He gave me a wave and we climbed out headed for home. All our planes made it back and we filed 2 claims.

Feb. 5th and 6th.
I get a 48 hour pass. My DVa was confirmed making my total 6 planes.

Feb. 7th,
4of us patro from Lens to Cambrai. No contact, just one very cold flight.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/18 03:25 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
2 Victory's


Feb 7 , 1918

Recon ships reported deep over our side of the lines. Our section of three a/c led by Cpt Madon found them near Epemay. The Cpt waved help yourself everyone so I took the closest machine breaking left in a downward slant. I started firing 200 yards out after 150 rds or so I noticed the gunner was slumped over so got really close and fired off 60 more rounds. The 2 seat machine caught fire then exploded. The enemy lost 2 of 3 machines and we lost 1 Spad + 1 pilot lightly Wnd.

Esc Status Report:

18 a/c
13 Serviceable and Ready
12 Pilots authorized
8 Pilots available

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/18 03:33 AM

Foot Note: Althought this is just a game , I still felt badly about doing in the Gunner-less 2 Seat. WOFF always surprises me.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/18 05:31 PM

Fullofit, MFair, Carrick, Robert, Dark Canuck: just caught up with my reading and there is some great stuff going on. I'm waiting for a flight and can't easily flip back and forward to comment on each account in detail, so here's a collective hats off. Lou, thank you so much for the gong. I love your new mod. Can't wait to fly over it. Banjoman, hope to see you around soon, when you get a break from all you good work!

Spent a wonderful few hours Monday night quaffing Guinness with Dark Canuck -- great guy!

Diary of Capt Geoffrey Corderoy
Part 33

8 October 1917


Caldwell and I both received our travel warrants this morning. I awoke early and packed, fully expecting to leave from Boulogne this evening, only to discover that we were now expected to ferry a BE2c from St-Omer to Dover. A coin toss over eggs and toast decided that Caldwell would pilot while I prepared to defend us from marauding Huns.

On arrival at the orderly room at No. 1 A.D. we learned from a superannuated sergeant clerk that (1) nobody bloody tells him anything, (2) this is bloody typical, and (3) there was no BE2c to fly because some young pup had already killed himself in the thing. We refused to leave until we spoke with the officer in charge, and after a half-hour a flustered lieutenant with a missing arm produced revised travel papers authorizing us to travel on a Calais to Dover vessel, the Prince George.

Calais was a jostling sea of rear-area soldiery being paraded sullenly through the streets to the bellows of their NCOs, with a mix of ambulances, goods lorries, and assorted French hawkers and matelots. Some streets lay in ruins, evidence of the enemy marine bombardments here last month. At length, we found the Embarkation Officer who informed us that we were to be aboard no later than eight o’clock. With four hours to kill, we found a hotel near the docks where we enjoyed a meal of sole meunière, potatoes, and a couple of bottles of very good white wine.

On board, Caldwell found his berth and was instantly asleep, while I read in the smoking lounge until we cast off lines and steamed into the channel under the care of a pair of destroyers. I wandered out on deck, careful to ensure the heavy curtains had closed behind me before opening the door, a precaution against submarines. The night was clear and cold, and the war was very far away, and I was at peace under the stars.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/18 07:52 PM

Good going Raine. Have Fun
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/18 08:06 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
2 Victory's

Feb 8, 1918.

The Met reports weather moving in and its already Zero Zero across the lines and heading for us. We might be socked in for 2 days. I caught a ride into the Village and ran into a Mademoiselle who was armed she said that She has heard about the local Fly boys around here.


https://giphy.com/gifs/sherwood-forest-chick-fight-shannan-3o751VODxUwEgOq7zq/fullscreen
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/18 08:58 PM

Geoffrey Godfrey
1RFC

RIP Geoffrey
After downing 2 Hanover’s near Lens he was forming back up with 2 of his flight at 10,000’ when his engine caught fire. He tried side slipping, diving, and whatever else a dying man might try to no avail. He crashed in the middle of NML. His body was never recovered.
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/18 09:21 PM

What a terrible death! RIP Geoffrey.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/07/18 10:07 PM

MFair, sorry to hear about Geoffrey. I haven’t had a spontaneous fire in ages.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/08/18 01:09 AM

Wow MFair waht a way to go. Sorry old man about your pilot. Just a tip, I have had a number of Burning Spads while playing this game. I have managed to save a few ( not many ) by cutting the Fuel then side slip. However, cutting the fuel / ENGINE OFF/ must be as soon as the fire starts other wise

TOAST. !
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/08/18 01:20 AM

Thanks for the condolences gents. It was a surprise. One minute you are on top of the world with two new fresh kills and the next you see death! I have had fires before but they were on damaged engines. This one was out of the blue. I will keep your advice on hand Carrick. If I can think fast enough! I will be back with a new pilot pronto.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/08/18 01:06 PM

Sorry to hear about your Pilot, MFair. I hope your next one has better luck.

Sgt Collin Sitwell
62 RFC

After a split second of searching, I placed the face of the young sentry. "Private Hargrove? Is that you?" I asked surprised.

The young private seemed shocked that I recognized him and it was clear that my heavily bundled form and oil stained, whale greased face were not immediately recognizable.

"It's me Sgt Sitwell! How the bloody hell are you?" I bombarded the poor young lad with questions about the Regiment and how things had been going since my departure several years earlier.

Most of the blokes that I knew had been killed or wounded in the heavy fighting that had taken place in the year I had been away from the Regiment. The RCRs had been involved in the assault on Vimy Ridge, The Battle of the Scarpe, the Battle for Hill 70 and of course the Second Battle of Passchendaele. It seems the Regiment was enjoying some much needed rest behind the lines.

My old Platoon Commander, Lt Naylor, was still around and greeted us inside the Manor House warmly. He allowed me use the telephone to call back to Serny, although I was informed it would be many hours until anyone arrived. He was anxious to hear about my life in the RFC, as he and Lieut. Munroe were to be attached to the RFC on the 7th. [1] Once he had heard enough to be fully excited and terrified, Lt Naylor invited us to join the Officers vs NCOs baseball game that was to take place in a field not far from the Manor House.

In true RCR fashion the game probably had a bit more contact than the inventors of the sport had originally intended, but it was a smashing time. Unfortunately, the Officers got the upper hand in the eight inning and won the match 7-5. Harry himself, who had no trouble adjusting from the sport of cricket he played as a child, hit the home run to put the Officers ahead and the CO, LCol Willetts drove in the final run. [2]

The fitter and rigger from Serny arrived with a lorry and several fuel jerries around 1800 and by 1900 had the wounded kite patched up. Harry and I said our goodbyes and more than slightly inebriated, flew our way back to Serny to file our claim and catch some sleep.

We woke early on the 6th with headaches that disappeared quickly once we reached altitude. We were tasked with a simple line patrol along the exact same route as before. This time we saw nothing but clear skies. I went straight to my bunk upon landing and slept until dinner.


[1] Lt Naylor spent time as an observer in the RFC and survived the war. He was killed in Winnipeg on 7 July 1919 in a plane crash.

[2] The officers had been filling there time challenging different Companies of the Regiment to games of Baseball through late January and early February, culminating in the 7-5 victory over the NCO "all-star" team on 5 February 1918.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/08/18 03:03 PM

Dark Canucks

I feel your meeting with George not only resulted in sharing a beer together but also resulted in your reports taking on a similar historical accuracy.

Nice touch, and a good read.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/08/18 07:50 PM

Thanks Robert. The meeting with George certainly helped inspire me to expand my historical research. This particular story vain was a happy coincidence of stumbling across the RCR War Diaries online and discovering they were in the same location that I force landed in. I will endeavor to keep it up!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/08/18 09:53 PM

Canuck: U R doing well, nice reading.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/09/18 03:26 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
3 Victory's


Feb 9, 1918


Ah a break in Zee weather. Afternoon Patrol by Pompelle the Esc put up 4 a/c mine was the last one off. I was lagging far behind as the Flight finished up on the last leg and turned for home . They missed a Flight of e/a high and a little behind them, I had to fly under them and One of the with a White Tail came down to play. He dove, I corkscrewed He zoomed and I climbed then I sped ahead he followed over our side above the Troops. I reversed , he banked right and down. I had him nosing over my guns chatted he twisted and turned I stayed on him The machine guns kept chatting away. I then noticed that his propeller had stopped so I left him alone to land , crash, by our Troops. I had the only Kill that day.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/09/18 11:30 PM

DC, you spin a good story. Looking forward to Sitwell’s next adventure.

Carrick, I hope your kill is confirmed.

Herman Hienze
Jasta 7
Flanders

Hienze was herded into his commanding officers hut. “What did you train on†his Commander asked.

“An out of date Phalz Herr Hauptmann “ Hienze replied.

“Good! That’s what you will be flying here†stated the Commander

“But Sir! At flying school they told us we.......†Hienze was cut off abruptly.

“Flying school! This is the real war Hienze. Up to date machines go to experienced pilots.†The Commander stated. “Dismissedâ€

Hienze saluted and turned to leave.

“Hienze, lets hope you get to like us†the Commander stated flatly.

Note: I have never flown the Phalz before. Wish me luck!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/10/18 07:40 PM

Good going MFair
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/10/18 08:01 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
3 Victory's

Feb 10, 1918.

Big Fight today while we were over the lines. There were 2 flights of 5 or 6 e/a converging on us. Cpt Madon led us in attacking the lower left flight along with our top cover we totaled 8 a/c . I fired at long distance most of the fight then reversed and attacked numerous e/a in the swirling melee. While losing airspeed one e/a got close and 5 holes appeared in my top left wing. a wing-over and firing at more e/a as they flashed by 5 more holes appeared 10 inches behind my seat. A zoom and Chandell , finally a e/a in a perfect set up and very close Hammer Time CLICK No Ammo in Zee gun Turnover and dive for home collecting 3 holes in the low right wing and 2 in the rudder as I speed away and RTB. Esc lost 1 Spad with pilot KIA + 4 damaged but claimed 3 e/a destroyed. ( 2 went to Top Cover 1 went to 2 Section )

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/10/18 08:10 PM

Canuck, great story. Hopefully one of those days Collin will be able to bring his machine back to the ‘drome.
Carrick, good action shots.
MFair, what do you mean out of date Pfalz? Aldi is still waiting for his shiny new model.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/11/18 03:19 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Esc 38.


Replacements came in after supper so looks like something is brewing. I might as well have fun so slipped into the Village Dance Hall with a couple of wing mates to party.

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancer-movie-stars-kim-novac-xThtaj56fTTYDIIaAw/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/11/18 03:53 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
3 Victory's


Feb 11,1918.

We are back into Zee Frying Pan. The Esc put up all 12 pilots led by Captainie Madon for an Aerodrome attack. It was fun if not for the bullets and cannon fire. I made 2 passes then went home as Zee Englanders say " Not my Cup of Tea " The Esc reported 1 a/c missing from the Top Cover flight of 6 Spads

Attached picture CFS3 2018-02-10 12-16-02-77.jpg
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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/12/18 05:25 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
3 Victory's

Feb 12, 1918.

We were up covering Air Fields today. Spotted some dots high in the distance Maybe Zee Bosche No contact.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/13/18 04:15 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
3 Victory's


Feb 13, 1918.

Got Slugged today ! Captainie Madon led our Vee of 3 a/c onto the rear of a 6 a/c enemy flight. A perfect set up, The Cpt took one and his wingman took one and down towards the deck they went in combat. Leaving 4 e/a for me, I slid in behind them in a blind spot. I was within 150-100 yads when Tac- ka Tac- ka , , tac-ka. Looking behind me, 2 Black Tailed e/a were firing. ( Top Cover ? the 2 my wingmates engaged ? Maybe 2 that we never saw and were seperated from the e/a flight ? ) Diving was my only hope, but as I dove a hail of bullets got my machine. I took a slug in the leg the rest made holes in my a/c, but I got away and landed next to a balloon encampment. The medics said 7 days in the hospital.

Attached picture CFS3 2018-02-12 10-05-32-35.jpg
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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/18 12:33 AM

Carrick, another close call Bud! Be careful!

Herman Heinze
Aertryke Airfield
February, 1917

Herman has only had one combat in 4 missions. Mostly line patrols to support the troops. One his second mission his flight dove on 3 RE's. He ended up in the middle of the three in a dive and got riddled with bullets. Coming back around he closed in on one as the others were taking care of the other 2. He sent it down smoking on our side of the lines. After raising his fist in the air to celebrate his 1st victory his engine started to miss and sounded like the clatter wheels of hell. He quickly found a road and made an emergency landing as his engine died.

Back at base, Digalo told him "Your attack was very brave, but stupid." Turning away he said, "You have a bit of the Cobra in you Heinze. I will have to keep an eye on you!"
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/18 12:48 AM

Ian Ingle
Furnes
1RNAS

Feb. 11, 1918
My DII was confirmed last night. 1st victory. Today I lead 3 planes on a patrol of our lines near Menen. I spotted 2 observation types trying to sneak over the lines at our altitude and changed course to intercept. My guns jammed on the 1st burst. What luck. As I tried to clear my guns all I could do was watch Davies and Dallas have all the fun. I tried and tried but could not clear the jam, cussing at my luck of having to watch the other 2 take both machines down, I was soon shaken out of my doldrums with tracers flying by me. 3 Halbs had joined in and it looked like I was the prize! I went totally defensive and finally cleared my gun. I was soon on the tail of one but he would not go down. He was making for Houburdin and as I pulled up to let him go Dallas zoomed in and finished him off with 1 burst. Turning for home I found myself nose to nose with another Halb. We went round and round and boy howdy could he fly! After about 5 minuets I finally got in a telling burst and he went nose down and crashed by the field. I made my way home and filed my claim. 1 Halb over Houburdin. Tan color with black "H" on side of fuselage. No witness. later that night intel confirmed that Gotthard Sachsenberg whose plane has the same markings was shot down over Houburdin. I was awarded my second victory. Dallas and Davies both claimed one which I confirmed. It had been a good day.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/18 01:54 AM

Carrick, I don't care about your leg. All I want to know is what nurse did you get?
MFair, congrats on the confirmed kill, and too bad about that bloody gun jam. From now on you have to load your own ammo.

Due to JJJ65's wonderful new ME addition my French pilot Adjutant Gaston Yount is no more. A bunch of Albatrosen pounced on the flight as they were taking off. Two of them went after Gaston and peppered his sorry behind. He tried to dodge, but that made it even worse. He stalled at low altitude and ploughed the nearby field. R.I.P.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture DID.jpg
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/18 06:42 AM

Sorry for Gaston, RIP.
(But this addition to ME was on your wish, Fullofit, do you remember? wink ).
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/18 10:28 AM

And I thank you for it, Triple-J. Makes the life of a pilot dangerous right from the start. Now I have to learn to survive these attacks.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/14/18 10:56 AM

Ouch! Such a promising young man. Sorry for the loss Fullofit. Be careful.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/18 02:07 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38

Hospital #8
Row 2, Bed 7
3rd Floor. East wing
Rouen, France.

Feb 14, 1918.

Finally got here after a terrible truck ride from Clearing station operated by the 117th Sanitary Train of the 42nd Division. We are a mix lot here both French and Brit's. My day Nurse seems to be a perky sort so the stay might not be bad.

Attached picture 00273923nurse II.jpg
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/18 02:53 AM

eek
I want Carrick to stay in that hospital for the rest of the war!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/18 07:28 PM

lol u r funny
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/15/18 07:31 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38

Hospital #8
Row 2, Bed 7
3rd Floor. East wing
Rouen, France.

Feb 15, 1918.


My therapist has arrived, this therapy doesn't look good.

https://giphy.com/gifs/wwe-wrestling-3oFzmpTTfofGroPw40/fullscreen




Afterwards, I went down to complain, but the receptionist said that there is a War on so Buck Up.



Attached picture th nina.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/17/18 08:13 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38

Hospital #8
Row 2, Bed 7
3rd Floor. East wing
Rouen, France.


Feb 17, 1918.
Been walking around good enough to join the Brit 's for a walk in the park next to the Hospital



https://youtu.be/mPBRzyxBV30
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/19/18 02:46 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38

Hospital #8
Row 2, Bed 7
3rd Floor. East wing
Rouen, France.

Feb 18, 1918.

Oh no , my night nurses just came on and they always want to play games.


https://giphy.com/gifs/film-jean-rollin-lips-of-blood-pOJ9uKJ8CySYg/fullscreen
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/18 11:35 AM

Carrick, I was going to suggest you find a way to stay till the end of the war but after seeing your night nurse maybe you should get back to the front as soon as possible.

I have been catching up on my flying and will update my pilots. Hopefully today.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/18 05:27 PM

Here's the latest status report. My goodness, I leave you guys alone for just a little while and everybody starts dropping like flies. I guess I need to keep a tighter rein on you guys. biggrin

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/18 06:37 PM

Life and work are getting in the way of my flying lately (inconsiderate really), but here is the latest from 62 Sqn's resident NCO pilot:

Sgt Collin Sitwell
62 Sqn
7 - 19 Feb 1918

The excitement of the first several adventures over the front have now settled into a fairly dull routine. Convinced we were using up our bank of luck gallivanting about the skies with our minimal experience, Maj Smith ordered us to stick to the original plan of practice flights behind the lines.

In one brief moment of excitement, Harry and I got hopelessly lost in a cloud bank on 7 Feb and ended up completely separated from the flight. After about 20 minutes of flying, we spotted specks on the horizon, which turned out to be a pair of Rumplers photographing our lines. I was unable to spot an escort, so we manoeuvred into a position off the port flank and dove in gun blazing. I saw tracers hit the engine and then was blinded by a large explosion. When my vision returned, the burning remains of the Hun was on a direct line into the ground.

Upon return to the airfield, we recorded our claim with Lt Bramwell-Davis, not expecting it to be made official due to a lack of witnesses. Lt Bramwell-Davis is a fine chap however and spent the better part of an hour phoning around on our behalf, fishing for someone who may have seen the dramatic conclusion to the battle. He made contact with an Artillery Battery who had witnessed the show and were more than happy to support our claim. This now made Harry and I the Sqns leading aces with our 2 confirmed victories. There were drinks aplenty at the mess that night, although the good Major did ensure he took me aside to warn me about "getting lost" in the future.

In sadder news, the Sqn suffered it's first loss on 14 Feb [1] when Lt Collis lost control on takeoff and smashed heavily into the ground. Both he and his observer 2nd Lt Miller survived, but were quite badly injured and it will be some time before they return to the Sqn.

A rumour is now circling that Richthofin's Circus has now entered the area and that a big push is coming from the Hun's. Nothing official has come out but it is expected that we will be moving closer to the lines in the coming days.

[1] Despite the relative inexperience of the flyers in 62 Sqn, it was the only flying accident resulting in injury that the Sqn endured before the true start of offensive patrols in early March.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/20/18 11:31 PM

Thanks Banjoman. Please, no handholding.
DC, good story. Like the little bits of history interwoven in there.

21 October, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

It is a cloudy, dreary and dank day and it’s been a whole week since Berthold had been wounded in a fight east of Ypres with SE 5s and Brisfits. The British bullets shattered a bone in his right arm. He was able to land at Harlebeke despite of the half-severed ailerons and heavy bleeding. The doctor was operating all night. He has been now transferred to Berlin for recuperation. Turck took over C.O. duties but is struggling.
Aldi was sitting in his new Pfalz D.IIIa - the only example, along with his wingman’s in the entire Staffel. He didn’t like to be the guinea pig for this kind of experiment. He already found out that the Pfalz is slower than the Albatros, but it is sturdier in a dive. This fact will come in handy when chasing the enemy down to the deck, or more likely trying to get away from one. It also seems to have a better roll rate, but at the same time is more unstable. He nearly went into a spin the first few times he attempted to bank. Aldi was still undecided about this new plane and its performance.
Today’s mission was intercept. Boys in the trenches called in. A flight of enemy planes coming this way. Kette Zwei was scrambled immediately and begun to circle near Menen aerodrome, hoping to catch the enemy on the way back. The plan worked. 3 Camels appeared from the clouds above and the furball commenced. Aldi latched to the back of one of the intruders, but soon found out he was being chased by the Camel instead. His Pfalz was no match for Camel’s turn rate, but not everything was lost. With a kick of the rudder and a flick of his control stick he was up side down and diving. The Camel followed but in his zeal overshot and now became target practice for the German. The Camel driver once again tried to regain his position behind the Pfalz, but there was too much damage inflicted and Aldi easily stayed behind the crippled Englander. Few more bursts and the propeller stopped turning. The enemy scout crashed behind the lines, just NW of Menen and Auffarth, who witnessed the battle was able to confirm the kill. It was Aldi’s first Luftsieg in the new machine. Perhaps he can wring more performance out of this new biplane yet.
[Linked Image]

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/18 12:33 AM

Fullofit and DC, great reading gents! Happy to see you are both still above ground.

Ian Ingle
1RNAS
Oct 16, 1917

Ingle ate a quick lunch. The afternoon patrol would be on soon. He had just had the most exciting fight of his life on the morning patrol over Menes. Leading his flight of 5 he dove on 5 V strutters south of Menes. The turning and twisting began. A fleeting shot here, another there, dodging mid air collisions. It was all there. Then, all of a sudden another Jasta shows up. Next thing he knows he has 4 on him. Round and round. He could out turn them but with so many, it was a defensive fight. He finally got a good burst on one and it exploded in mid air. He saw his opening and climbed out west. The other Albatros machines had had enough and did not follow. Alone, he flew back to base. They had lost two planes but claimed 5.

At 1400 hours he was leading another flight over the same area. After a scrap with 3 Albatros machines where Ingle had sent one down smoking heavily, he and 2 of his flight formed up and continued the patrol. 10 miles south of Menen they were attacked by 3 Phalz. He and his mates were getting the best of them when more Phalz machines, these with yellow noses, joined the fray. The tables had turned again. It was the same as the morning. As fast as it started, it was over. Low on ammo, Ingle decided to call it a day and started climbing out for home. To the south and a little below he saw black puffs a few miles off. “One of my flight.†He thought. Veering in that direction to have company back across the lines he saw that his mate was being chased by 2 Phalz. Maybe Ingles machine was damaged in the fight, maybe he dove a little to hard. He did not know. He heard a load crack and the Triplane veered down and sharp to starboard. He could not recover. He was buried with full military honours by those he had just tried to kill.

RIP Ian Ingle
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/18 01:13 AM

Oh MFair, that is the best way to go - to the rescue of a wingman in need. Sorry to hear about Ian. RIP. Great battle report.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/18 03:19 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38

Hospital #8
Row 2, Bed 7
3rd Floor. East wing
Rouen, France.


Feb 21, 1918.

Last Day here then 1 day in Paris and back to the front.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/18 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38

Hospital #8
Row 2, Bed 7
3rd Floor. East wing
Rouen, France.


Feb 21, 1918.

Last Day here then 1 day in Paris and back to the front.


Carrick I recommend a couple of Cognac at the Paris Cafe for Kefir, before that trip back to the front

Pais Cafe 1917
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/18 03:49 PM

DC, nice historical touch, Fullofit Aldi is doing well I see.MFair, a toast to your pilot gone west Sir!.
Carrick, Kefir should take it careful for a time.

Great reads gentlemen.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/18 05:02 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38

Hospital #8
Row 2, Bed 7
3rd Floor. East wing
Rouen, France.

Ah yes, Zee Cognac for the Trip. I talked to the Doc and the ok was given.


https://giphy.com/gifs/general-hospital-doctorsnurses-3o6fJ8yXCbNt8DOSDm/fullscreen

But as we talked there was an incident in the office.

https://giphy.com/gifs/clue-french-maid-collen-camp-T8TptkqV5hZSEI5LAU/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/21/18 11:30 PM

21 Oct 1917 @ 08h02 Loos Junction Railyard attack

Godfrey awoke to a dark overcast day with low dense cloud cover and a chilling dampness in the air. The month had seen it’s fair share of rain and it was beginning to affect his spirit. He thought about those poor souls fighting through that incessant rain and mud at the front and the thought in a queer way made him thankful that he was in the RFC and it sufficed to rouse him out of the doldrums. Quickly dressing in his flight suit and fug boots, he headed to the mess for a quick tea and biscuits before attending the mornings briefing. He knew it was going to be a busy week and there would be little time for play and carousing.

At briefing the pilots were advised that the Loos Junction was a vital target. It was felt by HQ that Loos was a direct supply line for troops and munitions making their way to the Ypres front. 60 Squadron was only one of many that would be attacking rail yards up and down the line to disrupt Hun supply capabilities.
The British 5th Army planned an attack to capture Poelcappelle and to close up to the Houthulst Forest, in concert with the French XXXVI Corp of the First Army on the 22nd. The intent was to keep pressure on the German line and prevent them from transferring troops from Flanders against the French who would be attempting to take Malmaison on the Aisne at the Chemin des Dames.
The action, it was hoped, would also prevent German redeployment in the Passchendaele area before the Canadian attack due on the 26th.

Now that the squadron had replaced its N23’s with S.E.5a’s, it was felt that they finally had a reasonably good platform for some effective bombing and strafing attacks, and it was fair compensation for all the benefits they had lost when they moved from Filescamp Farm to Ste-Marie-Cappel.

By the time the briefing ended everyone understood the significance of the mission at hand. “B†flight composed of seven aircraft would make the first run on the railyard and return to base with their results at which point, if necessary, “A†flight would make a second run. If “B†flight by chance had completed the task, “A†flight would be reassigned to another railyard along the front.

“B†flight formed up just north of the field over Droglandt airfield at 08h10, and having attained an altitude of 3400 ft just below the prevailing cloud cover, they set out for the front. 08h21 found them making good time. Still cruising at 3400 ft, they crossed over Foret Imperiale. They crossed over the Lyse river at 08h23, still holding at 3400 ft below the cloud cover, and by 08h30 they crossed the lines heading towards the north end of Lens.

It wasn’t long before they were able to make out Loos railyard and the Hun had been generous in the lack of archie they had sent up. Godfrey signaled the commencement of the attack and held back himself to assess the damage and keep a watchful eye for any interlopers. None came and the damage done on the first bombing run was ample. Godfrey now took his turn and loosed his cooper bombs but with less than satisfactory results. He made a mental note to be prepared for some titillating comments from his flight when he got back to base. Climbing out Godfrey signaled for the strafing runs to begin and they went back down to finish off their attack. Godfrey was much more diligent with his run and managed to set the locomotive on fire. Pulling up from the pass, Godfrey continued to climb signaling for a reformation and the boys then headed back to base. On the return flight, Godfrey just could not pass up a fat sausage directly in his path, and commenced to set it ablaze. The lack of enemy scouts in the skies during this whole affair was notable in their absence.

Back at Ste-Marie-Cappel the reports were put in on a successful attack with only two S.E.5aâ€s sustaining some damage. Godfrey’s would require one day to set right and Rutherford, 2 days.


Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/22/18 03:17 AM

Robert, always enjoy your reports. They’re very precise. Watching the video it looks like you’re releasing your eggs too high and you need to aim ahead of where you want the bombs to land. Now that you have a mount capable of carrying bombs, you’ll get plenty of practice, I expect.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/22/18 05:26 AM

nice flying Mr. Wiggins
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/22/18 07:51 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38

Room 17
Hotel de Chase Fem Fem


Feb 22, 1918

Ah , Paris I took the subway to the dinner club
https://giphy.com/gifs/subway-bad-days-3osBL2NQqUt6x1eTUk/fullscreen
then onto the dance halls.

https://youtu.be/gUBwM6WRxCU

Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/22/18 10:12 PM

Thanks for the comments gentlemen, it is always appreciated.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/22/18 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38

Room 17
Hotel de Chase Fem Fem


Feb 22, 1918

Ah , Paris I took the subway to the dinner club
https://giphy.com/gifs/subway-bad-days-3osBL2NQqUt6x1eTUk/fullscreen
then onto the dance halls.

https://youtu.be/gUBwM6WRxCU



WOW!!, give a whole new interpretation to the term "Bailing out", doesn't it?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/22/18 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
...snip...
then onto the dance halls.

https://youtu.be/gUBwM6WRxCU


These army boots are so historically inaccurate... nope
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/23/18 06:50 PM

Mr Wiggins : LOL

Fullofit: Sorry, I didn't notice the Boots I do endeavor to persevere in historical accuracy .
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/23/18 07:07 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
4 Victory's


Feb 23, 1918.

Mostly new faces here at the Esc except for the C.O. and Admin types. Dawn Patrol was canx due to rain, but we got off in the afternoon. Captainie Madon led us into a flight of Rumplers then their escort came down a mix lot of Albatross and some machines with 3 wings. I picked up 2 of them so ran ahead then turned to attack, Repeat, Repeat. Then it was they who broke away then re-attacked, Repeat. I saw the Albatross spin away and became lost to sight., but the 3 wing stayed in there until we came over ground fire. The e/a broke and headed home and I glued myself to his tail. I crept up in his blind spot to 96 yards then opened up getting hits . He turned and I repeated more hits then he just spun into N.M.L. The PBI found the wreckage. The Intell people thinks it was an Ace and He was with Jasta 13 ?


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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/18 03:20 AM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Sorry, I didn't notice the Boots I do endeavor to persevere in historical accuracy .

Carrick, we'll call it wardrobe malfunction. wink
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/18 02:00 PM

.

MFair, sorry to learn of your recent losses, horrible way for Godfrey to go. RIP Geoffrey and Ian, two more members of the Choir Invisible. So how is Herman fairing? Better than the other two I hope. And apologies for my comment a week or so ago indicating you were not around here regularly, I owe you several rounds for that one.

Dark_Canuck, I’m loving the historical backstory for your Collin in addition to his regular reports – great stuff. And to your get-together with George, that must have been a most enjoyable meeting. It would be great if we all could make it to the WWI fly-in at Dayton this year.

Carrick, Kefir continues to survive I see, despite his most recent wounds. Tough fellow, though I think he’s doing it intentionally just to get in visits with the nurses, and oh that day nurse! But to his other attendants whilst in hospital, are you sure those weren’t actually due to effects of the morphine? Hope his luck holds now that he is back at the front.

Fullofit, condolences to you as well on the demise of Gaston. Not really a fair fight when you get bounced just as you’re taking off. To Aldi, it doesn’t sound like he is all that impressed with his new mount. It may grow on him though as he spens time in it and has it trimmed more to his liking.

Banjoman, thank you for the most recent chart, much appreciated.

Robert, Albert’s latest adventure was an excellent read. And the video really highlighted that ground attack and sausage roast. Super stuff!

It was most enjoyable catching up with everyone’s stories this morning. Thanks as always for sharing folks!

.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/18 07:10 PM

Full of it, you are correct, can’t leave a mate in a lurch.

Robert, nice video and story as always.

Carrillo, taking down a DRl with a spad? Good on you mate!

Lou, no need for apologies. Herman is alive but spending a little time in the hospital thanks to a crack shot observer in a Brisfit. By the way I will take the two rounds.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/24/18 07:44 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
4 Victory's


Feb 24, 1918.

Up on Patrol and tangled with a Flight of Vee Strut's @ Section's 4 a/c was assigned to Escort a photo recon Sopwith on the enemy side near Troop Camps. All the going end U could see e/a flights high and low ,left and right. After getting the recon back across our lines I broke off and circled around till a flight of Vee Strutts came by under me. Wing over dive shoot ,zoom, reverse and shoot again, Repeat. All kinds of targets, I was getting a few hits then the closest e/a spun away. I was down to 45 % Fuel, On the enemy side of the Front and had shot off over 311 rounds of ammo so RTB.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/25/18 03:55 PM

28 October, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

We were on a balloon defence mission near Menen. While circling above the gasbag, 3 Nieuport 27s showed up high up and commenced their attack. All we could do, to avoid being pounced from behind, was to face them head on. We scattered like a flock of seagulls when a dog runs up to them. Despite my best attempts to lose them, I picked up two, while the third one was lost somewhere in the clouds. I don’t know where it’d gone to. My hands were full with these two behind me to worry about that third one. All I could do was to spiral down before getting shredded to pieces. The ground was coming at me fast and the creaks in the wings of my machine were getting more ominous, the maneuvers more desperate. Everything became darker. We were now under the cloud layer. Then, one of the attackers broke off his pursuit. It was Dingel, who finally got on his tail and started to chew it away. The burning wreck of the Nieuport went by. My wingman was also following us and gaining on my remaining pursuer. Then it happened, a sick sound of wood and metal crashing into each other. Everything happened in an instant, yet looked like it was happening in slow motion, with me able to only catch parts of the terrible show happening behind me as the mid-air wreck came into view and disappeared again behind me, as my machine was just coming out of the spiralling dive. I watched in terror as the two crates, fused together in some places and dismembered in others, came crashing down on my port side. The poor lad was pulled alive from the wreckage and lived through the night. His funeral will be tomorrow.
I looked around to get my bearings. We were now over the front, North of Menen. My men were forming up, when out of nowhere the third Nieuport came screaming down past us intent on reaching the lines first. We gave chase taking potshots all the way. Finally, the hits were making an impact and the enemy scout slowed down and with a final volley I was able to shot him down west of Passchendaele. Both Runge and Strähle witnessed the kill and were able to confirm. We landed shortly thereafter at the closest airfield. Everyone was drained of strength, but happy to have vanquished our foe.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/25/18 07:52 PM

Nice Pics.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/25/18 07:55 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
4 Victory's


Feb 25, 1918.

The Esc dispatched 7 machines to take out a Rail Yard Jct. A little damage was done by our machine guns, but not much. We lost 2 Spads that day somewhere over on the enemy side of the lines.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/26/18 02:29 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
4 Victory's

Feb 26, 1918

Even with both Flight Captainie's Flying today , we only had 5 a/c up for Patrol. No contact with Zee enemy.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/26/18 11:03 PM

I've been rushed to catch up on all the marvellous adventures of the DiD campaigners and will struggle to remember everything here in detail, so a general thank you for your stories to Dark Canuck, Carrick, Fullofit, MFair, and Robert. Hope I didn't miss anyone! Thanks again to Banjoman and Lou for making this campaign so gripping with your continuing contributions and encouragement.

This installment should bring me to the end of Corderoy's leave. I'm dying to get back into the air. Watch the "OT-visit to the Front" thread for more pictures. I've finished Waterloo and will start on Verdun, the airfields, the Somme, Ypres and Passchedaele, and then Bruges and Brussels. A little bit every day or two...

Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 34: 9-22 October 1917

9 October 1917 – London


Stepping onto the platform in Victoria Station was like alighting from a ship in some exotic and bustling port – a return to a home that was no longer quite home. Small kiosks on the platform advertised currency exchange stations for officers or other ranks, and I took advantage of one of them to exchange my little pile of francs for a fistful of Bank of England notes.

Across the platform a hospital train disgorged its sorry cargo of shattered bodies, and teams of stretcher-bearers carried the poor fellows through the main archway to waiting ambulances. Around me the men disgorging from the Dover train stared wide-eye and uncomprehendingly at women in fine dresses who searched the crowd, all the while clutching mugs of tea proffered by one of the YMCA canteens on the platform. From somewhere an NCO bellowed incomprehensible instructions to them.

I found a Cox and Co. agency in the station and cashed a cheque to add to my little bundle, and then Caldwell and I made our way to a station bar for a British beer and a pie and chips. The beer was somewhat weaker than I remembered, but tasted of home. Caldwell was bound for the Cavendish Hotel, while I took my leave and hailed a cab for my father’s flat in Fitzrovia.

The first two hours were spent luxuriating in a warm bath with one of my father’s pipes and a copy of Punch. From there it was off to dinner in Piccadilly and a couple of hours simply wandering the streets of the city.

10 October 1917 – London

Met Caldwell at the Savoy bar and went to the shows – we were unable to get tickets for Chu Chin Chow and went instead to see The Maid of the Mountains at Daly’s [1]. After the show I went back to the Cavendish on Jermyn Street with Caldwell, for there was a near-perpetual party there hosted by the charming proprietress of the place, who blended a fondness for RFC pilots with the acquaintance of a great many attractive young socialites. The champagne flowed and the music and dancing carried on into the early hours. [2]

Tomorrow I shall make my way homewards, as I shall have to be back here soon enough.

[Linked Image]
The Cavendish Hotel today

11 October 1917 – South Moreton

Arrived here in time for dinner. Uncle Tom joined us, Billy was home from Wellington, and Mummy and Dad were splendid. Dad is proud as a peacock about my getting the DSO and my recent run of luck in the air. He is done his staff job in London and is being given command of a training establishment in Reading. He exhausts me with his questions about the air war, but I must measure my responses, for Mummy listens in and is terrified for Reg, who is at Netheravon. I chatted with Dad about pulling strings to have Reg posted to Egypt instead of France.

13 October 1917

Have spent two wonderful days working the sheep farm with Uncle Tom. The rams were out tupping the ewes, which is a wonderful occupation. I think if I am a very good lad I should come back as a ram.

15 October 1917

Borrowed Dad’s car and drove up to Oxford to deliver Scarborough’s personal things to his wife. The address took some finding, and it turned out to be a lovely little stone cottage in nearby Wheatley. His wife was a lovely girl named Catherine. When I arrived she was all in black, as was Scarborough’s mother who had come from Ireland. Given Scarborough’s pristine virtue, I was somewhat surprised to learn that he and Catherine we not in fact husband and wife! They had eloped, it seems, but hadn’t time to get married before he shipped for France. The chap’s mother seems to have taken it all in good grace. And I thought the Irish were wedded to their rosaries!

I stayed for tea and scones, and despite the occasion starting out mournfully we were all laughing by the time I had to go. Scarborough’s mum even teased Catherine that she might do worse than to stay with the RFC types, and a major at that.

16 October 1917

I was awakened this morning by Mummy’s screams downstairs. A cyclist had arrived with a telegram and she was sure that my brother Reg had killed himself. My father ripped it open before realising that it was addressed to me. It read simply:

REPORT COL VICKERS RFC GENERAL HQ NLT 17 OCT 1917 STOP IMPORTANT NEWS STOP.

17 October 1917 -- London

I borrowed the Vauxhall again and had and enjoyable ride into the city, although I must confess to some nerves, wondering about the Important News.

I was made to wait in a hallway for nearly forty-five minutes before being ushered in to meet an elderly but very gracious colonel who began, curiously, by stating that it was an honour to meet me. He sent for tea and began by saying he assumed I knew what this was all about, but did I know how much my life would change?

“With respect, sir,†I interrupted at last. “I have no bloody idea what you’re talking about.â€

The colonel cocked his head. “You do realise, Major, that you have been recommended for a decoration.â€

“I’m aware that I’m to receive the DSO at the Palace on Saturday, and Major Patrick did say I’d been recommended for another decoration of sorts.â€

The colonel now offered me a cigarette, and a young corporal arrived with tea. It was a couple of minutes before he responded. “Then let me clarify things. The King will indeed be conferring the DSO on you, but I’m afraid that will happen only after he pins on the Victoria Cross.â€

My tea cup was barely off the saucer and I put it back down immediately, having splashed the tea across the colonel’s desk. “Good God!†I said. “What the hell for?â€

Colonel Vickers read the citation, but little sunk in. The thing was beyond comprehension. I’d certainly had a run of serious Hun-getting, and my 26 official victories was a good bag, but it was far from unprecedented. Even Ball didn’t get the VC until after he was dead, and he’d bagged nearly fifty. It made no sense to me. I protested that the VC was not a good attendance medal.

But apparently it had been done. I was to be briefed on protocol and the responsibilities of a VC by a general officer whose name I immediately forgot, and I was then ordered to sit for an official portrait by a Hungarian fellow named Laslo [3], an unpleasant task that was to take up much of the next two days.
I then was informed that my orders had been to assume command of No. 16 Squadron, a two-seater unit. But in consideration of my newfound status, this was being reviewed. If needed, I was to report to 1 AD in St-Omer and my orders would follow.

When I finally escaped the headquarters, I telephoned my mother and father with the news. They agreed to make their own way to the city, sans automobile, and meet me at the flat on Friday afternoon. Dad was overjoyed and insisted that I accept a gift of cash with which to celebrate, and that he would call Coutts & Co. to make the arrangements. I protested enough to be decent but not enough to be effective. I then made my way to the Cavendish to find Caldwell.

Caldwell, alas, had met a young woman and headed for Devon or somewhere, so I contented myself with drinking Miss Lewis’s champagne. She arranged for the dry cleaning of my best uniform, and I settled in nicely.

20 October 1917

The investiture was nerve-wracking and boring at the same time. There were several VCs, including two splendid fellows from the Kings Own Scottish Borderers [4]. I listened to their citations for actions during the Ypres push in August and felt rather like the schoolboy who wins the best handwriting prize after it is announced that two of his chums have won open scholarships to Oxford.

Dinner with the family at Rules followed, and we entertained friends of the family in Fitzovia.

22 October 1917 -- en route to France

I left London this morning, bound for Dover and France. The leave felt as though it had been truncated by the events of the past few days, with nearly none of the blissfully idle time I craved. The purple ribbon did, however, work wonders in ensuring seating on a crowded train.

Notes:

[1] The Maid of the Mountains was a musical comedy which premiered in London on 10 February 1917 and ran for 1352 performances, a record outdone by Chu Chin Chow’s 2238 performances.

[2] Rosa Lewis, owner of the Cavendish Hotel at Jermyn and Duke Streets, was a warm friend to the RFC. Escoffier taught her to cook and she soon became known as the “Queen of Cooks,†her skills praised by Edward VII (with whom she might have had a relationship. Sholto Douglas refers to her warmly in his Years of Combat, and her Wikipedia entry is worth a read. She was the inspiration for the BBC drama "The Duchess of Duke Street."

[Linked Image]
Rosa Lewis, the Queen of Cooks, aka "The Duchess of Duke Street"

[3] The resulting portrait of Corderoy is still held in the family. The artist was Philip Alexius de László. De László studied in Budapest, Paris and Munich before receiving his first significant commission from the Bulgarian royal family in 1894. In 1907 he settled in London, embarking on a successful and prolific career painting royalty and members of the aristocracy. His success led to his being known as the 'Who's Who Painter'. He was naturalized as a British subject in 1914.

[4] This would have been CSM J Skinner and CQMS W. Grimbaldeston, both of whom earned their VC at Wijdendrift in August.


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/18 01:53 AM

Raine

This report is wonderful. Nice to see Corderoy's adventures continue.

Did you venture inside the Cavendish?

Can hardly wait for your pics of the western front.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/18 02:28 AM

Robert, didn't get to the Cavendish. On my one full day in the city I took my grandson to see the T-Rex at the Natural History Museum, after which my daughter and I enjoyed a great lunch at the Queen's Arms on Queens Gate Mews nearby. Washed it down with a Doom Bar, a great Cornish beer. Okay, I had two!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/18 02:40 AM

Agree with Robert. Excellent story. Closed some outstanding business as well. Congrats on VC, oh and DSO. Can’t wait to see where Corderoy is going to get posted. Surely not No. 16.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/18 03:50 PM

I agree a very nice read
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/27/18 04:08 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF
Verdun, France.
4 Victory's


Feb 27, 1918.

Mon Dieu ! Zee Bosche had us pinned, in a wild Melee over their Airfields near Rethel. The Esc 's 7 a/c had merged with 2 flights of Vee Strutts I had an eyeful of Black tailed and White tailed machines that morning. I did the best I could after they fell on us ( 2 Section 4 a/c ) even went over to help 1st Section after I cleared my tail, but no good. I was shot up so had to laisser for Home. I was shook up upon landing, I was told that had we Lost 2 more a/c + all were damaged for a few damaged Huns. The C.O. gave me a 48 hour pass to settle my nerves

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/18 02:26 AM

Kefir de Lyon

The Captainie Cobare gave me an address # 7 Rue Lepic A Playhouse Theater where Lisette the Actress is performing She is the Talk of the Town and I might get to meet her if I stay by the Stage Door.

https://giphy.com/gifs/jean-harlow-movie-stars-3XxFa7OUSSUKoAacVZ/fullscreen
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/18 02:34 AM

Carrick;

Those are some fine screen caps you took. Fantastic cloud effects and composition of aircraft. Good Show mate!! I'm particularly fond of 5 and 7
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/18 10:33 AM

A bit late to the party, but amazing stuff Raine. Carrick, thanks for keeping this thread alive with your reports.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/18 03:29 PM

Hi all.

I luv this thread.


Mr. wiggins: I remember thinking that If I stop to get pics with all the e/a whizzin and flashing by, I would get t the Chop. However , Lack of common sense prevailed and I captured a few resuming after the pause button. My favorite pic was number 3.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/18 07:55 PM

Thanks for all the comments, fellows. It keeps one going!!! Carrick, I really loved those pictures and second what Robert said. I liked number two and the cloud effects in the last one.

Geoffrey is back in the war and finally has his squadron!

Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 35: 23-28 October 1917

23 October 1917 – Calais


Left the ship in the evening and found no arrangements for transport to St-Omer. Got the Embarkation Officer to let me use a telephone and called for a ride, and then made my way to the Café Fernand to have dinner and await my luxurious coach. True to form, a Crossley pulled up at ten after eight. The driver was a former London cabbie with a finely honed sense of humour, and we had a wonderful time getting lost together in the dark country lanes. I left him with a partly-consumed bottle of brandy as thanks.
At 1 A.D. the orderly room had no idea I was coming or why, and could offer me no accommodation other than a place on the floor in a hut with two freshly-minted second lieutenants just arrived in France. I was lucky enough to find the driver still outside and, after leaving a note for the OC depot saying where he could find me, I got my new friend to drive me to Ste-Marie-Cappel, where I presented myself in the 60 Squadron A Flight mess. By good luck, the evening was still in progress and Major Patrick was there, so after many welcomes and no little revelry, I found myself back in my old hut in what had been Caldwell’s bed.

24 October 1917 – Ste-Marie-Cappel

Multiple early morning phone calls to Depot, escalating from understanding to frustrated to bloody angry, still produced no one with the slightest clue that I was in France, or why, or where I was bound for. So at 9 o’clock I joined Soden’s flight (he had replaced me in B Flight), flying my old grid again, and we set off to shepherd some RE8s to photograph Hunnish endeavours along the Menen Road. A group of DVs attempted to intervene and I was able to get behind one with a black and white striped tail. My first burst must have hit the pilot, for it fell into a spin and crashed beside the enemy aerodrome just outside Menen. Soden confirmed the crash when we landed, so this one went into the books as my 27th official kill – a good welcome home!

[Linked Image]
"My first burst must have hit the pilot, for it fell into a spin..."

25 October 1917

Foul weather all morning and still no news from Depot. I think that if I am not wanted in France I have half a mind to return to England and help Uncle Thomas with the sheep until the War Office calls.

26 October 1917 – Ste-Marie-Cappel and Poperinghe

Took my old grid along with Chidlaw-Roberts to escort some 2 seaters over the lines up near the coast. Some Albatri attacked us and we had a brief but inconclusive scrap. I’d barely broken off when the engine quit on me and I glided westwards at an excruciatingly slow speed due to a westerly wind, eventually putting down in a field close to our aerodrome at Furnes.

By the time I’d returned to Ste-Marie-Cappel there was a message for me to report to the depot at once. It took a couple of hours before I was there, and when I arrived at the pilots’ pool I was directed to a major who took no notice of the fact I was of equal rank and wearing the ribbon of the VC, and began to dress me down for “galloping off†like a schoolboy when I was supposed to have proceeded directly upon my arrival to Poperinghe, where I now commanded 70 Squadron.

I listened to a couple of minutes of this, and then commented upon the obvious lack of communication between him and his staff, his complete lack of communication with me during my two and a half days at Ste-Marie-Cappel, my distain for his attitude, and so forth. When I had exhausted my more reasoned protests, I suggested that he commit a physically impossible and supremely narcissistic act, and then I left.

I hunted down the equipment officer who’d taken my deposit on the automobile he was selling and paid him the balance of £60. He took me to the MT sheds on Rue Therounne in the town, and there I was handed the keys to my nearly-new Standard “S†type – a tiny but sporty little thing. Here it was too that I learned that a VC makes it relatively easy to acquire government petrol. I threw my kit in the back and headed for Poperinghe.

The aerodrome at Poperinghe is sited in a wide, flat space of farmland a little ways northwest of the town of the same name, which is in turn not far from Ypres, which is in turn again not far from Darkest Hunland. The squadron had exchanged its Strutters for Camels in July. Many of its veterans had recently gone HE and I discovered that many of my flock were recently-arrived tyros. I should not be out of place, of course, as I had yet to lay hand on a Camel. I had heard they were fine machines in the hands of a good pilot, but good pilot is not a phrase that would attach easily to me. Much to my liking, however, were the two synchronised Vickers guns the machines mounted in their eponymous hump.

The first two hours was spent with the RO, Lieut. Gregg. I asked him to pull out for me the personnel records of all officers and senior NCOs and I spent some considerable time memorizing names and some pertinent details on each man, with Gregg drilling me. I then asked to meet the sergeants-major. The technical sergeant-major, Warrant Taylor, was on leave, but Sergeant-Major Pococke was about. The essential Guardsman, he was a pleasure to have on my side. We began, together with the RO, by taking a tour of the men’s messes and quarters, and I was glad to see most were in hard standings, with several more Nissens under construction. The hangars and shops were next, and I next me Lieut. Hardinge, the Armaments Officer, who impressed me greatly. I was less enamoured of the Equipment Officer, who smelled of whiskey. Perhaps inspired by General Trenchard, I actually uttered “Make a note of that, Gregg.â€

The flight commanders had all been either invalided home or posted to HE before my arrival, so I had a clean start. There were no Captains on the establishment, so I decided to test various men in command roles, and set the first three acting flight commanders as Quigley, Sigismund, and Gorringe. Quigley is a Canadian, mentioned in dispatches several times and sporting an MC. Sigismund is new, but seems keen. Gorringe is English, but had emigrated to Canada before the war. He flew as an observer and has only recently joined the squadron. It will likely be necessary to rotate duties until the best men show themselves.

Evening: Fly a brief familiarisation circuit on the Camel. The thing is as nimble and unstable as a butterfly. At one point I turn left, against the powerful pull of the rotary Le Clerget, and the machine falls out of the air into a spin. I think for several moments that I shall never recover, but am able to blip the engine and get the nose down in time. Return covered in sweat.

27 October 1917 – Poperinghe


A Flight is on standby when reports come in of enemy activity over the Menen Road. There is heavy action near Passchendaele and it is essential to deny the Hun use of the air in this sector. Against my better judgement I dash to my machine and pull on my flying kit. Sigismund leads and I take station alongside him.

We climb quickly over Ypres. I am first to spot the enemy – two DFWs over Zonnenbeke. I give one of them a good shot from behind and below, but soon the sky is too full of Camels, all going after the Huns without any form of discipline. There are lessons to be taught later. I break off to the left and pull ahead of the Huns. Turning in, I rake the nearest DFW from the side and below. It begins to smoke and then tumbles out of control. We lose sight in the ground haze, but later Wing informs me that the machine was seen to crash near the Tyne Cottage position. This is now number 28!

Am quite pleased with my Camel skills, so accompany Sigismund again in the afternoon. This time we are down to Arras, where we tangle with a large formation of Albatros scouts. At one point I have three of them on my tail and twice I manage in my funk to spin the Camel. I nip into a cloud and escape, landing at Etrun with more than 40 holes in my machine. There is much to learn.

[Linked Image]
"...landing at Etrun with more than 40 holes in my machine."


28 October 1917

Again join a patrol to take down a balloon near Langemarke. Drive down a DV in a mixed dogfight. The visibility in the Camel is not as good as in the SE5a. Koch, a Swiss-Canadian chap, touches wings with me in the scrap and we both think it’s all over, but our machines held together long enough to put down safely on the good side of the lines.

Parcel from Harrods arrives – one of the new “Sidcot†flying suits. I’d ordered it before leaving. Also a letter, forwarded from my parents. It is from Catherine Senechal, who until recently I’d thought was Catherine Scarborough, wife of the late Alan Scarborough of 60 Squadron. Very sweet letter, too. Thanks me for visiting and bringing her Alan’s things. She wants to go home, but her parents were very upset by her elopement, and even more upset that she and Scarborough did not marry. Wishes me luck and congratulates me on the VC. Asks about the King (very nice, very boring). She is joining the VAD and hopes to get to France. Says she will write again and signs the letter “Fondly, Catherine.†I say...


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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/18 08:57 PM

Raine, that is another fine read. I have no problem imagining I am reading a legit historical report. Just love your writing. Tnx.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 02/28/18 09:38 PM

Well now Raine, looks like you’ve made an impression. And I don’t mean Robert. Congrats on your very own squadron. That Camel will either make you an ace of aces, or will kill you on the spot. Hope you get to choose which one. Looking forward to that next letter from Cathy.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 02:55 AM

Well done Raine
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 03:06 AM

Kefir de Lyon
Paris

I missed Lisette leaving the Theater so followed over to the Embassy Dance. As the couples danced , I found her Dance Card was filled mostly by the Ami's and a few Generals.

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancing-jean-harlow-1luUeHWJ7DYcybUjEe/fullscreen

Oh well, went over to the Pom Pom club at 23 Lepic and had a relaxed dining experience.

https://youtu.be/lK0gYi1YEZ8
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 09:34 AM

Hello everyone. What is the current date for the early fliers?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Maeran
Hello everyone. What is the current date for the early fliers?

OMG it's Maeran!!!! It is 1 November 1917, I believe. Please enlist.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Maeran
Hello everyone. What is the current date for the early fliers?


Hi Maeran, long time no see!!

I have an excel spread sheet I use as a template for the DiD campaign. It has a sheet in it that gives all the conversions for the dates. If you would like a copy I can make it available to you. Here is a link to my dropbox for it:

click to download
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 04:34 PM

Kefir de Lyon
Sgt, Esc 38
La Melette AF DECEASED DONE IN OUT OF LUCK KIA SHOT DOWN ATE IT BIT THE BULLET. Hasta la Vista !
Verdun, France.
4 Victory's

March 1, 1918.

They got me. ! On escort and spotted a 5 a/c flight of e/a's below a perfect bounce so dove on them leaving the formation. It was going nicely and getting good hits when we went under 6 Albatross OAW's and they fell on me . Being Mister Slick , I went full power and dove gaining speed to get away when I dove into the Ground ! Too low , my focus was on the getting away . I never thought that I was that low till I hit the ground ,I kept going back to the 6 o'clock position looking behind me, Killing my pilot..

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 05:09 PM

Condolences Carrick! Kefir will be missed. Another empty chair to deal with! At least virtual pilots can be resurected and that is a plus!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 06:19 PM

30 Oct 1917 @ 08h02 Patrol to the lines east of Arras

The fire in the stove had gone out early in the morning. The evening before had been a rousing affair with the return of Corderoy and Godfrey just wasn’t in a state conducive to stoking the stove. He just pulled the blanket up over his head which seemed to suffice in keeping him warm. Godfrey awoke to a typical fall damp chill in the air. He checked his watch. It indicated 06h00. Peering out of his window, he noted some ground fog and a grey sky. The cold water in the basin quickly cleared his head and popped his eyes open. He hustled himself to get ready. Reaching for the clothes lying over the arm chair, He glanced left towards the wall and noted the the new sidcot suit that Corderoy had seen fit to bring him back from blighty. It would be welcomed this day and smell of the new suit filled his lungs as he encased himself in this new cocoon. Pulling on his fug boots, he grabbed his gloves and headed to the mess for some breakfast and a thermos of hot tea.

The fresh fallen leaves crunched under his feet and the musty earthy smell of fall pervaded his nostrils as he took deep breaths of the fresh air. His senses were coming around now and his mind was quickening to the tasks of the day ahead. There was a dull roar of voices in the mess and Godfrey upon seeing Corderoy added his to it. He strolled up to the tea decanter, and plopping his hand on Corderoy shoulder, announced “It’s a bloody fine suit, xxx and it will be much appreciated today.†With a gradual smirk forming in Godfrey’s mind, which quickly migrating to his mouth, he added. “Of course, if you have any trouble getting yours on over all those medals, I will be more than willing to take it off your hands!†Corderoy, half choking on his first gulp of tea, replied “Ungrateful son of a …†They both broke out into laughter and turning walked to the table for breakfast.

At briefing, the CO identified this mornings early mission would be to take a jaunt up to the lines east of Arras and look out for any Hun two seaters venturing over on our side of the lines. Forward positions had noted this happening recently and with the offensive on it was important to keep the Hun blind to activities and preparations taking place in the area.

Godfrey was to lead “B†flight composed of Askew on wing, Chidlaw-Roberts, Hamersley, and Young. “A†flight was lead by Jenkins, Crompton, Soden, and Pope.

The CO announced that the weather would be favorable with winds of 3 knots from the WNW, and dense cloud well over 10,000ft. There would be considerable traces of ground fog though which might hamper navigation at times.

Godfrey glanced at his watch just as the CO broke up the briefing. It was 08h00 on the nose. The flights took off and formed up just north of the field, attaining an altitude of 3100 ft. before setting out for the lines in a SE direction.
At 08h20 with “B†flight at 3200 ft. they were approaching the Lys river when They spotted two OP approaching from the east at an additional 1000 ft above. Godfrey decided it was worth investigating as to whether they were friendlies or Huns. He led a climbing chase and 10 minutes later was able to make out that they were Rumpler two-seaters on patrol. At 08h30 Godfrey and his flight were below the Huns tail and unnoticed. Singling out the trailing Hun, Godfrey took his bus up quickly and raked the Hun. Diving down and climbing back up he repeated the procedure and watched the upper right plane of the Rumpler break off. Askew gave chase and Godfrey turned his attention to the other Hun now, repeating the tactic but had to break off his fire as Hamersley cut in front of him. The Hun had obviously been hit well and began to dive down with Godfrey on his tail. The Hun leveled off and began a climb but Godfrey was quick to continue his attack and closing watched the Rumplers wings break off and the fuselage burst into fire, descending in a spiral. They were within a kilometre of Chocques airfield so confirmation would not be a problem this day.

The flight reformed and at that point Godfrey noted that Young was missing from the flight as was Chidlaw Roberts, but an unexpected guest had joined the flight. It was Conacher. He had just taken off from Chocques intent on returning to Ste-Marie-Cappel when he saw all the action and decided to join it.

At 08h50, flying at 3700 ft, they were on their return to base an just flying over Mont St. Eloi when they noted the shelling off in the direction of Arras. The rest of the return flight was quiet. They landed at Ste-Marie-Cappel, and put in their reports and claims.
Godfrey and Askew each claimed a Rumpler. The news soon came in that Chidlaw Roberts had been heavily damaged in the attack on the Rumplers, was forced down and landed just east of Chocques. His craft was a write-off but he was only lightly injured.
Young had also suffered a slight wound, was forced down near Chocques, and managed to extricate himself from his bus before it burst into flames. “A†flight had missed the action and returned to base undamaged.

The score was 2 for 2, but our pilots would be returning. That could not be said for the crew of the Rumplers. All in all, it had been a good day.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 08:09 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Jasta 8 Wassigny, Flanders.



March 1, 1918. Assigned to Kette Zwei and flown in formation for Orientation also assigned to a D-V unrated machine. Late in the day, I flew a Combat Patrol the other flight had found some Spads and lost 2 a/c. We circled around to help ,but the fight was over. RTB

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 08:19 PM

Maeran, good to see you still about. Look forward to your stories.

Carrick, a dirt dart for sure. I am sure you will saddle back up and be in the skies with a new pilot pronto.

Robert, nice vid and story as always. Keep them coming.

Herman Heinze
Jasta 7
Aertycke
Feb. 27, 1918

It had been a long two weeks in the hospital. On the 17th, Heinze and 4 others were flying ground support southwest of Ypres when a Brisfit attacked him from behind. He went one round with the Britisher and could not find his flight. He headed for the patrol area to catch them there. On the way he was ambushed by 2 more Bristit's. He was in a real fix now. Flying defensive he was just hanging on when a Albotros from another Jasta dove in to help. Heinze got on the tail of the second one and had pieces flying off of it with his guns when the observer got in a good burst which hit Heinze like a hammer in the left arm. Another burst put his engine out with cut fuel lines. He put down next to a balloon crew and was rushed to the hospital.

Today was his 1st time back up. He felt good. Another ground support mission near Ypres. All went well with no contact. Upon approaching the field for landing the flight hit a snow squall that was the worst Heinze had ever seen. They were lucky to get down alive.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 08:42 PM

Jerod Jackson
43 RFC
Auchel

Oct. 23, 1917
After a few flights around the area to familiarize himself with the front Jackson led a flight to patrol our fields near St. Omer. Seeing 2 specs above over St. Omer he led his flight in their direction. By their reaction he reckoned they were Huns. Being a few thousand feet above them it was a long climb northeast in pursuit. Skidmore signaled engine trouble at the start of the climb and dove out. After 10 minuets of chase they were in range when his other flight member got to close and Jackson saw a the observers tracers go straight into his Camel and it nosed over in a spin. Jackson attack the same plane and with 3 bursts his upper right wing collapsed and it went into a spin from 18,000 ft. He quickly switched his sights to the other and as he heard a round clang into his engine the DFWC went into a death spin over Proven airfield. He landed dead stick at Proven with two smoke columns in sight about a half mile off. His first two kills. Back at base both Skidmore and his wingman were reported killed. It was a bitter sweet day.

On the afternoon patrol they were to escort two strutters to bomb a supply depot. West of Douai they were pounced on by Albatri. It was fast and furious. He tangle with one, then drove one off the tail of a Strutter then another off of his flight mate. It was soon over and he headed back. Carlson claimed 1.

Oct. 27. A few patrols with no contact and bad weather grounded the squadron for 2 days. One of the two seaters was confirmed. A flight was called to intercept incoming aircraft northwest of Lens. What a day this would be! We spotted two DFWC's and all five of us dove in. Before Jackson could make a pass the two Huns were on fire and headed for their grave. Forming back up they were pounced on by 5 Phalz. Jackson and one Phalz went round and round before Jackson got a good burst on him and he spiraled down on the Hun side of the lines. Ground fire told him he was too low and he climbed to safety. Seeing no one he headed home. At 3000' crossing into friendly territory he saw an aircraft approaching. Another Phalz. He made quick work of him and saw him crash on our side of the trenches southwest of Bethune. Our flight claimed 5 planes with the loss of Benjamin Pierce.

On the afternoon patrol both A and B flight tangles with a flight of DV's with no loss or kills.

Oct. 28. Both of my Phalz claims were confirmed. One was a Hun ace of note, Eric Lowenhardt. Morning mission was balloon busting. We all missed with rockets and I took it down with incendiaries. It was Quickly confirmed.

Oct. 29. Railyard attack at Loos Junction. We really shot up the place. CO said "Well done."
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 09:18 PM

Carrick, a new man popped up pretty fast I see! Keep this one safe mate!

MFair, thanks. I see Jerod is being kept busy with no end of Huns in sight!. You Sir, are getting serious stick time I see. Nice concise report.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 09:28 PM

MFair, congratulations on your two victories with Jerod. Nice start! Are you flying Camels (I think at least that's what you have with 43)? If so, how are you finding the experience. I'm still getting used to the things.

Carrick, sorry to hear that another one bit the dust. Doesn't keep you down for long, anyway. Good luck with the new fellow.

Robert, deadeye shooting on those DFWs!!! Did you get credit for the first one too? It looks as though one of the other SEs may have poached your kill.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 09:37 PM

Hi Raine;

They were Rumplers mate, and the first one was finally taken out by Askew. Godfrey got the second one, a flamer disintegration.

Best Regards
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
They were Rumplers mate


Yes, quite. Good on you. Just testing you.
duh
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 10:31 PM

Robert, it was catch-up day. Rain today so caught up on my flying but mainly got caught up on my reports. I take notes so not all those missions were flown today.

Raine, I do like the Camel. Visibility is not that great but she is fine machine to my thinking.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/01/18 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Robert, it was catch-up day. Rain today so caught up on my flying but mainly got caught up on my reports. I take notes so not all those missions were flown today.

Raine, I do like the Camel. Visibility is not that great but she is fine machine to my thinking.


added note, In the past I always flew the Camel because I liked it's handling but that said, she is a dangerous beast and not only to the Huns, and yes, the visibility is poor. I always had a challenge keeping my quarry in plain view. Especially when dealing with an experienced adversary who liked to flit about making my life difficult. Lately I have become quite enamoured with the S.E.5, not because of it's looks, just because of it's great gunnery platform and visibility.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/18 12:23 AM

So many great stories.

End of month means it is time for the News of the World.

News for Intrepid Fliers - October:

October 2
The armoured cruiser HMS Drake was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-79 in Rathlin Sound.
The British Government ordered an embargo on trade with neutral nations Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden to prevent supplies reaching the Germans.
October 3
The US Congress passed the War Revenue Act which increased income taxes in order to raise more money for the war effort.
October 4
The Battle of Broodseinde was fought in Flanders at the east end of the Gheluvelt Plateau between the British and German armies. The battle was the most successful Allied attack of the Battle of Passchendaele.
October 5
The Peruvian Government in Lima voted to sever diplomatic relations with Germany.
October 6
US Major General John J. Pershing was promoted to General of the National Army of the United States.
October 7
In Montevideo Uruguay severed diplomatic relations with Germany.
October 8
Leon Trotsky became President of the Petrograd Soviet Presidium.
October 9
The third phase of the Ypres Offensive began with British and French troops taking Poelcapelle. The battle marked the end of a series of successful British attacks during September and early October.
October 11
German forces began offensive operations against the Baltic Islands.
October 12
The First Battle of Passchendaele took place in the Ypres Salient area of the Western Front, during the Third Battle of Ypres. The British launched their latest assaults near the village of Passchendaele but the attempted breakthrough to Passchendaele Ridge failed.
October 15
A French firing squad executed the Dutch-born dancer Mata Hari as a German spy at Vincennes outside of Paris.
October 16
The 10,000 ton British tanker San Nazario was torpedoed by German submarine U-53 whilst en route from Plymouth to Tampico.
October 17
British destroyers HMS Strongbow and HMS Mary Rose were attacked by German cruisers Brummer and Bremse in the North Sea whilst escorting a convoy of 12 merchant ships from Norway. The German cruisers went on to sink nine of the twelve ships in the convoy.
October 18
German forces captured Moon Island and Dago Island during their attack on the Baltic Islands.
October 19
A fleet of 11 German Zeppelins carried out an air raid over Southern and Central England. Three of the airships were shot down over France and Germany on their return trip.
Nils Eden replaced Carl Johan Gustaf Swartz as Prime Minister of Sweden.
October 21
A Turkish attack on the Arab stronghold at Petra was repelled.
October 23
An offensive operation on Chemin des Dames ridge was led by General Philippe Petain when French forces attacked the Germans at the town of Malmaison.
October 24
The Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo (also known as the Battle of Caporetto) began as Austro-German forces crossed the Isonzo River at Caporetto and launched another attack on Italian lines near the town of Kobarid.
October 25
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Boselli resigned.
October 26
A further attack during the Third Battle of Ypres, the Second Battle of Passchendaele took place in the Ypres Salient area in and around the Belgian town of Passchendaele. Canadian divisions continued the advance which had started during the First Battle of Passchendaele.
October 28
Austro-Hungarian forces advanced in Italy to reach Udine and recapture Gorizia.
October 29
Vittorio Emanuele Orlando became the 23rd Prime Minister of Italy following the resignation of Paolo Boselli earlier in the month.
October 30
Reinforced with the addition of two British divisions, a second offensive was launched in torrential rains to capture Passchendaele. The Allies initially held the town in the face of repeated German shelling and counterattacks.
October 31
Allied forces under General Edmund Allenby initiated an attack on Turkish positions at Beersheba in Palestine and launched the Third Battle of Gaza.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/18 12:24 AM

Warbirds Rising News of the World for February:

February 1
Governments of the Central Powers formally recognised the Ukraine republic.
February 3
The British Government announced the enlargement of powers of the Supreme War Council at Versailles.
February 4
General Mikhail Alexeiev moved towards Moscow with a force of Don Cossacks for action against the Bolsheviks.
February 5
The British liner SS Tuscania was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of Ireland by the German submarine UB-77 while carrying American troops to Europe.
The Russian Government announced the separation of the Russian Orthodox Church from the state.
February 6
The German Government sent an ultimatum to the Romanian Government demanding peace negotiations within four days.
February 8
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Boxer sank after colliding with the merchant ship SS St Patrick in the English Channel.
February 9
A peace treaty was signed at Brest-Litovsk between the Central Powers and the Ukraine.
Alexandru Averescu replaced Ion I. Constantin Bratianu as Prime Minister of Romania after Bratianu refused to negotiate with the Germans and resigned.
February 10
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George entrusted Lord Beaverbrook with the responsibility of establishing the new Ministry of Information in charge of propaganda.
February 11
US President Wilson addressed Congress to add extra aims to his fourteen point program for world peace.
A staunch opponent of the Bolsheviks, Russian General Alexei Maximovich Kaledin committed suicide by shooting himself.
February 12
The British steamer HMS Polo was torpedoed and sunk without warning by German submarine UB-57.
February 14
The Gregorian calendar was adopted in Russia. The Council
of People's Commissars had issued a decree that Wednesday 31 January 1918 was to be followed by Thursday 14 February 1918, thus dropping 13 days from the calendar.
February 15
A sustained German destroyer raid in the Straits of Dover resulted in the sinking of a British Admiralty trawler and several net drifters.
February 16
General Lionel Dunsterville led his "Dunsterforce" troops to Enzeli on a mission to gather information, train and command local forces, and prevent the spread of German propaganda.
February 18
The Armistice on the Russian front expired. German armies resumed hostilities and began to advance towards Dvinsk on the Eastern Front.
February 19
The Russian Bolshevik Government indicated a willingness to sign the peace treaty at Brest-Litovsk.
February 20
German troops continued their advance towards Petrograd, Moscow and Kiev.
February 21
British forces captured Jericho in Palestine, thus depriving the Turks of their advance base for the defence of Palestine.
February 22
Owing to the growing fear of German spies and domestic labour violence, the Montana Sedition Law restricting freedom of speech and assembly was passed in the United States.
February 23
An Inter-Allied Labour and Socialist Conference in London passed a resolution with regard to war aims.
February 24
Turkish forces recaptured Trebizond in Asia Minor.
February 25
German forces captured Pernau and Pskov as the advance against Russian troops continued.
February 26
British hospital ship HMHS Glenart Castle was sunk by German submarine U-56 in the Bristol Channel whilst en route from Cardiff to Brest to pick up war survivors.
February 28
In the United States a new bill was introduced which was intended to protect war materials including arms, ammunition, clothing, food supplies, and other items used by the military.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/18 02:27 AM

Corderoy reaches a milestone.

Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 36: 29 October 1917 – 1 November 1917

29 October 1917 – Poperinghe aerodrome


I am settling in to life in “Pops.†The countryside is crawling with activity with units of every kind coming from the lines, going to the lines, or generally just slogging away at the business of war. The guns are very loud here and go all day and night, with the odd heavy crashing into the town just a couple of miles down the road. The town itself is the railhead for the big push that is entering another phase. The Canadians taking over from the Anzacs. I passed some Australians on the road and they looked absolutely ragged. They have fought well but conditions here are impossible, the ground sodden and the drainage systems in the farmland shattered by shellfire.

A little to the southeast of the town there is a large camp of Chinese coolies who are doing heavy work on the light railroads that all seem to converge on Poperinghe. One sees them occasionally in town, shouting at one another and bartering with confused shopkeepers. They seem to come in sets of twelve![1]
I led a defensive patrol down to Mont-St-Eloi today. Very cloudy and grey. Did not see a thing.

Visit from Col Holt [2] this afternoon. Seems satisfied, but is pushing me to bring in flight commanders from other squadrons. I told him I am sure we have good people and asked for a little time to get to know them.

30 October 1917

C.O.P. to the south side of the salient. Patrol for forty minutes before a very large group of Albatros scouts appears out of the north. We engaged and began a mad brawl. The Camel is much harder to see from than the SE5a, and I narrowly missed collisions more than once. I feel that I should try to stay above the main fight to control things, help when needed, and warn of new Huns; but today that is impossible. There are simply too many of them. I find it necessary to handle the Camel rather gently. But because of that I know I am not pushing the grid to its limits. Twice I find myself with two Huns behind me. At least this time I am not peppered and don’t stall. At length, I see a yellow Albatros with purple and green wings climbing below me and fall on him. My first burst does damage and the Hun breaks away. Before he can outpace me, I fire 100 rounds after him and he rolls over and heads straight down, crashing near Wervik. Howson was close behind me and seconds my claim, so that makes 29!

In the afternoon we fly far north along the coast to bomb the Hun aerodrome at Vlissinghen. I notice a very large group of EA circling about Nieuwmunster, but I guide my fairly new bunch back over the lines. We were far too deep into Hunland to start a lot of trouble.

[Linked Image]
"Before he can outpace me, I fire 100 rounds after him and he rolls over and heads straight down, crashing near Wervik."

31 October 1917

Grey weather and too much paper to get up twice. I join Sigismund for an attack on a balloon the Huns have put up south of Menen. I am first in and dive on the thing, firing all the way from 300 yards out. I see black smoke begin to emerge and loose my rockets while pulling up. Bull’s eye! The Le Prieurs do their job and the exploding gas throws my Camel onto its back. The Hun balloon is gone and I see no parachutes. This is confirmed as my thirtieth victory.

The celebration is somewhat muted, because we learn that a new lad, Norris, has put down in Hunland with a dud engine. He was ten miles over with “C†Flight and didn’t have a chance. He seemed to land all right, so we hope to hear soon that he is safe. I write his parents and tell them what I know.

1 November 1917


Over again to Menen area, this time to bomb and strafe the Hun aerodrome at Iseghen. We make a proper mess of the place and then patrol over the salient until it is time to come home. No Huns are about. The scenes below are horrid, like fighting in an open sewer. The villages on our maps are completely indiscernible from more than a thousand feet. One could become a conshie here.

Wrote to Catherine Senechal. Rather touchy, knowing that she was engaged to one of my former fellows. Is it proper to write back? I am not at all sure what “fondly†meant when she signed off. We English can propose to a girl with a term like that, really. But I try not to read much into it. Perhaps she simply had an interest in pilots, any pilot. She was rather smashing though. Put the envelope in the post before I think about it too much.

Got a very nice call from Gen Trenchard congratulating me on 30 victories, then commenting that he has heard I need flight commanders!

It really is ripping being the squadron commander, though. I have a wonderfully cozy spot in the back of the squadron office, with a bedroom and small sitting room. I am setting up to have tea and drinks in the sitting room with each flight in turn on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The idea on the surface is to talk shop and war fighting, but at a deeper level I want to get to know the chaps on a less superficial level than is possible in the mess.

Notes:

[1] The Chinese Labour Corps had a camp from August 1917 at Reningelst, just outside Poperinghe. They worked on the rail infrastructure in the area, as well as in ammunition depots.

[2] LCol Felton Vesey Holt, DSO, commander 22 (Army) Wing, to which 70 Squadron was subordinate. The wing was under 5 Bde RFC, under BGen Lionel Charleton, DSO.


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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/18 01:52 PM

So many good stories! Wonderful with coffee this morning. Here are the latest dispatches from 62 Sqn:

Sgt Sitwell
62 Sqn RFC
Serny

The last several weeks have been ramping up to this moment. We finally have the go-ahead to start true offensive patrols. It has become clear to the Brass Hats that the Huns are going to be launching their offensive along the St Quentin Front, so we are going to be thrown in the thick of it. Rumour is that the entire 9th Wing will be moving forward to Villers Bretonneux, Cachy, and Champien aerodromes [1]. Everyone is excited and hopping to get a chance at the Huns.

The restrictions on flying behind the lines have slowly been lifted. On the 17th, A flight had a go at a balloon, on the 25th was a line patrol in Sqn strength and yesterday was the first offensive patrol by the Sqn. Unfortunately the winds were so heavy, it took almost an extra hour for the chaps to return home.

As for myself, the great and illustrious flyer that I am, I spent the last two weeks in bed with Pneumonia, praying to whatever gods I could think of to end this miserable suffering. Harry was ever sporting, checking on me regularly and ensuring I had plenty of reading material (some of it more...intriguing than others).

The equipment officer, Lt Sutton, a fine Canadian chap, also checked in on the regular. In our conversations we discovered that we grew up not 100 Km from each other, him being from Berlin [2] and myself from St Thomas Ontario.

I hope to get back in the cockpit soon, as "The Hughes" as we call them, Capt Geoff Hughes and his observer Capt Hugh Claye, are making a push to top my two victories. The claimed one Two Seater over Armentières on 21 Feb and are regularly up and about looking for trouble. Geoff is regularly heard talking tactics in the Mess. It is fortunate that he is a fine fellow and not at all conceited or I expect we would not get on as well as we do. Our rivalry will hopefully maintain its friendliness.

The other rumour that still continues to circle this part of the front is that the Baron's Circus has made its way opposite us. Nobody in 62 Sqn has seen them, but there are whispers in the dark of red aircraft diving from the sun. It is enough to keep everyone slightly on edge and, though no one will admit it, everyone has nightmares of red Tri-planes on their tails.


[1] 9th Wing was deployed to the St Quentin front in early March and included Nos 25 & 27 Sqns with DH4's, 62 Sqn with Bristol fighters, 73 & 80 Sqns flying Camels, 79 Sqn flying Dolphins.

[2] Berlin Ontario was renamed to Kitchener Ontario on 1 September 1916 after rising anti-German sentiment led to a referendum in the town. The names chosen for the vote were Adanac, Brock, Benton, Corona, Keowana and Kitchener, with Kitchener (after Horatio Kitchener of "Lord Kitchener Wants You" fame) winning with a total of 346 votes.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/18 02:27 PM

Canuck. Nice supplementary data on squadron deployment and in particular, the rename of Berlin to Kitchener. Kitchener still has a strong German influence. It is a favorite location visited by many for October fest. "Pigtails, saurkraut, and beer of many German varieties".
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/18 03:16 PM

The week has been busy, great stories guys

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Mr. Wiggins mentioned October Fest

https://giphy.com/gifs/october-feast-3ov9k8Pnlr07ONnl3q/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/18 03:27 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Jasta 8 Wassigny, Flanders.


March 2, 1918.

The schwarm was up om a 1st light Patrol and I think I got my 1st Victory a Spad. I was covering my leader . after he made a pass on a French machine , I made mind and he started to smoke with a stopped propeller. I watched as he crashed on our side of the lines near and Arty Camp. After landing, the snow came grounding the flights.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/02/18 11:42 PM

DC,

Ripping good yarn, as they say! I'm really enjoying you tales of life in 62. It's not a unit we read of much. Good historical notes. About the same time Kitchener got its name , the Royal Family became Windsors. Being called Saxe-Coburg-Gotha wasn't cool after a Gotha bombed my paternal grandfather's elementary school in London in June 1917 (fortunately he was 19 by then and living in Glasgow ).
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/03/18 07:56 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Jasta 8 Wassigny, Flanders.


March 3, 1918.


No flights due to Weather.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/04/18 05:10 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Jasta 8 Wassigny, Flanders.

March 4, 1918.


Down again due to weather
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/18 12:42 AM

4 November, 1917 Harlebeke
Jasta 18

The clear November sky was carrying 3 battle planes towards their intended target. The quick Rumplers were making great progress towards Bailleul Asylum, their enemy’s base. A mixed flight of Albatros and Pfalz machines was following them closely behind. The pilot of the leading Pfalz was gritting his teeth. The engine throttle of his crate was fully open but he could barely keep up with the speedy bombers. His blue and red airplane was slowing everyone else down. They were nearly there. Aldi scanned the sky around and found only Schwarm Eins to his starboard few klicks away providing a defensive screen. He looked past the Rumplers toward the target, sitting down there all ripe and juicy, ready for some eggs to be dropped on it. They were flying straight into the jaws of the lion and he knew there will be hell to pay on the way back. It seems they’ve caught the Englanders with their Hosen down. Only 2 scouts were patrolling above the aerodrome. A pair of SE types lunged at the German bombers, but were instantly repelled by their escort. Schwarzkopf parked his Pfalz behind one of the angular contraptions and opened fire. Bits of debris started to fly away from the English scout and the plane itself made a weak attempt to get away. He picked up speed in a dive that the Pfalz couldn’t match and it looked like he was Scott free, but then the engine begun to misfire and the German pilot caught up, sending one volley after another. It was then that the Britisher slumped in his seat and the SE5a went down from 2000 m trailing petrol vapours.

[Linked Image]

The other enemy machine was nowhere to be found and with the skies cleared, the Rumplers commenced their attack. Bombs started to rain down and explode with angry thuds below. Aldi circled the field in a bank admiring the fireworks.
Once empty, the bombers wrapped up their attack and took the shortest route back home, while Kette Zwei followed some distance behind and Kette Eins patrolled nearby. The surrounding sky seemed suspiciously devoid of angry enemy machines which worried Aldi. He kept his head on a swivel, making note of Hugo Schafer, who was following him closely with the viper painted on his fuselage keeping watch.

[Linked Image]

All of a sudden something in the distance caught his eye. It was Kette Eins. There were twice as many of them as before. Schwarzkopf realized they’ve been ambushed and appear to be in trouble. He made a quick decision to leave the Rumplers and rush to his Kameraden’s aid. Once he got close enough he realized they’re being harassed by two flights of Bristols. When Kette Zwei engaged, the furball had already devolved into individual fights. Aldi picked one that was chasing Runge and pounced. The tail of the pursuing Brisfit came into view quickly and a hailstorm of bullets from Schwarzkopf’s Spandaus shredded the canvas. English pilot reacted instantly by rolling his kite on his back and diving for cover.

[Linked Image]

Aldi didn’t follow, but Schafer and his viper did. He watched from above as Schafer finished off the wounded Englander. The two-seater stalled and rammed into the ground near Bailleul. The remaining fighters were either severely damaged or falling to their doom. Schwarzkopf, low on ammunition, decided to conclude the engagement and return to base. He gave the signal and the rest of his flight followed him back to the closest field. The Rumplers were already on the ground when they reached the airfield. Another successful mission.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/18 03:42 AM

Good Show
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/05/18 04:00 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Jasta 8 Wassigny, Flanders.
1 Victory

March 5, 1918.

Morning Parade: My Claim for a Spad was Rejected by Hq. They said 3 other pilots made the same claim so the Ranking Pilot got the Victory.

Over the lines, Alarm ! Spads. We engaged and I followed and chased one then he broke off and went home. While doing what the French call a Chandell, I spotted our Jasta 's top cover engaging a flight of six British machines so I went to help. As one spun down runing from one our pilots , He flew by in front of me . Kicking the rudder , I hit him with bullets out of 3 bursts of 40-42 rds from my guns and he spun down crashing near our AF. I had proof this time. Intelligence reported that it was a Camel and came from 73 sgn RFC according to a Tailoring bill in his Flying Coat pocket.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/06/18 02:54 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Jasta 8 Wassigny, Flanders.
1 Victory


March 6, 1918.


Another scrap with Camels, they didn't have the same markings as last time maybe a new unit ? I can confirm 1 of the four victory's claimed a flamer by our flight leader. On the downside we lost 1 a/c and pilot.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/18 12:25 AM

Carrick, you are certainly a trooper. Hope your new fellow is doing well. Fullofit, please keep the Aldi stories coming. They are really well done and the photos are outstanding!

Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 37: 2-6 November 1917

2 November 1917 – Poperinghe


Driving rain, so catching up on the paperwork today. I had plans to visit 29 Squadron (Nieuports), with whom we share the aerodrome, but they are ahead of me and the Squadron Commander, Maj De Crespigny shows up with his flight commander. And what should I behold, but “Moley†Molesworth, the inveterate practical joker from 60 Squadron. He is in high spirits and very pleased that I have been successful in the last few months. He even suggests that I should pass Bishop’s mark before long, something I hadn’t really considered.

We make a fine feed of it, breaking out some paté and Champagne as I have given the steward the day off. We spend a good two hours talking shop. The push is over, we believe. The casualties have once again been heavy, with the only gains a small improvement in the lines. We all think the war could last another three years.

Cpl Gregory, our mess steward, is a Scot, which means that our meals are hearty but overly plain. I have had thoughts of contracting with a local Frenchwoman as I did at Ste-Marie-Cappel, but the steward is a corporal on our strength and I shouldn’t know what to do with him. I am toying with the idea of getting the officers to take turns preparing a special meal as a form of entertainment, although in truth it is a form of self-preservation. Cpl Gregory thinks that – with the greatest respect, sir – it’s a “daft†idea but will go along with it.

I take the car to Dunkirk in the afternoon and do some shopping: shaving soap, magazines, marmalade, and ink.

3 November 1917

Weather clears around two, and a half-hour later I am off with Sigismund’s flight for an offensive patrol along the Menen Road. We spot a large group of Albatri crossing the enemy trenches, heading northwest towards the aerodrome north of Menen itself. I lead the chaps down on them and we pair off at only a thousand feet. I select a plain yellow machine who has attacked me from the right, holing my upper plane. The Camel loses no time in snapping around to the right. My first burst, a slight deflection shot, seems to injure the pilot. My second sends him slamming into the earth at the edge of town. Sigismund seconds my claim, so this is #31!

[Linked Image]
"My second sends him slamming into the earth at the edge of town."

4 November 1917

OP over the southern sector (Lens / Vimy / Arras). See nothing.

5 November 1917

Up at 8:30 a.m. Patrol the Menen Road again. Chase a DFW and send it down out of control, but the claim cannot be confirmed.

At 4:30 we are up and headed south to Lens again, this time armed with Le Prieurs and heading for a new balloon near that town. I head straight in, leading “B†Flight. Before I can loose the rockets the balloon is smoking. When the rockets release the thing explodes before they even touch it. Sigismund is directly behind and totally annoyed that he didn’t get a crack at it. This is number 32!

On the way back across the lines we spot two distant machines over our lines, obviously in a scrap. On closer approach, they are a French SPAD and a Hunnish Pfalz. We all muck in on the Pfalz and Aldred sends him down – his first.

Celebration tonight in the mess. I seem to have a reputation that I don’t like roughhousing in the mess, but I pass on the message that the lads can smash whatever they like as long as it’s all replaced and put right before tea the following day. In the end, there is only one chair and a side table to replace.

6 November 1917

Airfield attack on Phalempin. We drop our bombs among some two-seaters on the field and return home, having encountered nothing but intense Archie.

Received a letter from Catherine. Very sweet. She has been accepted as a VAD member and is thrilled to have acquired her blue dress and white cap. She is bound for London for training this week and very excited. “Fondly†has become “affectionately.†We met for scarcely an hour. Some impression!


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/18 02:44 AM

Thanks, I try to hang in there.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/18 03:32 AM

Raine;

So how are you liking the Camel? It's a given that visibility in the Camel is a challenge in the beastie, and that is particularly so when your opponent is flitting about all over the sky and you are nice and close behind him. One warning mate! Do not stall out in a vertical climb because a spin out can be nigh to impossible to recover from especially if it is a tail down scenario.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/18 03:34 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Jasta 8 Wassigny, Flanders.
1 Victory

March 7, 1918.

Camels in the morning and Brisfits in the afternoon, but no score for me.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/18 01:21 PM

Carrick that is a nice screening. Big Cumulus framing your bird.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/18 03:57 PM

Thanks Mr. Wiggins. Shots like that from WOFF makes me wish that I had expensive up to date Graphics. However, I can still enjoy the eye candy .
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/18 04:50 PM

Robert,

I'm finding the Camel a challenge, which is one of the reasons I wanted to give 70 Squadron a go. I have learned to handle the Camel more smoothly and find it demands far more aggressive rudder work. Part of the challenge is not to bleed off too much speed. I ease into turns and gradually increase the tightness, but I'm still bleeding off speed too much. Perhaps I simply have to learn to trade height for speed more than I've had to in the past.

The visibility is a nuisance after the SE5a. Twice I've been surprised by taking hits while in a steep bank from an EA I didn't see because of the upper wing, but so far I haven't been wounded or lost power as a result. All that said, I love the impact of the twin Vickers. Flaming a balloon before reaching Le Prieur range is one example, and knocking two seaters down with fairly brief full-deflection bursts is another.

Just yesterday I got into a spin, the first in a few days, and I thought I'd never get out of it. I finally did, but I'm not sure how.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/18 04:58 PM

Avoid stalling in a climb and make sure you can get your nose down with the last bit of energy as nose down is recoverable. I always watch my airspeed in those climbs but because I have a force feedback stick I get early warning shake that helps significantly. I wish more joystick were made with it.

Best Regards
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/07/18 11:51 PM

Carrick, looks like you're finally flying for the right side, heh heh!
Raine, another great report. I am intrigued by Cathy's letters the most. Don't give it away, keep us in suspense!
Here are a few pics from the other careers I'm trying to keep up with.

Adjutant Hercule Zenon is dancing the waltz with a Pfalz over the Marne sector.

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Captain Edward Nygma is about to get some answers.

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Here he is after stopping and asking for directions.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 12:06 AM

Waltz ? are u sure thats not a Jig ?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 12:19 AM

He's French, so should be Can-can, but what do I know?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 02:28 AM

Fullofit, those are some great shots. What's your experience of the DH5? I haven't flown it yet.

Corderoy was up only once today, but it was a good day...

Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 37: 7 November 1917

7 November 1917 – Poperinghe


Mixed sun and cloud today. I attach myself to Sigismund’s flight again, taking the lead this time. Wing has given us the job of bombing a jail junction and yard just outside Lens, so it’s an early morning for the armourers who had to rig and set our bombs. The wind is out of the southwest, so we take off towards the hangars and skim the rooftops, climbing steadily and turning to the south-southeast. It is a cold morning. Even though we break through to bright sunshine, we are no warmer. I am glad for my new Sidcot, which is already gaining a comfortably experienced-looking coat of oil.

It takes a little more than twenty minutes before the giant slag heaps of Lens appear to the east, looking like the pyramids of Giza in ebony, and catching the morning sun peeking through the cloud.[1] We turn east and are welcomed by desultory Archie. In a couple of minutes the target appears just left of dead ahead. I signal the attack and begin a half-power dive to approach from the south. A train is stationary beside some sheds. It becomes the aiming point. My first bombs strike the rear of the train and the later ones scatter across the yard. The other Camels are close behind. I climb to the northwest, chased by Archie and flaming onions and lazy whips of tracer. The target is a mass of flames and brick powder. A white flare is the signal to re-form.

Now we are on our own time, having done the King’s business. We fly north-northeast, staying a few miles deep in Hunland and regaining height. By the time we approach Haubordin aerodrome, near Lille, we are back at 8000 feet. A very large formation of scouts passes overhead a couple of miles east of us, heading south. They have the advantage of height, outnumber us, and have the sun behind them. I let them pass and they seem not to have seen us. There is a glint off to the east, not too much higher than our little formation – there are six of us in total: Sigismund, Aldred, Howsam, Hobson, Seth-Smith, and me. I turn to investigate, continuing to climb.

The Huns spot us and approach, only slightly above. Albatri. The first passes over me and is quickly engaged by Aldred and Howsam. The next passes off to my left. I’d been told that the Camel turns sharply to the right and sluggishly to the left, but I have not found that to be true. To the right it noses down, so naturally keeps its speed. To the left it noses up, but it turns nicely if you give it some serious fug-boot on the rudder to keep the nose down (although one needs to keep a close eye that the speed stays up). I swing the machine around to the left and find my Hun in a turning battle with Seth-Smith. It takes little effort to get behind him. Two longish bursts send him diving into some wispy cloud below.

The sky is suddenly empty, it seems. In the distance, two Camels are pursuing a Hun. The other Albatri have broken off, it seems. I circle and search for the others. After a minute I spot a lone Albatros that seems to be preparing to land at Haubordin aerodrome. He is well below me, but not so low as to put me in great danger of ground fire. I cut power and drop onto the unsuspecting Hun. It is necessary to get below him and then climb, blipping the engine to cut closing speed. I approach to well within a hundred yards before I fire. The yellow and purple German machine jerks up and to the right, and then flips erratically into a right-hand spin, streaming black smoke. I lose sight of the Hun but am sure I have bagged him. After several minutes, I fire a green flare to signal any of my flight to re-form. Only Sigismund and Howsam respond.

[Linked Image]
"The yellow and purple German machine jerks up and to the right, and then flips erratically into a right-hand spin, streaming black smoke."

We set course for home. En route we acquire Seth-Smith. Approaching from the southeast, I make out two distinctive country homes, both damaged from shelling. They are distinct and lie about two miles southeast of Poperinghe aerodrome. In seconds I see the field and am overjoyed to see two Camels moving on the grass by the hangars.

We are all here, happy with the morning’s show, and we crowd into Lieut. Gregg’s office, laughing and joyfully shouting obscenities at one another. Aldred claims two, one of which is vouched for by Hobson. I claim mine, which Sigismund has seen crash just at the edge of Haubordin field. This is #33, my third confirmed Hun in the past week.

In the evening I take Sigismund with me and we collect Molesworth from 29 across the way, then drive to visit Patrick’s gang at Ste-Marie-Cappel. They introduce me to Calvados, a devil’s brew from Normandy. Molesworth drives home.

NOTES:

[1] There are five giant slag heaps, or terrils, around the commune of Loos-en-Gohelle, just at the north edge of Lens. Two of these are 146 m high (480 ft). I took the picture of them below from the walkway in front of the Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge, which is more than 6 km (about 4 miles) away. There are more than 350 such terrils in northern France, the residue of centuries of coal mining. Mining in the Lens area stopped only in the late 1990s. The terrils of Loos-en-Gohelle have been made UNESCO world heritage sites.

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The terrils of Loos-en-Gohelle, seen from Vimy Ridge.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 02:29 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Jasta 32
1 Victory

Got my walking papers today. The C.O. said that he couldn't keep me because I wasn't getting enough kills and trained pilots were requested by 6 Army for Jasta 32 with flight time in Flying the Albatross Type Scouts. I Arrived and found only 4 other pilots left in the Jasta so we did a formation hop of the local area. waiting to see if more replacements showed up. Sent time in the local Village looking around.


https://giphy.com/gifs/dancers-beer-girls-oct-fest-xiOJrD3KDMf1WfNH3Y/fullscreen

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Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 12:17 PM

Introducing Bob Stanley

[Linked Image]


30th October 1917

The tender drove past the little grey church onto the road to Arras. A recent shower had left puddles that the truck splashed through, rocking slightly on the uneven surface.
“Next right and we're there, sir,†the driver informed the officer sat next to him. A few more soldiers, due for other posts sat in the back, but the officer had flashed a smile and a handful of francs in exchange for a comfortable ride.

Acq aerodrome was set up in a number of fields on a small road parallel to the main one. The sentry post was set up at a gate in the stone wall opposite a substantial farmhouse with many large square windows. The sentry checked everyone's papers and waved the tender into the muddy square formed from transport sheds and barrack huts.

The officer alighted and with a laugh, tipped the driver. The driver grinned and touched his cap.
“Thank you very much, sir. Thank you very much!â€

The officer, a pilot with a neatly clipped chevron moustache and a ready smile, picked up his valise and walked in the direction of the squadron office.

The adjutant looked up at the sound of the door. The officer saluted and introduced himself.
“Second Lieutenant* Stanley, reporting for duty. Is the CO in.†Stanley talked in the easy assured tones of an English aristocrat.
The adjustant returned his salute. “He is. I shall inform him of your arrival. Please wait here Lieutenant,â€

Captain Dawes went to the doorway that led to the commanding officer's office. He knocked and went in.

Bob Stanley heard voices, but they were muffled. There was a harumph as the other man, presumably the major, snorted in derision. Shortly the adjutant was back.

“Major Tyson will see you now,†Dawes gestured toward the office door with an open hand.

The Major was younger than Stanley expected, in his mid twenties. His uniform was slightly worn and oil stained, but the red and blue of the DSO ribbon looked fresh and bright on the faded khaki.
The frown on his face told Bob that Major Tyson had indeed been the harumpher.

“Second Lieutenant Stanley reporting for duty, sir.†Stanley saluted. Tyson returned his salute.
“Welcome to five squadron, Lieutenant. No, stay at attention.†He picked up a letter from his desk and walked around to stand in front of Bob.

“I've been tipped off about you, Stanley.†the Major continued. “I do not like what I have read. I wouldn't have the likes of you on my squadron if I could help it. However, I need a replacement pilot and they have sent you. Let me be clear; one foot wrong and I will have you on a charge.†Tyson leaned in close to Stanley's face. He snorted again and stomped back around his desk.

“Go to B flight and report to Captain Slessor. We'll see what he can make of you. Dismissed.â€

John Slessor was rather friendlier. Sitting at his desk surrounded by reports, he poured tea for his new pilot.

“Really? I wonder why! The old man is normally a solid fellow. I'll pair you with Kennicot. He's fairly new too. Stick close with me on your flights and perhaps you can make yourself useful.

[Linked Image]

“We fly RE8s. Slow and steady, and good for art obs, which is what we do most. Have you flown the Harry Tate?â€
“I've flown all sorts while I was a ferry pilot, “Stanley replied. “Including RE8s.â€
“Good, good. When you've finished your tea, we shall get you settled in. I want you to make a few familiarisation flights before we go into battle. Learn the landmarks and what not. Can't have a reconnaissance man getting lost can we?â€

[Linked Image]

Stanley's first flight took place on the 1st of November, but it was little more than a low level tour of the area around Acq. His observer, 2nd Lt Kennicot was a short Londoner with a serious manner. Every so often he would pull at Stanley's shoulder and point out some landmark or other.

The next day was a wet one and flying operations were cancelled. Stanley teamed up with Kennicot at bridge and lost the first two games. Kennicot was scowling at his pilot until they won the next three. Stanley, for his part was always smiling and laughing, no matter how the hands went.

The grey skies were flyable on the 3rd and Stanley flew along behind Slessor as far as the lines. He couldn't see much in the grey murk of the clouds but the ground below had an ominous look to it. He recognised the zigzag pattern of trench lines and shuddered.

Bonfire night marked Stanley's first proper mission. It was an artillery observation near Loos. Stanley sweated the whole time even in the cold air. He was sure some German scout would swoop on him as he watched for shell bursts below. It took forever to get the batteries close to target and Stanley was low on petrol when he landed.

The next day saw two missions. The first was a bombing run that was aborted before they reached the target. Stanley never saw anything, but Slessor told him that six Albatros scouts had been too close for comfort.

That afternoon, B flight took a reconnaissance flight over Dixmude. For ten terrifying minutes, Stanley took plate after plate with the camera attached to the outside of his cockpit while Kennicot watched the skies for danger.

The next day saw Stanley back at artillery observation. He hated the waiting over the target area. In his mind every cloud hid a Jasta of Albatri that would dive on his isolated machine and that would be the end of him. But it didn't happen and the RE8 turned for home safely.

Thursday morning was grim and grey. The pilots and observers were huddled near the stove that heated Captain Slessor's office.

“We're bombing Phalempin aerodrome,†Slessor told them, pointing to the location on a map. “Apparently HQ have taken exception to it and want us to communicate their dislike to the enemy.â€

Three RE8s took off at 8 o'clock. The clouds hung low and shrouded Stanley in gloom. It occurred to him that it hid him as much as it might hide the enemy.

Shortly after reaching the lines, Slessor developed an engine fault and was forced to turn back. He signalled for Bates to take over and now two Harry Tates weaved through the clouds toward Phalempin.

[Linked Image]

Stanley wished that he had spent more time with the bombsight at the training target. Lining up on the largest collection of hangars, he let both bombs go, then he jinked sharply about to throw off anti-aircraft fire. A burst of smoke showed that his first bomb hit the field near the hangars. The second detonated in the trees behind it.

“Take that, Belgian Squirrels!†Stanley thought crazily as he climbed and turned for home, following Bates.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Yes, Bob Stanley is a Sergeant as per the campaign rules, but he is too well heeled to be an NCO. So for story telling purposes he is a 2nd Lieutenant.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 04:44 PM

Maeran, I'm delighted to see your tale-weaving artistry on display here again! Good luck with Mr. Stanley. I can't wait to hear more of his backstory. Gotta love a bad boy.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 05:46 PM

Thanks for the morning reads, gentlemen! Some fine stuff there indeed. Well, I am off to venture deeper into GMAX modeling courtesy of Fullofit's tutoring. It's a frustrating task which I hope in the end will be very useful.... if I get it right!!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 07:03 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Jasta 32
1 Victory


March 8 1918.

The Jasta put up 5 a/c for Patrol. Lucky for us no contact. 4 more replacements came in today.
Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 07:48 PM

Great those Photobucket pictures.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 08:16 PM

Great reads gents! Maeran, fantastic to see another brilliant author among the group.

Herman Hienze
Jasta 7.
March. 1918

Herman never was comfortable in the Phalz but had done enough to stay alive. On his 14th mission he was wounded by a dead eye Brisfit gunner. With his airfield in sight, dizzy and trying to see through the blood in his eyes, a Britisher crept up behind him and ended his career with a bullet to the head.
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/08/18 08:36 PM

Yes, I was unaware that photobucket had changed their terms of use.

I'm in work now but i'll sort it out when I get home.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/09/18 02:17 AM

MFair, that is bad luck! The Pfalz is a tough bird, but the same cannot be said about the pilot, any pilot, in any plane. Good luck with the next one.
Marean, welcome! Good luck to your new pilot, Bob.
Carrick, did you just get kicked out of a Jasta for poor performance? You are going hardcore!
Raine, another exciting report. We have to get these slug heaps into WOFF! Were they “active†during the War?
As to the DH.5, very stable gun platform. Getting near a 50% gun accuracy in this plane. Great forward visibility, but to the rear? It’s like looking through your own anus. Performance wise it’s like the Camel: it turns better to the right than to the left. Just don’t get an Albatros behind you and you’ll be fine.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/09/18 02:34 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
We have to get these slug heaps into WOFF! Were they “active†during the War?.


Fullofit, the slag heaps date to before the Franco-Prussian war, so they were huge by 1914. I must try the DH5 soon. MFair, that's a rotten way to go. Don't be late with your next fellow, please. And once again, welcome back Maeran!

Here is the latest from Corderoy...


Diary of Capt. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 39: 8-9 November 1917

8 November 1917 – Poperinghe


Once again we fly along the Menen to Roulers road behind Passchendaele Ridge. I keep a sharp eye out, as do the others, for once again it is drizzly and grey, so that a Hun could be on top of you before it could be distinguished from the shifting murk of the cloud all around. Below the slopes from Zonnenbeke up to Passchendaele appear as a slimy sewer of mud and corruption, water-filled shellholes rim to rim and brown men against brown mud, wading and falling amid the flashes and eruptions and death. The thing seems so futile. There is no banner to be seized her. It is an invitation to hell.

Our time is nearly up and we turn for one last leg to the south. It is Quigley who pulls ahead, signalling and pointing down. There, about 1000 feet above the mud, four Albatri are heading to Menen. We are above them and behind and slightly to their left. I cannot believe they have not spotted us. The sky above, as far as I can see, is free from enemy. We dive to the attack.

The Camel vibrates and changes pitch in a dive, quite unlike my old SE, which became steadier. It is necessary to blip and throttle back. I settle in behind the nearest Hun and fire. My tracer plunges into the machine, just behind the cockpit. But the Albatros does not fall. Instead it dives for the enemy aerodrome near Menen, now just a mile off. Archie bursts and whip-like lines of tracer reach out to greet me. This is foolishness, yet the EA is so close. The Hun banks to the right and I cut across the chord of his turn, closing to fifty yards and firing. I break off at the last instant, nearly touching his white tail as I pass over him. The Albatross flips quickly to one side and begins to tumble down.

I cannot watch whether he crashes. Already several rounds snap through my wings. I climb and turn away, jinking from side to side. The small arms fire dies away, but the Archie increases. I circle for a couple of minutes and wait for others. Seth-Smith forms up first, then Hobson, and finally Quigley. It is time to head home.

[Linked Image]
"The Albatross flips quickly to one side and begins to tumble down."

Back at “Popsâ€, everyone is accounted for. Howson claims one. I claim mine as OOC, but it is not confirmed because Sigismund reports a yellow machine that passed low over the aerodrome. It might well have been mine. If so, I wish the Hun well, for I am sure I hit the fellow several times.

Yet another letter from Catherine. She has begun her training at St. Thomas’ Hospital in Lambeth.[1] I wrote her last week, describing in sordid detail how the Hun I put down that day smashed into the ground, and my thoughts about ending the life of a young man I’d never met, and with whom I’d likely enjoy a few drinks and a good meal. It was a chance to get things off my mind that I am better not expressing in front of others here. Perhaps I thought that, having lost Scarborough after such a short time at the front, she would be better off finding a friend at home – perhaps even a young doctor. But her letter in response is really quite touching. She does not shy from the details of war flying, and is genuinely curious about our life here. One line I particularly liked: “As difficult and I daresay frightening as life in the RFC must be, there must certainly be something about it that fills a special place in one’s soul. Speed, perhaps. Speed is the only truly modern sensation, isn’t it?â€

9 November 1917

Joined A Flight this morning for a defensive patrol down south, but the cam gear went shortly after take-off. Hellish noise and a tremendous flight. I had enough height and speed fortunately to glide back to the field and land, a little too quickly but safely.

Tagged along with C Flight this afternoon for another defensive patrol. Weather is poor and visibility low, but we stumbled into two Hun two-seaters north of Arras. Gave them a good chase, but they climbed away from us.

The Canadians have taken Passchendaele Ridge at last, and we seem to be settling in for the winter. I should enjoy a quiet spell.

Have received a new captain named Parker, whom I assume I must eventually appoint flight commander. He has served on BE2s and in HE until now and has no front-line scout experience. I told him that his appointment would depend on what I see from him over the next month or so. His first job, I said, is to keep himself on the green side of the turf for the next three weeks – nothing else.

NOTES:

[1] The Voluntary Aid Detachments, like Territorial Forces, were originally intended for Home Service only, but soon were being sent to France to support nurses in hospitals there. They worked as nurses’ aides, ambulance drivers, cooks, clerks, cleaners, and letter-writers for the injured. St. Thomas’ Hospital lies across the Thames from Westminster. In the war it was styled the Fifth London General Hospital, under the RAMC Territorial Force.


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Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/09/18 12:58 PM

Thanks for all the welcome backs. I've switched from Photobucket to Imgur. We'll see how well that does.

No story today, its been a busy morning and I have only had half an hour to do anything at all!

Good luck with the modelling Robert. I can model alright but I had no success gettting anything into CFS3. (And then I had to reinstall windows, couldn't get WOFF to work and it was all very frustrating). Funnily enough, I was modelling coal mine buildings, complete with spoil heaps. These would have been in active production immediately before and after the war, so very notable. Especially around Mons.

Edit: I've still got the blend file. The textures are only a quick paint. The idea was that I'd learn how to get it in game before really commiting time to painting it.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/09/18 11:00 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Wynghene, Flanders.
Jasta 32
2 Victory's

March 9, 1918

Brisfits on morning Patrol then Camels on Last Light Patrol. We lost 2 a/c to Camels and I got the only kill. I watched him go down from 1200 meters , level out, then Spin into the ground outside the town of Waregem in a farmers field. Those Camels are hard to hit. they seem to turn too fast to follow. I used up over 400 rds to bring him down.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/10/18 06:42 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Wynghene, Flanders.
Jasta 32
3 Victory's


March 10, 1918.

Se 5's in the morning and Camels in the afternoon.

1. Balloon Burst Mission: Our 4 a/c were jumped by Se 5 's , 6 a/c, short of target we lost 2 a/c . I was the only one to score. I would chase one fire at long range, he would dive then circle back up, then I would close the gap a little. Repeat 3 times and I sawed off his top wing with my machine guns. Wreckage om our side and spotted by my wing mate.

2. Escort: After completing target area , we turned for home and Camels 6 or more ran into us. Our 5 machines were scattered all over. I was hammering away at one when another flew in front of me. I kicked the rudder and Hammered him at close to point blank range. I saw his motor stop and he started smoking as he headed down on his side of the lines. I could not watch as I went to help another who had a e/a on his tail. This e/a turned and went home.

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Posted By: dutch

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/10/18 08:40 PM

, still enjoying all the stories here, so please keep on.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 01:35 AM

Yes, I am also enjoying the work of all of our resident wordsmiths. Keep up the fine work, gentlemen!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 03:20 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Wynghene, Flanders.
Jasta 32
4 Victory's


My Camel was confirmed. Our Infantry reported the thunder and Roar from War birds over the trenches and seeing a Englander at the time and place aflame . It crashed on the enemy-side. I was posted to a 5 a/c patrol and got jumped by 6 Se5's. Being wnd and forced down. I was sent to a Kriegslazarette with a nursing ward at Leige after clearing the Truppenverbandplatz station and transported by a Bearer Unit.

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Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 02:19 PM

.

Great stuff to go with my Sunday morning coffee!


Carrick, condolences on de Lyon’s demise. Best of luck to Luthor on making it to the end. Being in the safety of the hospital for a bit should help. Oh, and I’ve been to Oktoberfest in Germany and it’s all that and more.

Raine, congrats on Corderoy’s VC and on his continued success in the Camel. A tricky kite to be sure, but great in a fight once you have the feel for her.

Robert, another super video. Always enjoy watching the excitement that Albert gets into and out of.

MFair, sorry to see Herman has gone to fly with the angels. Here’s hoping Jerod has better luck in his adventures.

Fullofit, thanks for the latest war news, always good to keep abreast of the changing situation. And it appears that Aldi has really found his rhythm with the Pfalz. Beautiful looking kite by the way. And Hercule and Edward continue along as well, I’ve no clue how you keep them all straight but good on you.

Dark_Canuck, if the rumors are true about the Circus Sitwell and his crew are going to have their hands full.

Maeran, great to see you back here. Spiffing first story from Bob, I certainly hope he can make it beyond the Harry Tate and into a more survivable bus. To that coal mine and the slag heaps, I would love to see those brought into the WOFF landscape.


Thanks as always gents for sharing these outstanding reports and stories and videos, most enjoyable.
.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 02:52 PM

Lou, thanks so much for your Sunday morning comments. They're always rewarding and make one want to write a damn novel next flight! Hope you're well a get some time off the road. Any chance you'll be in Dayton in September? I'm planning to go with Robert.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 03:06 PM

.

Truly my pleasure Raine. And yes, I will be in Dayton if all goes according to plan. Fingers crossed!

.

.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Maeran
Thanks for all the welcome backs. I've switched from Photobucket to Imgur. We'll see how well that does.

No story today, its been a busy morning and I have only had half an hour to do anything at all!

Good luck with the modelling Robert. I can model alright but I had no success gettting anything into CFS3. (And then I had to reinstall windows, couldn't get WOFF to work and it was all very frustrating). Funnily enough, I was modelling coal mine buildings, complete with spoil heaps. These would have been in active production immediately before and after the war, so very notable. Especially around Mons.

Edit: I've still got the blend file. The textures are only a quick paint. The idea was that I'd learn how to get it in game before really commiting time to painting it.

[Linked Image]


Maeran;

Getting them into WOFF is not difficult. If you PM me we can dialogue on that. I am assuming you can use "Discreet GMAX". This version of GMAX allows you to export the model in ".M3D" format which is what CFS3/WOFF needs. Can you explain what modeling software you are/were using for those models?

Best Regards
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 07:31 PM

Carrick, Luthor seems to be doing well!

Raine, you have too much experience to be chasing Huns so low over their field. Be careful my friend.

Sgt. Jerod Jackson
43 RFC
18 missions

November 12
The weather has been horrid. I think my flight suit will go mouldy before it ever dries out! Today is a rail yard strike at Loos Junction. Turning on the 1st attack run our 4 machines ran headlong into 2 Albitri. I pulled up and saw Ryan on the tail of one and turned to fall in behind. Ryan gave him a few bursts but going too fast pulled up. I came in behind the blue and red machine and with 3 bursts his wings collapsed and down he went. We were all scattered and spotted my flight headed for home so did the same. I filed my claim at base with Ryan as a witness.

As we had not carried out the attack at Loos we were sent over again at 1600 hours to take care of the job. We really gave them what for this time. As I was forming up I took a look back and it was a burning ruin. I realize there are already 4 planes in the flight and kick myself for forming with the wrong flight! I spotted my flight forming up about a mile off and turned to join. At this time my engine started knocking something terrible so climbed out to the west. Southeast of Bethune I figured I had risked fire long enough and sat down on a road outside of town at dusk.

Arriving at base by tinder I was greeted with a bottle of fine wine. My DVwas confirmed making me an ace.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 07:51 PM

MFair: My pilot took a bullet so will be down for 7 days ( as of 10 Mar ) The SE5a's come down quick out of the Sun.

RAF Lou: We have Oct Fest in common I was there as a Birthday 21 yr old a long time back, ( on a 48 hr pass from the Army. ) , but still remember the Fun and some of the people.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 08:08 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer
Kriegslazarette # 3 at Aachen
Ward 9, Row 4, Bed 14,

Arrived and settled in then met my Nurses. Ogla and Helga




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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 09:50 PM

Dutch, BuckeyBob and Lou. Just like Raine I'd like to thank you for the comments. Keeps me flying and posting.
MFair, that's some mistake! Good thing you were able to land on the correct side of the mud. biggrin
Carrick, Yikes! exitstageleft

12 November 1917, Harlebeke
Jasta 18

The alarm bell was still ringing in Aldi’s ears while he was wrestling the last ounce of speed out of his Pfalz, trying to gain as much altitude as possible. Enemy planes were spotted and Jasta 18 was called upon to stop them. The formation was racing west towards the Front lines, skipping along the white fluffy clouds. The Schwarmfürher was straining to check every one of those clouds for possible ambush, but the black puffs of smoke betrayed the position of the enemy long before they could surprise the German Kette. Schwarzkopf aimed his kite in the direction of Rumbeke to intercept, where angry Flak was pockmarking the sky and attempting to repel the intruders all by themselves.
Two French Strutters were at a higher altitude and already heading for the front lines after spotting the Schwarm. Aldi gave chase but realized pretty soon that he would never catch them. He turned back to get back to his own side with the rest of the flight behind him growing in frustration. They would be coming back to base with their ammunition belts full of bullets and itchy trigger fingers.
Aldi’s thoughts were already on the most direct route to the aerodrome when bullets started to whiz around and strike his upper plane. Camels! They jumped them from above while also returning back from a mission across the front lines. Maybe even an escort flight for those Strutters that got separated earlier? In any event, the fight was on. The Camel was good, sticking to Aldi’s tail until one of Schwarzkopf’s wingmates chased him off. Aldi was already engaging another scout trying to keep up with his maneuvers. He climbed, Aldi climbed as well. The Camel flipped upside down, so did Aldi.

[Linked Image]

He then dove for the lines, but Aldi was right behind him taking potshots all this time.

[Linked Image]

The Flak was still banging away very close by. They were north of Passchendaele by now when one of the volleys ripped through the back of the Englander.

[Linked Image]

The Sopwith went down like a rock, crashing below with what Aldi imagined must have been a loud, blood curdling bang.

[Linked Image]

He could only imagine it as his roaring engine was drowning any other sounds. That is until it suddenly stopped. The bloody Flak must have hit him and cut his lines at some point during the battle. Now he was sailing over the lines to reach the closest airfield. He had sufficient altitude to make it back. Strähle, who witnessed the entire dogfight was circling nearby, but Aldi waved him off to go ahead and land. They were now in friendly territory with no immediate danger in sight. Rumbeke was straight ahead. He was about to touch down just short of the field when a sudden gust of wind tipped his plane and he caught the ground with the wingtip. Thankfully it was just a graze and only the starboard wing suffered some damage.

[Linked Image]

The ground crew will be busy tonight.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/11/18 11:44 PM

Fullofit, close one there Bud. Glad you made it back. As for the wrong flight, unlike the Huns, all Camels look the same! In my defence, it was the right squadron.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/18 12:21 AM

Indeed! A very close call for Aldi!

Shades of Richthofen versus Brown in reverse, with Aldi playing the role of Brown and flak playing the role of Aussie machine gunners.

I'm glad Aldi made it through, as I have grown rather attached to him. It would have been a sad tale indeed if he was done in by ground fire from his own side, not to mention the added paperwork, investigations, and possible courts-martial of the responsible parties!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/18 01:45 AM

MFair, as long as you can land in one piece that is alright in my book.
BuckeyeBob, thank you for your concern towards Aldi’s well-being, but as you know War is a fickle mistress. Even a young French maid with a sharp enough pitchfork could do him in.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/18 02:38 AM

I'd be more worried about the young French maid's father!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/18 02:56 AM

well done flight !
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/18 05:57 PM

As always, wonderful stories everyone. I finally found time to fly a bit.

Sgt Collin Sitwell
62 RFC
Cachy

11 March 1918
The Hun's have finally decided to come out and join the party! The Sqn has seen its first true dogfights the past two days! On the 10th, our boys knocked the hun bastards out of the air with impunity, scoring a total of 6 times. The "Hughes" (Hughes and Claye) claimed two Albatross D.V., Allen + Hay scoring, Cleary + Watson scoring, and Robinson + Wells claiming a further two [1]. All of that fun with no losses in return.

Today was just as successful, as Symmonds + Holmes and Hughes + Claye each put down one of those Fokker Triplanes. Harry and I claimed a Rumpler on our Turn over the lines. The Hughes are rightly chuffed, as they are now the clear claims leader in the Sqn with their 4 to our 3. I feel there will be many more opportunities before the end of this War.

I'll cut this one short as the drinks are flowing quite freely tonight!

[Linked Image]
Capt Claye & Capt Hughes

12 March 1918
There is nothing more sobering than empty chairs in the mess. There is nothing more sickening than seeing nine empty chairs in the mess. Especially when one of them belongs to your good friend. This morning I went up on a patrol led by Capt Purdom. We saw two Rumplers on our side of the lines, doing whatever it is that Rumplers do at this time of year. Purdom signalled the attack and I followed in last, due to my position in the formation.

None of us saw them until it was much to late. A gaggle of Triplanes dove down out of the sun behind us. The first I noticed of them was the ratatatata of Spandaus firing at us. I felt a blow like a sledgehammer to my leg and I thought heard Harry make a strange grunting noise behind me. I dove for the ground at full power, trying to lose the Fokker on my tail. It was a harrowing horrible few minutes, but I managed to lose the Hun and put down beside an army camp. Harry was dead before we even landed. He was a mess. I will never forget that sight. As for me, I faired much better. Fairly minor wounds that will keep me on the ground until the 17th.

All of this was child's play compared to what happened later. Capt D.S. Kennedy took up a nine plane patrol to check the lines for Huns. He led them right into the Circus. Richthofen and his friends had a field day with the green pilots. Kennedy and his observer Lt Gill were shot down in flames. Three other crews went down on the wrong side of the lines and we have received no word as to their fate [2].

While most of the Sqn is morose, Hughes and Claye are more angry that I have ever seen. They have sworn revenge on the Circus and plan on going out hunting tomorrow [3]. Oh how I wish I could join them.

[1] These were the Sqn's first claims since the Sqn's original claim of a Two Seater on 21 Feb by Hughes + Claye.

[2] Capt. D S Kennedy MC, Pilot KIA & Lt. H G Gill, Observer KIA [claimed by Jasta 11 Ltn Lothar von Richthofen]
Lt. L C Clutterbuck, Pilot POW & 2nd Lt. H J Sparks, MC Observer WIA/POW [claimed by JG1 Rittm Manfred von Richthofen]
Lt. J A Ferguson, Pilot POW & Sgt. L S D Long, Observer WIA/POW [claimed by Jasta 11 Ltn W Steinhäuser]
2nd Lt. C B Fenton, Pilot POW & Lt. H B P Boyce, Observer POW [claimed by Jasta 11 Ltn Lothar von Richthofen]

[3] Hughes and Claye actually did get revenge the very next day, shooting down Lothar Von Richthofen in an engagement which sent Lothar to the hospital for several weeks.


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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/12/18 07:49 PM

DC,

Terrific account that makes me want to reread MvR's account of the savaging of 62 Sqn's Bristols. Well done!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/18 03:44 AM

Good Story Canuck
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/18 03:50 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer
Kriegslazarette # 3 at Aachen
Ward 9, Row 4, Bed 14,

March 12, 1918.


I couldnt sleep last night . I kept picturing my last hunting expedition in the snowy back woods Never did spot any game.


https://giphy.com/gifs/hunting-stalking-9G1nzdAqsm8ZHtQNra/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/13/18 11:25 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer
Kriegslazarette # 3 at Aachen
Ward 9, Row 4, Bed 14,

March 13, 1918.


The Head Ward Nurse came thru today. She has a strange look about her.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/14/18 12:27 AM

Carrick, are you sure Luthor is in a hospital?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/14/18 02:37 AM

yes its Hospital # 3 ,but it also has a Spa and doughnut shop
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/14/18 02:51 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer
Kriegslazarette # 3 at Aachen
Ward 9, Row 4, Bed 14,


March 14, 1918.

The Doctor finished up on me He said that it wont be long till I go back.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/18 12:20 AM

Guys, I'm so sorry for the delay in posting the Status Reports. I've been incredibly busy and they have just fallen through the cracks. I swear on my beautiful BOC pin that I'll do better in the future.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/18 01:27 AM

Banjoman, good to see you. I was beginning to worry. Busy! Got it! Thanks for what you’re doing for us, whenever you can.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/18 02:33 AM

Banjoman: U do great.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/18 02:36 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer
Kriegslazarette # 3 at Aachen
Ward 9, Row 4, Bed 14,


March 15, 1918.

Started in on the physical therapy, Led by Helga our Fitness instructor and Frieda her assistant

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-En9VERNvt...er-Nikki-Fuller-Rare-Photos-Collection-1

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/18 12:18 PM

Banjoman, no need to apologize. We all appreciate the stats whenever you get time. I hope you are able to get some stick time in the future. Thanks again Bud!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/18 10:41 PM

DC, glad you lived through that one! Crackerjack story.

Jerod Jackson
43 RFC
Auchell
21 missions
5 victories

Nov. 13th, 1917
Morning patrol was a patrol around friendly territory near Berques. B Flight and A flight would be 7 machines combined. Jackson griped all the way to his machine about "wasting good petrol flying around in friendly territory in heavy weather". Near Warham at 12.000' the flight leader spotted 2 machines headed east about 1000' above and ahead. We all climbed to engage. No way they could get away this far behind the lines. Ryan and Jackson attacked 1st. Ryan, just ahead and to the right of Jackson, took the first shots and the observer returned fire. Ryan turned sharply away. Jackson gave two long bursts with pieces flying of the big DWFC. It banked to the right and Jackson saw A flight coming in from above so he turned to avoid a collision. A flight made short work of the Hun and Jackson formed up with them for the home flight as his flight was nowhere to be found. Back at base. A flight claimed both machines and it seems Ryan had caught a bullet in the lungs during his attack and perished.

Nov. 14th.
Myself and Oswald were to escort 2 RE's to survey the lines near Monchy. All went well with no contact.

Nov. 15th.
Patrol friendly territory Fienvillers. At briefing the CO asked Jackson if he had any "questions about patroling friendly territory."

"No Sir" was Jacksons reply.

"Any compaints?" the CO asked.

"No Sir" Jackson said redfaced.

This time there was no contact.

Nov. 16th
Morning patrol was an attack on Athies Junction. Near Monchy Davies dove down and left. Jackson and the rest of the flight followed. Jackson quickly saw a DV which 2 of of his flight pounced on. Turning to circle at 1000' Jackson spotted another just below and dove to engage. He and the Hun circled twice with no advantage either way when Christianson joined in almost colliding with Jackson. The Hun broke away giving Jackson a perfect chance to pounce which he did. Locked on his tail Jackson let loose and the Hun shuddered with black smoke coming from the engine. It rolled over and went in. Jackson noticed the red and black band around the fuselage with a white flower in the center. Returning to base he filed his claim.









Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/15/18 10:46 PM

Nice to hear that Jackson made it thru his flight. Ive lost a few good pilots near Monchy and a couple of Aces thrown in. Keep and Eye out.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/18 12:20 AM

Carrick, for some reason I like that area. All my campaigns seem to patrol around Monchy. It seems to be a busy place.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/18 01:53 AM

MONCHY !

https://giphy.com/gifs/screem-it-came-from-outer-space-movies-1950-t7jyTlsyLCHCpetXby/fullscreen



I found Monchy and Roulers areas to be a sink hole for my pilots. However with that said, They are areas where the &%#@ hits the fan and some really good fights go on.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/18 02:27 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer
Kriegslazarette # 3 at Aachen
Ward 9, Row 4, Bed 14,


March 16, 1918. Slipped out after lights out to see Gretchen she works down in city at the Bierhalle . I will be re-leased soon so back to the Front.


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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/18 02:54 AM

Fullofit, somehow I missed Aldi's last story on the 11th. Great stuff and great photos! MFair, I hope Jackson is a genuine Stonewall for you, mate!. Carrick, your man is a rogue, I think. And Banjoman, thank you again for your dedicated work on the stats. Hope to see you in the air soon.

Corderoy hasn't had much luck of late...

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 40: 10-16 November 1917

10 November 1917 – Poperinghe


Up early this morning and get enough paper out of the way to take up a patrol at nine o’clock – Hobson, Howson, Seth-Smith, and Koch. Wing is pressing to destroy some balloons on the southern part of the Salient. Our patrol is to attack one just northwest of Menin, not far from the Hun aerodromes there. The sky is dull grey, a featureless mass of cloud. We bob in and out of the overcast, dropping down to confirm our bearing every minute or two. Not far from the target we become separated in the cloud and I emerge with Hobson and Howson, but missing the other two. I turn north and search for the target. It emerges a little to the left and about a mile off, still high up – in fact, at the same altitude as us. But before we approach within range, the thing goes up in smoke and flame. Koch and Seth-Smith have seen it first and the former has got his first gasbag.

We begin to regroup, but several Albatri dive on us, unseen until the last few seconds. I get a good crack at one, but the fellow dives over the Hun airfield and I follow until the tracer begins to whip past my Camel. Several rounds smack into the fuselage forward of me, so I climb away westward to regain height. Just in time, too, for without as much as a cough the engine gives up the ghost and I am left gliding over the lines. Luck is with me, for no Huns are about and I put down roughly close by Messines.

Koch has credit for the balloon and Howson for a DV, so it has been a good morning. Sigismund was grazed this morning with B Flight, and will be out a few days, it seems.

Letter from Catherine. It seems the regular nurses like to lord it over the VADs, one in particular whom she calls “the Duchessâ€. Her response is to become the high priestess of sanitary practices, which has made her a favourite of one of the head doctors. I sense a drama in the offing. The girl seems quite formidable.

Walked into town with Gregg and enjoyed tea at the Maison de Ville. The market square is crowded with wounded being prepared for movement. The heavy fighting to the east seems to have died down, as we have taken the ridge so many fell for.

11 November 1917

Went with B Flight to Loos to bomb some Hun rail cars. The boys did a thorough job and returned without much damage, seeing nothing.

Walked into Pop to attend Sunday service at Talbot House, known affectionately as Toc H. The fine old house on Rue de lâ€Hôpital is run by two padres, Father “Tubby†Clayton and Father Talbot [1], and serves as an “Everyman’s Club†for all regardless of rank. It has been a going concern since 1915 and offers a reading room and lending library, a billiard table, and lots of decent furniture. The adjoining building, a hop-house, has been added to the original house and has become a concert hall, while the upper room in the place is a chapel. It lacks somewhat in the bar service, but more than makes up for it in comfort. And there is always good tea to be had. It is a little slice of home and human decency. There is a wonderful sign near the entrance that reads “Abandon rank all ye who enter here.†Spend a good two hours in the garden smoking and chatting with some very funny New Zealanders. I would like to see their islands one day.

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"The fine old house on Rue de lâ€Hôpital is run by two padres, Father “Tubby†Clayton and Father Talbot, and serves as an “Everyman’s Club†for all regardless of rank."

12 November 1917

Back to Loos today – more of the same. Mixed with some Albatri. We had our hands full and then some Pfalzes joined the show. We were lucky to get away. The Camels cannot outrun anything, so we had to fight it out. At one point I had three of the buggers on my tail. The ack emmas counted thirty-three holes in my grid. We were delighted to learn that Quigley had bagged one of the Pfalzes.

13 November 1917

Escorted three French Sopwith Strutters to Oppy this morning. Several Pfalzes interfered and I hit one, which immediately began to tumble about and fell apparently out of control. The Hun disappeared into the cloud below, which was too high to say that he could not have recovered. Although I made the claim, it remained a “driven down.â€

Letter from Catherine. She enclosed a poem she has written about her sentiments on seeing so many wounded young men. Very well done and very touching. I am tempted to try my hand at poetry. I am afraid I have never felt any talent for it.

14 November 1917

We were to meet up with some RE8s from 42 Squadron and ferry them over east of Vimy. On takeoff, however, we spotted an odd-looking formation off to the south of us, only three thousand feet up. I turned to investigate and several minutes later saw white puffs of ack-ack as the formation neared Bailleul. We opened up and after ten more minutes identified the machine as Albatros scouts! I have not before seen Huns this far over and so low down. Two of the EA turned to engage us while the others scattered eastward. The fight was strange. I hit one as it came at me, skidding just out of its way at the last second. I turned and saw nothing! After several minutes circling and studying the fields below I gave up. Only Howsam was near me, so I fired a flare and climbed to 5000. Gradually the others emerged from the haze and rejoined.

I set course for Neuve-Chapelle, hoping to find the RE8s, and by some miracle flew right past them. We turned about and escorted them to the assigned objective, circling about while they took photographs. No other Huns were about.

15 November 1917

Patrol to Arras sector. Froze at 12000 feet, seeing nothing. Visit from Colonel Holt. One of our corporals came before me on charge for sleeping on guard duty. FP No 1 is the norm, but Sergeant-Major Pococke confided that the thing is viewed very negatively by the men. I fined the fellow £3/10s, which was likely a harsher penalty, as the man is known to enjoy his drink.

16 November 1917

I feel that my old luck has returned. We flew south to Annoelin to attack the Hun balloon lines and I got the gasbag with my LePrieurs. In fact I narrowly avoided going up in flames with the thing! Then we were attacked by a large group of Pfalzes. The first I knew of them was when several Spandau rounds ripped through the upper wing. One smashed my rev counter, another bet the little mixture lever and exited through the floor. Yet another holed my sidcot’s right leg without touching me. I turned and found the Hun heading straight at me. I fired and zoomed, then came about to find him below me. I hit the Hun from close above and saw it break apart. The balloon claim was not approved by wing, reason unknown, and Lieut Gregg informed me that Gorringe was quite adamant that he had been firing on the Pfalz when it broke up. I conceded the kill to him but privately felt very bitter about it.

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"I hit the Hun from close above and saw it break apart."

The war is wearing on me. I took a long walk this evening, north towards Proven. After a couple of miles I sat and watched the lowering sun while the guns thundered behind me. I found myself sobbing uncontrollably. This has not happened before. Took twenty minutes to get a grip on myself.

Notes:

[1] TocH still stands and is open to visitors. It even serves as a B&B if you fancy a stay in a period room. The story of the place is worth researching. It is named for Father Neville Talbot's brother, who was killed at the age of 18 in 1915. Clayton and Talbot originally called it Church House, but quickly changed it when they found the soldiers "stayed away in droves"!


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/18 05:30 AM

Wow What a Pic.
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/18 11:07 AM

The problem with flying RE8s is that anything that makes for good storytelling is bad for surviving.

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Artillery Observation., or Art Obs as it was referred to by the pilots, was not something that might be considered exciting by the newspaper reading public back home. 2nd Lt. Stanley would fly in figures of eight over the target area, reporting the relative position of shell bursts to the batteries through a wireless set.

All the while, Stanley was terrified that black crossed machines were diving down on him while he was watching the ground. Day after day the observations were completed without incident, but this could never be the case forever.

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On the 16th of November, Stanley was up over Marquilles with Lt Chambers in another machine. There was an escort up above in the shape of three SE5a's from 40 squadron.

Kennicot, pulled on Stanley's shoulder. Looking around, Stanley saw a terrible sight. The sky was peppered with black dots. They were Albatros scouts diving on the RE8s.

Stanley didn't really have time to count. He just knew that the odds were overwhelmingly against him. He pushed the stick forward.

His stomach lurched as the RE8 dived. Stanley wasn't sure how much of a sustained dive the machine could take, so his plan was to go into a side slip. It wasn't necessary as the Albatri ignored him and switched to the other RE8.

The SE5a's responded and began to mix it up with the Albatros scouts, but it was too late for Chambers and his observer Ross. Stanley didn't see exactly what happened. The fight was so far away that all he really saw was a sudden twinkling. The observation machine had broken up in the air and the sun was catching new angles on the debris as it fell.

Stanley and Kennicot were left alone in the sky. The RAF engine was running surprisingly well given how Stanley had pushed it in the dive, but he treated it gingerly as they flew back to Acq.

“Well, would you look at those flying wires!†Flight sergeant Hughes exclaimed as he approached them after landing. “Did you run into trouble, sirs?â€
Stanley looked around at the RE8. The wings were in their proper position, supported by the landing wires, but the opposite set of wires hung with a noticeable sag.
“We were dived upon by a full circus,†Lt. Kennicot replied. “This kite got us out of there unharmed. Which was a miracle.â€
“And Lieutenant's Charles and Ross?â€
“Sadly not, sergeant.â€
“I see sir. I will tell the lads.â€
“Very good, sergeant. Come on Stanley, let's go and make our report.â€
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/18 01:32 PM

Maeran, you managed to tell an outstanding story AND survive. That's a good day in a Harry Tate.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/18 01:47 PM

Raine

I suspect it is time for Geoffrey to take some leave, for his own sanity!
Your reports are always entertaining and looked forward to.

As for the mysterious disappearance of the foe, that is rather common place when flying the Camel I fear.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/18 10:14 PM

Carrick, you are slaying me with your Giphys! Are you sure your Luthor isn't actually trying to avoid the war??

MFair, good to see Jarod up and flying. Quite the proper gent I see and keeping on the good side of the CO ("No Sir!" should do it.).

Canuck, a very fine report Sir. I really enjoyed your historical footnotes and the background on Hughes and Claye.

Maeran, That is the ultimate challenge, staying a live in a two seater in 1917!! Nice report Sir!


Albert Earl Godfrey, RFC-60, Ste-Marie-Cappel

13 Nov 1917 @ 07h20 Patrol to the lines NW of Loos


Albert was awakened at 06h00 by his batman knocking at his door announcing “06 hundred Major!†Albert acknowledged the knock and listened to the footsteps fade away as he tried to gain some alertness and focus. He swung his legs over the edge of his creaky cot and slipped his feet into his bed slippers. Rising to a jaunty stretch and twist, he ambled to the basin on the dresser, poured out some standing water from the jug and splashed it in his face. The decidedly chilled water did wonders in opening up his eyes as he sucked back a deep breath in response. “Damned cold†slipped off his lips in response. Reaching out with his right hand, he waved the yellowing window curtain slightly aside, offering him a view of the skyline and the nearby ground. His initial impression ran through his mind “No snow at least, but looking damned cloudy for a good run todayâ€. Godfrey quickly finished his morning wash-up, put on his clothes, sidcot, and fug boots and headed for the mess.

Entering the mess, Albert quickly headed for some tea and toast and then sat down beside Chidlaw-Roberts. “Going to be a cold one this morning Jack.â€
Roberts replied “No doubt about it! Hope it’s a clean quick routine patrol.â€
“Have some marmy with that toast Al.†“Thanks, don’t mind if I do.â€

The small talk continued on for a time and then the mess cleared as everyone headed to the briefing room.

At briefing “B†flight was assigned a patrol to the lines north of Loos to reconnoiter for any Hun activity. It was to be a routine flight. Wind was 8 kn. From the NNW with Heavy cumulous cloud cover from 5000 ft., and mist, with possible rain. Askew, sitting beside Albert mumbled something about “wonderfual day for flying!†in response to the announcement by the CO.

Albert was assigned to lead “B†flight with Askew on wing and Jenkins, Hegarty Rutherford, Chidlaw-Roberts and Young composing the rest of the flight.
The show would be “B†flight alone.

They took off at 07h20 from Ste-Marie-Cappel, headed north of the field and formed up circling until they had attained an altitude of 6900 ft. It was 07h42 when they started towards their next leg that would put them over Foret Imperiale.

At 07h47 they arrived over the Foret at 7600 ft. Well into the cloud cover. It was only by slight breaks in the clouds that they were able to decipher their position.

At 07h51, flying at 8900 ft. with prevailing cloud cover breaking up they crossed over the Lys river.

07h54 found them over the front at 8900 ft and still the cloud cover above them was fairly dense. If there were any Huns about they would be extremenly hard to detect unless they were almost on top of them. The flying conditions were far from acceptable for any reasonable investigative patrol and Albert decided to cut the trip short. He led the flight in a lazy circle over the front and then headed back towards Foret Imperiale, arriving there at 08h20 and having descended to 6700 ft.

At 08h25, they were touching down at Ste-Marie-Cappel. The only positive outcome of the flight was that all members returned with their mounts intact.

As a result of the weather reports handed in further flights to the front were curtailed for the day, pending improvement of conditions.

Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/16/18 11:12 PM

Rains, let’s hope Jackson does not share Stonewall’s fate. If you remember, he was shot by his own men!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/18 12:33 AM

Finally had a chance to catch up with everybody's reports. Great stuff going on.
Dark Canuck and Maeran, RESPECT! Flying a 2-seater with the Circus buzzing around? Big balls!
MFair, looks like the military is teaching Jackson some discipline.
Carrick, I hope you get out of that hospital soon and one word of advice: don't compete with Gretchen in any drinking games. You WILL lose.
Raine, another stellar report, just be sure Cathy stays interested in pilots and not doctors. So, you're having problems with getting away from Pfalzes in a Camel? I'm having the opposite problem, can't seem to catch any Camels in my Pfalz. They just seem to accelerate as if they were SPADs. Something ain't right. Bentley version seems more balanced - it's only slightly faster than a Pfalz.
Robert, haven't watched the video yet, but I'm sure I'll get a kick out of it.

Sad news. Sergent Hercule Zenon, due solely to the excellent JJJ65's ambush feature, was ... ambushed and died. As they were taking off a mix of Dreideckers and Albatrosen swooped down on them and some Boche named Adolf Ritter von Tutschek shot him down in a Fokker. RIP.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/18 02:20 AM

Fullofit: Sorry about Ur Pilot What part of the Front was he flying when he got the chop ? I think Gretchen is a true professional. She doesn't even stop to take a breath .

Mr. Wiggins: Luthor does seem to be dragging his feet going back to the front.

Maeran is flying an RE 8 ?

https://giphy.com/gifs/screem-it-came-from-outer-space-t7jyTlsyLCHCpetXby/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/18 03:04 AM

Luthor Linderman

Headed back to the front

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/18 03:07 AM

Fullofit;

That's a unique screen capture of the flak from ground level. Never saw a scene like that before from WOFF. Great shot. Sorry to hear about Hercule. A virtual round, for the man who's gone down!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/18 12:35 PM

DC and Maeran, I agree with Fullofit. My hat is off to you two. Fantastic stories to boot,

Robert, the weather does suck right now!

Carrick, welcome back to the front. Does it burn when you pee after your hospital stay!

Raine, another stellar yarn from the master.

Fullofit, I raise a glass to your pilot.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/18 06:02 PM

MFair: LOL
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/18 06:45 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Wynghene, Flanders.
Jasta 3
4 Victory's

March 17, 1918.

Posted to Escort a Dfw on a Recon mission. Our flight had 5 of the 8 pilots left in the Jasta and all the fuel since none has come up from the rear area. Over the lines, we spotted a flight of camels high and coming down. I flew over and warned the 2 Seat to flee. However , I was low and slow so missed the fight. The flight claimed 1 destroyed for 1 lost and 2 damaged by enemy fire.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/17/18 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Fullofit: Sorry about Ur Pilot What part of the Front was he flying when he got the chop ?

Carrick, he was flying the Marne sector.

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Fullofit; That's a unique screen capture of the flak from ground level. Never saw a scene like that before from WOFF. Great shot. Sorry to hear about Hercule. A virtual round, for the man who's gone down!

Robert, the Flak (in this case Archie, or whatever the French call it) seems to be able to fire too low for my liking. Sometimes I can see it hitting the ground around me when I'm forced to land in enemy territory. Perhaps Jara would be able to code Flak with minimum operational ceiling in his multimod?

16 November 1917
Jasta 18, Harlebeke

Days are definitely getting shorter ... and damned colder! Aldi was sitting in his Pfalz at 3500 m altitude circling the Erkegem-Oostkamp field on the aerodrome defence mission along with the rest of his flight. Schwarm Eins could barely be seen on the opposite side of the circuit they were making. The skies were overcast and an ambush could come from any direction. Schwarzkopf lost count of the number of loops they’d completed over this place, but according to his watch they still had five more minutes to go. He checked his gauges, not that there was much to check, but anything to avoid boredom. Everything checked out. Four minutes and forty eight seconds to go.
Another circuit complete, everything clear. Three minutes to go.
He was right over the aerodrome and quickly came up with a plan. Aldi was always curious what would happen if he were to spit and it dropped from such a great height. Would it just disperse into mist, or would it freeze and fall down as an icicle? He was about to find out. He quickly formulated the largest loogie he could muster and was ready to hock it when enemy planes suddenly appeared out of the clouds. His throat instantly felt dry despite a large spitball stuck in it. The Schwarm dispersed as enemy scouts buzzed from above. French Nieuports! Aldi was weaving furiously to avoid collisions and getting hit. The nimble French machines were difficult to follow and somehow there was always one behind him. Aldi was wishing he could fly large circuits above the aerodrome again instead of these insanely tight, gut wrenching circles. His Pfalz was dropping lower and lower. This wasn’t great for his energy conservation, but on the other hand, it separated him and his opponent from the rest of the furball. At least now he could concentrate on this single adversary. He had to reach deep into his bag of tricks to turn the tables and get on his tail, but eventually he did after taking advantage of the Frenchman’s blunder. Aldi was now sitting on his six and attempting to line up a shot.

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The Nieuport was squirrelling around in every direction to avoid being hit, but the two Spandaus eventually were able to find him.

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The enemy scout was slowing down from taking damage and Aldi found it hard to stay behind without overshooting.

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He had to bank and go around to get back on his tail. Take a few shots and bank and go around. Shoot, bank and ... Gunshots!
Donnerwetter! Did he just get jumped by another Nieuport?
He quickly looked around but couldn’t find any attacking enemies, however “his†Nieuport was now coming down in flames. Just behind him was Turck, the Staffelführer. Aldi was furious! Gott Verdammt! Another certain victory stolen by this poor excuse for a leader! Were all his claims achieved with cheap kills? Aldi was disgusted and was certain Turck will rub it in by trying to convince him that he saved him from a certain doom. Schwarzkopf turned his machine around and headed for the aerodrome without forming up behind his leader. He didn’t care.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/18/18 12:07 AM

Can't wait to hear how Aldi handles this one back at base!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/18/18 12:37 PM

Fullofit, great screen shots as always.

Jerod Jackson
43 RFC
Auchel.

Nov. 18th, 1917

Jackson sat in his Camel exhausted. Looking left and right he looked over the bullet holes and torn canvas on both wings. He felt lucky to be alive. 2 hours earlier A and B flights consisting of 5 machines made an attack on Haubourdin. Approaching the target there were 5 V strutters circling above. One dove and came straight at Jackson. This Hun was good and twice he sent bullets tearing through Jackson's Camel. The fight went lower and lower and soon Jackson realized he was taking a tremendous amount of ground fire from Haubourdin. He was in a real fix. He finally managed a telling burst on the DV. Jackson was content to break off as the DV dove for cover. As he pulled up he could see the lower wing of the DV was shredded. Gaining altitude and looking back he saw the DV crash into the ground near the airfield.

Breathing a little easier he could see some of his squadron attacking the airfield and turned to make a pass. Picking a hanger for his target he let loose 3 long bursts and pulled up. Another machine was coming in at his level. He kept climbing thinking it was another Camel. As he went over the other machine more bullets slapped his Camel. It was a Rumpler! Where did he come from. He lost sight of the Rumpler and seeing 2 Camels forming up in the distance decided to call it a day. Approaching the formation he saw another machine closing behind him. At first he thought it was another Camel forming up but soon could see the hawk like appearance of DV coming up on his tail. Jackson headed west but the DV was gaining. Still in Hun territory Jackson turned to engage as he had no other choice. Around and around they went. This one put a burst into Jackson's machine but with no critical hits. Jackson got a good burst on the Hun and he dove away. Jackson was content to let him go and fight another day. He flew back to his base alone.

At debriefing he was informed his DV from the day before was rejected. Jackson shrugged his shoulders and left for a drink.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/18/18 01:57 PM

MFair, great report. I like Jackson’s approach to the denied claims.

I wasn’t going to dwell any further on Turck, but since Robert asked ...

16 November 1917
Jasta 18, Harlebeke
Later that day ...

Aldi was still raging after a rough and careless landing. Turck was still in the landing pattern above. Aldi looked up and wished the Staffelführer a nice Damenlandung (ladies’ landing) - turned over upside down. He went quickly to the Kasino to look for something to make Turck suffer. Something that would be humiliating. He couldn’t find anything appropriate and his frustration was growing. Strähle! Strähle will have something for sure. He stormed off to his quarters, flung the door open, Paul was reclining on his cot reading latest Berliner Tageblatt. Schwarzkopf lunged at his roommate’s ornate large wooden chest at the foot of the bed. Strähle looked on with interest, but hasn’t said a word. He knew Aldi was on a mission. Many odd and strange objects were contained within the box and Aldi couldn’t decide if he preferred something sharp or blunt. He was emptying the chest by discarding objects that would have no use to him. Many were strewn around the room. A lot more under the bed.
“Aldi?†Strähle finally broke the silence. “Can I talk to you?â€
Aldi’s response was silence with only his hand raised, visible above the chest’s lid, with his index finger extended up, signifying that he will need one more minute. Finally Aldi sprung to his feet holding something in his hand.
“I’m leaving.â€
Aldi froze, a bucket of ice in his stomach. He knew Paul didn’t mean leaving the room. Revenge on Turck instantly forgotten.
“Are you going to leave me here alone?†Aldi sat on the edge of the cot.
“They gave me a Jasta to command. It is a great honour, I couldn’t refuse.â€
Aldi was numb. First Walter, now Paul.
“When are you leaving? Which is the unfortunate Jasta to get you? Do I know them? Come, let’s have a drink.†Aldi got up to his feet.
“No, you don’t know them. They’re just forming and need a C.O. with experience ...â€
“And that would be you?†Aldi tried to make a joke, but Paul looked at him disapprovingly, all serious.
“Jasta 57 won’t be operational until January. I still have some time. Are you going to use this?†Paul was looking at the object Aldi was holding in his hand.
Schwarzkopf just realized he was still clutching this thing.
“What exactly is this, Paul?â€
Strähle grabbed his friend by the shoulder and smirked as they were walking out of the room.
“It’s a long, but interesting story. Ask me some time when you come to visit.†Paul responded closing the door behind them.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/18/18 02:19 PM

Fullofit, you have only fuelled my curiosity more, with that last story!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/18/18 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
Fullofit, you have only fuelled my curiosity more, with that last story!


And the plot thickens!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/18/18 10:14 PM

geat stories to go with my cup of java.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/18/18 11:09 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Wynghene, Flanders.
Jasta 3
4 Victory's

March 18, 1918.

Alarm ! 2 Seat Bombers reported over the line. The Jasta put up all 7 pilots in two flights. The Bombers turned out to be Spads and well above us. We got scattered as they fell on us and I went from fighting one group after another. I guess the 3rd time was the charm because I got one. He just fell apart under my twin machine guns then Fire. The E/a crashed on our side , but dont know if anyone saw him.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/18 12:10 AM

Good stuff Carrick. You go get them!

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Captain Edward Nygma is now a permanent fixture of the scenery. Attacked by a Schwarm of Albatrosen during take off. Was doing well when an unexplained phenomenon occurred. He simply fell down, as if there was no lift. He had all wings attached, motor working and was right side up, but instead of flying forward, he was simply falling straight down until the ground stopped it. A bit of a riddle.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/18 02:14 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

17 Nov 1917 @ 08h00 Patrol to St-Andre-Aux-Bois airfield


What was to be another routine flight behind our lines turned out to be quite an adventure. The results were 9 downed enemy aircraft at the expense of the death of Askew, “B†flight’s wingman.

Having formed up north of the field at 08h24 at 10151 ft., the flight headed SSW towards Artois, in very cloudy heavy cumulus. The flight was uneventful all the way to the Foret d’Hesdin. Suddenly seven flecks appeared out of the clouds at 10 oclock and getting closer. They were Albatros D types. Two of them broke to engage “B†flight while the others continued east bound.

“B†flight broke up to engage those Huns who stayed to play. It was a short furious fight that ended as quickly as it had begun and the two Huns went down into the dirt.

“B†flight reformed and began to climb out on the way to St-Andre-Aux_Bois.
Within 5 minutes Godfrey spotted two high flying aircraft that looked like Hun two seaters headed east. They were 1500 ft or so above and “B†flight gave chase. As they approached the Foret d’Hesdin for a second time, Godfrey had managed to position himself directly under the leading DFW C.V.
Pulling back he climbed out and sent volleys into the crate and as quickly dropped down into a safer position under it. He repeated this several times until with his last attack he observed the DFW lose its upper starboard wing and go down. Hamersley and Soden had finished off the other DFW and the flight rejoined again.

Godfrey took the flight once again on course for St-Andre-Aus-Bois, but missing Askew and wondering what had become of him. Cruising at just over 12000 ft they arrived there and then set course for home.

Back at base, claims were put in. every member of “B†flight laid a claim and none knew for sure what had happened to Askew. Jenkins stated he had seen Askew terminate his attack on the DFW and break away but didn’t seem to look as though he was in trouble. Askew’s body was found with the wreckage of his SE near the road passing west of the Foret d’Hesdin. It was surmised from his wounds that he had been badly hit in the chest by return fire from the DFW.

“A†flight who had been trailing, had given chase to the Albatros scouts and caught up with them near Fruges where a melee began that saw all of the Hun scouts downed.

Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/18 02:29 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Good stuff Carrick. You go get them!

[Linked Image]

Captain Edward Nygma is now a permanent fixture of the scenery. Attacked by a Schwarm of Albatrosen during take off. Was doing well when an explained phenomenon occurred. He simply fell down, as if there was no lift. He had all wings attached, motor working and was right side up, but instead of flying forward, he was simply falling straight down until the ground stopped it. A bit of a riddle.


This is extremely strange. Did he possibly stall out?
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/18 02:57 AM

Robert, I think Fullofit will tell you that what happened to his pilot will most likely remain a bit of an E. Nygma.
biggrin
Great stories again, gents. Keep 'em coming!
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/18 04:42 PM

Here is the latest status report.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture ScreenHunter_228 Mar. 19 10.40.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/19/18 09:10 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
, Flanders.
Jasta 3
5 Victory's

March 19, 1918.

Jasta Status: 6 pilots of 14 authorized
A/C 12 + 1 flyable in Res. Albatross D-Va
Fuel stocks Low.

Morning formation; I received the Kreuz 1 Klasse. and my Spad was confirmed by some riggers at one of our airfields that saw a ball of fire fall out of the sky. Besides the C.O. and X.O. I am the only other Ace in the Jasta. Posted to afternoon Escort of a Dfw to Monchy on a photo op. Spotted enemy flights all about ,but no fight developed. Trnsfered to new A.F.

Attached picture CFS3 2018-03-19 13-37-45-83.jpg
Attached picture CFS3 2018-03-19 13-45-33-98.jpg
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/18 12:19 AM

Banjoman, thanks for the stats!
Carrick, congrats on the SPAD!
Robert, good shooting! How do you keep the rest of the squadron away from your target?
Also, it felt like Edward stalled and with DH.5's you can never tell, with the wings being backwards and all that.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/18 02:21 AM

Thanks Fullofit. The Riggers said my burning Spad looked like this

https://giphy.com/gifs/comet-9V3e2rzwR0kagQMYKM/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/20/18 03:51 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Briastre, Flanders.
Jasta 3
5 Victory's


March 20, 1918.


The Jasta put up 5 a/c to Escort a Rumpler to Peronne. As we acted as High Escort an SE 5 slipped in low and took out our Rumpler before we could intervene . I dove but couldnt line up till he was 500 yds away fired off 112 rds, but no hits then he was gone. The C.O. and Army Corps was not happy.


Attached picture CFS3 2018-03-20 08-34-14-93.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/18 01:42 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Briastre, Flanders.
Jasta 3
5 Victory's

Spotted 2 Sopwiths Types with rear guns while on patrol. Fired off my guns to alert our 6 a/c, everyone stayed in a standard right turn. I broke off and in a slight dive attacked the 2 seat machines. One stayed in the fight while the other went home. After 321 rds, he started down leaving a smoke trail. I could plainly see a damaged right wing. His rear gunner chopped me up good numerous hits all over my Scout, I was completely Shook up. A close call indeed.

Attached picture CFS3 2018-03-20 18-20-16-80.jpg
Attached picture CFS3 2018-03-20 18-22-52-38.jpg
Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/18 11:17 AM

After making their report, Lt Kennicot and 2nd Lt Stanley went and got changed before heading to the mess. Stanley had only just got through the door when he was intercepted by one of the mess waiters.

“My apologies sir, Major Tyson wants you in his office at once.â€
“At once eh? Well, very good. Thank you. Kennicot, I'll catch up with you later. “

Captain Dawes waved Stanley through into the major's office. Bob had been hoping to be relaxing in the mess by now, but instead he was standing to attention in front of a stern looking Major Tyson.

“I've read the reports, Stanley,†Tyson began. “You dived away for the lines before the enemy attacked.â€
“Sir? They were clearly diving down upon us, sir.â€
“You ran and left Charles and Ross to die.†The sentence was delivered as a level statement, but Stanley detected a snarl hidden underneath.
“Sir, they had the same chance as I did.â€
“You should have stayed together, Lieutenant! Faced the enemy united!â€
“We were too far apart to try sir. We were on artillery observation, and not in formation. If I had lingered, sir, Lieutenant Kennicot and I would also be dead.â€
Major Tyson snorted. “Kennicot's an alright sort. You, on the other hand, should have been shot the first time! I'll not stand for cowardice on my squadron!â€

Tyson went back to his chair and sat down. “I understand that you would likely weasel out of it now, like you weaselled out of it then. So what's the point in a charge? You're on orderly dog until I say otherwise. You fly your missions and then you stay here. You sleep in the orderly office and you are under the orders of Captain Dawes. Is that clear second lieutenant?â€

“Yes sir.†The hope of an afternoon with the Sporting Life evaporated.


Captain Dawes talked Stanley through his duties. He was to type up reports, file various receipts, indents and wage rolls appropriately, and answer the telephone. It was essential that someone man the telephone at all times, in case urgent orders came through. As 'orderly dog,' Stanley was to sleep in a cot set up in the office in case the telephone rang at night. His meals were to be taken in the office and he would only be relieved of duty while flying or performing his ablutions.

It was very boring. But Stanley could see an opportunity when he was presented with one.

Saturday morning saw the RE8s on an uneventful photo reconnaissance over Loos. On his return, Stanley stayed in the office. When the CO went to dinner that evening, Stanley went to Tyson's desk and started writing. He had several examples of the Major's hand set about him and would often stop to practice a particular letter shape, but soon he had completed his task. Sealing the envelope and popping the letter into the dispatch bag, Stanley went back to his vigil beside the telephone.



On Sunday morning, B flight went up to bomb German positions behind the lines near Lille. Stanley didn't see the point; aeroplane directed artillery would have been more effective. Nevertheless he released his bombs at the target.

Moments later, the engine changed its tone. Stanley signalled to Slessor and headed west for La Gorgue, which was the closest aerodrome. After a minute the engine stopped.

[Linked Image]

It was eerily quiet. Certainly, the wind still howled in the wires and the occasional thud of artillery came from behind them, but without the roar of the engine, it seemed quiet enough to talk.

“Where are we going to glide to?†Kennicot asked his pilot.
“La Gorgue,†Stanley replied. “Its closest but still quite far. We might have enough height to glide there. If not, I find a nice fieldâ€
“Okay.†Kennicot said and then added, “the old man is being very hard on you.â€
“Thanks, but don't worry. I can handle him.â€
“Without doubt. Although your charm doesn't seem to work on him.â€
“I have my ways.â€
“I'll see what I can do when we get back.â€
“Thanks!â€

La Gorgue was still over a mile away when Stanley knew that they could not reach it. The fields below were a mix of vegetable patches, small copses of trees and larger fields with cows in them. One field seemed empty. Stanley decided to land there.

“Hold on! I doubt it's going to be a smooth landing!â€

It was a pretty good landing. Small bumps bounced the RE8 dangerously from side to side as Stanley dug the tail skid into the dirt to slow the machine to a stop.

“There!†Stanley looked around to his observer. “We made it!â€
“Never had any doubt, old boy.†Kennicot climbed cumbersomely out of his cockpit, “Stay with the machine, I'll go and organise a pickup.â€

Stanley watched as Kennicot headed off toward the field gate. There was a bellow. Half way between the aeroplane and the gate, the brown coated figure turned his head to the right and raised his hand as if to ward off the bull that had gone unnoticed until it was too close.

The bull broke into a trot, tossing its horns. Kennicot ran. The bull charged. A horn caught Kennicot in the side and he was thrown into the air. Stanley, back at the aeroplane, leapt out of and ran toward his fallen companion. Fumbling with his flying coat he pulled his Webley revolver out and brandished it at the bull.

The bull had turned and was stamping and kicking at the lieutenant's prone body. Stanley slowed, walking forward at a deliberate pace with his pistol pointing straight out at the bull. He pulled the trigger. The crack of the Webley was followed by a bellow of pain and outrage from the bull. It leapt and twisted away from Kennicot. A bloody patch on its hip showed where Stanley had hit the beast.

Stanley fired two more shots before retreating to the RE8, the bull heading his way fast. Stanley dived under the wing and then turned to see where the bull was.

The bull had reached the wing and shoved at it. The whole aeroplane lurched around. The bull started to make its way around the wing. Stanley only had a few seconds to act.

He jumped onto the wing and then threw himself onto the pilot's chair and over into the observer's cockpit. He pulled the Lewis gun around on its rail and pulled the trigger. The bull screamed and collapsed in the hail of machine gun fire. Stanley's finger was white as he held the trigger until the drum ran out.

When the gun stopped, Stanley heard shouting. The farmer was running into the field waving his arms wildly. Stanley had to fight the urge to raise his pistol again. Instead he pointed at where Kennicot lay.

Kennicot's legs looked terrible and crooked. Blood seemed to be everywhere. He was groaning.
“Bloody hell! Are you alright?â€
“Stupid question, Stanley.†Kennicot half opened an eye. “This is a right mess we've gotten into, eh? I really hope there's morphine.â€

Within an hour, an ambulance from La Gorgue had taken Kennicot to a field station. Major Tyson arrived shortly after with the recovery truck.

“Shut up Stanley,†the Major said as he surveyed the scene. “I don't want to hear it. Get in the car and consider yourself under arrest.â€

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

When I was forced to land in a field, it was a pretty good landing, but somehow Kennicot got killed. There were cows in the next field, so this is my story.

Other missions have been flown since and it seems that there is no flying until the 24th, so I will break the story into more manageable bites.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/18 12:01 PM

Absolutely smashing stories everyone.

Maeran, now I will be worried about bulls wherever I land!

Fullofit I appreciate the comment on the bravery of flying a two-seater, but Maeran is the real brave one here. I can at least fight back pretty successfully in the Brisfit! I cant wait to see what happens next with Aldi!

Robert It is great fun following along with Albert's progress!

MFair Great storytelling. And I agree, it is a good way to deal with a rejected claim. And a successful claim for that matter...

Banjoman Thanks as always for keeping the reports up to date!

Carrick I hate escort missions for that reason exactly. It can be tough to spot those coming in from below to wreak havoc.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/18 08:15 PM

What a wealth of good reading! Carrick, it seems like Luthor is getting in the groove. Fullofit, stellar photos and an engrossing story. Robert, you are the master. This is the second very long career for an "A" pilot of yours, and success just keeps coming. Congrats! MFair, old friend. I always look for you here and am happy to see your man succeed despite the evil claims gods. Dark Canuck, great research and an engrossing tale. There is another pub night in our future soon. And Maeran, I'm thrilled to see you here and totally caught up in your story now. Can't wait for the next installment. Extremely well done.

Corderoy got blind-sided by an Albatros last time up and will be out for a total of 17 days, just when I was getting more time to fly. That's the way it goes....

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 41: 17-20 November 1917

20 November 1917 -- Etaples


Have missed writing for several days. Much has happened since my last entry.

I awoke on the morning of the 17th feeling quite out of sorts – that my nerves had gone, that I was becoming unfit for command. There was a dark place in my heart. In the pale light seeping through the blinds, I read Catherine’s poem again.

St. Thomas's Hospital

Years of youth and hope, the promise and the wait
Dreams of laurels, love, contentments yet to be,
Where a thousand paths extend, a thousand turns of fate
And all remains a possibility.
But to these shattered men the gates are chained,
The ways are barred, the fading sun gone out.
With searching eyes, with faces tight and pained,
They pray to gain again what they have lost, despairing and devout.


The sense of dread was overwhelming, and it had taken me quite by surprise. I had told Captain Parker that I would accompany his flight at seven, but made an excuse and retired to my office, where I was unable to concentrate. I told Gregg to fetch Sergeant-Major Pococke and tell him that I would inspect the men’s lines, and so I lost an hour.

By eight o’clock I was heading back to the office. Now feelings of shame overcame my windiness, so I suited up and walked over to B Flight’s hangar. Sigismund was nearly ready to take off. His B Flight was to join up with some Strutters from Naval 2 and shepherd them down to Loos to photograph the Hun reserve lines. I said I would tag along, and was content to let Sigismund lead.

Once in the air, the nerves settled nicely and I was sliding back into my old self, even singing a little as we cruised south east to the rendezvous spot. Once there, we circled for twenty minutes. The Strutters did not show up. Finally, Sigismund turned back north. I pulled alongside his grid and pointed east, not wanting the patrol to end. He nodded and signalled for me to take the lead. Our six Camels climbed eastward past Ypres, passing 11000 feet as we crossed the mudscape of the Salient.

I was on a Hun-hunt, and I suppose my intent was to exorcise the wind-up demons. We patrolled for forty minutes, first to the south, and then north to Menen. Just south of that town, I saw six aircraft approaching dead ahead. In a very short time we could make out the distinctive shark-like noses of Albatri.

The two formations met head on, firing. I was forced to dip under one of the Huns to avoid a collision. A hard right turn should have brought me onto his tail, but the Hun was a good one. He had already zoomed and come about. We passed each other like this three or four times, bullfighter and bull. I took every chance to check my tail, as the main fight was somewhat above us, but I seemed to be clear. Then suddenly, my Camel shuddered as rounds smashed through my upper wing and all about me, and a blow to my head as from a cricket bat knocked me senseless.

I came to in a spin, at least three thousand feet below the fight. More rounds were smacking into my grid and blood was running down the right shoulder of my sidcot. I eased the Camel out of its dive. The machine groaned and skidded. From behind the sound of twin Spandaus was clearly audible over the roar of the engine. I jinked and twisted in a panic, fighting the grey mist that threatened to overwhelm. The compass was spinning. The sun was over my left shoulder – heading west, but down now to five thousand. The Hun was mere feet behind, moving for the kill. I pulled up, nearly stalling. The Albatros overshot. This was my chance to escape.

But I didn’t escape. Seeing the Hun twisting away, I let pure rage loose. My ways would not be barred, damn it. My fading sun would not be put out. If I was going to die I was bloody well going to have company! I’d struggled with keeping the Camel in a left turn, but now I fairly snapped it around and caught the Hun as he banked. A long burst straight down into his cockpit sent him tumbling like a dead leaf. I circled and watched as the yellow German machine straightened, then snapped about, then straightened, and then snapped about again into a vertical spin. It slammed into the ground just south of Menen.

Then I was sick to my stomach, which at least kept me awake. Howsam appeared off my left wingtip and became my guide. I followed him to Bailleul and put down on the asylum field there.

[Linked Image]
"I circled and watched as the yellow German machine straightened, then snapped about, then straightened, and then snapped about again into a vertical spin."

What followed was a blur. I can recall being lifted out of the tattered Camel. It seems I was lifted out of my tattered Camel and brought to No 3 CCS in Bailleul. There I had the back of my head shaved and a jagged piece of metal removed. By some miracle I had not been hit by a bullet. Instead, one of the rounds from the Hun had shattered the cap on the fuel tank and part of the thing nearly penetrated my skull just behind my right ear. A triangular piece of bone was gone, but I managed to keep the brains on the inside, and otherwise I was in one piece.

The last two days I have had terrible headaches that can last for hours and that make me dizzy.

With my head wrapped like a fakir, I was packed off by train to a convalescent camp here in Etaples – a dreary hole overrun with military police, training areas, and sullen labour corps coolies. There is, however, a chance I’ll be sent to England.

8 p.m.: Visited by Gorringe, who has brought my kit and news that my Hun has been confirmed – number 34.


Attached picture Kill #34.png
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/18 10:10 PM

Enjoyable reading everyone.

Maeran: My pilots always wear rubber coated Flying Boots because they might have to land with Cows or Sheep in a field or talk with their fellow pilots about the Fights in the Mess
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/18 10:44 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Briastre, Flanders.
Jasta 3
6 Victory's


My Spowith was confirmed . No fuel except for Run-ups and Test Flights. Maybe in a few days, it will be better. In the meantime, all have chipped in to have a entertainer perform in the Officers Mess. A Madame Miam, Miam, Yvette

https://giphy.com/gifs/makeup-boop-betty-uQEP2o2rtxkZ2/fullscreen

Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/18 11:55 PM

It has been quite a week for Sgt Sitwell, but the absolute topper was running into these guys tonight:

[Linked Image]

I've never been more excited/terrified when playing a game before. What an experience! Ill be typing up the actual post soon, but I'm so amped up I had to post something tonight.

Attached picture Baron and Udet.jpg
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/21/18 11:57 PM

Nice, looking forward to reading about your encounter.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 12:25 AM

Carrick, Luthor seems to be coming into his own. Here is to a long career!

Robert, Great story and video as always. It seems ya'll really stitched them up on that last go.

Banjoman, Thank you for the stats. I must have put Jerod in the wrong flying club on my last update. He is flying in 1917. I just updated him correctly. Sorry for any trouble.

Maeran, what a ripping story Hoss! Very nice. Done a lot of hunting in my time but zipping a cow with a Lewis? Novel.

Dark Cannuck, Thanks you for the complement. I have to admit, after that flight, they could have sent me home and would have had the same reaction.

Raine, Careful my friend! That is too close! The fickle fate of war can do in the best of pilots and Geoffrey has outlived a few of his lives already. I hope he is rested and alert once back at the front.

2nd Lt. Jerod Jackson
Auchel
28 missions
9 victories.
Nov. 22, 1917

Jackson had two confirmed victories in the past 3 days. A DV over Haubourdin and another DV near Monchy. He has also been promoted to 2nd Lt. A proper gentleman now. With the new rank he is leading A flight on most days. He was feeling very confident and sure of himself until yesterday. He was leading a flight of 3 when Alice, on his right pulled up followed by Barclay. Jackson turned but could not see any danger. He made 2 complete circles looking all around with his two mates twisting and turning. He was about to think it was some stupid joke they were playing on him when bullets smashed into his right wing. Jackson turned up and left hard just in time to see a V Strutter flash past. At that moment the Camel went into a spin. A few thousand feet lower he pulled out and saw Barclay giving the Hun what for. "Serves him right" Jackson thought. After seeing the Albatros explode on the ground they formed up and finished the patrol with no other contact.

Today, with wonderful flying weather Jackson and 2 others were to patrol enemy lines from Menen to Diksmuide. Completing the first round, back over Menen at 10,000' Jackson spotted 4 machines in the distance. He tried to place his flight between the setting sun and the Hun patrol but they spotted the ploy and 2 broke of to engage. One of the Albatros went right over Jackson and he noticed the broad White and black vertical striped fuselage. After a little twisting and turning Jackson was on his tail and at close range let loose. Both of the Hun's wings collapsed and he went down like a stone on the outskirts of Menen. They formed back up continue the patrol but 2 machines coming east about 1000' above them dove to attack. They were painted the same as the last two. It was a brief fight and was over quick as both sides had had enough and they headed home. Approaching Auchel Jackson was taken by the wonderful sunset and at that moment wished he could fly at that moment forever. His DV was confirmed that night. Victory number 9. Making him the leading Ace in the squad.

Sim Notes. At this point, 43 RFC has no HA's. I am really enjoying this as everyone in the squad is vulnerable. It surely changes the way I fly. If I see a mate in trouble and know I am safe, I still go in because if I don't, he may not come back. How many times have you been low on ammo, maybe your plane is a little damaged but you are headed home and know you can make it but see a HA in your squad dueling with 3 enemy machines. You KNOW he will make it so you head home. Flying with no HA's sure makes for more immersion.
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 12:34 AM

MFair, I think you can check a box in the ME so that HA's remain dead if killed in action.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 01:08 AM

Ace_Pilto, is that true? MFair, I love flying with no HAs because it really changes things when you know they can all die.
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 02:45 AM

Originally Posted by Banjoman
Ace_Pilto, is that true? MFair, I love flying with no HAs because it really changes things when you know they can all die.


Yep, see attached:

(Edit: My bad, it's only for ENEMY HA's)


Description: Yep
Attached picture Hd0TuHN.png
Posted By: xNightFlyerx

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 03:53 AM

Awesome story! Love these posts=)
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by Ace_Pilto
Originally Posted by Banjoman
Ace_Pilto, is that true? MFair, I love flying with no HAs because it really changes things when you know they can all die.


Yep, see attached:

(Edit: My bad, it's only for ENEMY HA's)

I could make it for friendly HA's either, but they would be very short living (from my experience).
But, anyway, in case of any interest, it is possible.
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 06:48 AM

It wouldn't be a bad option to have imo but you're definitely right, not many would survive for long.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 10:21 AM

Dark Canuck, that would be a rush! Looking forward to reading about the encounter.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 01:31 PM

It was a rush indeed. My smartwatch tracks both heart rate and stress levels. When I checked my stats that night, it was easy to see when the combat took place!

Sgt Colin Sitwell
62 RFC
Cachy

17 March 1918

I have finally recovered from my wounds enough to fly. My permanent observer has not yet arrived, but I have been assigned Capt Doug Cooper in the meantime. He is experienced and a fair shot with the Vickers, so I am content with the choice. He is a more formal and traditional officer and we do not share the same camaraderie that I previously enjoyed with Harry.

Today we are to conduct a line patrol up to Vimy, with myself in the rear of the formation. Hughes and Claye have scored a further two Huns in my five days away, including the renown Lothar Von Richtofen [1]. Unfortunately, we have heard rumours that the Baron's brother is merely wounded and will eventually return to battle. Hughes and Claye are rightly chuffed as their score sits at six, far and away the most successful within the Sqn.

As we approached the lines on this bright and clear day, I noticed three huns Two-Seaters flying past us only about 2000m away. I signaled to Capt Purdom, but he ignored them and carried on with the Patrol. I was still feeling a bit sore from the loss of Harry and I was spoiling for a fight. I broke formation and tore after the Huns. I don't know why, but the formation of Hann CLIII panicked and split up, allowing me to move on them individually.

The first I brought down over several passes. It burst into flame and cratered into the ground behind our side of the Ridge. A few minutes later, Doug put down the second with a fantastic deflection shot that removed the wings from the stricken bird.

[Linked Image]
The Hann CLIII on its way to its final destination

Capt Purdom was not pleased when we returned to Cachy. He let me know in no uncertain terms I was not to go "Gallavanting all across the skies like some flighty bird." I think the only thing that saved me from a more severe dressing down was Capt Cooper stepping in on my behalf. Unfortunately, both the Huns were unwitnessed and my claims were rejected. Gibbons and Knights drove one down OOC on a separate patrol. [2]

18 March 1918
Today we set off on a patrol to the enemy airfield at Catin. We are told to go and seek trouble. Once again I take up a spot in the rear and happily trail along behind Capt Purdom. We only go a few miles before we see Huns a few thousand feet below us. They are far across the lines and flying low to try and avoid detection as the slink back to their side of the lines. Very unusual.

Purdom waggles his wings and arches over in a full power dive. I give a feral grin and follow. The situation immediately deteriorates into a wild furball. Everyone is going everywhere and it is difficult to find a target before becoming one yourself. I hear Capt Cooper hammering away with his Vickers at some pursuer while I bear down on a Pfalz DIII. We dance for several long minutes, before I finally gain the upper hand and send him in, not far from Cachy.

I am pleased to see that Lt Savage has witnessed my victory, having himself dealt with the troublesome V-Strutter who had been trying to get me. Doug Savage is a fine man. He is a very good pilot and a better companion in the mess. His stories are generally vulgar (as is his singing voice) but he is always seen with a wide smile. Word comes in almost before we land that both our claims are confimed.

19 - 20 March
Heavy snow has cancelled all flights. Drinking and cards in the mess. We hold an informal memorial for those lost since 12 March. [3]

21 March 1918
Line Patrol. Nothing seen. On a separate patrol Staton & Gordon shot down a DR1, Purdom and Chambers shot down a DV, and Arthur and Bruce-Norton scored an unknown enemy scout. [4]

22 March
The Huns broke through the 5th Army Front yesterday. We have been sent out to attack the ground troops on the front lines. We are each loaded up with bombs and off we go. We were about five minutes away from our target when every pilots worst fear occurred; We saw a flight of enemy coming directly for us and at the front was a scarlet triplane. The Baron himself had come out to stop us. In a flash of red he was past us. The remainder of the circus joining in the fray.

[Linked Image]
The Baron Flashing past

It was wild. My heart hammered in my chest as I dueled with the Hun's best fliers. I twisted and turned wildly, trying to get a shot at the Baron. Doug hammered rapidly on the Vickers until it jammed hopelessly. After that he was along for the ride. For ten minutes the Baron and I sparred. He was so much better than me and I knew it was only a matter of time before he ended this charade of a contest. The number of holes in my wings continued to mount.

And then my luck changed. A hasty snap shot hit something important and the Baron was no longer as maneuverable. I could now out turn him and he struggled to keep his crate aloft. I pressed my advantage and fired a long burst from short range. the Fokker tumbled out of the sky, cratering into the ground.

[Linked Image]
Closing for the final blow

With great satisfaction, I turned for home. Much to my surprise, I saw a second triplane coming towards me, in the markings of Herr Wolff. I a feat of accuracy and luck that I shall never be able to reproduce I fired a short burst from a long range and to my shock, the triplane angled downward sharply and smashed into the field below.

The RO, Lt Bramwell-Davis, initially scoffed at my claims, but both were soon confirmed by both Savage and Purdom. Maj Smith, Capt Purdom, Doug and I all hoped in the Tender and headed out to where Von Richtofen had crashed. We found the aircraft under the guard of a British infantry unit, though it had already been quite worked over by those searching for souvenirs. I was very disappointed to learn that somehow, Von Richtofen had survived the crash and had escaped capture. This was tempered by the fact I managed to get a large piece of the fuselage for the mess.

Maj Smith was on the telephone immediately after we returned to Cachy. Once he finished, he called for me. He looked me dead in the face. "Collin, big things are coming for you. Big things. But for now," he said with a smile, "it is time to celebrate!"

[1] Lothar was shot down by Hughes and Claye on the 13th, with Lothar losing the entire top plane of his DR1. It was several weeks before he returned to active duty.

[2] Historical victories Capt. George Everard Gibbons MC, DFC and Capt. Sidney Arthur William Knights MC. Both men survived the war, with Knights serving in 62 Sqn until May and Gibbons returning to HE on 18 September with 17 victories to his name.

[3] Total casualties between 12 March and 20 March were 15, all sustained between 12 and 14 March.

[4] These were the Historical Victories actually scored by the sqn for the day.

Attached picture Down in Flames.jpg
Attached picture Geting a bead.jpg
Attached picture The Baron.jpg
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 03:08 PM

Jara, could you please make that change for Allied HAs as well?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 09:40 PM

Quick question for the group. All of my pilots for the past few years have been Olhams DID or the current DID. It seems that when I get to around 30 hours combat time battle stress sets in. When I climb in the cockpit that feeling of “is this the mission I buy the farm?†starts creeping into my head. The more hours I fly, the worse it gets! Anyone else have a similar story?
Posted By: JJJ65

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 09:58 PM

Yep, that would be possible, Banjoman, just ME will be in conflict with WOFF - after mission when HA was shot down, WOFF will show HA as injured but ME will have to remove the HA from roster. For the next mission, WOFF can generate killed HA for next flight, but ME can override it and delete the killed HA from flight plan and replace him with ordinal squadron pilot. Is that solution acceptable?
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Quick question for the group. All of my pilots for the past few years have been Olhams DID or the current DID. It seems that when I get to around 30 hours combat time battle stress sets in. When I climb in the cockpit that feeling of “is this the mission I buy the farm?†starts creeping into my head. The more hours I fly, the worse it gets! Anyone else have a similar story?


Somewhat except I get it after 10 hours, it increases from there and I become resigned to the fact that my guy is going to get chopped and just take it as it comes. Also I get a sense of dread in every flight in the Albatros D.II Because I've had 2 AI pilots spontaneously combust on one patrol and, in a different career, one pilot of my own had his Albatros ignite itself for no apparent reason on his third patrol. Idk why it happens, I don't flog the engine, they just randomly self destruct.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/22/18 11:17 PM

Friend, anything you can do would be acceptable to me.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/23/18 01:28 AM

Oh yes, One tends to become VERY CAREFUL, as the DiD campaign progresses, if you want to keep your treasured pilot alive to the end of the war.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/23/18 01:38 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Briastre, Flanders.
Jasta 3

6 Victory's

March 23, 1918.

The fuel carts have come up, but its only 50 % of the requested amount. The C.O. says 6th Army supplies have been diverted to those units at the front at this critical point.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/23/18 01:40 AM

Mr wiggins is right. CAREFUL is the word for DiD Flying.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/23/18 03:09 AM

MFair, I know what you mean. I find that for the first 25-50 hours with a DiD pilot, it's all a great adventure. But then it becomes a methodical study in survival. I go through periods where I'm reluctant to engage without an advantage, and even seeing a squadron mate in trouble doesn't result in an automatic rush to attack (although I generally do so after some self-recrimination). Later there can be bursts of recklessness that make you I realise how Mannock and Von Richthofen ended up violating their own dicta and paying the price. With the one DiD pilot I had who made it to the end of the war (in Olham's campaign, starting in November 1917), I recall getting angry in late October and November 1918. Every time we'd be attacked by Fokkers, I'd be cursing my luck and thinking "It's over. I should be out of all this. So quit already!"
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/23/18 03:28 AM

Raine, all of those things, and more, go through ones head. I think most if not all of us DiDers can relate to your thoughts. The urge to "rack em up" get's tempered over time but there are still those moments of abandon tossed to the winds and the fickle finger of fate!
Posted By: xNightFlyerx

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/23/18 06:17 AM

Awesome stories! I'm currently trying to catch up. I'm on page 6 so only 185 to go.No prob lol. Good luck and good hunting everyone!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/23/18 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Raine
MFair, I know what you mean. I find that for the first 25-50 hours with a DiD pilot, it's all a great adventure. But then it becomes a methodical study in survival. I go through periods where I'm reluctant to engage without an advantage, and even seeing a squadron mate in trouble doesn't result in an automatic rush to attack (although I generally do so after some self-recrimination). Later there can be bursts of recklessness that make you I realise how Mannock and Von Richthofen ended up violating their own dicta and paying the price. With the one DiD pilot I had who made it to the end of the war (in Olham's campaign, starting in November 1917), I recall getting angry in late October and November 1918. Every time we'd be attacked by Fokkers, I'd be cursing my luck and thinking "It's over. I should be out of all this. So quit already!"


Raine, you nailed it my friend! That is exactly what I am talking about. I reckon we can thank OBD for for such a fantastic sim. I have never done a study but I would guess 80 percent of my dead DID pilots are mid air collisions with a few engine fires thrown in. I have grown very wary of tight fur balls.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/18 01:07 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Briastre, Flanders.
Jasta 3
6 victory's

March 24, 1918.


I was flying the Jasta Hack a/c to and from Hq for dispatches and Orders. It seems that Fresh Divisions are being fed into the Michel Battle. Jasta 3 is being Op/con ( Operational Control ) to II Armee. We will be getting 6 Pilots and 4 more a/c Albatross D-Va 's for our part of the operation.

Attached picture CFS3 2018-03-23 17-47-29-72.jpg
Attached picture CFS3 2018-03-23 17-47-45-48.jpg
Attached picture CFS3 2018-03-23 17-50-12-83.jpg
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/18 03:00 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

24 Nov 1917 @ 07h10 Reccy escort to Monchy


The cacophony immediately died down as the C.O announced the morning mission. It was to be a Reccy to Monchy with “B†flight directly providing top cover for two R.E. 8’s of AFC-3 flying out of Bailleultown. “A†flight was to provide additional protective cover for “B†flight and the R.E. 8’s from behind and slightly higher up. The forecast was not good with low mist and rain giving way to heavier clouds above 4000 ft. The mission had been originally scheduled for the 22nd but weather conditions had resulted in scrubbing all flights and although the current weather was not good, the mission could not be put off any longer as it was deemed critical to the current Cambrai offensive.

Godfrey was to lead “B†flight with a new squadron member “Chamber†filling the wing position. The rest of the flight was composed of Selous, Hamersley, Rutherford, Duncan and Crompton. Rutherford and Godfrey were the only two original members of the squadron in the flight, So many good lads having gone west.

“A†flight didn’t fair much better in representation. Soden and Chidlaw-Roberts were the old guard surrounded by new faces composed of Patrick, Hegarty, and young.

The only upside to the affair is that they would all be flying new S.E.5 Vipers which had shown up several days ago. They had only been released from the fitters and mechanics for duty on the 23rd. This would be the first flight for these birds and the men were rather excited to take them up, even in these conditions.

Godfrey pulled the collar of his sidcot up around his neck and tied his scarf ends around it to pull it in close, cutting out the draft. The rain was pelting down in a steady stream as they climbed away from the airfield. The heavy ground fog gave way as they climbed north to form up. The engine of the Viper sounded solid and powerful to Godrey as he surveyed the surrounding sky and terrain, climbing ever higher into a turn and beginning the forming up circle.

As they approached 4800 ft, the rain suddenly stopped as they cleared most of the prevailing cloud. The ground mist was still heavy below and dense cloud cover still hung above the flight but there were patches of clear sky opening up and the sun breaking the horizon was a veritable show of colour. Godfrey could not help reflecting how beautiful it was and how much more desirable than slogging it out in the trenches below. At 07h22 they had reached 8100 ft, when Godfrey took the flight on a southerly heading towards Monchy.

At 07h32, still at 8600 ft, they crossed the Lys river. As the flight reached 9000 ft, they passed over Loos and were met with the R.E.8’s they were to escort. They continued to climb to 10500 ft as they approached the front lines near Thelus at 07h46.

It was then that Godfrey first noticed two specs well up and a good distance on his port side. They were too far off to identify but he kept his eyes on them until he was comfortable that they were not interested in his flight.
Shortly there after, he noted 7 specs directly in his line of flight and about 1000 ft above at 12 o’clock. That flight immediately began to break up with two clearly intent on molesting the R.E.8’s.

Godfrey waggled his wings, kicked left rudder and began a steep dive, swinging onto the tail of the first Alb DV headed for the R.E.8’s. His engine fairly roared in the dive and he was soon on the tail of the Hun. Feathering back his throttle, he attack quarter aft as the hun climbed out and loosed a good volley down the side of the Albatros. He knew he had hit home when the Hun’s evasive maneuvers weakened. He continued his attack sending volley after volley into the body of the craft, ever closing his distance on the Hun’s six. Finally he observed the engine burst into fire and the deed was complete.

Godfrey broke away scanning for any other Huns close by, or squadron mates who might be in trouble. He observed hi flight mate Selous in pursuit of a Hun about 500 ft above. While tailing the action, another Hun flying towards this action, sped past just above Godfrey’s starboard side. He noticed the Hun intent on harassing Selous in aid of his mate. The intent was not lost on Godfrey and he was damned if he was going to stand by and let it happen.
He swung his S.E. to port and climbing, gave chase on this Hun interloper.
Selous was busy chasing his foe in a dive and was not aware of the second Hun jockeying for position on his six, but Godfrey was quickly closing ranks and just in time, sent several volleys at the second Hun which served to make him break off his attack on Selous. As the Hun broke away to port and climbed out, Godrey was right there to press the attack. The hun kicked rudder and dove away. Godfrey would have given chase, but he noted that Chambers had taken up the gauntlet and was swinging in behind the Hun. Godfrey pulled up to scan the skies again and assess the situation.

The members of “B†flight seemed to have things well in control and showing an upper hand in the affair. Godfrey spotted one Alb without a dance partner and so offered to show him the floor. They passed head on and Godfrey sent him a greeting in the process. The hun broke into a tight port turn and Godfrey into a like minded starboard turn from a height advantage. As the Albatros came about, it passed directly below the S.E. and Godfrey again sent him anothere greeting. Again both craft turned to face one another and again Godfrey, with the advantage of height sprayed the Hun’s upper planes and cockpit with lead.
The Hun again turned to port and Godfrey to starboard. They were about to face each other again when Godfrey noted Hamersley, approaching from behind the Hun, crossing just below his own S.E., begin to fire on the Albatros. Godfrey broke away ending his attack and observed Hamersley chasing the Hun as he attempted to dive away and run. The Hun managed to shake Hamersley but in an erring judgment headed back in the direction of Godfrey who was more than willing to cut in on the dance and finish the affair. After several more volleys at the Hun, Godfrey observe the Albatros go into a seemingly uncontrolled spin. Since the Hun was now out of the action and not an immediate threat, he elected to break off the attack and try to gather his flock.

He soon noticed that Selous was involved in attacking a Hun about 800 ft above him, and while scanning about observed another Alb on it’s own heading east. He gave chase and his Viper soon closed the distance. He could not help reflecting how his old S.E. could not have done it. Within minutes he was on the six of the Hun less than a hundred yards away and the Hun was oblivious of his presence. He gave one long volley at close range and the Hun turned over and fell to the dirt below.

Godfrey then reversed to return and collect his flock.
One by one they came together and at 08h00 they had reformed at 5600 ft. and were dancing about the flak that the Huns were sending up as a going away present. They all managed to cross the lines safely but for Chambers who had not rejoined. They arrived over Athies at 08h05 cruising at 8600 ft and still no sign of Chambers. Godfrey felt a sick sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was Chambers first outing and he had been freshly assigned as the wingman.

Back at base Godfrey laid claim to three Albatros DV’s, Selous claimed 2 more, and Hamersley and Rutherford each claimed another. It had been a good outing and the R.E.8’s had made it back to their base unscathed with their ill gotten gains.

As night fell, Chambers was still missing. As the next two days passed, he was declared missing in action.

Footnote:

The British 40th Division supported by 100 tanks of the BTU and 430 heavy guns, failed to take Bourlon Ridge. The German field guns became more and more effective at knocking out the tanks. The great strides and quick advance of the Cambrai offensive was slowing down considerably as the Germans sent more and more reinforcements to the front. All the gains made since the offensive began would soon turn to naught as the British were forced to give up all their gains.


Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/18 01:33 PM

I haven't been getting much stick time lately so your stories folks, are my touchstone to WOFF. Keep em coming!

Carrick, Luthor just keps on going and going! I envy your stick time. I have had little of it lately.

Canuck, I am loving your stories mate! I look forward to each post. It's been a long time since I have run into the Baron. Your historical notes, much like Raine's, add a lot of enjoyment to the posts.

Maeran, your creative weaving of events makes for a great story. Gored by abull! Good Show!!

Raine, Corderoy seems tobe cutting safety rather thin these days. I hope he returns to his composed self after he recovers from his head injuries. Always a good story from you sir!! I was looking for the usual historical footnotes, but none this time.

MFair, good to see your getting stick time and posting your escapades. Jerod is doing well I see. Your mention of Diksmuide brought back memories of my previous DiD pilot "Ward" who flew in that area.

Keep the stories coming folks!

Best Regards to all
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/18 02:38 PM

Please don't envy, I just don't have much to do lately so I get a lot of stick time. Good reading all keep em flying.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/18 03:23 PM

Good show Robert. Very detailed report. Reading it, doesn’t take much to imagine the battle. And then there is the video. Thanks for doing these. I think you’re the only one doing it in this challenge.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/18 03:28 PM

Thanks Tom.

I like doing video but they are time consuming to edit and upload. That particular video had great atmospheric qualities with the sunrise clouds and low ground mist.
Posted By: xNightFlyerx

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/18 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dark_Canuck
It has been quite a week for Sgt Sitwell, but the absolute topper was running into these guys tonight:

[Linked Image]

I've never been more excited/terrified when playing a game before. What an experience! Ill be typing up the actual post soon, but I'm so amped up I had to post something tonight.

Talk about a Oh crap moment! lol.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/18 09:17 PM

Robert, great video and story. Nice historical note also.

Jerod Jackson
Auchel
November 24th

Most of the flights have been uneventful. The weather has been nice. Lounging at the mess Jackson and 3 others were called to intercept incoming machines southeast of Armentiers. Nearing the patrol area he spotted what looked like a DWFC and 2 escorts. He changed headings and started climbing towards them. One of the escorts, a silver Phalz dove down to engage. They were soon locked into a circling duel. Jackson could see the enemy looking back at him from across the sky. After about 4 minuets with Jackson gaining the upper hand, the Phalz pilot broke for home. Jackson lined up his shot and let rip. The Phalz staggered and slowed. Jackson was able to fly up his rear and at 30 yards filled the Hun with a 3 second burst. He dropped out of the sky like a stone.

Climbing back to altitude he circled waiting for his flight but no one appeared after 10 minuets so he headed home. Back at base he learned that the other members of his flight had pursued the other Huns as they turned home. Barclay claimed 2 and Henderson claimed another. Confirmed or not, it had been a good day for 43 squadron.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/18 09:44 PM

2Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAS

March 24th 1918

LAFAYETTE WE ARE HERE!!!!

I begin this journal sitting in an old 2nd Class car, on my way to the 2nd AIC (1) at Tours. As uncomfortable and cold as it is in here, we're better off by a long shot than the enlisted men in the 40 & 8s behind us.

They've had a pretty rough time of it. Their equipment went missing at Romsey, then they had to put up with the stinking cattle stalls on the "Northwestern Miller."

I'm sharing a cramped compartment with Dewey (2), Dod Cassard (3) and Alk Jones (4). Next door are the Major (5) and Deuce (6) with Mickey Two (7). Mickey seems to be weathering all this commotion just fine. He's fast asleep on the Major's lap. Deuce probably gave him some milk and whiskey again.

We landed at Le Havre yesterday, but by the time we got settled at the rest camp it was 11 pm and I was too tired to write by then.

The Squadron marched up to the camp in column of twos through the streets. The greeting the French gave us along the way made us feel pretty important and snappy. They kept cheering us and yelling "Veev Lez Amee!"

The tents were miserable. Wet, cold and no bunks. They gave us 4 blankets apiece but it was hard to decide how to use them. Was it best to put them below to keep out the wet or above the keep out the cold? Dewey and I teamed up as sidekickers. He put his 4 on the ground and we shared mine over us. With that and our overcoats we were snug as bugs.

Had a fine breakfast tho, beef, coffee, bread and jam. First hot meal in over 48 hours.

The train left Le Havre at 6pm, it's now 10. We've had one stop, at Mezidon. We had time to get out and stretch our legs. The Red Cross people were there to serve coffee, sardines and bread.

Saw my first enemy soldiers, Austrians, not Germans. There were a few prisoners at Mezidon, cleaning the street under guard.

Kaiser Bill has started a BIG PUSH to try to wrap things up before our army can throw a monkey wrench into his plans. We're all champing at the bits to get to the front!

(1) A.I.C.- Aviation Instruction Center

(2) Dwight G. (Dewey) Rothchild - a fictitious wingman assigned by WOFF

(3) Lt. Daniel W. (Dod) Cassard, member of B Flight, KIA 16 July 1918

(4) Lt. Arthur Hast (Alkali Ike) Jones, will be B Flight commander, credited with 4 victories. The nickname, usually shortened to Alk, was given to him by 2Lt. Emile (Frenchy) Vadnais, who took it upon himself to assign nicknames to his fellow pilot cadets during flight training in Canada. This nickname was probably derived from the 1911 comedy "Alkali Ike's Auto" staring Augustus Carney.

(5) Major Geoffrey Harper Bonnell, commander of the 147th Aero Squadron. Bonnell was a New Yorker who enlisted in the Canadian Field Artillery the day after England declared war. Subsequently he served on the Western Front during the 2nd Battle of Ypres and the Somme sector from July to November 1916. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, and after only 11 hours of solo time he saw action on the Lille Front, flying D.H.2s with No. 32 Squadron. He was credited with one aircraft.

Bonnell was assigned to command units in training at Toronto and then at Taliaferro Fields in Texas. He transferred to the US Air Service in October 1917. Given command of the 147th Aero Squadron on January 25th 1918, he selected men for his squadron from a list of personnel he had been evaluating since their time in Canada.

(6) Lt Cleveland W. (Deuce) McDermott - served with A Flight. KIA 28 October 1918. Credited with 3 victories.

(7) Mickey Two - Major Bonnell's Staffordshire Bull Terrier and mascot of the 147th Aero Squadron. Although Mickey Two was the mascot for the Squadron during the war, Mickey Free, Bonnell's previous animal companion was chosen as the Squadron symbol to be painted on their aircraft.

Mickey Free was Major Bonnell's Cairn Terrier. This dog died of pneumonia in December 1917. The Major had originally been given command of the 17th Aero Squadron at that time but was replaced by Major Martin Scanlon just before the unit left for Europe. Some of the pilots of the 17th believed that Bonnell had asked to be relieved because of his grief for Mickey Free.

Mickey Free was well known to the officers who trained at Toronto and Fort Worth. In fact, Mickey Free, or simply Mickey to most of them, had already adorned the fuselages and was occasionally seen under the wings of the Jennys at Camp Mohawk in Canada.


Somehow the captions for the pictures didn't take, The ship is the Northwestern Miller which was sold to a German shipping company after the war and renamed the Augsburg, later it was sold to the Japanese and was sunk during the 2nd war. The dog is Mickey Two on Major Bonnell's lap


Description: The Northwest Miller, later sold to a German shipping company and renamed the Augusburg
Attached picture nw miller.PNG

Description: Mickey Two with Major Bonnell in France 1918
Attached picture CIMG4667 - Copy.JPG
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/24/18 11:04 PM

Thanks for the acknowledge Fullofit and MFAIR.

Jet bear I fully enjoyed your report and the background history of the training program in Toronto and Texas. It was a well detailed background report. Tnx
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/25/18 02:59 AM

I just got around to watching your video, Robert. Nice story and report. Naturally, I particularly enjoyed your description of the clouds and weather and how you wove it into your story. In the video, at times, it looked like Godfrey was admiring the scenery rather than scanning the skies for the enemy! As your video shows, dawn and sunset scenes are my favorite in WOFF.

One question. I noticed that your spinner stopped well before landing, yet you didn't mention it in your story. Did I miss it?

Jerbear--welcome to the WOFF story-tellers society. It's nice to see an American joining the fray! Good luck!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/25/18 03:27 AM

Wow, the stories just keep getting better.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/25/18 03:42 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Briastre, Flanders.
Jasta 3
6 victory's

March 25, 1918.

The Jasta patroled the West side of II Armee's Offensive . We spotted numerous e/a and attacked some high flying Sopwith's. They came down fast and scattered my flight of 6 a/c. Our top cover broke up and turned for home ( that was the last I saw of them ) I had a Camel on mt tail that I could not shake so entered in a shallow dive and headed for a Balloon site when the ground fire came he turned for Home. On my way back, I spotted two Sopwith's low and slow so bounced them. One went home the other stayed and we turned and burned ( he did ) I saw him go down smoking and crashed on our side over by Lens. Landed at a friendly field with 30% Fuel and 17 rds left in the guns and over stressed flying wires so will be here tonight.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/25/18 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBob
I just got around to watching your video, Robert. Nice story and report. Naturally, I particularly enjoyed your description of the clouds and weather and how you wove it into your story. In the video, at times, it looked like Godfrey was admiring the scenery rather than scanning the skies for the enemy! As your video shows, dawn and sunset scenes are my favorite in WOFF.

One question. I noticed that your spinner stopped well before landing, yet you didn't mention it in your story. Did I miss it?

Jerbear--welcome to the WOFF story-tellers society. It's nice to see an American joining the fray! Good luck!



Bob, I ran out of fuel just before landing. I forgot to include it in the story.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/25/18 02:43 PM

Great reporting MFair, Jerbear and Carrick.
Hope Johnny’ll do well and one day they’ll sing songs about him.
MFair, it’s too bad the enemy does such a great job at disengaging from a fight, but then flies straight and level as if not expecting to be followed.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/25/18 04:51 PM

Thanks for the encouragement. I think Johnny will be pretty good once he finally gets to the front. I have enjoyed the stories from all of you since before I got into WOFF they were a big influence in helping me decide to jump from ROF to WOFF. They give you the FEEL of the game. Keep em coming.
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/25/18 10:05 PM

Here is the latest status report.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture ScreenHunter_230 Mar. 25 16.03.jpg
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/25/18 10:24 PM

Tnx Banjoman
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/26/18 01:36 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Briastre, Flanders.
Jasta 3
6 victory's




Flew back to base this morning, no one lost in the last fight. I talked to the Hauptman about claiming my Sopwith. He said " No witness then no Kill " Besides they put and Arty Bombardment in the reported area so even if you look , You will not find anything so do not file. Dismissed

Attached picture CFS3 2018-03-25 18-20-03-03.jpg
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/26/18 09:21 PM

Jerbear, wonderful story. Another literary among us!

Banjoman, thank you for the stats.

Carrick, sorry about the claim. You have the great satisfaction of serving the Fatherland.

Jerod Jackson
Auchel
November 26, 1917
Escort 2 RE’s to bomb supply depots north of Cambrai. Met 2 seaters with no problem and headed over the front. Southeast of Monchy they suddenly turned home. I scoured the skies to find the trouble but could not see any. At that moment my engine went bonkers and I just made it to a road near Bapaum for a forced landing.

Lounging in the mess that afternoon 4 of us were called for an intercept mission near Messines. Using a spare machine we headed off to do our duty. Southeast of Armentiers I spotted 2 machines escorting a DFCW about a 1000’ above and ahead. Climbing to meet them one of the escorts, a silver Phalz, dove to attack. We went round and round for a few minutes and I got the upper hand and sent him crashing into No Mans Land. Climbing for altitude I could not find the rest of my flight so returned to base. My flight came in soon after. They had pursued the other craft with Barclay claiming 2 and Henderson claiming another. It was a good day for 43.

November 27,
Rail yard strike at Loos Junction. Approaching the target I saw 3 machines down low. Apparently they had just taken off. I dove on a Phalz which turned away. The other 2 came after me and I turned to engage. I engaged a blue DV with a red nose. With my second burst the pilot slumped forward and crashed into the ground. I then joined my flight in turning Loos Junction into a flaming inferno. We all made it back with damaged machines.

The afternoon patrol was canceled as we did not have enough undamaged machines to fly. My two claims were confirmed bringing my total to 11. While we drank and sang into the night the poor mechanics and riggers stayed up making sure could fly in the morning.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/18 12:54 AM

What a DiD storytelling renaissance! It seems like I've been out of the fray forever and I'm missing the campaign. Every time I have a few days where there will be lot of available flying time my guy gets wounded!

Carrick, your guy is racking them up. Be careful with this one! MFair, Nice photo of the Pfalz on 24 November. Stay safe! DC -- I loved the shot of the Baron overhead. I think I would have crapped myself and been toast meeting that crew.

Maeran -- damn, I missed you. I absolutely loved your cock(ing handle) and bull story. Laughed my head off. Brilliant stuff, mate!

Jerbear -- really great beginning here, and your notes were fascinating. It will be great to have a "Sammy" pilot in the mix. Please keep the installments coming.


Corderoy is working himself up for a return. His feelings reflect mine at the prospect of mastering the Camel as the air war gains in intensity.


Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 42: 21-26 November 1917

26 November 1917 – Etaples


Hollow days. Checkers and light reading, dressing changes, medical interviews, walks, and bad meals – one day following another. Have read Fantomas in translation, and let my diary slip until today. Must try to fill in the lost time. [1]

On Friday the 23rd we received letters at last. A long one from Catherine, detailing some long tale of an insufferable doctor and a tyrannical matron, and the contempt of nurses for VADs. She wants a transfer to France. Then one from the parents. Mummy is concerned about Catherine. Is she perhaps in the family way by the late Scarborough? Why else would a young woman be so forward with a dashing pilot she has met for scarcely an hour. Unseemly. Dad is equally unkind. Your squadron mate’s fiancée, after all. Still cold in the grave.

It’s not as if these ideas haven’t passed through by addled and punctured head of late. I find myself anxiously awaiting mail from Catherine, yet wondering if I am merely amused by her. In truth, I can scarcely recall her face, and feel no great surge of longing. Her letters amuse me. And then, in the cold and dark hours of the night, I question if perhaps I have closed myself off to happiness. She does, after all, seem to be attached to me. Who is she?

Etaples is a miserable place, overrun with soldiers training for the front and military police. There is a major here from the Manchesters, chap named Greening. We walked yesterday to the empty sands at Paris-Plage, where we stripped to our cotton long drawers and dived into the icy waters. It was done on a dare, but wonderfully bracing. Then along came a redcap on a horse and placed us under arrest for being out of uniform. I suggested he bugger off, which he did not find amusing. Greening explained to him just how to do what I’d suggested, and now the fellow became distinctly unfriendly and drew his revolver on us! At this we gave ourselves over as his prisoners and let him march us back in our long underwear to the Provost Marshal’s. We were placed in a cell and were by then dry enough to get dressed. When the sergeant-major in charge came to fetch Greening and me, we were in full officers’ kit. Greening sported an MC and bar, and I a VC, DSO, and MC. We were released in minutes without seeing an officer, and were happy to be able to greet our capturer outside and bid him farewell in the patois of the troops! There is no wondering this place saw such a rebellion two months ago. [2]

[Linked Image]
Soldiers training at the infamous "Bullring" at Etaples -- a dreary, sandy training area where many of the instructors had not seen combat, but many of their students had.


Thousands of soldiers pass through the many camps here, being fattened for the slaughter. The war is like a prize fight where the combatants, blood-streaked and staggered, pummel one another senseless while the afternoon slips to evening. There is no victory here, just the avoidance of defeat. The Americans are nowhere to be seen, yet the Russians seem ready to pack it in. I fear the worst is to come.

There is news of a victory near Cambrai, with many tanks through the Huns’ third lines. We wait in vain for confirmation of a breakthrough, and every day seen the hospital trains disgorge their butcher’s loads. I am in a very dark place and know that I must die before this all is done. I play with the idea of writing Catherine and telling her to stop writing me, but hate to hurt the girl. Nothing seems to hold to me except the thought of my next patrol on my return to Pops. The ships at harbour unload their cargoes of war goods, the makings of fortunes for men who have never seen the mud and murder, nor smelled the gas and putrefaction.

Today, the headaches have begun to subside. I managed to place a call to RFC HQ, now back at Fienvillers, and got through to Maj. Baring. I asked to be allowed to return to the squadron, if necessary to perform only administrative command duties until cleared to fly. I am doing no good here and the place is doing me no good. He promises to get back to me soon.[3]

Another long walk this afternoon with Greening, who is returning to the front. We have a good heart to heart. “This war thing,†I told him, “is just a process. You can’t beat it, and it does the soul no good to cling to the idea of going home or having a life after it. Perhaps that will happen, but likely not. Not if you’re going to pull your weight here. The thing – the only thing – is to do what you do as well as you can do it.â€

I have set myself the goal to beat Bishop’s 45 Huns. If I do that, it will not matter if I am killed. I would like to go back to SEs, but Camels it is. One takes things as they are. It is a process.

Notes:

[1] Fantomas is the arch-criminal villain in a long series of French pulp novels. He is a master of terror, a truly evil disguise artist pursued by the intrepid Inspector Juve. The first novel in a long series, Fantomas was published in 1911. The first English-language version was published in 1915. Maurice Baring recorded that he was reading it in late November 1917, and it is speculated that Corderoy passed his copy along.

[Linked Image]

[2] In September and October 1917, British and Commonwealth troops training in Etaples had rebelled against repressive conditions and officious military police. On 9 September, a New Zealander had crossed the estuary from Etaples to the fine beach area of Paris-Plage, which was off limits to other ranks.
Cut off by the rising tide, he returned by the bridge, where MPs arrested him as a deserter. Anzac and British troops showed up en masse to protest and matters got out of hand, with MPs killing a Scottish soldier and a French civilian. Mutinous disturbances reoccurred into October, resulting in one execution and dozens of lesser punishments.

[3] Trenchard's HQ had been back in St-Omer, but transferred to Fienvillers (Candas) on 21 November 1917.








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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/18 12:59 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAS

March 26th 1918

Train pulled in to Tours at mid-morning yesterday. We stopped at Argentan but started out again after only 10 minutes. Wolf (1), Miller (2), Porthole (3), Gorman (4) and Deuce were left behind. They caught the next train and rejoined us last night.

Whitey (5) looked after Mickey during Deuce's absence.

We all went looking for quarters as soon as we could. The Lafayette Club could only accommodate half of us, so we flipped for it. We losers went to the Hotel d'Universe. It proved just as crowded. Most of us ended up sleeping in the smoking room.

Dewey and I found quarters this morning at the Hotel Modern, but during lunch, the Major informed us that we're all to report to the old YMCA at the AIC this evening to be quartered there. This is where I am as I write this.

The YMCA is pretty spartan but it'll do. There was a lot of grumbling from some of the boys who'd found rooms in private homes. They were looking forward to warm rooms and a bathroom with a shower.

The Major told us that Tours is a primary training field, so there's not much for us here. We'll be moving on soon, to the advanced school, 3rd AIC at Issoudun. Orders to move will come at short notice, so we're ordered to say close.

The enlisted men are being re-equipped, as much as possible, from salvaged items turned in by other outfits.

1 - Lt James A. (Wolf) Healy, A Flight, later B flight, credited with 5 victories

2 - Lt John C. Miller, reassigned at Epiez with 4 other officers of the 147th to the 12th Aero Observation Squadron. KIA 28 July 1918, credited with 2 aerial combat victories.

3 - Lt George J. (Porthole) Brew, C Flight.

4 - Lt Norbert D. Gorman, Engineer Officer of the 147th, assigned 13 Feb 1918.

5 - Lt Wilbert Wallace (Whitey) White Jr., served as C Flight commander, credited with 8 aerial combat victories. Killed 10 Oct 1918 near Dun-sur-Meuse when he sacrificed his life, colliding with a Fokker that was attacking a new pilot in his flight. He left a wife and 2 children.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/18 02:21 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Briastre, Flanders.
Jasta 3
6 victory's



March 27, 1918.

Got into it with SE's on the Dawn Patrol. what a mix up. Our flight Lt. led us under a flight of e/a ( not a bright Idea ) The Brit's circled to dive on our tails so I broke left going under them. They hit and scattered our kette's. I swung around and fired at passing e/a as 1 of ours went down. It was then I saw a lone SE pop out of a cloud at a lower altitude. Diving, I got both Guns firing and held down the triggers. Bullets ripped all over the E/A then the a/c just flipped over and over like a leaf in the win to crash 1700 meters below. by then , the sky was clear so RTB. Jasta lost 1 Destroyed W/pilot KIA + 2 pilots wnd. My Kill was the only one claimed.

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Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/18 02:23 PM

The quality of storytelling here is top notch. Well done everyone. Particularly, welcome Jerbear. Lets hope John does well, as I'd like to see how your wonderfully detailed style does in action.

Speaking of wonderfully detailed. Well done on the Etaples episode Raine.

And now here is the next part of Bob Stanley's story.

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

The CO's car arrived ahead of the recovery truck at Acq. Major Tyson got out first and waved across one of the sentries.

“Second Lieutenant Stanley is under open arrest, corporal. He is not to leave the aerodrome.â€
“Yessir.â€

Tyson marched Stanley to the squadron office and waved him towards Dawes.
“Make your report Stanley, and then get out of my sight.â€

Stanley was walking back to his quarters when Slessor stopped him.
“Are you alright Stanley? Where is Kennicot?â€
Stanley shook his head, “Tyson has put me under arrest, so I shouldn't be talking to you. Kennicot has gone to a clearing station, but he is in a bad way.â€
His flight commander frowned. “What happened? Last I saw you, you were gliding well.â€
“I landed alright. Bloody bull got him.â€
“A bull? Hell's bells! I'd never have expected that. Why are you under arrest?â€
“Good question. Could be fleeing in the face of the enemy, criminal damage or poaching. He hasn't said yet.â€
“Er... right. Look, be careful Stanley. I'm going back to Blighty tomorrow. Artillery school. Don't get yourself shot before I get back.â€
“I'll try not to. Say hello to old Albion for me.â€

Stanley didn't see much difference between close arrest and open arrest. He could wander around the aerodrome, but not leave it. He could not go into any mess or other entertainments. Close arrest was much the same, but he would have been confined to quarters and have an escort to keep him company. It was a bit boring really.


On the next day Tyson wanted Stanley to go up with Lieutenant Denton to bomb the lines near Dixmude.

“I can't sir.â€
Tyson's face twitched. “You can't, 2nd Lieutenant?â€
“No sir. I'm under arrest,†Stanley explained. “An officer under arrest is not supposed to leave his camp or barracks. I would also require an escort.â€
“Well, Hurst can be your bloody escort! He'll be your observer too. We need pilots in the air, not quoting the regs!â€
“Very good sir.†Stanley replied, “Have you prepared my charge report sir?â€
“What?†Tyson blustered.
“Well, sir. I don't know what I'm charged with yet sir. And I should be informed within twenty four hours. We're a bit behind now sir.â€
“What are you charged with? Damn you! You machine-gunned a bull! You got Kennicot killed!â€
“The bull killed Kennicot sir, but I take it the charge is criminal damage to livestock, sir?â€
“Yes!â€
“Very good sir. I'll report to my flight now sir.â€

Stanley could feel Tyson's rage burning the back of his neck as he walked from the office to B flight's hangar. It was a dangerous game and he knew it. Bob tried to work out his odds in his head. Slightly in his favour, he reckoned.

The bombing went as well as normal. The RE8s stopped for fuel at la Gorgue on the way back. Oddly, the fuel had been not quite enough to get home. The crews took the opportunity to borrow a car and visit the bull field where they set up a crude cross for Lt Kennicot.

Tyson was waiting for Stanley when he returned. The 2nd Lieutenant was put under close arrest and confined to his quarters when he was not flying. Stanley managed to avoid antagonising the CO any more this time, but grinned as soon as he was in his room.

On the 20th, Denton led Stanley over the lines to bomb Houplin aerodrome. Stanley let his bombs go over the aerodrome, but was pretty sure that he didn't hit anything.

As they were crossing the lines again, 3 Albatros scouts attacked. Stanley dived and sideslipped to escape. This time, the Germans followed him. He took the RE8 down to treetop height, in order to restrict the manoeuvrability of his attackers and give Hurst a better chance of hitting back with his Lewis gun.

One black and white striped machine was mishandled by its pilot, and smashed into the ground. This cheered up Stanley and made the other two think again. This RE8 was not quite the easy prey they had expected. They turned for home and Stanley and Hurst were safe, if very low.

[Linked Image]


They landed a little while later back at Acq.

“Well flown, Stanley,†Hurst patted his pilot on the back. “You saved our skins there and no mistake!â€
“Any time, old boy! You are claiming that Hun aren't you?â€
“I don't think I hit him... but yes, I shall include him in my report. Didn't he crash lovely?â€
“I'll say.â€

The next day was wet and stormy. All flying was cancelled and the officers spent their time in the mess. Stanley was summoned to the squadron office.

“I'm dropping the charges against you, Stanley,†Major Tyson informed him. “It seems that you bought the bull from Monsieur Ardan?â€
“An offer of good faith, sir,†Stanley tried not to laugh at his good fortune. “He said that Eduard was prime breeding stock, worth 900 francs. I think that he was too aggressive, but offered Monsieur Ardan the 900 to buy a new bull. I hope that the next one isn't as dangerous, sir.â€


The next week mostly too stormy to fly. When the gales did stop, B flight went up on artillery jobs.

On the 27th, the artillery observation was in the vicinity of Oignies. Stanley was absorbed in his corrections when Hurst tugged on his shoulder.

3 Albatros scouts were diving down to attack. Two were making for Lt Reynold's RE8 and one was lining up on Stanley.

Stanley rolled and kicked his rudder, throwing off the attack. The Albatros attacking him was a deep blue colour and it turned to follow him.

[Linked Image]

Lt Reynold was making a flat turn to give his observer the best firing line. It also presented a clear shot for the two Albatri. It was the last the Stanley saw of the other RE8, but he knew they were doomed.

The RE8 has no advantage over an Albatros scout, Bob Stanley knew. His only chance was to limit his opponents options, even if it also limited his. To do this he descended in a series of crazily skewed S turns.

Here and there, Hurst would let off a burst of Lewis fire. Holes also appeared in the wings of Stanley's RE8.

Then a miracle happened. Hurst fired off on last burst of machine gun fire and the Albatros dived into a tumbling spin. Stanley watched as the German scout span into a field of sheep, scattering the herd.

Stanley looked around, hardly able to believe his luck. The other Albatri were nowhere to be seen, and they had actually shot their assailant down.


When they landed at Acq, Stanley took a minute to sit at the controls and collect his thoughts. Hurst clapped him on the shoulder.
“Nicely flown. I think we might make a good team, you and I.â€
“Let's hope that the old man doesn't clap me in irons for Reynold and Black.â€
“It's a shame about them, yes. There was nothing we could do to save them.â€

Major Tyson did have something to say to Stanley.
“You're going to 40 squadron. I hope that you don't get any of them killed.â€
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/18 03:07 PM

Maeran it is good to have you back. I have sure missed your writing.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/27/18 04:56 PM

All excellent stories, from some true masters! There are so many it is hard to keep up without unfairly missing someone. Thank you, all of you!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/28/18 01:22 AM

Great story, Maeran. Gripping stuff. Once your settled at 40, perhaps you can treat Major Tyson to a fly-over. Drop a turnip on his office, even.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/28/18 01:25 AM

Maeran, somewhere there is a German pilot held under arrest on his base and somewhere there is a French sheep farmer counting money.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/28/18 01:30 AM

top rate story
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/28/18 03:28 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Briastre, Flanders.
Jasta 3
7 victory's

March 28, 1918.

The Jasta did a balloon burst today. We flew down the Western side of the pocket then dove on the Balloon. The Lt. got the Bag, but we lost Underofficer Emberger He left behind a wife, 9 kids and a Mistress + 2 dogs. I also stopped off at the farm down the road to let his Milk Maid friend Know his fate He would have also had a case of Wine vintage 1902, but we drank that as we packed his stuff. In addition, Hq confirmed my SE from yesterday seems it came down by a hospital unit. Intell thinks its from 84 Sqn and Elite unit.



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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/28/18 10:54 PM

Jerbear, Raine, and Maeran, excellent tales Gents. Such literary skills you all possess.
Carrick, You seem to be doing well. Stay out of those hospitals and beware of the nurses.

2nd Lt. Jerod Jackson
Auchel
39 missions
14 victories

Nov. 28, 1917
Morning patrol
I lead 3 machines of a patrol around our own field. Near Bruay I spotted 5 machines above. When they peeled off and fell on us like rain I knew they were Huns. A green tailed machine flashed past and I latched on to him. I hit him good and he went into a spin and I followed. Going too fast I lost my vision which scared the pants of of me! I bliped and eased up and when my vision returned he was a mile off trailing vapor. I went after him but just out of firing range a SE came down from above and scored an easy victory. The SE pilot gave me a wave and I waved in return. We will not print what I said. All of the patrol landed safe.

The afternoon show was an attack on Vimy Junction. We hit it hard. Landed at Bruay by mistake which resulted in my being the butt of many jokes at mess.

Nov. 29
We were told to head back to Vimy. Approaching Vimy I was surveying yesterdays damage and looking at the stack of new supplies when something told me to look behind. Turning my head I saw the Albatros very close on my tail. I pulled up and to the right as bullets hit my machines wings. If I had not reacted they would have been in my back. Climbing back up Barclay was on his tail and had him smoking. He broke off and headed home. I did not want to come back so made a run on the new boxes of supplies scattered about. Pulling up from my 1st run I saw B flight attacking so I made 2 more runs then joined up with them and returned to base.We all took damage.

Nov 30th.
We have a full compliment of pilots for a change. Barclay and myself were sent on an intercept mission near Messines. I spotted 2 rumplers headed southeast. I turned into them and sprayed both machines from front to back as I passed by. Bullets hit my machine as I crossed their tails. Turning back to engage I saw Barclay approaching them from the rear for an attack. "Your way to close and flying too steady mate!" I thought to myself. At that moment Jackson saw Barclay dive away. He did not follow him but engaged the 2 Rumplers, one of which Barclay had smoking. Jackson took on the other and with 3 bursts the Rumplers wing came off and he dropped like a stone over no mans land. Jackson turned toward to other but as he approached the keen eyed gunner sent a burst into him that seem to rattle the whole machine. Jackson dove away and headed back to base not seeing Barclay. At 5000' over the mud his engine quit and he glided to a safe landed on a road on the friendly side of the lines.

Back at base he learned Barclay was killed. This news got to Jackson as he had grown to like the Sargent. He was a good pilot and as brave a man as any in the squadron. Maybe a little too brave. Jackson skipped mess and stayed in his tent that night. Barclays death and the two holes just behind his cockpit had Jackson wondering if he would ever make it out of this mess alive.

Dec. 1st.
The Rumpler was confirmed. Jackson had filed the claim with no witness but it seems the balloonatics has seen the whole affair. The morning patrol had Jackson leading 2 machines on a DOP. Through the clouds he saw Roulers. He was off course. He should be over Mennen. Adjusting his course they approached Mennen. Jackson spotted 3 Albatros trying to sneak up behind them and the flight turned to engage. He damaged one but did not follow it down. Circling, Redding formed up with him and they continued the patrol. On their third round from Mennen to Little an Archie blast pitched Jacksons machine up and to the left. There was also a sting in his leg. Jackson headed home. For the second day in a row his engine quit and he landed just over the lines near one of our positions. The patched up Jackson's leg, just a scratch, and off he went back to Auchel.

That afternoon Jackson led a flight of 3 to Patrol Friendly Territory from Albert to Abbeville. Climbing to 8000' and still in sight of his home field they spotted 2 DFWC's above which turned east. They climbed and followed. Overtaking them above Hesdigneu Jackson engaged 1st. He had one smoking with 3 bursts and it dove right with Tremain following. Jackson engaged the other and with 4 long bursts the top wing collapsed and then it exploded and dropped like a flaming stone. Robert and I finished the patrol. Back at base I asked Tremain if he had finished the 1st one off and he said "No Sir! It was yours. He went straight in." Both victories were confirmed that night as both had crashed near Hesdigneu.

Sim Notes. I realize I am a few days ahead gents but will be out of pocket for a few days. Stay safe.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/18 01:53 AM

Carrick, is that a picture of the milkmaid, mistress, or the wife?
MFair, looks like the literary bug has bitten you as well. Your reports are becoming more and more detailed with every entry. Not to mention Jackson is becoming the scourge of the skies.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/18 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Carrick, is that a picture of the milkmaid, mistress, or the wife?
MFair, looks like the literary bug has bitten you as well. Your reports are becoming more and more detailed with every entry. Not to mention Jackson is becoming the scourge of the skies.


I don’t know Fullofit, my guess is it’s a picture of the balloon! Thank you for the compliment. Jackson has been lucky in the claims department. Only 2 rejections.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/18 04:33 PM

Its his friend the Farm lady down the road.

MFair: Good Story
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/29/18 04:46 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Athies, Flanders.
Jasta 3
7 victory's


March 29, 1918.

Mene Gute ! Moving day. Helped transfer Ships and Equipment to new Airfield. I was among the pilots making 2 trips for the A/C move. We now have 13 a/c and 9 Pilots. + a new a/c and pilot will be here by end of day, The new place is in the center of the bulge in the lines. Its called Mons-en-Chausee/ Athies. On our right is Jasta 34, left Jasta 54 so we are in the thick of it.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/30/18 04:22 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Athies, Flanders.
Jasta 3
7 victory's


March 30, 1918.

I was completing a sortie with 4 other a/c. We escorted a 2 seat over an Army camp to drop a few bombs. One re-crossing the lines met and engaged some Spads ( No lost a/c , No claims ) I chased my target for a while then let down to land as he flew away. I was on short final and just over the Fence when Tac ka Tac ka and had 3 rounds hit my rudder as a Spad Flashed by. Cutting Power and kicking the rudder , I slewed to a stop and ran for a hole to jump in. I must protest the un sportsman like attitude of these French Fly-boys.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/31/18 12:14 AM

As promised, this one is dedicated to BuckeyeBob for his tireless support of the fab Cloud Mod. If you still don't have it, get it!

1 December, 1917
Jasta 18, Boistrancourt

Jagdstaffel 18 was transferred recently to Boistrancourt and Aldi and Paul’s reprimand was soon forgotten after they’ve been accused of tampering with Turck’s streamers less than a fortnight ago. The Staffelführer only realized mid-flight that his streamers were replaced by some odd contraption consisting of some straps with two round cups, which flapped terribly in the wind. When he finally landed after the mission and found out that the thing he’s been flying with was a woman’s brassiere, his embarrassment was complete. Ever since then, the Jastaführer would always be called Herr Büstenhalterführer behind his back, which suited Aldi just fine.
Today’s mission brought Aldi and his Kette over Gonnelieu on line patrol. The sky was cloudy with some clear blue patches and plenty of places for the enemy to hide in. The sun shone brightly through the morning mist blinding anyone who dared to look at it.

[Linked Image]

Thankfully the German pilot’s attention was focused on the frontlines to the west - enemy’s expected approach vector. The mission was going well until a hive of Brisfits descended upon the carefree Schwarm. Everyone scattered and either was lucky enough to jump on the tail of an Englander who overshot his target, or was desperately trying to avoid becoming another number on the Britisher’s kill board. Aldi was one of the lucky ones. His Brisfit, eager for an easy victory, came from above at full throttle and misjudged the point at which he should pull up to come out of the dive. He did it too late and too low and completed the apex of his climb right in front of Schwarzkopf’s blood-hungry Spandaus. There was a long burst and a shorter one. The bus in front banked to port.

[Linked Image]

Aldi corrected and let his machine guns conclude the engagement, with his opponent spiralling down to the ground with no chance for recovery. Aldi brought his Pfalz about and looked around. There was no sign of anyone else. They were all either too high or too low to spot. He decided to return back to the base and perhaps pickup any stragglers on the way. He didn’t have to wait long. Dingel and Klein formed up behind and escorted him back to Boistrancourt. The sugar factory came into view announcing a warm welcome. They all flew over it while descending and landed one by one on the field beyond. Aldi made a claim on his Bristol and sauntered over to the Kasino for some warm food. Spiced goulash with Spätzle smelled especially good today.

Historical note:
During the Great War, bras replaced corsets as bust support. In 1917 at the beginning of the U.S. involvement in the War, the U.S. War Industries Board asked women to stop buying corsets to free up metal for war production. This was said to have saved some 28,000 tons of metal, enough to build two battleships.
(And from now on, I’ll leave the historical footnotes to the likes of Raine, who does it in style)

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/31/18 01:47 AM

Fullofit, fine story! The bra streamers were too funny! Nice screenshots as always. Personally, I like the historical note. I did not know that.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/31/18 02:33 AM

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm What Size ? streamers Fullofit
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/31/18 02:38 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Athies, Flanders.
Jasta 3
7 victory's


March 31, 1918.

Our 5 a/c were covering airfields in and out of rain. Our flight Fuhrer again flew under the e/a and they dove on us. They were very nimble 2 seat types. I got off two 40-42 rds bursts , no luck then I had to run for it as they circled and closed in on me. The flight didnt see me peel off so I was all alone.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/31/18 11:32 AM

Fullofit, glad to see Herr BHfuehrer is supporting the war effort as always!
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/31/18 01:29 PM

Thanks for the new story, Fullofit. My cup runneth over, if you get my drift! Herr Büstenhalterführer certainly has his hands full!

I'll see myself out.... exitstageleft
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/31/18 01:43 PM

MFair, glad you like the story.
Carrick, it was made to measure.
Raine, full support is the way of the future and Aldi likes to keep everyone abreast of latest developments.
BuckeyeBob, my pleasure?
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/31/18 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Athies, Flanders.
Jasta 3
7 victory's


March 30, 1918.

I was completing a sortie with 4 other a/c. We escorted a 2 seat over an Army camp to drop a few bombs. One re-crossing the lines met and engaged some Spads ( No lost a/c , No claims ) I chased my target for a while then let down to land as he flew away. I was on short final and just over the Fence when Tac ka Tac ka and had 3 rounds hit my rudder as a Spad Flashed by. Cutting Power and kicking the rudder , I slewed to a stop and ran for a hole to jump in. I must protest the un sportsman like attitude of these French Fly-boys.


Oh boy, I can certainly relate to that!! I have had at least three such incidents. I have learned to be paranoid when approaching my home field!!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 03/31/18 08:31 PM

Great serial stories all!
Maeran, good move taking that RE down to treetop level to keep the Huns from getting underneath. Might have saved some of my previous guys a couple of times if I had done it.
Fullofit: when I was stationed in Germany we used to call them a Holzemfromfloppin.

2Lt. John B. Good
147th Aero Squadron USAS


March 29th 1918

Most of the enlisted men have been detailed to work in the hangars here, while a few others were sent to various aircraft plants for instruction on the French equipment we'll be using.

A group of us went to the hangars to watch the mechanics work on the motors and planes to get a look at some of the aircraft we'll be flying.

Pip(1) said he met an old friend from the Aeronautics School at the U of Michigan. This bird decided to come over here for flight training, rather than take our route through the RFC schools in Canada. When he got to Tours, he discovered that there wasn't any American flying school yet! So, during Nov and Dec he was peeling potatoes! Bored with that, he volunteered to work on the gunnery ranges for a month or so.

Pip's friend, Pear, I think is his name, just got his first ride in an airplane 9 days ago, in a Farman. We were outraged by his shabby treatment. It's an absolute outrage that he should have been treated this way while we were getting 50 hours of solo time each. INEXCUSABLE!

March 30th 1918

After dinner, the Major talked to us about his difficulties with the brass hats over getting our training started. The AEF Air Service HQ is here at Tours, that's the only reason we were sent here first. A pointless move, as you can see in a jiffy that there is nothing here for us. The Kiwi's (2) are tired of having the old man treading on their toes all day so out we go tomorrow on the 5:15 for Issoudun, about 70 miles from here. Only flying officers will go and only the necessities will be taken. Our baggage will be stored here. Hope it doesn't go missing.

The dope is that we'll go over a few hops on these faster rotary machines, do some stunting, then it's off to the front for us. Duck Soup!

Finally got around to writing the folks.

(1) Lt Kenneth Lee (Pip) Porter, replaced WIlbert White as C Flight commander, officially credited with 5 aerial victories.

(2) Kiwi - derogatory term applied to non-flying officers in the Air Service, which likened them to the flightless New Zealand bird which has rudimentary wings but can't fly.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/01/18 01:23 AM

Buckeye Bob: LOL u have a sense of humor.

Mr. Wiggins: I agree, landing when the I don't play fair French are around gets " Hairy " in 1918.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/01/18 02:17 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Athies, Flanders.
Jasta 3
8 Victory's


April 1, 1918.


Bagged a Frenchman to day. My Kette was posted to a Escort mission. I was flying close support when the Spads came in. I managed to latch on one and after firing 319 rds of 8mm , He spun into the ground over Bapaume. The Jasta lost 1 pilot KIA + 1 wnd. My claim again was the only one claimed and confirmed.


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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/01/18 11:27 AM

Happy Easter everyone!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/01/18 05:20 PM

2Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAS

April 1st 1918 - Issoudun

APRIL FOOLS DAY! And it proved to be just that. As soon as we had breakfast in us we trooped down to HQ were they gave us a jillion forms to fill out. The same information the Kiwies already have on a jillion other forms! The Old Army at it's best!

We got here at 11:30 last night. There were trucks waiting for us to take us to the post hospital to be billeted for the night. When we were guided to the ward where we would bed down there were beds waiting for us, ready made, with clean white sheets! Heaven! We got right down to the business of sawing logs.

HQ assigned us flying numbers, mine is 1007. We were assigned to barracks #5. The accommodations are burlap covered, double decker bunks. They don't look comfortable but aren't bad at all.

Rained all day.




Attached picture hospital.PNG
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/18 03:35 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Athies, Flanders.
Jasta 3
8 Victory's


March 2, 1918.


Chasing Spads inside the lines. Our Ober Lt. Led us under a flight of Spads, the e/a stayed for awhile then powered up and headed home. Bullets Holes for everyone ,but no Kills.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/18 08:44 PM

Happy belated Easter!
Time to get back to the grind.

New month = news!

News of the world for the Intrepid Fliers group (November):

November 2
The Balfour Declaration was sent from Britain's Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour, to Walter Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. The letter supported plans for a Jewish national home in Palestine.
November 4
British troops arrived in Italy.
November 5
Under the command of General Sir Stanley Maude British troops made headway against the Turks at Tikrit in the Mesopotamian Campaign.
November 6
Turkish forces withdrew from Tikrit as British troops occupied the town.
The Canadian Corps captured Passchendaele and the ridge beyond, effectively ending the three month long Third Battle of Ypres.
November 7
After months of fighting British Battalions finally captured Gaza from the Turks.
The "October" Revolution began with an armed insurrection in Petrograd as the Bolsheviks began to take over Government buildings.
November 8
Following the Bolshevik coup in Petrograd, the Winter Palace was taken and Vladimir Ilyich Lenin succeeded Alexander Kerensky as Russian Prime Minister.
Armando Diaz replaced Luigi Cadorna as Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Army.
November 9
The text of the Balfour Declaration was published in the Press.
November 10
After the village of Passchendaele had been taken by Canadian Divisions on 6, the final action of the battle saw an attack designed to straighten out the line. Even after this final assault the Germans still held the northern end of the Passchendaele Ridge.
November 11
Otto Ritter von Dandl replaced Georg von Hertling as President of the Council of Ministers of Bavaria.
November 13
Paul Painleve resigned as Prime Minister of France and was succeeded by French statesman Georges Clemenceau.
November 14
The battle of Junction Station, which had begun the previous day, saw the British defeat a Turkish attempt to defend the line of the railway to Jerusalem.
November 15
Alexander Kerensky fled from Petrograd as the Bolsheviks took power.
November 16
After several days of fierce fighting the Bolsheviks seized control in Moscow.
November 17
The Second Battle of Heligoland Bight took place in the North Sea. The inconclusive naval engagement was fought between British and German squadrons when a force of cruisers was sent to attack German minesweepers which were attempting to sweep a
channel through British minefields in the Heligoland Bight.
November 18
General Sir Stanley Maude died of cholera and was replaced by Lieutenant General William Marshall who halted operations in Mesopotamia for the winter.
November 20
The Battle of Cambrai was launched with the use of massed tanks supported by heavy artillery bombardment. Six divisions of British infantry attacked the German Second Army, led by General Georg Von Marwitz.
November 21
The French ambassador received a note informing him that the Bolshevik government, under the leadership of Lenin and Trotsky, intended to begin pourparlers of peace.
November 22
A German counterattack at Cambrai captured the village of Fontaine.
November 24
The Battle of Nebi Samwil ended. The battle, which had begun on 17, was the first British attempt to capture Jerusalem during their 1917 invasion of Palestine. It was fought between the British Empire's Egyptian Expeditionary Force and troops from the Ottoman Empire.
November 25
German troops, under the command of Colonel von Lettow-Vorbeck, crossed the Rovuma River into Portuguese East Africa at Ngomano and defeated Portuguese troops.
November 27
Russian and German delegates met to discuss an armistice.
November 28
In the Mwiti Valley in German East Africa, German forces under Captain Theodor Tafel surrendered to the British.
November 29
An Inter-Allied Conference opened in Paris.
November 30
The Germans launched a counterattack on the Cambrai front and regained much of the territory lost. British forces then recaptured Vacquerie.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/18 08:46 PM

News of the world for the Warbirds Rising group (March):

March 2
German forces captured Kiev in the Ukraine.
March 3
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between Russia and the Central Powers. Russia recognised the independence of Ukraine, Georgia and Finland while handing over Poland and the Baltic States to Germany and Austria-Hungary.
March 4
German forces occupied Narva in Estonia.
March 5
Representatives from Romania and the Central Powers, Bulgaria and Turkey signed a preliminary peace agreement at Buftea.
March 6
Shipping loss figures were released in Britain on the same day as the British steamer HMS Kalgan was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-53.
March 7
Germany and Finland signed a peace agreement.
March 8
The first case of Spanish influenza was reported. The disease quickly spread and the resulting worldwide epidemic ended up killing more people than the war.
March 9
The Marxist revolutionary Georgy Vasilyevich Chicherin was appointed as the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs in Russia.
March 10
The British hospital ship HMHS Guildford Castle was torpedoed, but not sunk, by a German U-boat in the Bristol Channel while she was flying the Red Cross flag.
March 12
Lenin and the Russian Bolshevik Government left Petrograd for the new capital city of Moscow.
March 13
German forces occupied Odessa on the Black Sea.
March 14
The Congress of Soviets met at Moscow to ratify the Brest-Litovsk treaty of peace with the Central Powers.
March 15
Prince Lichnowsky's pamphlet, which had accused the Russian Government of failing to support him in efforts to avert the war, was published in the Swedish journal Politiken.
March 17
On Saint Patrick's Day cartoonist Clifford Berryman published a cartoon depicting Uncle Sam rolling up his sleeves and preparing to use a large club to deal with the many German propagandist snakes slithering in the grass around him.
March 18
The Entente Governments issued a Note which formally refused to recognise the German-Russian peace treaty.
The Dutch Government accepted the Allied terms for the use of Dutch shipping in United States and Entente ports, with reservations.
March 19
President Woodrow Wilson signed up to the Standard Time Act, setting federally mandated time zones across the nation and calling for daylight saving time (DST) to begin on 31 March.
March 21
The Second Battle of the Somme was launched as a series of attacks against British forces along the Western Front. The offensive was made up of four separate German attacks, codenamed Michael, Georgette, Gneisenau and Blucher-Yorck launched in that order.
March 22
In Operation Michael German forces continued to make gains in the northern sector, capturing Vracourt, Tergnier and the Oise Canal.
March 23
The Paris Gun, a German long-range artillery weapon, was used to bombard Paris from 120 km (75 miles) away.
German forces continued to press their advantage on the Somme as British troops pulled back.
March 24
In the First battle of Bapaume the towns of Peronne and Bapaume were captured by German forces as Operation Michael succeeded in forcing a retreat by the British Army.
March 25
In further action during Operation Michael, the town of Noyon was captured by German forces.
March 26
The Doullens Conference was held between French and British military leaders in order to better coordinate British and French military operations on the Western Front.
March 27
At the Battle of Rosieres the Germans captured the strategically important communications centre of Montdidier.
March 28
Under the codename Operation Mars the Germans attacked the southern Arras sector, but were defeated sustaining heavy losses.
March 29
A single shell from the Paris Gun hit the roof of the St-Gervais-et-St-Protais Church in Paris whilst a Good Friday service was in progress, collapsing the entire roof on to the congregation and resulting in a high number of casualties.
March 30
The First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux saw the renewal of a German assault on the French position on the south of the newly formed Somme salient whilst another attack was launched towards Amiens.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/02/18 11:42 PM

Thanks for the news update. I do so like to remain current! biggrin
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/03/18 12:03 AM

BuckeyeBob, I do hope you still read an occasional newspaper from time to time, instead of solely relying on this wink
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/03/18 12:12 AM

2Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAS

April 2nd 1918

We finally have the straight dope on what we'll be doing on here. The Major said we would likely be here another 3 - 4 weeks, but that we shouldn't complain because they use the French training system here, which usually takes up to 8 months. Since we and the 27th and 139th came here as intact outfits with RFC training, we'll be given priority and pushed through as quickly as we can complete the requirements, progressing through the prescribed sequence of training stages on the fields, 9 of them for us. So much for a few hops and stunts and then off to fight the Huns! But we got to jump to the head of the line so I guess we cant whine too much. Most of the men here are still cadets and haven't even been up in a plane.

This decision didn't make us popular with the boys who have been sitting around here for months, I can tell you. They call us "Canucks" because of our training in Canada. When the instructors, most of them French here, passed this info on to the others they almost had a small riot on their hands.

We start tomorrow on the the "Grasshopper Field," #1. Still raining.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/03/18 01:55 AM

Maeran, I hope that Corderoy will be invited over when you barbeque the bull! MFair, great to see Jackson up to 14 victories. Take care of him! Fullofit, you need a bra on both wings to even out the drag. Jerbear, I'm really enjoying Goode's story so far. Hope he doesn't get too bored being taught what he probably already knows before seeing action...

Corderoy is finally back in action, although I haven't really come to grips with the enemy to any great extent.

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 43: 27 November to 3 December 1917

27 November 1917 – Etaples


Good old Baring has come through. I am to proceed immediately to Fienvillers where he will employ me doing not awfully much until I am cleared to fly. Further, he has dispatched a car to pick me up this afternoon. The doctors here have made a fuss about it, but Baring has made a call and it is all sorted out.

28 November 1917 – RFC HQ, Fienvillers

HQ is in a large house in the village that is owned by the mayor. The staff is a mixed lot. I had lunch today with Sir John Simon, the former Home Secretary, who is attached here. He is off to Paris to get married soon. He has been a widower for years, as I understand.[1] I regret I am unable to thank Baring personally, but the General and he are off to London. The new Air Force bill is being pushed through at Lords’ Committee. I take it that the General is concerned that there will be a loss of focus on the support of the Army, who will decide the war, after all.

My duties consist of draughting a report on the merits of fighting in formation. I am not a supporter of too much rigidity in air fighting, but looser formations of pairs of fighting machines seem to make sense. I read something allegedly sketched out by McCudden, who seems to promote entire groups built for the protection of a single Hun-getter.

29 November 1917

Walked to Candas and saw a Pfalz, but was unable to get clearance to take it up.

30 November 1917

The Air Force bill passed third reading and received Royal assent yesterday. So we shall we one with the navals, it seems. I pray that no comic opera uniforms result. After solid success near Cambrai, the Huns have counter-attacked. There is heavy fighting and the enemy is employing many aircraft in close support of their ground actions.

The MO has given me clearance to fly and I shall be back in Poperinghe by supper time. By report is unfinished, but I suspect it was not really wanted.

1 December 1917 – Poperinghe aerodrome

Returned last night to find the squadron in good shape, except that Sigismund was shot down in the morning.

Off at 8 a.m., leading Sigismund’s orphaned B Flight. Patrol south to Lens and back north to Lille. The clouds are fine and drawn out like threads of silver and the icy air freezes one’s lungs. It is glorious to be back in one’s element, and all the nerves and darkness of last week is gone with the first whiff of castor oil. Over Lille we encounter seven Albatros scouts and mix it up for more than ten minutes. I attract two Huns and throw my Camel about for ages until one makes a mistake and I get a good crack at it. It spins away, leaving me alone in the sky with the remaining machine, a yellow and purple Albatros with purple stripes on its tailplane. He tries to zoom and turn back on me, but I catch him in the turn and fire a telling burst. The Hun tumbles out of control south of the city. I cannot follow it all the way, for a formation of Pfalzes threatens to approach and I must turn west. Aldred joins me and we head home. The Hun goes into our report as driven down.

A new flight commander arrives, Jacon Arthur. He has come over from No 32 and is delighted to be done with DH5s. I take him up on a familiarization flight, then return to write Sigismund’s parents.

2 December 1917

Join Arthur and B Flight on a defensive patrol north to Dunkirk. Gorringe spots two enemy observation aircraft south of Bergues and we climb to chase them off. They are of an unfamiliar type with a biplane tail. Climb to 13000 feet before one of the Hun observers opens fire from long range. I peel off to the left and climb to their height, then turn in at right angles to the Huns while they are occupied with the other Camels. I fire ahead of the closer EA and let it fly through my rounds. The machine immediately curves down and away, trailing a white plume of smoke or steam. I get an overly quick burst away and turn to attack it yet again, but before I can bring my machine about, Hobson puts a well-placed burst into the Hun and the two-seater erupts in flame, falling two and a half miles while shedding bits of flaming fabric and wood.

[Linked Image]
"The machine immediately curves down and away, trailing a white plume of smoke or steam."

3 December 1917

We load with bombs to attack the Hun field at Bissenghem, near Menen. The Archie is very heavy as we approach from the southwest. I lead the way and drop two pairs of bombs directly onto the line of hangars. The other fellows follow my lead and we leave the place in flames and confusion. Some distant Huns approach, likely Pfalzes, and seem to take interest. We head west as individuals and regroup at 5000 feet over the Menen road.

Captain Parker is missing. We wait until noon, and Gregg phones every unit he can along the front, but there is no news.

I have asked the RO and Sgt-Maj Pococke to see about putting on a concert around Christmas.


Notes:

[1] Sir John Simon was a prominent barrister and former Liberal cabinet member and close ally of Asquith. He had opposed entering the war, which caused him some political stress. He spent most of a year on Trenchard's staff, where his duties included arranging procurement of supplies from Paris. When Corderoy met him he was only a couple of weeks away from heading to Paris to marry his second wife, who had been his children's governess after his first wife died fifteen years before.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/03/18 11:32 PM

Nice stories and pics
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/03/18 11:56 PM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Athies, Flanders.
Jasta 3
8 Victory's


April 3, 1918.

The Jasta put up 6 a/c for Patrol in the rain, but no contact.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/04/18 01:32 AM

Fullofit, Thank you for the news. Always informative.

Jerbear, looking forward to your pilots adventure.

Raine, Good to see Geoffrey back in action. Be careful my friend.

Carrick, Stay safe. Luthor is doing well.

2nd Lt. Jerod Jackson
Auchel

Dec. 2nd.
Sgt. Matt Gerber transferred in last night. He and Jackson are to escort 3 RE's to bomb a depot NW of Cambrai.
"I sure dislike babysitting these slow crates" Gerber said as he and Jackson walked to their Camel's.
Still in a foul mood over the loss of Barclay, Jackson turned on his heels and addressed the Sgt." Would you rather be in that slow outdated crate Sgt.!"
Sgt. Gerber stopped in his tracks and stood in silence.
Jackson looked at him sternly for a few seconds and said "Stay on my left and watch for my signals. You might live longer."
The flight was uneventful except for a few heavy episodes of Archie and they returned unscathed.

The next few days were uneventful except for a patrol of the lines over Menen. Jackson's flight attacked 2 Rumplers and Chrittenden claimed them both. Once formed back up, Gerber was no where in sight. Finishing the patrol Jackson and Chrittenden landed at dusk. Jackson found Gerber eating a sandwich in a hanger. After asking if his machine had any damage and Gerber confirming that he had not Jackson went off and let Gerber know that under no circumstances was he to not form back up and finish a patrol unless his machine was damaged or he had a bullet in him. Jackson did not like this man.

'Chritt" as Jackson called Chrittenden was promoted to Lt. and both his victories were confirmed. The squadron was in dire need of machines. With only 5 machines fit to fly at any one time it was hard to put up much of a fight but Jackson had managed to be part of every patrol. He was told 13 new machines were on order but Camels were hard to come by right now.

Dec. 4th. 1917
Jackson, Chritt and Gerber were to patrol enemy lines from east of Bapaume to Munchy. They lifted of at 1500 hours. Lots of machines in the air but nothing to chase as they neared the first leg near Bapaume. They turned NNE to continue the patrol. Turning back around at Munchy they had not gone far when Jackson spotted 3 machines ahead and above headed east. One started a dive and Jackson signaled the attack. Jackson and the Hun went head to head firing with Jackson going under the Hun. The other two enemy machines were turning away so he hit hard right rudder and aileron and saw the green winged Phalz turning into Gerber. Jackson was on his tail in an instant and with 2 short bursts his right upper wing folded and broke away sending the Phalz spinning to the ground with Gerber diving after him.

Jackson climbed and went into a slow circle and was soon joined by Chritt. They circled for 5 minuets but never saw Gerber so they continued patrol. Jackson was fuming. He had made up his mind he was filing a report on Gerber for abandoning the patrol. As they turned for the second time at the southern most waypoint Jackson spotted archie a few miles off and 1000' below. It was Gerber climbing back up to join the patrol. Jackson had to laugh at himself at all the things he had planned to do to the man.

As they neared Monchy for the second time Jackson spotted 2 machines to the east above and climbed to intercept. It was 2 Rumplers. Jackson made one pass and turning to engaged again saw Chritt send one down smoking. He went after the second but could not finish the job and disengaged. As he turned bullets slapped his machine. "Where did that come from?" he thought. He turned and weaved but saw nothing. The observer must have got a lucky long distance burst in. He circled a few times and finding no one headed for home.

Back at base he filed his claim on the Phalz. When he handed it in at debrief the CO gave it a glance then handed it back to Jackson. "The report seems to have an error!" the CO said.

"Sir?" Jackson asked/stated puzzled.

"It should say Lt. Not Second Lt." said the CO. "Congratulations!"

Jackson and Chritt celebrated into the night.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/05/18 12:31 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Athies, Flanders.
Jasta 3
8 Victory's


Almost Up and down in the rain, I had a power loss. The motor was at full ,but acted like it had 50% power so made a precautionary landing on a road.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/05/18 01:18 AM

Another series of excellent reports.
Jerbear, can’t wait for your pilot to finally start flying.
Robert, Corderoy seems to be leading a life of a Gypsy changing aerodromes every few days. Hopefully he can stay put at Pop for a while now. Good luck with the Christmas concert, maybe Cathy can come visit?
MFair, great story. Sounds like Gerber will need a lesson or two. Congrats on the promotion!
Carrick, you keep ‘em flyin’! Gotta get your ground crew straighten out and iron out those gremlins. There’s a war going on and the pilots need their gear in top shape. How else are you going to win this war?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/05/18 01:38 AM

Almost forgot about my almost Bird strike Lucky I missed it. Probably was a Turkey

https://giphy.com/gifs/the-claw-7zrmf1aShXGFLUqdSo/fullscreen
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/05/18 01:57 AM

MFair, congratulations on the promotion. I think you may have to spoon-feed Gerber -- excuse the pun. Great read, and great to see Jackson thriving.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/18 03:33 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Athies, Flanders.
Jasta 3
8 Victory's


April 5, 1918.

Chasing Spads in the rain, We had finished up on a Balloon Defense mission when a Spad popped out of the clouds. Chase and fired at him at 400 yards ,but no luck. I then notice a few DR I pilots banging away at 3 Spads in and out of a landing circle with about 5 others. Diving to help, I chased one e/a I must have fired over 300 rds but ,again, no luck so RTB

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Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/18 12:25 PM

Dawes stopped Stanley as he was heading to the waiting car with his valise.
“I have a letter for you, Stanley,†the adjutant said, waving an envelope. “I thought I'd give it to you before the old man saw it and blew a gasket. 'The honourable Second Lieutenant R.A.W. Stanley'? He would have loved that.â€

Stanley looked at the envelope. “It's papa. He's very formal, especially when telling me off. Well, take care adj. Look after Hurst if you can, get him a good pilot.â€

As the Wolseley headed north out of Acq and into the flat French countryside, Robert opened his father's letter. It had been written on his fathers' personal stationary and the flash of blue and gold at the top felt homely, but the tone in the words below were sterner.

I was most surprised to learn that Maj. Tyson had taken action against you, and so soon after giving such a glowing recommendation for a transfer as a scouting pilot.

Bob smiled to himself. He knew why, and it was clear that his father guessed as much too, but the accusation was never made bluntly. It simply hovered over the letters.

the news about poor Neil. He was much loved by all that knew him. Both Asquith and LG lamented his loss. I ask you, Robert, who will weep for you? You would do well to emulate your late brother in law, and make a considerable change for the better.

Stanley looked up at the large wood that guided the road that they were on westwards. Did his father really mean that he should die in a foolish cavalry charge? That sort of thing might work in Palestine, but it wasn't done much these days. Waste of good horses, Robert mused.

As the car descended into more hilly country near Gauchin-Legal, the letter warmed in tone. His father had moved on to passions shared with his wayward son.

As you know, Phalaris has had a most excellent season, what the war has permitted of it. I hope that the war will end soon so that he can have a good career on the track before going to stud. I most certainly will put him to that task as such a handsome horse will prove popular and profitable. Especially if he can have his day on the field.

The letter ended but the journey had not. A final hill was crested and Stanley was looking at the coal fields of Bruay.

He was rather glad that they had remained hidden for so long. Sooty collieries were surrounded by red brick terraces that reminded him of his trips to the family estates in the north. What was different were the giant conical coal heaps. In Lancashire, the 'rucks' were long flat topped hills of debris from the industry of winning coal from the earth. Here, the Artois coalminers seemed to dump it all in one spot, the resulting cones dotted the horizon like tawdry pyramids for the modern age.

Stanley hated them immediately.

Before the towns, the aerodrome lay around the road.

Stanley was quite surprised to find that the landing field was immediately on his left, with several hangars beside what was supposedly still a public highway. Further up it became even more muddled as barracks, messes and offices spread along two lanes that crossed this, the public road between Bruay and Houdain.

He had to suppress a chuckle as he realised that security must be a nightmare.


The squadron office was a little way up the left road on the other side of an empty Bessonau hangar. Stanley pulled his valise from the back seat of the car and gave the driver a handful of francs.

“Thank you for your excellent driving, Jacobs. I shall write to Lord Redesdale and thank him for the use of such a splendid car. Perhaps I shall call on him when next we are both in England.â€

As the car pulled away, Stanley thought to himself, “and perhaps I shall call on Lady Redesdale when he's not!â€

Walking into the squadron office, Stanley was shown over to Major Tilney. His new CO was a young man with fair hair and a long thin nose. He was rather pleased to see the new arrival and shook his hand as soon as they had exchanged salutes.

“Aren't you Oliver Stanley's little brother? He and I were friends at back at Eton. Is he well?â€
“He's doing alright in the artillery,†Stanley replied. “I remember you from HBr.â€
“Splendid times eh? And not much different now. Although the bully is a bit rougher than usual! Now, let's get you settled in with the chaps.â€

Tilney gestured across the room at one of the clerks. “Funnel! Come here!â€

The clerk got up and crossed the office. “Yes sir?â€
“This is second lieutenant Stanley. He will be joining B flight. Please show him his quarters and the location of the mess.†The major clapped his hands, “I have to get on with reports, but I shall see you at dinner, Stanley.â€
“Yes sir. Thank you sir.†Bob saluted and left the office with private Funnel.

The Other Ranks had their mess and barracks across the road from the squadron office. Funnel led Stanley 800 yards back down the road, across the crossroads and into a smaller lane. Now they passed some workshops before going into one of the buildings on the right. Funnel opened the door of a small room with two beds in it. One bed had pyjamas folded neatly on it.

“Here you are sir,†the red faced clerk told him. “You are sharing with second lieutenant Wallwork. You will find the mess at the bottom of the lane, just turn right coming out of here and you will see it.â€
“Thank you Funnel.†Stanley grinned and tossed him some money. “That's for a drink in the mess.â€
“Thank you sir,†Funnel's hand closed over the coins and he turned around and headed back to the office.

There were a few hours before dinner, so Stanley sat down on the empty bed and wrote a few letters. One to father, to thank him for his continued support in the form of concern. One to Baron Redesdale to thank him for the loan of the car. Finally one to the baroness, thanking her for pressing her husband give Robert the use of the car.

A corporal tapped gently at the door.
“Come in,†Stanley called.
“Do I have the honour of addressing second lieutenant Stanley, sir?â€
“You do.â€
“I am corporal Crichton, sir. Batman to second lieutenant Wallwork and now also yourself, sir.â€
“Excellent! I am delighted to meet you, Crichton. Post these would you?†Stanley handed Crichton the letters and went off to the mess.

It was still an hour until dinner when Stanley arrived at the officers mess. The first impression Robert got was that he had arrived at a crash site. Pieces of aeroplane were mounted everywhere. Mostly bearing iron crosses; these were the trophies of a hunting squadron.

Four officers were sharing a pre-dinner drink on a motley collection of chairs around a coffee table.
“Hello chaps. I'm new in. The name's Stanley.â€
A round faced South African put down his glass. “'Stanley?' Is that your first or second name?â€
“My surname. I'm a Robert too, although my friends call me Bob.â€
“Nice to meet you Robert. I'm Tudhope. Around here they call me Tud.†Tudhope indicate around the table. “Harrison - we call him Harry- is the skinny Canadian. Perhaps you can teach him how to grow a decent moustache instead of that silly effort.â€
“Hey!†Harry protested.
Tud carried on ignoring him, “next to him you've got Shaw. He's a Kiwi and another new boy. And messy haired herbert there is McElroy. We call him McScotch.â€
“Whyâ€
“To tell me apart from McIrish of course,â€McElroy replied.
“McIrish?â€
“MacLanachan. He's Irish you see. So is Mick, and don't let him tell you otherwise.â€
Stanley felt like he was being played for a fool. “This would be Mannock then?â€
“That's right. Hates the Irish, so we call him Mick. Do be sure to ask him about it.â€

MacLanachan and an affable pilot called Napier (“Old Naps, if you likeâ€) came in just before dinner was called. The famous Mannock was with them. Stanley was a little surprised by how quiet he was. Or was it sullen? Mannock had looked him over and then got on with his soup after the most basic of introductions.

For a few days, Napier had Stanley flying around the aerodrome in the SE5a. Naps told him that he didn't want anyone who couldn't handle a scout properly.

Finally on the 19th of November, Napier took Stanley along on a balloon hunt.
“But for heaven's sake don't try to shoot it yourself!†Naps told Stanley. “Leave that to the seasoned hands. You watch how its done and make a distraction for the ground guns.â€

The balloon was popped and Stanley followed B flight home. He had followed instructions and Naps nodded at him in recognition of that.

It was a few days after that Stanley got to experience aerial combat as a fighter.

He was escorting RE8s from 15 squadron, with Naps in the lead and Tud, Shaw and McScotch making up the rest of the flight.

They were at 6000 feet over Monchy when Naps waggled his wings. 3 Albatros scouts were diving straight for the Harry Tates below them. The SE5s dived.

They headed off the Albatri and the fight became a whirl that Stanley couldn't understand. Wings and chattering guns flashed everywhere.

He saw one Albatros try to run. Unnoticed by the fray, the green-tailed machine turned east.

Stanley dived and was impressed by the speed of his aeroplane. He was very close to the German machine now.

[Linked Image]

He crept up under the tail of the fleeing Albatros and pulled on the triggers. Flecks of wood flew off the German scout and after only 10 rounds it dived away. Stanley watched as it hit the ground in an eruption of mud and splinters.

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Stanley climbed to rejoin the RE8s. Shortly, the rest of the flight reappeared and they continued their escort.

Stanley was giddy with excitement when they landed. He climbed out of his scout and ran over to the others.

“Did you see mine? I got one!â€
Tudhope nodded. “I did see. Well done. They won't all be sitters like that.â€

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

Good stories gentlemen. I've been stressing all week about doing an arrival at 40 justice. I hope I have.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/18 01:42 PM

Maran

You have outdone yourself Sir! Spiffing Account! I got so engrossed in the reading that I forgot I had a fresh hot coffee beside me needing to be sipped. Bloody good read!
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/18 07:45 PM

Marean, you have certainly done well for yourself! Excellent story. You seem to have a good handle for dialogue and even some witty banter. Good show!

Quote
As the car pulled away, Stanley thought to himself, “and perhaps I shall call on Lady Redesdale when he's not!â€

Ah, a bit of a rogue, I see! An English Stachel, perhaps?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/18 07:49 PM

mmmmmmmmmmmmm When the Cat is away the mice will play.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/06/18 10:01 PM

Maeran, ripping good story Sir. Thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/07/18 01:53 AM

Luthor Linderman
Underofficer, Zwei Flight
Athies, Flanders.
Jasta 3
8 Victory's


April 6, 1918.

Ran into Spads while on Patrol, a Head on mix up. Our 5 against 6 Frenchmen. Twist, turn , and zoom and fire at all. The fight turned into a Daisy Chain scout chasing scout. I slipped in behind one and Nailed him shredded his wing forcing him to go down. In the mean time his Wingman slipped behind me and I got pasted. Leaking Oil and Fuel, I cut the motor and fell out of the fight . Being wounded, I had a hard time getting the a/c down near a bombed out building . The Infantry Medics said that I would spending 7 days back at Hospital # 9 in Dusseldorf after clearing the Aid Station.

Jasta Status: 2 Albatross Destroyed , pilots KIA, + 1 forced down Badly wnd ( Me ) a/c Heavy Damage. Claims 2 Spads. ( One was mine )

Attached picture CFS3 2018-04-06 12-56-23-10.jpg
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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/07/18 10:17 PM

Carrick, Linderman needs to be more careful. Sounds like the mission was a teeth chattering affair.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/07/18 10:44 PM

Albert Earl Godfrey

8 Dec 1917 @ 07h23 Patrol to our airfield at Ligescourt NW of Abbeville


Entering the briefing room, Godfrey spotted the new man Reed who had just arrived the night before. He was sitting quietly on his own in the second last row of seats. There had been no time for his introduction to the squadron and so sensing that this would be a good chance to break the ice and see what the lad was made of, Godfrey promptly sat down beside him. “Godfrey is the name, and you are?†“Ltn. Reed. Ethan Sir†replied Reed. Godfrey injected “No time now for niceties. We will take care of intro’s when this mission is over, provided you pay attention to my directions and make it back here in one piece!†“Yes Sirâ€, was the reply. “You have been assigned to my flight and you will fly wing. Stay close to me, watch your six and don’t take off to make a name for yourself. I don’t take kindly to writing letters home for missing new men.â€

The C.O. Caldwell, commanded attention and suddenly the room went quiet.

“Gentlemen, this should be a romp in the park today and a good opportunity to introduce the new man “Reed†to our squadron. Eyes all swung around beeming in on Reed who seemed a tad fidgety.

“B†flight will patrol to Ligescourt with “A†flight providing top cover.
I don’t suspect you will encounter anything that deep behind our lines, but keep your eyes peeled on the run down to Hesdin. There have been reports of Hun two seaters in the area as of late. “Bloody impudent of them to come this far west if you ask me!†said the C.O.

“The latest weather reports indicate Wind from the NW at 8 kn, Broken thick cumulus with pockets of clear sky.

Godfrey will lead “B†flight, and Cochran-Patrick, “A†flight to provide top cover. That is all.â€

The room was suddenly full of the noise of clattering chairs and raucus voices as the men cleared the room and headed to their mounts.

Godfrey waited until all the members of “B†flight signaled with hand motions that their engines were warmed up and then he eased the throttle forward as his S.E. rumbled off down the runway. It was 07h23.

By 07h38 the flights were formed up north of the field at 7600 ft and turned SW. The forecast had been quite accurate. The sky was ominously filled with dark cumulus clouds heavy with moisture. Visibility was moderate at best aided by the fact that the clouds were somewhat dispersed in what otherwise would have been a clear sky. It was clear that a front was moving in and Godfrey hoped that the mission would complete before the worst of it closed in.

At 07h56 the flight was at 8900 ft. west of Fruges and closely following the Lumbres-Hesdin road. They continued to climb out seeing nothing and huddling down in the cockpit against the cold damp air.

At 08h07 flying at 10,000 ft the flight was just west of Hesdin when Godfrey spotted 6 flecks headed NE approaching directly in front at 1 o’clock.
They turned out to be Albatros D.V.’s of Jasta 27, way deep across the lines and totally unexpected. Both opponents were startled at the meeting but fought to gain the upper hand. The Huns were slightly higher and with the advantage.

Godfrey focused on the right most hun, strafing him as he passed, and at the same time noting another which was quickly turning to take a shot at his port side. Godfrey turned into the attacker to foil him but was not totally successful as he heard a sharp crack as a round hit his engine cover.

Albatros and S.E.’s were everywhere. Constantly checking his six to see that he was clear of attackers, Godfrey noted a Hun within close range and made a run at him. He felt sure he was making good hits as pieces of wood broke away from the D.V. as they climbed into some heavy cloud cover. Godfrey lost sight of him for a moment but as the sky cleared he was able to swing back onto the Hun’s tail and at collision range he sprayed volley after volley into him and wondering why he wasn’t going down. Godfrey was on the verge of uttering foul abuses when suddenly the D.V. lost it’s upper port wing and began to break up in mid air. Leaving the foe to his own devices Godfrey searched the sky for friend or foe and all were gone out of site except Hegarty who was pummeling a lone D.V. Godfrey gave chase to close in on the affair and just as he arrived he saw the Hun go down and Hagerty break under him.

Godfrey began to climb out and circle to reform his flight. It was 08h12 and he was down at 4800 ft. He could just make out St. Andre-aux-bois airfield below and about 4 miles off. Godfrey watched as members of the flight began to appear and begin to form up behind him. It wasn’t long until the formation was complete, minus Hagerty. They held their position for a time but it soon became clear Hagerty wasn’t going to be able to join them.

They flight finished the patrol, returning to base at 09h14. Godfrey put in a claim for one D.V. and confirmed that he had seen Hegarty down another. Reed quickly confirmed that he say Godfrey’s D.V. break up. Duncan, Chidlaw-Roberts and Young each claimed one. That was 5 out of six confirmed.

Later that day reports came in from St. Andre airfield that Hegerty had suffered a minor combat wound in the fracas and had totaled his craft attempting to land at the field. There was also ground confirmation of the downed D.V.’s near the base.

Godfrey was called into Caldwell’s office and told that the he was up for a bar to his VC. He now had an MC, DSO with bar and VC soon to be with bar.


Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/08/18 06:17 PM

Congrats on your VC bar Godfrey, good fight from your outfit. Save some for us.

2Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAS

April 3rd 1918

Still raining but we were able to do some training between downpours. Taxiing practice with a row of Morane aircraft with clipped wings. The rollers only have 50 hp engines but they put out a surprising amount of torque. I had some difficulty keeping the thing on the straight and narrow at first but was getting the hang of it before we had to call it quits.

The Germans are near enough to Paris to bombard it with some sort of long rang gun they've developed. We're impatient to get through this so we can start making a difference!

April 4th 1918

Raining, lectures on various rotary engines.

April 5th 1918

Raining still! More lectures in machine shop. Looked at Le Rhones in different stages of assembly and had a class on airframes of several aircraft.

April 6th 1918

Still raining, can you believe it! We'll never get this show on the road at this rate!

Nothing was scheduled except the rollers again and that was washed out on account of the heavy rain and deep mud. Big poker game in the barracks but I took no part. A group of us got together and took the 1:30 train to Issoudun for sightseeing. First I've been out to just look at the country.

The town hasn't built a new building in 500 years. The tower and prison were built by RIchard the Lion Hearted. We were treated very well everywhere we went. Found some Neats foot oil for my belts and boots. Had a grand meal and we had a lot of fun throwing coins to the kids. Caught the last truck back to camp with another group of sightseers from the 27th Aero.

April 8th 1918

First day in a week it hasn't rained and we still cant fly because of the damn mud! Cold, some of the boys went into town again but I stayed here and moped around, caught up on correspondence, read and played with Mickey. He's a great one for a tug-of-war.



Attached picture issoudunroulier.PNG
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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/08/18 06:23 PM

Item of interest: I found this aircraft while looking for info on Issoudun on the net. I dont know anything about it or the Chaplain who was supposed to be commander but I have seen the back of the machine on another photo. Wish I could see this one is color.

Attached picture issoudun fish.PNG
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/08/18 09:58 PM

Well done everyone.

Mr Wiggins: Great Vid Well Done!

Ref to Linderman's last Flight. It would have been a nail biting flight except he was wearing Flight Gloves
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/08/18 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Well done everyone.

Mr Wiggins: Great Vid Well Done!

Ref to Linderman's last Flight. It would have been a nail biting flight except he was wearing Flight Gloves


Ha Ha! Well put! Tnx for the ack.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/08/18 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by jerbear
Item of interest: I found this aircraft while looking for info on Issoudun on the net. I dont know anything about it or the Chaplain who was supposed to be commander but I have seen the back of the machine on another photo. Wish I could see this one is color.


Here is your color copy!

Attached picture flying fish.JPG
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/18 12:25 AM

Thanks, that's a beauty. And I guess that should have been Captain not Chaplain
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/09/18 02:01 AM

Luthor Linderman
3rd Floor Section F
Row 4, Bed 3
Hospital # 9
Dusseldorft.


They worked on me all morning then the doc placed a nurse to watch me for the next 24 hrs. Just before they put me under, I was told that my 9th Victory was confirmed.



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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/11/18 02:25 AM

Robert, great account and video. Congrats on the chest salad!!! Maeran, that story was outstanding. I can't wait for your take on Mick's gang.

I've been very busy at work, so I'm playing catch-up with Corderoy. My bad luck with claims has returned. I have had four claims rejected, three were seen to crash and the fourth was clearly out of control with pieces missing. Aargh!

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 44: 4 to 9 December 1917

4 December 1917 – Poperighe aerodrome


I am finding myself very fatigued these days. Headaches have subsided, but the knee is very sore and stiff again and seems sapped of all strength. Still, I am determined to get back in form and knock the stuffing out of the Huns so they will stop the damned war.

Catherine writes daily now and I am somewhat conflicted. Each letter is a thrill, full of gossip and funny stories about her fellow VAD nurses at St. Thomas, along with the occasional snippet of poetry and yesterday – a photo. She is really a lovely girl. I put the photo on my mirror and Lieut. Gregg makes no end of complements about her. I think the fellow is smitten.

Yet I have reservations. I met her only once, in sad circumstances as I offered her my condolences for the loss of poor old Scarborough, her fiancé. And now with scarcely a pause, she writes me and is so very familiar. I have read of the wives that followed Wellington’s army in the Peninsula and how they would remarry when widowed before their last husband’s body was even found on the field of battle. That’s what it feels like.

But still, she is a topping girl, a real beauty. I should like to get over to London to take her to dinner and a show and do this correctly. For the moment, I feel as though I want to love her but cannot.

No joy this morning. Went over to Loos in filthy weather. Snot froze to my balaklava and we saw nothing.

5 December 1917


The Christmas concert is set for the 22nd. I have decided to put on a brief comedy sketch based on something I saw in Reading before the war. I should need a pretty young girl for the sketch, and Sergeant-Major Pococke tells me that a certain Private Aldringham can play the part, albeit with a suspicious amount of enthusiasm!

Accompanied Capt Arthur over the lines near Vimy. Chased three two-seaters and took damage from the observer’s gun, so broke off.

The Huns have pushed back down south near Cambrai. What seemed so promising a week ago now seems to have gained no ground, and stained what ground was fought over with the blood of a few tens of thousands more. This time, however, the tanks showed great promise. There were not enough reserves, it seems.

6 December 1917

Off at eight and over the lines at 10000 feet. Fire the guns every five minutes to keep them from freezing solid. Spend an hour hunched over for warmth ten miles deep into Hunland in our southernmost sector.

Three DVs attack and we have a fine scrap. I get behind one and send it tumbling down out of control. No one witnesses a crash, but I saw it pass through clouds at 3000 feet, still spinning. Still, Wing rejects the claim, noting it as merely “driven down.†My count stands rigid at 34.

[Linked Image]
"I get behind one and send it tumbling down out of control."

7 December 1917

Joined A Flight for a patrol over the Salient, but my engine quit after five minutes and I glided back to Pops.

The papers are reporting a massive explosion in Halifax, Canada, that has destroyed much of the city. Our Canadians – Howsam, Koch, Quigley, Gorringe – are all buried in the papers. They tell me none of them lives within a thousand miles of Halifax. Koch and Gorringe say they live more than 2000 miles from Halifax! Unimaginable that they should still be in the same country. I told Howsam that I wanted to see the Canadian prairie, but Howsam warned me that the western city Koch lives in is a “little bit of bugger all surrounded by a whole lot of bugger all.â€

8 December 1917

Utterly browned off today. We patrolled over the salient this morning, with me tagging along with Arthur’s flight. A pair of two-seaters passed over us and I gave chase, heading south from Menen. Near Halluin we ran into a group of Huns and a good scrap started. I bagged one, an Albatros with a white tail with red stripes. It fell out of control and I followed its fall from 10000 feet down to less than 3000 feet. That is when I saw another Albatros heading east by itself. I got behind it and sent it tumbling down. By this time I was coming under machine gun fire from the Hun field at Halluin, so I climbed away. I noticed Aldred and Arthur chasing another Albatros and surprised the fellow, sending him down out of control to crash just south of the airfield. I claimed all three, but NONE of them were confirmed by Wing. I suspect that someone does not want me chasing Bishop’s numbers, damn the man. I refuse to go home with fewer than 50 EA to my credit.

[Linked Image]
One of three rejected claims today

Drank too much tonight. Ought never to talk politics in the mess. Todd is a staunch Tory, but I suspect it’s because that’s what his father told him to be. I was in a foul mood and argued for Labour just to stir things up. Damn nearly started a fight.


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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/11/18 06:58 PM

Another classic from Raine. Thank you.

I hope that Sir Corderoy (certainly he will be knighted, should he survive the war with 34+ victories), is not experiencing war fatigue. Despite his reservations, a long weekend spent inside a room with Catherine might just do the trick, although I am sure Geoffrey is much too chivalrous to take advantage of the poor lass.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/11/18 07:02 PM

Robert and Carrick: Which shade of blue do you prefer, the colour of Captain Gwinne's Nieuport, or the blue on that fetching nurse's uniform? Discuss. I expect supporting documents and analysis!
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/11/18 07:34 PM

Gee Bob, I hadn't noticed the nurses uniform as I was too entranced with her eyes biggrin
That said, I am still drawn to the lines of the Nieuport! Tough decision there. I will defer to
Carrick's best judgement as he no doubt has more experience with judging Nurses uniforms than I do.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/11/18 07:36 PM

Carrick, that's quite a nurse. Hope this is your tenth victory.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/11/18 09:09 PM

Great reports once more. Robert, congrats on the bar. Raine, this Hun’s arm is outside the cockpit, he is clearly dead! What’s wrong with these bean counters? Carrick, congrats on another fine injury! And Robert, looking into the eyes is no excuse. They’re still blue.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/18 12:05 AM

Fullofit, this past couple of weeks have been frustrating. I bagged a DIII tonight, watching it thunder in and disintegrate. My wingman was close behind me, yet the claim was also rejected. That makes eight in a row.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/18 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by Raine
Fullofit, this past couple of weeks have been frustrating. I bagged a DIII tonight, watching it thunder in and disintegrate. My wingman was close behind me, yet the claim was also rejected. That makes eight in a row.


Raine, it's one of those areas that needs some Dev improvement in my opinion. Maybe an AI improvement that takes into consideration how close a flight mate is, closeness to your own ground troops, etc, etc.
I can't really criticize the existing process because I don't know how the decisions are determined. Maybe there is some reasonable logic at play but I too feel that too often claims are denied in the face of what one would consider undeniable. Hopefully we may see some improvements in this area if it is being worked on again for WOTR.

I would suggest putting "claims on easy" in the workshop if you haven't already.

Best Regards;
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/18 12:27 AM

Raine, I feel your pain and frustration. It happens. Hopefully next one won't be a dud.

[Linked Image]

I sometimes think the bean counters are playing a game.

[Linked Image]

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/18 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by Robert_Wiggins
I would suggest putting "claims on easy" in the workshop if you haven't already.


Robert, I haven't the heart. Despite its shortcomings, the system generates realistic victory numbers over a career. Many rejections I can rationalize, but there are a few that smack you in the face. I've suggested an override button in the claim page that allows you to automatically get credit for a claim if you genuinely bagged it [i.e. as per the easy setting, regardless of the actual setting] Of course, you'd have to use it sparingly, such as when the thing crashes on a friendly airfield.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/18 02:12 AM

Raine

The thing about easy claims is that you don't have to put the claim in if you can't confirm it. At least you have the choice. It's the best option we have at the moment. Even then, you still get rejections, but not as much in my opinion.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/18 12:50 PM

So many exciting reports to catch up!

I'm totally out of the loop regarding dates. The earlier campaign is now somewhere in December 1917?

I could use a little help with that. smile
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/18 03:56 PM

Hasse,

Great to see you here! Thursday 12 April 2018 is Thursday 13 December 1917 in the earlier Intrepid Fliers Campaign.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/18 07:51 PM

Thanks Raine, that'll help. I'm enlisting a new pilot for the campaign.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/18 09:38 PM

Buckeye:

although I prefer the the Nurse's Blue for a basic N-17or N-24, There is always pale Blue

https://giphy.com/gifs/esther-williams-Tx6HGxO1gz78I/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/charlton-heston-yul-brynner-the-ten-commandments-CIV8DU1p0VrlC/fullscreen


or my other favorite a more Royal Blue.

https://giphy.com/gifs/kate-YlbJKDhPGQeKP8aV7N/fullscreen

Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/12/18 11:59 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAS

April 9th 1918 - Issaudun

Finally back on schedule. Finished my training with the grasscutters and can move on to Field 2 for some actual flight training, takeoffs and landings with an instructor in the 23-Meter Nieuport (1) with an 80 hp Le Rhone. I was one of the last of our outfit to finish. Wasn't keeping the bus straight while her tail was up. One of the boys from the 139th forgot how short the field was. He rolled into a ditch and turned turtle. He wasn't hurt, except for his feelings. He'll be a few days joining the rest of us.

Lt.s Lawrence(2) and O'Neill(3) joined us today. They were assigned to the 147th before we left New York but came over on a different ship, just now catching up with the rest of us. The Major is none too pleased with them and most of the boys don't care for them much. It's felt that they should and could have been on the Cedric with us, but chose to go off on their own little adventures instead. O'Niell fiddle farted around in England and missed our movement here while he was getting engaged to some British Naval Captain's daughter. Somehow, he and Lawrence who are best buddies, avoided a Courts Martial and VOILA' , here they are.. For myself, I rather like them. Ralph is full of fun and doesn't take anything too seriously, even being disliked in the Squadron.

A little too much rough housing in the barracks tonight, A few of the guys almost got into real fights. Too much PEP! We need to get out of here, this is taking much too long.

(1) 23 Meter Nieuport, generic term for any Nieuport with a total wing surface of 23 meters. The ones used at Field 2 were Nieuport 80 E2s, two seaters built specifically as a trainer, with flight controls for both the pilot and passenger.

(2) 2nd Lt. Edgar A. Lawrence, B Flight, killed in crash 4 June 1918.

(3) 2nd, later 1st Lt. Ralph A. O'Neill, B Flight, 5 aerial victories.

Below is the barracks at Issoudun:

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Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/18 09:46 AM

Meet Adjudant Charles Linder:

[Linked Image]

Charles is an artillery NCO who got tired of service in the quiet Vosges front and successfully applied for pilot training in early 1917. He received his pilot's license from the École d'aviation de Pau in December 1917, and after a short leave in his home city of Paris, Charles has now been assigned to Escadrille BR 11 in the Verdun sector.

The Linder family is originally from the province of Alsace, which Germany annexed in 1871. Charles has several siblings, and his father works as an official at the Ministry of War in Paris. Max, the elder brother of Charles, was killed in action in April 1917 in the Second Battle of the Aisne. As a result, Charles now hates the Germans, and is eager to avenge his brother. He's also interested in politics and follows the developments of the Russian revolution as much as the war censorship in France allows.

***

From the War Diary of Charles Linder.

10 Dec. -17

Quite the gathering tonight! I’m leaving to the front tomorrow morning, and the small apartment was packed full of people who wanted to see me before I go. I spent all my savings on early Christmas presents, as I won’t be here on the actual date. Father seemed quite pleased with his silver cigarette case. It did cost a small fortune! However, it’s entirely possible that this will be my last Christmas, so I see no point in saving my francs for the future. I’ll do my best to avoid the fate of Max, but our fate is not always in our own hands. I got a stack of books and lots of warm clothing as gifts, so I should be well-equipped for the winter. Good people - I’m going to miss them!

11 Dec. -17

Departed Gare de l’Est before sunrise in a train full of poilus headed to the front. I’m to report at the depot of 2e Armée at Souilly near Verdun. Final destination - Escadrille BR 11, Verdun! It’s one of the old escadrilles and has a fine reputation. I guess I’ll have to do my best to earn my keep there. The training I received at Pau was good (as far as I could tell), but I’m still such a greenhorn at this flying business that I can’t help but feel nervous about it.
---
The train was moving slowly and the poilus served pinard to pass the time. Apparently I was the only pilot in the car. I had to explain that I was rather new at the business and unfortunately had no exciting adventures to share with them yet. Later we sang La Marseillaise and at some point, after enjoying more pinard, L’Internationale. As we stopped on the way at a small station somewhere for a little break, a captain told us to keep it down or the locals will think the Russian Bolsheviks are invading. Seemed like a decent fellow who had the respect of his men. I slept the rest of the journey.

12 Dec. -17

At Verdun. The famous Verdun! The place is packed full of military stores and equipment and is crawling with soldiers. Traces of last year’s fighting are everywhere. The hills are bare and everything looks like a wasteland. I reported at the depot and after getting the paperwork in order, I was soon on my way to the base of Esc. 11. How to describe it? Well, there’s a field surrounded by lots of tents, hangars and other buildings. I’m living in an ugly wooden hut with the other NCOs. It’s pretty comfortable, and definitely better than a dugout! The front is now farther away than during last year’s fighting, but it’s obvious I’m now very close to the war again. Occasionally, a gun barks in the distance, and airplanes (our own - the boche doesn’t like to wander far from his lines) pass back and forth in the sky.

The day was spent with introductions and learning the basics of living at a front airbase. They seem like a decent group of gentlemen. The CO is Capitaine Guy de Lubersac, a veteran pilot. In fact, they’re all veterans here! I really feel like a fledgling among old eagles.

13 - 14 Dec. -17

Hard at work since 6 AM on both days. The escadrille is equipped with brand new Breguet 14 two-seaters. And what a machine it is! At Pau, we had old Caudrons. The Breguet is so much better in every way that I’m almost ashamed to admit I’ve flown something as obsolete as the Caudron! The speed, the power and roar of the engine, the easy controls… it’s magnificent! I’m not allowed to fly combat missions yet, so I spent the days getting familiar with the Breguet both on the ground and in the air. As I climbed out of the cockpit after flying a few circles around the field for the first time, the CO said I was grinning like a dervish! Apparently the Breguet does that to people. With such a bird, how could we lose the war in the air?!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/18 12:29 PM

Welcome back Hasse, good start. It’ll be interesting to see how well Charles will do in a Breguet. Not too many careers going on in that bird. Good on ya!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/18 04:55 PM

good stories all
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/18 09:33 PM

Good to meet you Adj. Linder.

2Lt John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS


April 10th 1918 - Issoudun

On Field 2 today. Today's instruction put me in my place. I thought this was going to be a sinch and that we could do without most of what they are cramming down our throats here. Well, maybe we aren't quite as ready as we thought. Just because you've earned your wings on a Jenny in the States doesn't give you everything you need to know for these rotary chase planes over here.

I drew Lt. Weatherby, an American instructor. Before he let me near the plane he checked me out to make sure I had the hang of the manettes on a motor used for that in one of the hangars. His technique is a little different from mine but he said it seemed to be working for me, Everybody seems to have his own way of using them.

The plane looks fragile and the 80 hp Le Rhone is very quiet compared to the Liberty. He sat in the front seat and had me follow through with him on the controls as he took the plane up, around the field, then landed. Up we went again, twice more, with Weatherby giving me more control each time. I had some trouble overcoming the tendency to hold the nose down in a turn like I was flying a Curtis with a stationary motor. A right hand turn with a Nieuport takes a different technique than a left. If you don't hold that nose level you go into a spin. He had to take over the rudder and broomstick to save our bacon a couple of times. I was also flying with too little rudder. You can guide a Jenny with just the ailerons, but with the rotary you have to be using the rudder all the time. The blip switch takes some getting used to as well. After two more circuits we called it a day. He said he felt I was ready for Field 3 but I would have to go up with the tester before I could be passed along.

Wrote Cousin Davey to let him know I'm over here.


April 11th 1918

Got the thumbs up from the tester after I satisfied him. Took my card over to Field 3. Didn't get to start until late afternoon. The Nieuports over here are the same as the ones on Field 2, except that they have no dual controls. Despite the late start I was still able to complete my 10 solo takeoffs, turns and landings.

Ralph, we call him Snake now, showed us all how it's done today. He completed Fields 1 and 2 yesterday, got his 10 landings on Field 3 done in 70 minutes, then was off to Field 4 to solo in the faster Nieuport 21 C1. He finished that program the same day. He appears to be a born pilot! Hope some of that rubs off on me.

Saw Abe flip his plane. He flared too high off the ground , bounced, went over on his nose, then slowly flipped over. Abe crawled out and gave a bow like he'd pulled off a slap-stick stunt for a moving picture. A crash can be pretty comical when nobody gets hurt.





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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/14/18 11:41 PM

Luthor Linderman
Uhderofficer, 9 Victories.
3rd Floor Section F
Row 4, Bed 3
Hospital # 9
Dusseldorft.

Apr 14, 1918.

Not much good news from the Jasta, they are loosing on average a machine every other day with few replacements. I should be leaving the Hospital in 3 to 4 days for 2 days leave then back to the front. I will miss the Nurse with the Medicine Trolley. The stuff is awful ,but I could never tell her no or not take it.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/18 04:08 AM

Jerbear, I am enjoying these training sessions. Looks like Johnny is going to have his hands full with those French rotaries.
Carrick, looks like Luthor is also having his hands full. Oh dear!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/18 07:01 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAS

April 12th 1918

Field 4 for me today. We have to do 30 landings here in the much faster, Nieuport 21 C1, delicate little bird. I'm loving these little French rotary machines, they respond instantly, almost as if they're reading to your thoughts. Nothing like the old Jenny, where you'd put the stick over, then wait for the wing to get good and ready to come up in response. Will probably finish up and move to Field 5 tomorrow.

The Major joined us at evening mess. Big News! As soon as we finish up here we'll be joining the 94th Aero at the front.


April 13th 1918

Finished up my 30 and reported to Field 5. Ralph told me that's part of how he's moving along so much faster than the rest of us. Don't let any grass grow under your feet, get over to the next field and keep going as long as the instructors will let you. Of course, not screwing up helps too.

Made 6 landings but only 3 weren't any good. You have to land within a painted circle 10 times. You have to come in pretty hot to land this bird and it's a bit hard to control on the ground.


April 15th 1918

Been having problems with the spirals, over controlling and falling into spins. Casey(1) showed me the stick and rudder positions on an uncovered fuselage in one of the hangars, then then took me up in a dual control 23 Meter to work with me. He's a life saver, not many instructors would take that kind of time for you. I'm not the only one he saved from washing out, we just about all owe him.

Yesterday the first Huns were shot down by Americans at Toul. Two monoplace were destroyed by Lts Winslow and Campbell of the 94th. We're in the WAR now Lafayette!


April 16th 1918

Still at Field 5 but should finish up tomorrow. Fell into another spin during one of my spirals but Casey said he was pleased with it because I recovered so well.

(1) Lt. Charles Sherman "Casey" Jones taught precision landing and acrobatic maneuvers at Field 5 and 6, Issoudun. Post war air racer, established the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics in 1932.

Photo below is Field 4





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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/15/18 09:09 PM

Thank you, jerbear. Really enjoying the historical touches!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/18 06:22 PM

Fantastic stories Gents! It has taken me a while to catch up on everyone’s exploits. Hasse, great to see you back in the fold, good luck to your pilot.

Lt. Jerod Jackson
Auchel
43 RFC
54 missions
51 hours
16 victories

The squadron has been flying defensive the past week due to the lack of machines. We finally got 2 new ones yesterday and will be able to put up 8 machines for a balloon busting mission west of Lens. Jackson led “B†flight. Critt was assigned to his flight so he was in good spirits. Critt was a good man and very capable pilot. Gerber had not even pissed Jackson off today.

The flight climbed to 6000’and made toward Lens. With the balloon in sight Jackson noticed 3 machines low headed southwest. The flight dove on the ballon with Ralph scoring a direct hit with rockets. Jackson pulled up and to the right looking for the 3 machines he had spotted. He spotted 2 heading NE and followed. Where was the third one? As he got closer he could see they were Triplane’s. Jackson had heard about them but had never seen one. He closed on the rearmost machine and opened fire. It dropped like a stone. The other turned to engage but Jackson’s flight was all over him. At that moment Jackson found out where the 3rd enemy machine was. On his tail! The rumours of the Triplanes ability to climb and turn were not exaggerated. Jackson could not get a shot in the turning low level fight and almost stalled and crashed once. The Hun finally had had enough and made his escape. Spotting Archie to the north Jackson headed in that direction. Two of his flight were having around with another Triplane. Jackson saw his chance and dropped in behind it. As soon as he fired the right wings on the machine collapsed and it crashed next to Haubourdin. His two mates were heading for home and Jackson did the same.

His flight had claimed a balloon and 3 enemy machines. All were confirmed except Jackson’s first Triplane. 43RFC was back in business.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/16/18 11:26 PM

Luthor Linderman
Uhderofficer, 9 Victories.
3rd Floor Section F
Row 4, Bed 3
Hospital # 9
Dusseldorft.

April 16th 1918.


I am being released tomorrow so will head over to Berlin for my 2 days Medical Leave. Additionally, I heard the Aerodrome got hit on the ground again loosing more machines.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/17/18 03:47 PM

Luthor Linderman
Uhderofficer, 9 Victories.


April 17th 1918.

We had an incident while on the train to Berlin. However the Staff took care of the situation.




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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/17/18 11:34 PM

MFair, Keep your eyes peeled for those Dreideckers!
Carrick, looks like it's time for retribution after that dastardly attack.

18 December, 1917
Jasta 18, Avelin

Today Aldi woke up and thought to himself that it would be great to bag a nice, fat Britisher after a few long weeks without a claim. It was his birthday after all.
After breakfast he went with Paul to see what mission was waiting for them in the briefing room. Turck was explaining the latest orders and his plan to accomplish them. The plan was simple enough: fly to the front and shoot down anything that is not Kaiser’s property.
When they got to the field, their machines were already being warmed up and the weather looked like it would hold for some time. Clear skies with a few fluffy white clouds looked promising. The roar of his Mercedes-Benz engine kept him focused on the task at hand, instead of the evening plans which included a birthday bash organized by his good friend Paul Strähle. They were nearing the Front and puffs of Flak over Haubourdin announced presence of enemy airplanes.

[Linked Image]

Two specks were racing to get away from the German shrapnel and Aldi was more than happy to give chase. His Kette was closing in fast on the enemy and they were ready to do some damage. Aldi shifted slightly in his seat. Perhaps he will get his birthday wish? Nearly there. His attention was consumed by the two machines in his gunsight. Something moved in the corner of his eye. He stole a quick glance to check if his wingmen weren’t getting too frisky and too close to his kite. His eyes grew instantly larger. A gaggle of DH 5’s was bearing down on them high on starboard!

[Linked Image]

Suddenly the hunter became the pray. The two machines in front abandoned, Aldi pulled sharply up and to the right to meet the onslaught head on. The rest of the Kette realized their predicament and mirrored Aldi’s maneuver. The two flights merged with guns firing in all directions. Schwarzkopf managed to separate from the furball following one of the enemy scouts. They were locked in a turning fight with neither one gaining an upper hand. The British plane was just as maneuverable as his Pfalz.

[Linked Image]

Every time Aldi turned inside his opponent, he would nearly stall and lose altitude. He then would have to repeat the maneuver to get back in position. Finally, on one of the attempts he fired and appeared to have hit his foe. The DH 5 lurched and spiralled to the ground. Aldi followed the Englander with his gaze, looking for a telltale sign of a crash in the form of a large dust cloud below, but instead the pilot levelled out and proceeded to fly towards his own side of the Frontline. Aldi smiled. The sly fox nearly got away. Schwarzkopf put his machine into a dive and followed. The Pfalz picked up speed and didn’t protest when subjected to additional stress. Aldi liked the sturdy construction of his mount. It afforded confidence in a dive, which the latest offerings from Albatros lacked. He soon caught up with the English machine just west of the Front.

[Linked Image]

Schwarzkopf took care to line up a perfect shot and squeezed the paddles on his Knüppel. The DH 5 pilot was riddled with 7.92 caliber bullets and his plane plummeted to the ground.

[Linked Image]

Aldi looked around for any of his wingmen, but they were still fighting over Haubourdin and no one would be able to confirm his victory. No one, except maybe one other DH 5 just returning from the main battle. Aldi adjusted the course to intercept and climbed. This new foe must have been damaged in a fight as Aldi was able to catch up to him relatively quickly.

[Linked Image]

The Britisher was preoccupied with managing the damage on his wounded bird and didn’t expect Aldi’s attack. The German twin gun onslaught set the biplane on fire producing a thick plume of black smoke.

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Aldi watched his foe struggle to land as the flames kept licking the cockpit. The machine finally reached the ground with fire spreading throughout the fuselage. The pilot could not see the wooden fence stretched across his landing path and the craft smashed into it with such force that the whole plane exploded into a giant fireball. Aldi started to climb immediately, knowing well that the black smoke will attract other scouts in the area, leaving him exposed to attacks in enemy territory. He was over the trenches and still climbing when 2 more enemy planes appeared crossing in the opposite direction. Schwarzkopf had the altitude advantage, but was outnumbered. He checked his fuel levels and the remaining ammunition stores. He made up his mind - he will make a slashing attack on the trailing ship and run. Aldi put his Pfalz into a dive and aimed. The trailing aeroplane reacted by turning to face his opponent, exposing his leader to an attack. As they merged, Aldi targeted the leader instead, while his wingman was now left behind.

[Linked Image]

The leading DH 5 was caught by a broadside from Aldi’s Spandaus. He wobbled, but didn’t attempt to evade. Aldi was already turning to face his companion who now was sliding in on Aldi’s six. While they were circling each other, Aldi kept one eye on the flight leader, which was quickly losing altitude. After another series of stalemate loops, Aldi took a chance and quickly banked in the opposite direction. The Englander followed but somehow messed up and stalled.

[Linked Image]

Aldi was now on his six and firing. The DH 5 dove and Schwarzkopf followed. The stricken leader was now on the ground, but Aldi knew he won’t get credit for a “zur Landung gezwungenâ€. Instead he concentrated on the enemy in front of him squirming to get away. Aldi wouldn’t allow it. He kept chipping away at the machine ahead, which stubbornly stayed afloat.

[Linked Image]

Finally, after countless volleys, the Englander lost control and smashed into the mud below. A nearby balloon defence crew opened up with angry puffs of white-grey smoke exploding all around him. Aldi was climbing again over no man’s land, quite ecstatic with his four victories, singing “happy birthday to me!†at the top of his lungs amongst enemy’s fireworks.

[Linked Image]

He brought his Pfalz to a stop at Avelin and walked over to the debrief office with a smile on his face. He had no witnesses to support his claims and he certainly didn’t expect Turck to approach him with the news that a German observation balloon team witnessed his victory. It was the black smoke that caught their attention and they called it in. Aldi’s birthday wish came true. Nothing could top this now. Strähle, who was also in the office, grabbed Aldi by the shoulder congratulating him on another brilliant victory and led him back to their room to change before the birthday party at the Kasino later tonight. When Aldi opened the door Käte was standing inside near the window. He froze in the doorway, stupefied by his love interest‘s surprise visit. Paul winked at Käte, proud of his involvement in the charade required to smuggle her onto the base, nudged Aldi with an elbow, turned around and left. Käte looked fabulous. She was wearing a long navy blue skirt and a black blouse with a white front panel with pressed ruffles. A velvet ribbon was tied into a bow at her neck. Her short grey jacket was already neatly folded on the back of the desk chair and her hat with a floral decoration was laying on the table. She smiled when Aldi came into the small room. She slowly tugged at the free ends of the ribbon to unravel the bow tie and asked in a sultry voice: “Are you going to help me unwrap your present?â€

[Linked Image]

Aldi stammered something that resembled “yes†and locked the door behind him. The rain kept on coming down for the next two days.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/18/18 04:01 AM

Ah Man. He only got a Bow Tie ? I would have hoped 4 a birthday Cake or a Rain Coat since the weather was bad.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/18 02:53 AM

Luthor Linderman
Uhderofficer, 9 Victories.


April 18th 1918.

Ah Berlin, A wonderful city despite the shortages.

I Attended the formal dinner/ dance as directed, but as the Englander's say " Not my cup of Tea "

https://giphy.com/gifs/ballroom-prisoner-of-zenda-9LXHLYzpgRr2rAhwiz/fullscreen

Afterwards, I slipped away for real fun

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancers-oct-fest-beer-girls-xiOJrD3KDMf1WfNH3Y/fullscreen

I did meet a charmer

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/18 03:09 AM

Fullofit, my son. Grief can do strange things to a girl--I'm afraid yours has turned into a vixen. I'm not sure if that is good or bad for Aldi!

In any event, it looks like he may be tied up for awhile!
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/18 03:11 AM

Carrick, who says you can't have fun when there is a war on!

LOL
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/18 10:32 AM

BuckeyeBob, I’m afraid you’ve confused Käte with Raine’s Catherine. One is a German nurse, the other an English widow. Understandable mistake. We all make them.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/18 01:07 PM

Wonderful, wonderful stories everyone. I am ashamed to say that work has overwhelmed me and I will be mostly out of the fight until about Mid-May.

Please keep the stories coming!
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/18 03:02 PM

Fullofit, you lucky dog! And I thought war was hell.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/18 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Fullofit, you lucky dog! And I thought war was hell.

MFair, are you referring to the confirmed victory with no witnesses? winkngrin
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/18 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by Fullofit
Originally Posted by MFair
Fullofit, you lucky dog! And I thought war was hell.

MFair, are you referring to the confirmed victory with no witnesses? winkngrin


I would hope that both victories had no witnesses.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/19/18 10:23 PM

Luthor Linderman
Uhderofficer, 9 Victories.
Berlin

April 19 1918.

More News from the Front. JG 1 is going at it Hammer and Tongs with the British while the French is pouring more a/c into the Pocket out numbering us.

https://giphy.com/gifs/wwi-3ov9k4DYNvmOIBuNfW/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/wwi-red-baron-and-brown-tZYawLub2Xq2u7d491/fullscreen

and say Auf wiedersehen to mein Neuer Freund.

https://giphy.com/gifs/happy-smile-to-see-you-85uRm9AG55rurBPdSh/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/21/18 02:41 AM

Luthor Linderman
Uhderofficer, 9 Victories.
Jasta 27

April 20, 1918.


In the late afternoon, the train was met at the border by the Militarpolizei and re directed to Jasta 27 as a emergency replacement pilot along with 5 others on the train. The Jasta X.O. dug into the Jasta War Chest and issued me new ( Hand me downs ) Flight clothes and fur flight Boots. As an Ace I was given a choice between the Stored Machines being brought out to the Flight Line.. I picked # 2 . It was still in the 1917 paint job and had a British Rotary Motor that came from a Forced down Sopwith Camel.



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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/18 03:05 AM

The Exploits of Albert Earl Godfrey, RFC-60, Ste-Marie-Cappel

23 Dec 1917 @ 10h00 Patrol to lines west of Menen


It was to be another routine DOP, this time to the lines west of Menen.
The weather would be less than desirable for OP. The forcast was for thick low cloud cover but the latest reports indicated it would extend to well above 8000 ft. Wind was estimated to be 8 kn and from the SW.

It was a late morning start at 10h00 which was a nice change and allowed the men to have a good breakfast and fine visible light for the launch.

Godfrey was to lead “B†flight with Reed on wing, and Crompton, Hegarty, Chidlaw-Roberts and Pope making up the rest of the flight.

“A†flight was composed of Patrick, Duncan and
Selous.

The flight formed up over Droglandt at 10h09 having attgained an altitude of 4200 ft, and set out for the lines.

At 10h12, still at 4200 ft, they passed over Poperinge, climbing.

At 10h40, flying at 8000 ft., Godfrey spotted 6 specks coming west directly in front of them, slightly higher. The specks were soon identified at Albatros DV’s of Jasta 12. Hans Muller, Ulrich Necker, Paul Blumenbach and Emil Koch were present with their colorful mounts.

It was a rather quick melee, with Godfrey at times double and triple teamed. It was impossible to avoid being hit and his S.E. took several volleys from various machines. Godfrey knew he could not focus on any one combatant and was only able to offer fleeting bursts at the enemy when the opportunity arose.
One such opportunity presented itself just as the attacks on his machine subsided and he was able to inflict a deadly burst that sent the machine down. There was no time to watch it descend, as the Huns again began to pester him with their attacks. As soon as it began for the second time, it was over in a flash and Godfrey scanning around was alone in the sky with Reed and one Hun. This Hun also fell to Godfrey’s guns under a concerted attack, only possible because there were no longer any interlopers to spoil the chase.

The flight was now just west of Menen and Godfrey began to circle at 7000 ft, signaling to rejoin. All but Hegarty arrived to commence the return to the closest base at Bailleuil.

News came in later that Hegarty was lightly wounded but lost his machine upon landing due to combustion after the crash. He had made it back over the lines, landing just behind the front lines, on the Menen-Ypres road just in front of a convoy heading to the front.

Godfrey, Crompton and Pope put in claims for 2 Huns each.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/18 05:26 PM

Mr. Wiggins : Another well done story and Vid to go with a Sunday Morning.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/18 05:33 PM

Luthor Linderman
Uhderofficer, 9 Victories.
Jasta 27
Rekke4m, Flanders.

April 22, 1918.

I couldnt Hack the Hand me downs so asked to use the Jasta Hack around Type a/c to visi t my old Aerodrome and get my personal stuff. The Rumpler purred along fine through a dark sky. Additionally, I got to see Gretchen at the Beer Garden and she showed me a routine to prevent Dizzyness.

( it might be useful in a Tail Spin

https://giphy.com/gifs/iDKN3qCbBRjhoko7ex/fullscreen

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/18 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Mr. Wiggins : Another well done story and Vid to go with a Sunday Morning.


Thanks Carrick. It's been tough finding air time lately.
Hope you're having a great weekend.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/18 06:33 PM

Enjoyed the video R. Wiggins. Going to have to learn to do that someday.

2Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAS

April 17th 1918 - Issoudun

Done with this field, thanks to Casey, Field 6 tomorrow. If I'd washed out here I'd be going to Field 10 for observation and bombing training. It's important work but none of us want to do it. We signed up to be chase pilots.

April 18th 1918

Snowed in the morning, no flying.

Miss Rochester "The Nightingale of the Trenches" put on a musical show at the Y tonight. Beautiful woman, English, wonderful voice, enough said.

April 19th 1918

On the acrobatic field (Field 6) today. Did my first renversement. The technique is to lower the nose to get up speed, level off, then kick the rudder. When you're upside down, at the top of your roll, you straighten the rudder and pull the stick into your stomach. This causes the bus to slide down the circle until you're leveled off again, going in the opposite direction.

April 20th 1918 - Field 6

Spirals today. The first I tried went well, but Lt. Jones gave me an unsatisfactory. I didn't land in the circle. The 2nd and 3rd tries were progressively worse. On the 2nd I fell out of the spiral into a spin. I came out of it pretty easily and the rest of the maneuver went well, but it was unnerving to have dropped into a spin. The 3rd was even worse, fell into spins twice, but had plenty of altitude and recovered. Landed my bird in the circle at least.

Our ground squirrels (1) and some of the crewmen have left Tours and are on their way to Epiez. This will be the field where we will be equipped for the Front. HORRAH!

James Marquardt of the 17th Aero died this morning. I knew him from Toronto. Got lost in fog and crashed when his wing struck a tree near Rouze. Shawhan (2) almost suffered the same fate just minutes before Marquardt hit the trees. To date, our outfit hasn't lost any pilots.

April 21st 1918

Did 6 good vertical spirals, not enough to pass me out but enough to give me a good thrill..

Dewey is already on Field 7.

April 22nd 1918

Rained this morning but cleared up unexpectedly. Got in 3 more good, tight spirals to the left and 3 to the right with good landings in the circle, passed by Jones. Began vertical side slips with Lt. Wingate.

Slips are the queerest and weirdest sensation I've experienced flying. It's a free fall with very little surface giving wind resistance. It seemed as if I were falling head down and a tremendous pressure was trying to throw me out of the machine. The upper shoulder strap was all that was holding me in and the black and blue stripe on my shoulder shows the force of the pressure.

(1) Ground Squirrel - another tern for non-flying officers, not necessarily derogatory, could be applied to any ground personnel.

(2) Lt Romer Shawhan, later Captain. Member of B Flight transferred to HQ 1st Pursuit Group 9 July 1918.



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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/18 08:45 PM

Carrick, from triplane to Rumpler? That’s a switch. Hope you can keep L.A. ear of the nurses for a while.

Robert and Jerbear, some more fine stories Gents. Stay safe.

Lt. Jerod Jackson
43 RFC
Auchel

Dec. 19, 1917
It dawned a beautiful day if not cold. A and B flights were to patrol enemy lines from Monchy to Lens. Jackson knew it by heart. Approaching Monchy at 12,000’ Jackson spotted 3 specks headed east at their altitude. He soon made them out to be Albatros scouts. He positioned his flight to sandwich them between A and B flight. It was a slaughter. Stone got one and Critt and Redden got the other 2. Jackson’s flight was no where around so he formed up with A flight to continue patrol. He was in high spirits. On the 3rd round Critt rolled over and dove with his flight and Jackson following. Jackson soon saw the fat Rumpler just above the trees with on of A flight closing in on its tail with Critt close behind. Suddenly the lead Camel hit the trees and cartwheeled and Critt flew straight in to him. Jackson was stunned. How can one be so high in spirits one moment and totally in the doldrums the next. He felt sick. Jackson pulled up and returned to Auchel.

Critt was one of 3 from the original bunch Jackson started with 2 months ago. The war was starting to take a toll on him. The weather had grounded the squadron for a few days and the few flights they were able to put up were in bad weather. Other than a few minor scraps there had been nothing to change Jackson’s mood. He was sitting in his tent when he looked at the calendar and realized it was Christmas Eve. He grunted to himself and went to the mess.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/22/18 10:37 PM

Jerbear, I'm really enjoying your stories. It's my only WOFF outlet since I haven't had much air time lately. They go nicely with my morning cup of java.

Carrick, Linderman has himself a nice DR1 with that British engine. I suspect you will soon run out of Fify's at the rate you are posting them biggrin . I was impressed with Grechen's talent!

MFair, Jackson's difficulties staying with the DR1 bring back some fond memories of my own. Nice reports Sir!

Fullofit, Those were some fine screen shots of Aldi and the DH5. Very nice indeed!

Keep the reports coming folks.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/23/18 01:26 AM

good stories everyone
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/23/18 07:32 PM

Luthor Linderman
Uhderofficer, 9 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.

April 23. 1918.

Our 6 machines went up in the rain to cover Aerodromes today. We were l;ed by Ob Lt. H. Goring in a white tailed machine , Not a likeable man , He led us under a flight of British and down they came. The Flight lost 1 a/c while we knocked down 2 of theirs. I was able to stay out of Harms Way, but just barley. No score so RTB. The Dr I seems a bit on the edge of going out of control all the time, but the Flat Spin or Turn is 1st Rate.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/23/18 11:56 PM

Carrick: I flew mitt Herr Meyer for awhile too,both in ROF and WOFF. Got me killed several times. No love lost.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/18 12:30 AM

Great stories everyone as always. Enjoying them all, especially with less time for flying myself.
This will be a short report. Hopefully the pics will fill in the gaps.

24 December, 1917
Jasta 18, Avelin

Jasta was on a friendly line patrol when they met a flight of Camels in their path.

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A large scrap amongst the cloudy skies ensued and Schwarzkopf ended up tangling with one that came after him.

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They chased each other all the way down from Riencourt, low over the lines, and all the way NE of Bapaume.

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Aldi was over the German trenches with Flak and rifle fire going off all around his target.

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In all that excitement the bloody potato heads also landed some hits on his machine. He was not amused. Finally the Camel begun to smoke and went down with Aldi nursing his shot up bird home.

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No confirmation despite the bloody infantry, or was it because of them?

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/18 01:03 PM

Fullofit, that was 43 squadron you tangled with. Must have been A Flight as I don’t remember seeing your distinct machine. Nice screens as always.

Carrick, the Triplane is a bit of a unruly beast.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/18 01:08 PM

The thing I hate about triplanes is the lack of effective 360 degree vertical and horizontal visibility in combat situations. I give Voss a great amount of respect for lasting as long as he did in his last fight.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/18 09:10 PM

The DR I does seem to be a little Beast at times.

Jerbear: Herr Meyer does seem to rush Headlong into fights.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/18 09:48 PM

MFair, 43rd you say? Well, I'm glad Jasta 18 helped them find their aerodrome.

25 December, 1917
Jasta 18, Avelin

Christmas Day. Aldi was sitting in the cockpit of his Pfalz desperately trying to warm himself up. The engine was still not running evenly, a sign that it too is still too cold, but he couldn’t wait any longer. A call came in about enemy kites crossing the lines and it was up to Jasta 18 to intercept. Dark, heavy clouds were hanging low beneath a lead grey sky and it looked like the rain will come down any minute. But it was too cold for rain. Better make that sleet or snow. Finally, they were ready for take off. Aldi begun to roll on the hard ground crisscrossed with frozen mud wheel track. His whole body was shaking, rattling his teeth and blurring his vision. Off the ground and into the needles of piercingly cold wind lashing his face. Higher and higher. The weather took a turn for the worse and the snow started to come down in large flakes. Visibility was poor and getting worse by the minute. It got to the point that there was no point loitering around looking for the enemy. They could be only a few meters away and they wouldn’t be spotted. Aldi was about to turn back. It was then that the black explosions attracting his attention proved him wrong. A flight of khaki coloured aeroplanes was flying low, searching for landmarks, obviously lost in the snowstorm. Schwarzkopf didn’t wait for an invitation and took both Ketten down to attack from behind.

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A flight of SE 5’s was taken totally by surprise and with the superior numbers the battle was going well for the German Fliegers. Aldi took great care not to tangle with any of them as there were two or three Albatrosen for each British SE. Despite this advantage Klein was being chased by one of the Englanders and Aldi had to intervene. The British pilot, too busy to notice Schwarzkopf, took a few rounds from Aldi’s Spandaus and disengaged.

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The German ace didn’t follow through with his attack seeing Klein pick up the initiative. He spotted a lone SE 5a and went after him.

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Soon after von Beaulieu-Markonnay joined the hunt.

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Together they brought the Englander down west of Lille.

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Aldi had enough of this weather and turned for home, but not before noticing another SE trying to sneak by in the opposite direction. He dove on the enemy and connected a few well placed rounds.

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The enemy, in his desperation, started to climb but his plane already damaged was easily tracked by Aldi’s Pfalz.

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Another volley from his Spandaus and the British pilot slumped in his seat with the plane nosediving into the ground below.

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The snow kept coming down. Aldi had to fly low to navigate his way back home. He was looking forward to a warm seat in front of a roaring fire and a snifter of French brandy in his hand.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/24/18 11:13 PM

I have been working on the road for a little over a week, so this is my catch-up post! But first, the kudos. Fullofit, your pictures and stories are always magnificent, but there was something about that last group of pic that was really special. Thanks for sharing! Jerbear, your accounts have a true period feel. I particularly liked the note about Mary Louise Rochester singing at the Y. It sent me to read up on her. I was interested to note that her mother sang at the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1892. Great stuff! MFair, sorry about the loss of Critt. I sense that your man is coming to that stage of the career where you realise you're all alone with strangers. Robert, Godfrey just keeps on truckin'. I haven't had the time yet to view all your videos, but I'm saving that for my morning coffee before work tomorrow. Carrick, some careers have highs and lows. Yours just has mounds and curves. Try to get some time out of the hospital.

And Hasse, I'm so very happy to see you back. How are you finding the Breguet. I've flown in only once and found to my surprise you can dogfight the things!

Here is Corderoy's latest. He struggled with combat fatigue but is fighting out of it.

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 45: 9-21 December 1917


9 December 1917 – Poperinghe aerodrome


The loveliest sound to which one can awake is the drumming of rain on a tin roof. I lay in my bed past seven, feeling my body weighting down the mattress, heavy, unmoving, utterly relaxed. I lit for a cigarette and watched a trickle of water on the far wall catch the glow. My fingers show dark lines where gun oil has penetrated skin cracked from cold. The first two fingers of my right hand appear odd, slightly amber in tone. I hold them up to catch the bit of light that makes it through the oilcloth window. Damn. They are nicotine-stained. Hands like a bloody navvy!

I sit up and study my hands, then quickly stub out the fag. The knee is sore and I limp crossing the room to the mirror by the washstand. The character I see there is a beaten sort of chap, not me at all.

For the next half-hour I wash as thoroughly as possible. Akerley, my batman, appears with shaving water and I get him to bring a tin tub and as much hot water as he can muster. It is time to start afresh. By the time I appear in the mess my hands are raw, my hair is washed and brilliantined, and my moustache, which had developed into a Trenchard-like hedge, is a trim and rakish dark line. I am wearing boots, which I haven’t done in some time. My best tunic is pressed and brushed.

It has been tea and toast most mornings, but today I convince the steward to produce black pudding and eggs. Aldred and Quigley join me and speculate endlessly about the leave list.

“Oh, it’s too beastly,†Quigley announced at one point in the conversation. “Waiting and counting the days until one is sent packing for the leave boat, all the time knowing that the Hun is eagerly trying to give one’s spot to some other fellow.†That comment led to a long discussion and several others – Gorringe, Todd, and Seth-Smith – joined in. At length we ordered some tea and rum brought to my quarters and continued the chat in comfort.

All this is to say that we all became rather philosophical for an hour or two, and two camps emerged. The larger camp – all save Gorringe and me – held that holding onto hopes and desires was just the thing to keep one’s wits. I recalled reading the Stoics, Seneca and Epictetus most notably, and argued that one is better off living in the here and now and accepting whatever life or war throws one’s way. If one is lucky and the war ends, there is time enough to grab whatever peace may bring.

We broke off for lunch, but the idea stayed with me. My entire time in France has been spent thinking about things I cannot control. Will I live or die? Have I made my parents proud? Am I an effective squadron commander? Is Catherine’s professed love a figment of her imagination? Should I reciprocate, even though I scarcely know her? What will I be trained to do when the killing stops?

After lunch I took up a pen and wrote to Catherine. The letter is gone in the post, but said essentially this.

Dear Catherine,

Thank you for your lovely letter of 2nd inst., which arrived yesterday. I still do not know when I might get my next leave and see you, but I have a request of you which I pray you will respect. When we met in Oxford, poor old Scarborough had just been reported missing and assumed killed. I went to see you out of a sense of duty to one of my pilots, and out of a respect for a man I called a friend, although in another time we would scarcely be called acquaintances.

Your letters since that visit surprised me, warmed me, thrilled me. I have responded, professing a love that I confess I still question. Do I love you, or my imagination of you? You are a fond memory, but a memory indeed. We met so briefly. I have clung to the idea of you, and that idea has softened the experience of air fighting. It has given me a goal to cling to.

But it has also weakened me. I worry that I have built a fantasy, that I have not been fair to you, and that I am resting my soul and my mind on a dream that may crumble away when we meet.

So it is that I ask you not to write me. I have resolved to live in the present, to accept whatever that present condition brings, and to fight as well as I can, lead as well as I can, and take the world as it is. Here and now.

Should I make it to my next leave, I shall visit you at once, I promise. Then, in that future “presentâ€, we shall make of the world as we see fit. But not before then. I simply cannot live with pretty pictures of an imaginary future while navigating the threatening skies of this day.
With greatest affection. For now,

Geoffrey


10 December 1917

Rain turning to snow. No flying. I feel a great freedom. I called Major Baring at Fienvillers, and asked if he could put his hands on anything by the Stoics. He is sending me Arrian’s Discourses. Also Piccadilly Jim by Wodehouse “in case I get too educated.â€

11 December 1917

Defensive patrol south. Encountered a group of DVs on our side of the lines. Quigley bagged one and we chased the others home. Damned Camels can’t keep up. Patrolled north to Menen and scrapped with some DIIIs. I sent one down but it tumbled into low cloud and could not be confirmed.

12 December 1917

Escorting RE8s over the salient. Nothing seen.

13 December 1917

Escorting RE8s again. Chased a DFW that got too close and damaged it before it dived away.

14 December 1917

Defensive patrol north to the coast. Engaged a Rumpler, but got a little too eager and took damage. Landed at Bergues for lunch with the Navy.

15 December 1917

Cold day. Needed to parade the entire squadron to tramp down the snow on the field so we could fly this morning.

Joined Captain Arthur at nine for an OP over the salient. He leads us up to 13,000. The Camel is not nearly at its best here. Large grey clouds spread out below us and the sunshine above is intense, burning any exposed skin at the same time as the air freezes it. Suddenly ahead of us and slightly above there appears a mass of tiny dots milling about in loose formation. We climb to meet them and the unmistakable Venetian-blind silhouettes of Fokker triplanes emerge from the glare. What a stomach-tumbling fight! The Hunnish tripehounds climb like lifts and can turn with the best Camel. My flying deficiencies show quickly, for at this height I quickly stall by machine and find a Fokker on my tail, shooting pieces out of my poor grid.

I spin out of the scrap and recover to see a tripehound on one of our chaps. I get behind him without being spotted and put a long burst into him. The Hun, a greenish affair with a red band around its fuselage spins out of control like a pinwheel. I cannot follow it, for two other dive on us and we entertain them for several minutes before, inexplicably, the sky is empty and it is time to head home for second breakfast. My tripe was not witnessed, so this too is recorded merely as driven down.

Capt. Arthur did not return. At one point in the morning’s fight I saw a streak of black smoke trailing earthwards. Poor devil.

16 December 1917

Escort two naval DH4s to Langemark area. Nothing seen.

Rehearsals for Christmas show. The men have prepared one of the hangars as a theatre. Their work is really first rate.

17 December 1917

Blowing and snowing. Chaplin showing in the spare hangar cinema. Over to 29 Squadron for drinks with Molesworth.

18 December 1917

Blinding snow again. More rehearsals. Books arrived from Baring.

19 December 1917

Flew over to Rumbeke and shot the place up properly. Koch bought a chicken and dressed it in a tiny felt suit like Father Christmas. He dropped it onto the Hun field during the attack, along with a note suggesting the Huns take the bird home to their families and enjoy a few weeks’ rest.
Mess steward prepared a particular poor meal tonight, overcooked sausage and potatoes. We tried to convince Koch to fly over and reclaim the bird.

A new flight commander, Gifford, arrived. He last flew here on DH2s, God help him.

20 December 1917

More snow. Took the Standard and went for tea with Gifford at TocH. Twice had to push the car coming back.

Two days until the concert. Handbills are out – the “Poperinghe Camel Caravan.â€

21 December 1917

Escort RE8s from 9 Squadron south to Oppy. Encountered a pair of Pfalzes and chased one down until we were skimming the rooftops of Loos, or rather what remained of such rooftops. Quigley was with me as I put burst after burst into the Hun from mere feet away. Suddenly the thing flipped over and dived under me. I put about to finish him, but the Hun was gone. There was no telltale column of smoke, so we searched the sky for the fellow. The Pfalz was silver and yellow and certainly would have shown up against the ground. We could assume only that it had crashed into one of the streets below.

Unfortunately, Wing would not confirm the kill. So it remains. Here and now. My 35th official victory remains elusive.

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"I put burst after burst into the Hun from mere feet away."


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/25/18 02:42 AM

Raine: I know, My pilot seems to have more Hospital time then Flight Time.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/25/18 09:53 PM

Raine, that is a long stretch of reports you’ve just made. Time seems to be of a premium currently. Good flying and can’t wait for Cathy’s reply!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/18 12:41 AM

Fullofit - I like that pic with the exploding shrapnel round, that's hard to capture.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/18 12:53 AM

Thanks Jerbear! You're right, that was a fluke. I was so glad to have caught it I made a grab from a slightly different angle too. Glad you like it!
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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/18 02:55 AM

Last post until I'm back from a quick working trip to the UK next week. Corderoy went through a spell of 13 straight rejected claims, but luck has changed.

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 46: 22-27 December 1917


22 December 1917 – Poperinghe aerodrome


The great day of our concert has arrived. But first there is work to be done, an escort of some Harry Tates down south to Monchy. We fly high above the cloud layer that carries a threat of sleet, shivering in brilliant sunshine. Over Oppy we meet very accurate Archie. It always surprises me how good the Hun gunners are. I do not believe we put our best men to work in our Archie batteries, but the Hun seems to employ mathematical wizards and sharpshooters in theirs! The RE8 jockeys begin parading their beat while their observers assiduously change plates. I am leading B Flight, as this is the first time over for a new flight commander named Gifford. We circle the area and keep a watchful eye out.

After a while four machines approach from the south. There are two observation machines and a pair of Pfalz scouts. One of the Pfalzes, not seeing us, peels off and dives at the RE8s. We’re on him in seconds and I fire a long burst from a few yard behind and above. I can see the tracer falling all about the cockpit, see the pilot fall forward. The Hun machine, silver with a yellow diamond, begins an ever-steepening dive to destruction.

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"The Hun machine, silver with a yellow diamond, begins an ever-steepening dive to destruction."

Back at Pops, my claim is called in and within an hour rejected by Wing. I am sick of this. There are rumours. The commander, Lieut Col Scott, is said to be protective of Bishop’s record. But the fellow at the other end of the line is a staff captain named McNeil, who as a lieutenant was RO at 46 under Major Babington. I remember him and suspect he harbours Babington’s skepticism for all things Corderoy.

Our concert, however, puts me in a better frame of mind. Colonel Scott attends, as does the Brigade commander. More to the point, the Wing chaplain attends with a special guest, the visiting Archbishop of York.

The opening turn is a rousing rendition from Gilbert and Sullivan, a parody of the Modern Major-General with RFC terms substituting themselves. Then comes my debut – my bit is to be interspersed between every act as scenery is changed behind the main curtain. A small copse of trees suggests a wood, from which I peer lewdly at a fair damsel skipping along a track – the ravishing Private Aldringham, who has thrown himself far too happily into his role. I emerge, all cape and oily leer, twirling my moustaches and grinning lustily from beneath a cavalier’s hat.

“Aha, damsel,†I cry, “TO THE WOOD!â€

“No, no,†responds the fair Aldringham. “I’ll tell the squire!â€

“I AM the squire,†I announce. “TO THE WOOD!â€

From there the next act continues, Gorringe narrating a story about a small Canadian town and the “Marine Excursion of the Knights of Pythias.†The story is very funny and a huge success. Then the curtains close, the copse reappears, and leering, lecherous me enters again. Along comes Aldringham, skipping and singing and smelling daisies.

“Aha, damsel! TO THE WOOD!â€

“No, no,†cries Aldringham. “I’ll tell the vicar!â€

“I AM the vicar,†I announce. “TO THE WOOD!â€

Then it’s a medley of songs from the Bing Boys. Back to me and my cape.

“Aha, damsel! TO THE WOOD!â€

“No, no,†protests Aldringham. “I’ll tell the Wing Chaplain!â€

“I AM the Wing Chaplain,†I announce. “TO THE WOOD!â€

Hoots and cheers and stamping of feet. The Wing Chaplain feigns a chuckled and glances nervously at the Archbishop. The curtain parts on the squadron’s band playing ragtime, followed by a minstrel act. Then it’s back to the copse. The virtuous Aldringham skips in from stage right.

“Aha, damsel! TO THE WOOD!†Now I am at my most lecherous, cape rakishly across my face.

“No, no,†protests Aldringham. “I’ll tell the Archbishop of York!â€

I let the cape drop. “Oh, I say. This IS sticky.†There is a pause. “I’m afraid, my dear, that the Archbishop works the other woods.â€

This brings the house down, and even the balding and austere archbishop joins in the laughter and applause, to the great relief of the senior officers present.

23 December 1917

Off at eight o’clock, leading A Flight with a new man, Captain McArty. We have bombs slung and the target is the Hun aerodrome at Phalempin. It’s a straight run in through clouds. There is a row of Pfalz scouts being run out for take-off and we sweep over the field dropping our bombs. There is wonderful destruction.

Two enemy machines trundle across the field between the burning wreck and climb over the trees. I get behind the second one and fire. It bursts into flames and falls! Quigley chases the other. It is all over in seconds and I fire a green flare, our signal to regroup. Suddenly Howson waggles his wings and leads us northward. Several more Pfalz machines are up from Houplin. I circle with one of the Huns, but a Pfalz cannot turn with a Camel and I catch him in the turn. The EA falls out of control.

Finding myself alone, I head northwest over the lines. As I approach the line of the Lys, I spot a lone grid, slightly above me. It is yet another Pfalz. I stalk it carefully and climb onto its tail. As soon as my Vickers guns begin to chatter, the Hun spins earthward. I follow at full throttle, for the Pfalz dives like a gannet. The Hun tries to pull out. As I suspected, he is unhurt. But the silver machine cannot escape me and I dive onto the tail. The Pfalz shudders under the impact of the twin Vickers and its propeller begins to fan about more slowly. I pull alongside the Hun and point earthward. The German pilot nods his head and makes for an open field just north of the river, near the village of Steenwerke. I blip the Clerget and sideslip, just clearing a telegraph line. My Camel drops into the same field and I come to a stop a hundred yards from the Hun.

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"My Camel drops into the same field and I come to a stop a hundred yards from the Hun."

I clamber out and draw my pistol. “Guten Morgen! Sprechen Sie Englisch?†I have used nearly my entire German vocabulary in this greeting.

The pilot pulls off his leather helmet and smiles faintly. “Yes. You have me surprised. Maybe we go for breakfast now?†His accent is heavy but he speaks English fairly well, I think.

The fellow climbs down and offers his hand. I motion for him to turn around and check him for a weapon. He has none. I holster mine, or rather return it to my Sidcot pocket. “Do you have a cigarette?†he asks, but I explain that I quit the things and smoke only a pipe. Some soldiers approach, running across the field with fixed bayonets. They are all Irish, Ulstermen. At first they are a bit belligerent, but I sort that out. They agree to guard our machines and point me down a road towards a distant hamlet. Their unit is in bivouac around the area, and I can find a telephone there.

In the village, my pet Hun causes quite a stir. I visit the battalion HQ, where a bemused captain lets me call the squadron. I ask them to send a recovery vehicle for the Pfalz, a pilot for my Camel, and my car. I also make three claims from today’s action. I contemplate going for coffee at an estaminet across the street, but the captain suggests that the locals would not be too friendly if I brought my pet Hun to tea. The chap’s name is Wolfram Berger, and he’d been a saloon steward on the SS Hamburg before the war, which was where he polished his English. We chat quite amiably and, although he gives little of real military interest, we talk flying like old mates.

A sergeant shows up with my Standard, and I invite Leutnant Berger for a drive. He quite enjoys it, although he thinks the car ridiculously small. “A toy,†he calls it. I drive directly to Poperinghe, drawing stares as I make my way with Wolfram through the market square. As soon as I pull up, Lieutenant Gregg informs me that Wing has refused to confirm any of my kills. The flamer and the one downed near Houplin were not witnessed, and the one I forced down – well, there were other friendly aircraft in the area. We do not alight. Instead I call for the mess steward to bring me a bottle of champagne, tell Berger to hold on, and race away skidding on the frozen mud, heading south for Wing HQ at Mont Rouge, near Locre.

I pull up with a squeal of brakes in front of headquarters and storm in, demanding to see Captain McNeil. I am directed to a small office at the end of the hall. I tell Berger to wait in the hall and enter. McNeil recognizes me at once and says, with false charm, “Why, Major Corderoy, to what do I owe this pleasure?â€

“Captain, you and I are going to open this bottle and celebrate my thirty-fifth official victory.â€

“You claimed three earlier, none of which can be confirmed. Please don’t tell me this is number four.â€

I strip the foil from the bottle and begin working the cork with my thumbs. “’Fraid not, old boy. I can’t bring you a souvenir of the two I downed this morning in Hunland. But for the third, I’ve brought Hunland to you. Berger!†I call his name loudly and the Leutnant enters, click his heels in best comic-opera style, and salutes.

“Allow me to introduce Leutnant Wolfram Berger. He’s a good lad and won’t tell me his unit, but I’ll wager it’s Jasta 6. His Pfalz is being recovered as we speak. Now be a good lad and fetch us all some glasses.â€

Within a minute there is a small crowd in the hall. I toast Berger’s health. He responds with a toast to the King. “Your King and my Emperor are cousins, of course,†he adds.

“Ah, every family has its problems. So does the King’s.†Berger takes it in good grace.

McNeil reluctantly confirms my thirty-fifth kill. I suggest that if he wants to question my claims, I would be happy to lend him a Camel so he can see what we do for himself.

24 December 1917

We had a wonderful dinner in the mess last night with Berger as our guest, and turned him over to the Provost Marshal around eleven, paralytically drunk. Before he left, we exchanged addresses and promised to meet after the war.

Off at 8:15 this morning, back to Phalempin. We created more ruins and returned north. Over the Lys I spotted a lone DFW and pursued it. I hit it from its blind spot and it fell in a spin, crashing near the river just behind our lines. I called the claim into McNeil myself and offered to have the smashed remains of the Hun aviators delivered to Mont Rouge.

McNeil confirms number 36.

[Linked Image]
"I hit it from its blind spot and it fell in a spin, crashing near the river just behind our lines."

Christmas, 25 December 1917

A wonderful snowy day, good food, good wine, good companionship. The fourth Christmas of this war – how many more? There is great speculation that the Russians have quit the fight, and that the war will hang on whether the Yanks will be here in force before the Huns are.
But for now, there is good cheer.

27 December 1917

After two blissful days of rest, we are sent packing to Phalempin for yet another raid. This time, however, the cloud is heavy and the squadron gets split up. Half the chaps attack the wrong field, although I manage to drop my bombs on some maintenance sheds at the proper target.
It is snowing heavily, but I spot two EA heading toward us from the direction of Avelin. I attack one of them and the other makes a cowardly retreat. My Hun is a dud pilot and he falls in seconds. I do not see him crash, but Hobson says he cartwheeled into a field. Gregg calls the claim in and very quickly Wing gets back to confirm number 37.

I suspect Herr Berger’s visit has made an impression.


Attached picture Rejected Pfalz.png
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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/18 04:41 PM

Fullofit, gorgeous pictures, per usual, with a fine story, to bit!

Raine, another excellent tale. Do you write professionally? You certainly have the talent for it. I particularly liked how you incorporated the Hun you forced down into your story and used it to explain your renewed success getting claims confirmed.
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/18 05:27 PM

Busy with real life, but I'm greatly enjoying your stories and pics! This is always such a great way to add a bit of extra immersion and excitement to WOFF flying. Keep the stories coming!

Here's a belated entry from Charles:

From the War Diary of Charles Linder.
Escadrille BR 11, Verdun.


16 Dec. -17

Today, the CO took me on a practice flight over the front. I had Lieutenant Marius de Rose as my observer. Like everybody else in the Escadrille, Marius is an old hand at the game. He even has one victory under his belt, for which he was decorated with the Croix de Guerre with palm! This wasn’t a real combat mission yet, but a “sight-seeing tour†to show me our area of operations. (Our Escadrille is attached to 2e Corps d'Armée under General Cadoudal, which in turn is part of 2e Armée of General Hirschauer holding the Verdun sector. 2e CAR is now positioned some 10 km to the west of Verdun in the Dombasle-en-Argonne sector, facing north against the boche lines.)

I’ve been told it has been rather quiet here since the latest offensive operations came to an end in early September, but I was still rather excited about the whole affair and slept badly last night.

We didn’t carry any bombs or cameras, so our machines were lighter than normal. The biggest problem turned out to be the weather. Ever since I joined the Escadrille, it has been either raining or snowing almost constantly (and of course the others are already making jokes about it). We took off successfully in the rain and I then followed the Capitaine to the west, taking great care to maintain my position on his wing. It was important for me to see the lay of the land, so we stayed below the cloud cover, under constant barrage of rain and sleet. I doubt I could have spotted a boche machine even if one had been flying right next to us!

The country below us was utterly ravaged by last year’s fighting. I’ve never seen Verdun in peacetime, but I can imagine it will take years - maybe decades - to recover from the damage. Shell craters of all sizes litter the landscape and very little seems to grow amidst the desolation. It is outrageous - how the boche has despoiled and raped our beautiful land!

We soon reached the sector of our corps d'armée and I closely followed the Capitaine from one landmark to the next. I must become familiar with every nook and cranny of the front so that the observer can do his job properly. Fortunately it isn’t very hard to navigate this sector of the front. The river Meuse is not far, and Verdun itself is always visible.

After 20 minutes of sight-seeing, the Capitaine began to climb higher. I followed, and soon we were high above the cloud layer. What a magnificent sight it was! The bright sunshine and the beautiful clouds made me forget the war for a minute as I marveled these wonders of nature. My machine was performing beautifully and we reached 4000 metres in about 20 minutes - not bad for a two-seater!

We returned to Verdun and emerged from the clouds almost exactly above our field. The Capitaine sure knows his business! I can only hope that one day, I’ll be able to navigate half as well as our veteran pilots. I had no trouble landing my machine, though the rains have turned the field into a mudbath. The fantastic Breguet makes flying so simple that it almost feels like one is cheating somehow! Most importantly, the Capitaine and my observer were satisfied with my performance. Soon, I’ll be ready for action.

All things considered, not a bad start to my real war service in the Aéronautique Militaire.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/26/18 07:42 PM

Gents, the literary mastery here astounds this child! Fine reads. Really great to see you back Hasse. Raine, hardly any way to deny a claim with the Hun pilot in tow!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/27/18 01:13 AM

Fine pics and stories all.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/27/18 01:31 AM

Luthor Linderman
Feldwebel , 9 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.

Status :
30 missions
25.62 hrs
Claims 12 e/a
Confirmed 09 e/a

April 26, 1918.

Schwarm Zwei with 5 a/c was posted for Dawn Patrol. ObLt. Goring led, but turned back due to ruff engine ? Lt. Ritterman took over and led us to a bounce on Britishers slightly below off to the Port-side. I did much better in handeling the DR I although I stalled twice in the fight with 6 Camels. Our Topcover joined the fight and a total of 3 e/a were claimed for 2 damaged DR I's. I can vouch for 2 as I saw them go down. No score foe me I did a ground loop upon landing adding damage to the wing 1 day to repair.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/18 12:36 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAS

April 23rd 1918

I have plenty of experience with getting into a spin, but today I learned how to get into one DELIBERATELY. I have become very proficient at getting out of them already, witness the fact that I am still alive to write this. Pat Ingersoll of the 139th Aero is not. He was doing spirals over the field and had just finished one and was S-ing onto the field. Just as he made his last turn he went into a spin at about 150 feet, killed instantly.

April 24th 1918

Our Major and Major Hartney of the 27th have us all working on a large number of defective aircraft, mostly Nieuports, in a hangar on the main field. We're testing motors and doing test flights on the machines after the mechs have worked them over. This is all part of a deal the Majors are working with Col. Kilner to try to get us out of this mud hole.

April 25th

Rained last night and into the morning, so it was no bon (2) for test flights, or any other flying for that matter. The clay mud held our speed down so much that we couldn't get airborne. One of the refurbished machines went into the ditch at the end of the field.

Found out that the 139th won't be joining the 1st Pursuit Group with us. They'll be going to another group being formed. Major Angstrom and Major Hartney flew over to Tours to try to get the brass to change their minds but you have to have a mind first before it can be changed.

(1) Lt. Colonel Walter G. Kilner, commander of 3rd Aviation Training Center during part of Jun and July 1918. I am not certain what his position within the chain of command at 3rd AIC was at this time.

(2) No bon - WW1 slang, no + the French bon

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/18 08:23 PM

Luthor Linderman
Feldwebel , 9 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


April 28, 1918.


Off on a balloon mission only to get jumped by 2 seat types ? We were just diving on the target as they dove on us. The schwarm scattered and I made a climbing starboard turn. At one time I had 2 on my tail,but managed to stay out of the line of fire. Took a few shots at one and may have damaged him. The a/c seemed to wobble away as a second e/a dropped on my tail. I found that I could out climb him and soon he fell off in a stall. Since we were deep on the enemy side of the lines, I decided to RTB. Final Total: No Balloon, 2 Destroyed + mine damaged. Heavy ? The Jasta had 2 Damaged with a pilot wounded.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/28/18 08:47 PM

Wow! I just turn away for a moment and all these great stores pop up.
Raine, I’m so relieved you finally got a confirmation. I was beginning to think you found a new WOFF setting for confirmations: unrealistic. Good idea to drag that Hun with you.
Hasse, can’t wait to see how Johnny will handle the Breguet in battle. Are you planning to fly strictly as the pilot, or will you switch between stations?
Carrick, that Dreidecker looks good. What do I have to do to get me one of those? And don’t tell me: spend a lot of time in hospital.
Jerbear, are you actually practicing the spins in QC?
Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/18 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Fullofit

Hasse, can’t wait to see how Johnny will handle the Breguet in battle. Are you planning to fly strictly as the pilot, or will you switch between stations?


Strictly as the pilot. For DID purposes, jumping between the seats would seem unrealistic to me.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/18 07:19 PM

Fullofit - yes I do put in the hours for John in training. I am doing the acrobacy training on QC but not all of the stunts come off as I believe they would in real life. Some are better than others and some don're really come out at all. I have particular problems with the side slip in all the planes. No matter how hard I hit reverse rudder the nose always comes down and I go into a dive. All the pilots I read discussing the Nieu 28 say it almost seemed to respond to your thoughts before you touched the controls. It is very nice to fly in WOFF but in a flight sim you're never going to have that kind of relationship with your machine.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAS

April 26th 1918

With acrobacy finished, I packed my kit and reported to Field 7 with Pip, Simmy(1), Deuce, Dodd and Love (2). This is the best subfield yet. There are 8 hangars and the barracks are right behind them. The Y has a good canteen and the best officers recreation room imaginable. Our quarters are fine, bright and cheery, lots of room between cots and no upper bunks. Quentin Roosevelt, the president's son, is in charge here. He isn't well liked. I think he's like the rest of us, itching to be at the Front, but he doesn't have to take it out on the rest of us.

The 15 meter Nieuport with the 120 Clerget was explained to us and we were given our first hops in one less than a half hour after our arrival. Two short flights gave us enough understanding to fly them in formation.

This bus is harder to control because of the engine torque but the feeling of power is wonderful! In the afternoon I flew two formations, one with Dodd leading. We flew to Selles on the Cher River and back. On the next trip, Pip led Simmy and me southwest to Chateauroux.

Snake O'Neill has already completed his training, the first of us to do so, and with high marks. Unbelievable!

After completing his courses he had the balls to ask the Major for leave while the rest of us catch up. He wanted to visit his fianc'e in England. They had a row and the Major, as your would expect, came out on top. He was instead ordered to Epiez to help get the Nieuports we will be taking to the Front ready.

News came that von Richthofen is dead. Killed by some RFC Camel Jockey. That's good news and good riddance. One less to worry about.

April 27th 1918

Dodd Cassard's brother, his wife and sister-in-law paid him a visit here. The're on their way to Paris. All of in training on Field 7 were invited to a party to meet them at Monico's, in the Hotel Toulouse. Great time had by all.

April 28th 1918

Continuing to practice forming for patrols and formation flying in larger groups. Flew in a 10 man patrol at 5,000 meters today.

We all went down to the train station at Issoudun to see Dodd's people off this afternoon.

April 29th 1918

Rain, mud, no flying.

April 30th 1918

As we walked up to read the bulletin board this morning, Jack (3) turns around and yells, "Hey Guys" Looks like we're finally going operational! Whadda ya think of that!" We all whooped and yelled like high school kids! Cassard, Healy, Bronson(4), Stevens (3), Lawrence, O'niell, McDermott and the two Porters (5) are directed to travel immediately to Epiez!

The rest of us are to follow as soon as we can finish up at Field 7, I guess the deal with Kilner paid off. Hope there will be some Huns left by the time we get to the Front!

The Major is in Paris on his way to Epiez. We heard he left Mickey in the room by himself while he went to dinner. Mickey was full of piss and vinegar and raised a ruckass, tore up anything he could get to. Cost the Major 300 francs.

May 1st 1918

The pilots posted to Epiez left today.

(1) Lt. Francis M.(Simmy) Simonds - B Flight, 4 aerial victories

(2) Lt. Ernest A. Love, A Flight, KIA 15 Sep. 1918

(3) Lt. John H. (Jack) Stevens - C Flight , KIA 31 Jul 1918, one aerial victory

(4) Lt. Tyler C. Bronson - C Flight, transferred to St. Jean du Mont, 13 Oct 1918, 1 aerial victory

(5) the two porters Kenneth L. (Pip) Porter, C Flight, 5 aerial victories
Charles P. Porter, A Flight, 4 aerial victories



Attached picture issoudun 8 field 7.PNG
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/18 08:24 PM

Fullofit: Well if u dont want to spend a lot of time in the Hospital to get a DR I I suggest U go see https://giphy.com/gifs/Jw6wq1pItF2Ok/fullscreen

at 113 Rue de Lib ber tay , in Paris. and they can help U get what U want.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/18 08:38 PM

Luthor Linderman
Feldwebel , 9 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.



April 29, 1918.

My schwarm was covering Aerodromes this morning and I bagged a Camel I dont know if I will get credit. The flight was on the dog leg of the flight and I spotted 2 flights of camels engaging my old Jasta 52. Diving and turning to port, I ran head long into them. Zooming ,turning and climbing, I was able to ruff one up with repeated machine-gun bursts. I shredded his flight surfaces and down he wobbled crashing East of Julien near a Road. The Albatross Jasta 52 losted 2 a/c The enemy ? ,But I got 1.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/29/18 11:25 PM

Jerbear, Great report and writing Sir! Looking forward to your squad being operational.
t

Carrick, I hope your camel is confirmed.

L:t. Jerod Jackson
Auchell,
Jan. 1, 1918

Jarod's Camel came to a stop on the icy field at Auchell. He pulled his mask down off his face and took a deep breath of the cold air. Laying his head back he stared at the sky. His flight mates were climbing out of their machines as he kept staring over the upper wing cutout.

"Are you alright Sir? The sound was distant to Jackson's ears. It came again but louder, "Sir! Are you alright?!"

Jackson came back to the present. Sgt. Gerber was eye level with Jackson looking at him as if he had seen a ghost. "Yes, Yes, I. am alright. Thank you Sargent." Jackson replied. Jackson unloosed his harness and climbed out of his Camel onto the ground. The other three from his flight joined in all smiles. Redden spoke first. "I got that Phalz that dived on us! I cannot believe he dove on the five of us! Rather fooling of him I say!

Jackson straightened up. "Good job Lads. Lets everyone get their reports in, get warm and have some breakfast.

After debrief, Jackson went straight to his quarters and sat down on his cot. "Did they not know" he thought. "how could someone not seen it!" he muttered to himself. His mind went back a few hours. They had taken off before dawn to escort 3 RE's to recon the lines went of Lens. On the first leg with dawn breaking he had spotted 7 machines high above headed east. He could easily see the first 2 were Dwfc's. The others surely were escorts. He kept his eye on them as they passed over head. It looked as though everyone was content to go about their business when one of the escorts peeled off and dove toward them. He was coming straight for Jackson. Jackson pulled up as the Phalz start to fire. The Hun flashed past him in an instant. He rolled over and hit hard left rudder to go give chase. Once he straightened out in his dive a machine was coming straight for him. He let loose a burst and was stunned when the machine passed under him. It was a Camel from his flight! Jackson froze for a moment then pulled back up scanning the skies. He could see the RE's and 2 machines about a mile back. He formed back up with RE's. He could not believe what had just happend. Had he just killed one of his own flight? Was his life over. Thoughts raced through his mind. A court-martial for sure. Ruined. He had never felt so low in his life. Flying a lazy s behind the RE's he finally saw his flight catching up. "One, two, three." he counted to himself. One is missing! Jackson flew by instinct. He was not even thinking of anything but his his ruined life. The missing pilot was Truit. A new man who had just transferred in the day before. Turning on the second leg Jackson saw another machine headed their way. It was Truit. Jackson could not believe the feeling of relieve that flooded over him. He had not killed anyone!

The rest of the flight was uneventful and they landed back at Auchel.

Jackson could not believe he had fired on one of his own flight and there would be no consequences. He lay down on his cot and stared at the canvas.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/18 11:19 PM

Good story MFair. It’s always traumatic experience to accidentally fire at a wingman. Think about all those times you were tempted to shoot them because they’ve hit your target with one bullet and stole your victory but you kept your cool. Think about the PBI always taking potshots at you and the Flak fireing indiscriminately. They don’t have a problem sleeping at night, why should you?
Actually, you should give Truit piece of your mind for making you waste ammo on him. Ammo that could have been used to bring a Hun down. He should apologize to you. Do you feel better now?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/18 11:33 PM

Luthor Linderman
Feldwebel , 11 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.

Jasta Status

14 Flyable Fokker DR I's
02 In Res.
Pilots
11 on Hand.
14 Auth.

April 30, 1918.

Veil Hunting day. The Obt Lt led and we pounced on a 6 e/a Flight of British SE 5's. Our flight claimed 3 destroyed for 2 Lt. Damage of ours. My Kill was low and slow making a chandell for a 2nd pass at our forward AF . I hammered away over 278 rds and he dove into the corner of the AF Boom !. Ipulled up to see another SE5 get Hammered into smoking Junk. After RTB , I was told the SE and my Camel from the 29th were confirmed. My Tally is now 11 Victory's. ( no real credit for me since we are in a Target Rich environment. )

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 04/30/18 11:40 PM

MFair: About shooting at Ur wing man:

Better https://giphy.com/gifs/oct-fest-beer-girls-bcjF5dd3IQZz8PBsJL/fullscreen U will feel better. Cheers
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/18 01:26 AM

Fullofit, I did not look at it that way! Your right, why should I feel bad. I still do not know which of my flight I fired on.

Carrick, a brunette, tattoos, adult beverage. Sounds like bliss!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/18 01:22 PM

Mmmmmmmmmmmm Bliss? May be if we added more https://giphy.com/gifs/line-dance-cow-gril-village-girls-3j8mQGrsxOVLLjT35x/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/18 09:01 PM

Luthor Linderman
Feldwebel , 11 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 1. 1918.

The Jasta put up 10 a/c to cover Ground Troops. Our cover flight -f 4 engaged 5 Spads 0 for 0 just a few holes here and there. Our flight no contact.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/18 11:55 PM

Warbirds Rising News of the World for the month of April:

April 1
The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were amalgamated to form the Royal Air Force - the first independent air force in the world.
April 2
Martial Law was declared in Canada following the anti-conscription Easter Riots that had occurred in Quebec City between 28 March and 1 April.
April 4
The Battle of the Avre constituted the final German attack towards Amiens which was fought between advancing German troops and defending Australian and British troops.
April 5
Operation Michael was halted when an attempt by the Germans to renew the offensive towards Amiens failed after British troops forced them out of the town.
April 9
Following the failure of Operation Michael, The Battle of the Lys began. The second of the series of attacks making up the German Spring Offensive, Operation Georgette was planned by General Erich Ludendorff with the objective of capturing Ypres and forcing the British troops back to the Channel ports.
April 10
The Battle of Messines 1918 began as German forces attacked north of Armentieres and captured the town.
The British Government passed an extension to the Military Service Act of 1916 raising the upper age of conscription to 50. The law was also extended to Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
April 11
The American steamer SS Lakemoor was sunk by German submarine U-64 whilst en route from Newport to Glasgow.
April 12
During the German Operation Georgette offensive, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig issued his famous order that his men must carry on fighting, "With our backs to the wall", appealing to his forces to stand fast and fight to the last man.
April 13
The Battle of Bailleul began with British troops under the command of General Herbert Plumer.
April 14
General Ferdinand Foch was appointed Commander-in-Chief of Allied forces on the Western Front.
April 15
The Battle of Bailleul ended when the town of Bailleul was captured by German forces.
April 16
German forces progressed on the Lys River and reoccupied Passchendaele.
April 17
Frenchman Bolo Pasha, originally named Paul Bolo, was executed by firing squad after his conviction as a traitor and a German spy.
April 18
The Third Military Service Act came into force in Britain.
April 19
German forces entered the Crimea region.
April 20
British Secretary of State for War, Lord Derby resigned and was replaced by Lord Alfred Milner.
April 21
German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen (more commonly known as the Red Baron) was shot down and fatally wounded while flying over Morlancourt Ridge on the Somme front.
April 22
The British Royal Navy attempted to blockade, and thus neutralise, the key Belgian port of Zeebrugge by sinking obsolete British ships in the entrance to the harbour. The port was used by the German Navy as a base for their U-boats which posed a serious threat to Allied shipping.
April 23
Guatemala declared war on Germany.
April 24
The Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux was launched against British lines in front of Amiens during the Battle of the Lys. It was the first tank-versus-tank battle in history.
April 25
At the Second Battle of the Kemmelberg the German Army attacked and captured the Kemmel Hill (Mont Kemmel).
April 27
Sir William Weir was announced as the Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force.
April 29
A final German attack captured the Scherpenberg, a hill to the northwest of the Kemmelberg and ended the Battle of the Lys.
April 30
British troops advanced east of Jordan at the Second Action of Es Salt in Palestine.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/01/18 11:56 PM

Intrepid Fliers News of the World for the month of December:

December 1
The last resistance in German East Africa ended when General von Lettow-Vorbeck withdrew his troops across the Rovuma River into Portuguese territory.
December 2
The suspension of hostilities between Russian and German Armies began prior to the truces arranged between official negotiators.
December 3
The first session of the "Truce Delegates" took place at the Brest-Litovsk headquarters between Russia and the Central Powers.
December 4
The British withdrew from their initial gains at Cambrai and the offensive ended.
December 6
The Finnish Parliament declared independence from Russia under acting Head of State Pehr Evind Svinhufvud.
December 7
President Woodrow Wilson signed a declaration of war against Austria-Hungary.
December 8
British troops launched a final advance against the Ottoman Empire and entered the city of Jerusalem.
December 9
The Ottoman Army retreated and Jerusalem was taken by British forces in Palestine. The fall of the city marked the climax of an offensive against the Turks which had begun in October with the capture of Beersheba.
December 10
Panama declared war on Austria-Hungary.
December 11
General Edmund Allenby formally entered the Old City of Jerusalem. It was the first time that Jerusalem was in Christian hands since the Crusades.
December 12
A convoy of British ships was attacked by four German battleships. The destroyer HMS Partridge was torpedoed and sunk.
December 14
General Maurice Sarrail was recalled from Salonika by French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau.
December 15
An armistice between Russia and Central Powers was signed on the Eastern Front at Brest-Litovsk.
December 16
Sir Edmund Allenby was made GCMG (Knight Grand Cross of Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George).
December 17
The armistice agreed upon between the new Russian Government and the Central Powers came into effect.
December 18
The United States passed the Eighteenth Amendment, also known as the Temperance Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture, sale or
transportation of intoxicating liquors.
December 19
Two United States submarines, USS F-1 and USS F-3, collided while manoeuvring in exercises off the coast of California. USS F-1 sank within ten seconds or the impact.
December 20
The first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations, the Cheka was established in Russia by the Council of People's Commissars after a decree issued by Vladimir Lenin.
December 21
The Battle of Jaffa was fought over two days between the forces of the British Empire and the Ottoman and German Empires during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The conflict ended with an emphatic victory for the British.
December 22
A secret pact regarding the future of Poland was agreed between Germany and the Russian Bolshevik Government at Brest-Litovsk.
December 23
The Independent Republic of Moldavia was proclaimed at Kishinev.
December 26
The Defence of Jerusalem was one of three battles which made up the "Jerusalem Operations" along with the Battle of Nebi Samwil and the
Battle of Jaffa. The engagement began when the Turkish Army launched a counter-attack against British infantry on the outskirts of the city.
December 27
Sir Rosslyn Wemyss was appointed First Sea Lord of Great Britain.
December 30
The final objectives were achieved at the climax of the Defence of Jerusalem when the whole front line was secured by British troops.
December 31
The British fleet messenger carrying troops and medical personnel, HMS Osmanleh was sunk after hitting a mine at the entrance to Alexandria Harbour.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/02/18 08:44 PM

Luthor Linderman
Feldwebel , 11 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 2, 1918.

The battle of Lys has so far been " was fur ein Chaos " Army Hq called and report a Large Formation of Giant Bombers destroying the lines. The Jasta put up 10 DR's for the fight. in 2 flights. I was in the leed as we ran into the Tail End of an Aerial Battle . I saw 2 flights of Spads engaging DR I's and lower down D-III,s or D-V's with more Spads. Off to the right and high were were 2 flights of Spads and some 2 Seat type higher still. By then, we were in the middle of it. It was so fast that all I remember is One flight of Spads hitting us then another. I saw my wing mate Theo 's motor stop then down he went. I latched on to a passing Spad ( French ? ) and slapped him a goodie watching his e/a fall apart. Then, I was near the deck and all alone so RTB. We lost 1 a/c forced down, 3 Lt Damaged with 1 pilot wnd. Claims : 3 Spads Destroyed ( 1 was mine ) P.S. I was informed later that I was promoted to Visefeldwebel. and my victory confirmed ( 12 Kills on the Board ) and Theo got down safe but broke his foot getting out of the Airplane.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/03/18 12:19 AM

Good fight and congratulations Herr Visefelwebel.


From Stars and Stripes 10 May 1918

Attached picture stars and stripes May 10.PNG
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/03/18 02:01 PM

Luv the comic https://giphy.com/gifs/u0LxmF9QVeDoQ/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/03/18 02:09 PM

I was

https://giphy.com/gifs/day-subreddit-msKNSs8rmJ5m/fullscreen

about Number 12 and could picture how people would react at home.

https://giphy.com/gifs/pitchperfect-movie-pitch-perfect-pitchperfect2-MVDPX3gaKFPuo/fullscreen


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/03/18 07:43 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 12 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 3, 1918.

The Ob Lt said he would find us some Spads before we departed for Patrol . He led us right into 2 flights our 9 against their 12. Top cover got the Brunt of it as the Spads dove on us. Then as we got in good positions , they poured on the power and RTB. They lost 1 destroyed a flamer The pilot ( KIA ) Lt. Lenner never got out + 1 pilot Wnd. My schwarm had 2 a/c damaged for 0 e/a a poor showing.today.

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Posted By: Hasse

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/18 03:05 PM

From the War Diary of Charles Linder.
Escadrille BR 11.
Verdun.


4 Jan -18

I have now settled into a routine of sorts. We fly missions every day (weather permitting) and our sector is becoming quite familiar to me. It has been snowing a lot, and the ground is covered by a thin white layer. However, it hasn’t been cold enough to get rid of the mud. I’m so thankful that I don’t have to serve in the trenches! Life in the Aéronautique Militaire has its own dangers, but they are nothing compared to what the poor poilus have to endure.

On New Year’s Day, I had my first close encounter with a boche machine. I was flying as the escort for Adjudant Dubail’s recon Breguet near Béthincourt when suddenly a boche two-seater appeared from a cloud a couple of hundred metres to our left! We were all quite stunned for a few seconds, but then I motioned for Marius (my regular observer) to open fire at the boche. I steered slightly to the left in order to close the distance to the enemy machine. Soon Marius was shooting at the Germans, who still seemed to be in a state of shock, because they didn’t return fire or change their course. I could see how smoke began to come out of their plane’s engine, and only then did the boches react to the situation. The pilot banked his machine hard to the left and soon they disappeared in the same big cloud that had covered their approach. I’d have liked to follow them and finish the job, but that would have been against our orders – the escort doesn’t abandon his escortee!

We filed a report to HQ, though we didn’t expect to get the boche machine confirmed as a victory. We were correct. Ground troops had witnessed the encounter, but nobody had seen the enemy two-seater crash. Perhaps they made it back to their field? I'm certain that at least their engine was badly damaged.

The boche machine was probably a DFW. It was painted in their usual colours of green and purple. It’s rare to get an opportunity to shoot at one – if only that cloud hadn’t been there to hide them!

[Linked Image]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/18 07:43 PM

Nicely done Report.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/18 08:02 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 12 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.

May 4, 1918


I was more or less Forced down today. Our 5 a/c were protecting AF's and ran inro a flight of Spads I turned into the E/a only to have 3 more drop down. The score was 0 to 0 then my gas and elevator were holed and had to put down ob a road.

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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/18 08:08 PM

Carrick, you are racking up the kills!
Fullofit, thank you for the news. Interesting read.
Hasse, excellent report Sir!

Jerod Jackson
Auchel
Jan. 4th, 1918

It was supposed to be a routine intercept mission. At 12,000’ at the patrol area Jackson spotted 4 Huns above headed west. He turned and climbed to intercept. His flight was not keeping up and Jackson knew attacking 4 gunners alone was not wise but he could not help himself. While peppering #3 to no effect he felt a hammer blow to his left thigh. He dove out immediately and was able to land at Auchel. He was helped from his machine one loaded up to be sent to the hospital.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/04/18 11:50 PM

Carrick, MFair is about to steal all your nurses!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/05/18 12:38 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
USAAS

May 2nd 1918

Exceptional day on Field 7. Our birds were making forced landings all over the countryside. A formation of five ships, led by Ash Ashenden (1) got lost and ran out of gas.. Wolf Healy and several others had to land on account of mechanical problems. Alk Jones went down the night before and still hasn't returned. The instructors are in a foul mood. Ash and the other four with him are feeling mighty blue. They are removed from the flying lists and confined to camp until further orders.


May 3rd 1918

Formation leaders have been instructed to make sudden movements, steep dives and climbs to simulate Archie dodging and see if we can stay in formation. We did pretty well, I did better than I expected but not what I could call great. Formation sizes are being increased to as many as 15.

All leaves in the AEF are cencelled indefinitely. Things must be looking pretty bad.

May 4th 1918

Offensive and defensive tactics, like the Lufberry Show (2) today.

May 5th 1918

Brig. Gen. Foulis, head honcho of our Air Service paid a visit today. Pomp and circumstance, a flight of 15 aircraft did a flyover in his honor.

May 6th 1918

Abe (3) , Ash, Bedroll (4), Red (5) and Raymond from the 27th returned to flying duty.



(1) 2nd Lt. James F. (Ash) Ashenden - A Flight, Interned in Switzerland 25 June 1918
(2) Lufberry Show, named for Maj. Roul Lufberry. Defensive maneuver in which a milling circle was formed with each aircraft protected the rear of the next. Considered at Issoudun the most effective way a smaller formation could survive an attack by a larger. The chief danger was adverse action of the wind taking the circle deeper into enemy territory.
(3)1st Lt. Thomas J. (Abe) Abernathy - A Flight, 3 aerial victories
(4) 2nd Lt, Frank S. (Bedroll) Ennis - A Flight, 1 aerial victory, also known as "Muff"
(5) 1st Lt. Louis S. (Red) Simon Jr. - C Flight, 2 aerial Victories




Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/05/18 02:43 AM

Fullofit: Hope MFair leaves me a few nurses I dont Trust him ! He seems to take more then his fair share along with U of the Female Nurse Corps.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/05/18 12:15 PM

Carrick, not to worry. Though Jackson is still groggy from the surgery, he was still conscious enough to notice his nurse is ugly as a D9 dozer with a root rake!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/06/18 02:32 AM

Mfair : A Dozer with a Root Rake ?


https://giphy.com/gifs/cheer-cheering-11sBLVxNs7v6WA/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/wow-oh-general-hospital-l2QDUmqBVkjNE0ta0/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/06/18 04:19 AM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 12 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 5, 1918.

My a/c has been transported back to the AF and is now being readied for Tomorrows Flights. The C.O's Buddy The Count Pa Pa Lankindorff is landing from a neighboring Jasta. There will be a party tonight.


https://giphy.com/gifs/airplanes-wwi-rhienbeck-20NRfRwY25jy2N7SjO/fullscreen
Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/06/18 08:29 PM

Here is the latest status report.

[Linked Image]


Attached picture ScreenHunter_242 May. 06 14.25.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/06/18 08:59 PM

Thanks Banjoman Great work. Hows things going ?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/06/18 10:32 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 12 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.



May 6, 1918.

I cant seem to hit anything.

Dawn patrol: Spads on the left circling to get behind us. On the right a flight of Strutters. The Obt Lt and 1 other attacked them. ( 1 Lost Friederman) I broke into the Spads with 3 other DR I's No hits . I got behind one then he powered up and was gone.

AF Security: Spads head-on the their top cover joined in. a Lot of shooting and c lose calls no Victories for me although the flight claimed 1 Destroyed for 0 losses. I am lucky to be back.

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Posted By: Banjoman

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/06/18 10:45 PM

Fine, just been so busy haven't had time to even fly. Sorry for the delay in the reports.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/07/18 07:01 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 13 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 7, 1918.

I was 3rd in the Vee Formation in a flight of 6. ObLt Going led us through thick cloud into the arms of Camels . They were close and firing. Turn and twist then loop and came out on a passing e/a fired off 2 40 rds bursts no hits then the E/a was gone.

Bagged a Spad He was low and alone ( Going Home ? ) so nosed down in a side pass the slid behind him. Held down the triggers one gun jammed but not before his wings parted and down he went over our side at the lines. ( Over 387 rds. )

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/18 01:41 AM

Back from the UK and catching up...

Carrick, Luthor is doing very well in his tripe! Jerbear, very immersive reading. I really like your patient approach, and hope you're finding the payoff in your affinity for your character. Can't wait until Goode gets into action! MFair, I really felt for Jerod after the incident with Truit. Really good story. Fullofit, thanks again for the historical calendars! Hasse, great episode -- when Linder encounters his first Hun, the DFW. I continue to be incredibly impressed...


Geoffrey Corderoy's luck finally changed. After 13 consecutive rejections, he has now had four consecutive confirmations.


Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 47: 28 December 1917 – 2 January 1918


28 December 1917 – Poperinghe aerodrome


The weather has turned very cold. The field is frozen and the ruts from our last period of wet weather are now solid ridges. Taking off hurts one’s teeth the undercarriage threatens to shatter before finally the Camel lifts off into the air.
COP to Lille sector this morning. We encountered a pair of Hun two-seaters and Seth-Smith bagged one. I fired more than 200 rounds at the other with no dramatic result.

Letters from home. Reggie has been posted to Egypt. With luck he’ll stay in the east, far from the beastly Huns. A neighbour’s son was killed.

29 December 1917

Shortly after eight we receive a call that some EA are patrolling over our lines at Messines and take to the air with all available men. There are six of us: me, Howsam, Quigley, Todd, Gorringe, and Aldred. I lead, turning south-southwest immediately after lifting off. We reach the lines at 6500 feet, still climbing directly into an intense low sun. There is not long to wait, for a gaggle of Albatri approaches from the north and makes two feints before dropping down on us.

The Huns lack guts this morning. All but three turn away after the briefest tangle. I see a Camel climbing onto the tail of an Albatros and make for the Hun, hoping to distract him and give the Camel a clear shot. It is Todd, I notice.

Suddenly there is a rattle of machine gun fire, very close, and bullets rip through my machine with a sound like pebbles thrown against a fence. I pull the stick back and kick the rudder, intending a snap roll, but the Camel simply sideslips and more round smash into it. My instruments are shattered and there are two large gouges in the right cabane nearest me. The Hun overshoots and turns off to my left and above. It is a black machine with a white band around the fuselage, just forward of the tail. I turn about. The engine is still giving good revs and the machine responds well. The Hun is coming at me head-on. I skid left, raking the Hun as he passes. Damage has been done, for it does not take great effort to close on the EA’s tail. Two long bursts cause the machine to fall in a spin, streaming grey smoke and spiralling ever downward until it hit the waters of the Lys with an impressive splash.

Peverell confirms this, my 38th official victory.

[Linked Image]
"Two long bursts cause the machine to fall in a spin, streaming grey smoke and spiralling ever downward until it hit the waters of the Lys with an impressive splash."

31 December 1917

The weather has closed in since yesterday, and we close out 1917 comfortably ensconced in the mess as the snow drifts over the fields. Flying is out of the question.

New Year’s promotions come in. Gorringe, Aldred, Peverell, Quigley, Hobson, and Howsam have all made lieutenant. Gorringe has been awarded the MC, and I have received a bar for mine. I shall try to get Gorringe made temporary captain as soon as possible as he will be a splendid flight commander.

We party until ten and stagger over to see the boys in 29 Squadron. I am back well after midnight. So this is 1918 – the fifth year of the war. Quigley is convinced that it will continue until 1920. I have told myself that it is merely a process to be endured and a business to be excelled at until it is done. It is all beyond our control.

Received a card from Catherine. It is very simple. She has written only that she understands and prays we will see each other in due course. Her acceptance surprises me somewhat.

1 January 1918

Just after the morning patrol went up, Wing called to demand that we put someone up to chase off a two seater over Vimy. I took Lieut. Carruthers, a new man, and the first four I found. Unfortunately, my engine went dud a few minutes into the patrol – cracked cylinder. I switched off and glided back. Carruthers accompanied me back, as he had been ordered to stay with me.

2 January 1918

COP to Vimy. Heavy snow and cloud and the whole show was pointless. We could not find each other, never mind the Hun.


Attached picture Kill #38.png
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/18 06:04 PM

Raine: Well done
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/18 06:10 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 13 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 8 1918.

We were flying a line patrol when I spotted 5 Spads diving oh our Top Cover to the Rear so popped over to help . Good little sparing match the 4 of us to 6 of them, but they tired of the game and powered up to speed home score 2 lt damage DR I's for ?

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/08/18 06:19 PM

From: Hq Army
Corps Staff Planning.


Our weather Reporting unit in the Atlantic is reporting Severe weather heading for Coast. Expect heavy Rain and poor Visibility . The weather Front should hit in 2 days and last for a possible 3 days in the Flanders region .

Attached picture first-u-boat weather ship.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/09/18 09:32 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 13 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 9, 1918.

The 5 of us were off with Lt Nuerhohten his attack style is the same as ObLt Goring ( who was with the cover flight ( they did not engage). He led us under a flight of SE,s as a flight of Spads ( blue stripes on top wings) circled around to dive on our tails. I pulled out of the formation in a flat turn and went head on with the e/a then dove for cloud cover only to get a Long Range shot , 149 rds, at a Spad low and in front of me. He started to leave a trail of black smoke then cartwheeled thru the sky to crash below near our AF at Passenchdale. What good luck. # 14.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/10/18 02:46 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 14 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 10, 1918.

Rain. All flights are cancelled. The ObLt is getting edgy with me. I am too close to his score of 18 Victorys .
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/11/18 03:19 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 14 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.

May 11, 1918.

RAIN.
Posted By: Hellshade

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/11/18 04:18 PM

Happy 400th page, gentlmen. Well done! I salute you all for your dedication to the war effort.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/11/18 06:49 PM

Thanks Hellshade. Great reads all.

Jerod Jackson was back from the hospital and on his 70th mission met his demise. It never ceases to amaze me how fast one can go from a promising pilot to worm food in WOFFUE. I think, l do not know, that I miss judged my speed coming out of a dive bombing a rail junction. I heard a pop at the same time I seemed to black out. The Camel banked left and went into the ground. It did not take long at low altitude. At any rate, he is dead.

I will see you gents in a few weeks. Going to celebrate 40 years with the wife.
Posted By: Hellshade

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/11/18 07:17 PM

Great pics, carrick. Very dark. Are you using SweetFX?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/11/18 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by MFair
Thanks Hellshade. Great reads all.

Jerod Jackson was back from the hospital and on his 70th mission met his demise.


No!!!! It's so easy, though. I bent my Camel out of shape in a dogfight yesterday and was lucky not to meet the same fate. See you back soon. Enjoy your anniversary!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/11/18 08:02 PM

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 48: 3 to 6 January 1918


3 January 1918 – Poperinghe aerodrome


Very cold and desolate weather again, but at least the sun is out. First patrol this morning is not until eight, when the winds abate at last. We are to marry up with a Sopwith Strutter from a French squadron and attend while it takes photographs east of Vimy. The journey south is pleasant, even though the cold stings our lungs. It is necessary to put five rounds from the Vickers every few minutes and even then my right gun jambs with the cold on two occasions. I am wearing three layers under the sidcot and still find myself shivering uncontrollably. I hold the joystick with one hand while I sit on the other to keep from freezing.

We leave Loos on our left side, bumping along in the rough air above a cloud bank. Suddenly five silver Pfalzes drop on us from directly above and a thrilling scrap begins. Camels and Pfalzes flash past, missing by mere feet. I have a good crack at one Hun, but he drops like a stone and I dare not follow. And then there are Albatri among us! Six or seven of the beggars have joined in and we are truly outnumbered. The Huns, fortunately, do not stick it for long and I catch one circling below me, happily unaware of his situation. I dive on the poor chap. The Albatros is blue with a red nose. He sees me too late and drops vertically down. My machine protests, the wires shriek, the guns hammer away. At a thousand feet above the icy fields I blip the engine and gingerly ease out of the dive. Every bracing wire in the Camel must be stretched and the controls are sloppy, but it holds together. The Hun, however, is not so fortunate, for he has driven himself into the ground. I have saved his mates the work of digging a grave. The EA has simply vanished in a flash of flame. I pull away to the west, chased by sporadic Archie. After a few minutes Howsam and Corruthers, a new man, form on me and we set course for home.

The ack emmas complain bitterly at the shape of the Camel. They will be up all night getting the thing true again. Wing confirms the Albatros as number 39.

[Linked Image]
"He sees me too late and drops vertically down."

4 January 1918

We do a DOP to Avelin, a good twenty miles into Hunland. The weather, however, is filthy and we see nothing.

At 4 pm there is a tender leaving for Hazebrouck. I pile on with Gorringe and Peverell and we do some shopping and have tea.

5 January 1918

Over to Menen to strafe a Hun ‘drome. Visibility is poor. We hit the target but see nothing. The air could be thick with Huns in this weather and one would see nothing until the collision.

6 January 1918

Attack ground troops and a supply train near Athies. Several Albatri attempt to interfere and I get behind one, green with red trim. Three or four bursts leave the EA staggering about the sky and streaming thick black smoke. He suddenly rolls over and dives under me. By the time I turn about there is no sign of the beggar. I expected at least a column of smoke. On my return I claim him as driven down. None of the other chaps noticed the Hun as each was busy with his own EA. The claim remains merely a “driven down.â€

Parcel from home arrived tonight! It was sent before Christmas and is late but very welcome: foie gras, crystallised fruit, plum pudding, and much more. I suppose it is Russian Christmas for me. I have hoarded a bottle of fine Madeira and plan to retire early to my room and begin working on a jolly good case of gout! [1]

NOTES:

[1] It appears that Col and Mrs Corderoy have sent their son Fortum and Mason’s “Luxury Box,†which also contained plums, figs, dates, muscatels, “dessert almonds†, and plum cake, all for £1. Times have indeed changed. Today a jar of marmalade at F&M costs £5.


Attached picture Kill #39.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/11/18 10:55 PM

good reading with my morning coffee. The dark pics is the game weather , I dont have sweet FX.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/11/18 11:18 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 14 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 11, 1918,.

Just got a Report from our Northern most weather people, It reads High Pressure is forming depending on winds clear weather forecast for Flanders area in 1 or 2 days.

https://giphy.com/gifs/usnationalarchives-vintage-christmas-3oriOa6SvVb7W8zEsM/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/12/18 06:07 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 14 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 12, 1918.

We got into a little tussle with 6 Camels down by our balloons at Messines. I got the only kill. I must have have the pilot on the 1st pass as the e/a went inverted and crashed. I don't know if anyone saw it as we were scattered all over the area. It was the only Kill claimed. for the day.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/13/18 01:11 AM

John B. Goode
2nd Lt. USAAS

May 7th 1918

Worked on the Taylor Stunt today. The leader signals the maneuver, then does a reinversement while the rest of us do sharp right or left turns, depending on our respective places. We made a hash of it first time but got the hang of it by the time we had done four or them.

Wrote my Mother's Day letter, took it to the Red Cross, where they stamped it on the upper right corner, "Mother's Letter." It will be added to the big May 12th mailing from France. There are signs all over the Y and Red Cross canteen about it but I still almost forgot. What a bad son!

May 8th 1918

Yesterday, no flying, rain, mud.

May 9th 1918

We're all ordered to Epiez. What a cheer we gave when we got the news! It's mostly due to the Major's tenacity and the deal he and Major Hartney struck that none of us have had to do the last two courses. I joined in the celebration with everyone else but, in all honesty, I'm more than a little ambivalent about it.. I think there would have been some profit to have worked with the camera gun and done combat practice here with the instructors. But then again, with this slow French training system, we could end up staying here for the duration of the war. Better to get the show on the road. If the Major thinks we're ready then we're good enough.

May 12th 1918

Left Issoudun on the 10th. We all agree that we hope never to see that mud puddle again and they won't miss us either. We were extremely fortunate not to have lost a single pilot there. We had to leave poor Simmy behind because of a mixup in his orders, but he'll be following soon. The 139th is still there, poor boys.

Got to Paris at 7pm. Alk, Harman(1), Gas(2), Frenchy(3), Shawhan, Dewey and I all headed for the Hotel Grand for a breather before reporting to Epiez. First thing we did was jump in a tub of nice hot water. Yesterday we exchanged some good American dollars for cigar coupons(4) and went shopping for uniforms. Now, a sharper looking set of boys you never saw.

The French on the streets greeted us cordially, either with a tip of the hat or by talking to us, not that I understood much of it but many spoke surprisingly good English. There were Ou la la girls everywhere, waving and flirting.

Had a some time to tour the city. Many of the women and children were wearing charms either around their neck, on the wrist or in a pocket for luck against the Gothas and the German Big Bertha guns. The most common charms were a pair of tiny rag dolls called Nanette and Rintintin. The dolls are joined by a piece of yarn or string, which must not be broken, one without the other is no good. Also, they are not lucky for you unless they are a gift from someone else so I bought a pair for Gretchen to send to her next time I write home. Dewey and I bought a pair for each other, so we have that going for us when we get to the fighting. We kept them in our pockets and did'nt show them to any of the others because we believed, with good reason, someone would ask us if it meant we were engaged.

We visited the Cafe de la Paix and the Olympia Bar. Drank a bit more than I intended. Whitey and I were going back to the hotel when we were brought up short by two French girls standing right in our path. One of the girls, a blonde said to Whitey in a barely intelligible accent, "Eef eu av szi moanee, weh av sze tiim. There was a small brunette with huge eyes standing slightly behind her while she talked. She looked me right in the eyes, hypnotizing me, she the snake and I the bird. Whitey, a married man, told the blonde something in the negative in French and started walking past. I just stood there, held in place by the brunette. Whitey reversed himself, grabbed me by the arm and hauled me away, "c'mon Tiger, we've got a train to catch tomorrow." I'm glad Whitey was there...I guess. I suppose it wouldn't do to go home with some shameful disease or get knocked in the head by some French pimp, so yeah, I'm glad Whitey was there.

The Stars and Stripes mentioned Lufberry and another pilot named Chapman from the 94th being killed in air fighting. Five Huns have been brought down by the Americans at Toul, including the first two I read about before, against these two losses. Cpt Bert Hall and Lts Meissner and Rickenbacker, all from the 94th Aero, claimed the other 3. Major Lufberry brought down another before his death but it wasn't confirmed.

Another big news item. We, once again, are required to wear our rank insignia on our monkey caps (6). A whole General Order is devoted to this. Glad someone has time for the important decisions, where would the Army be without them?

(1) 2nd Lt. Edwind T. Harman - C Flight, transferred to St. Jean-du-Monts 13 Oct 1918
(2) 2nd Lt. later Cpt. George A. S. (Gas) Robertson - A Flight, transferred to 141st A.S. 1 Nov. 1918, 1 aerial victory
(3) 2nd Lt. Emil (Frenchy) Vadnais - became sick with an earache and was transferred to Base Hospital, Epiez, dropped from the rolls 24 May 1918
(4) Cigar Coupons - slang, French paper Francs.
(5) Monkey Cap - Overseas Cap, known by other names, some obscene.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/13/18 04:15 PM

Well done Jerbear.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/13/18 04:34 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.


May 13, 1918.


My last victory was confirmed that makes 15.. The Schwarm is being used as a fire brigade, Flew up to Zeldelgem to stop the harassment of our balloons and met heavy enemy activity. The ObLt. led us . We passed over 6 e/a then off to the right came 5 e/a. We swung into a downward turning circle with me in the leed since they were on my side of the formation. Then Chaos the enemy was every where. During the swirling conflict , I saw my flight completing its 90 degree turn into a 180 and going away thus leaving me to my fate. The Spads had me cold. My wings got riddled the the fuel tank got holes in it barely missing me an staring a fire. I went into a fake full spin pulling out near the ground and forced a hard landing on a road as they fired more bullets at my machine. Jumping out, I made for a better hole to hide in


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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/14/18 01:44 AM

Lovely set of reports Gentlemen.
Raine, it is too bad the AI somehow don’t get their crates bent all out of shape during a dive. It would be nice to see them lose a wing from time to time from over cooking it. Collapsed wings is what I miss in WOFF damage modelling.
MFair, sorry to hear about Jerod. 70 missions is a nice haul. Good luck with the next chap!
Jerbear, really enjoyed that last report. Read like a chapter of a book. Now, about that brunette and her huge “eyes†...
Carrick, do be careful. We don’t want you to end up in a hospital.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/14/18 05:18 PM

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Nurses

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/14/18 05:50 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 27
Rekken, Flanders.

May 14, 1918.

I led six machines for a balloon attack only to get bounced and scattered by a lone Spad Driver. The e/a made a high side attack then headed for the deck with flight in full pursuit By the time that I rounded everyone up ( reformed) we were down 50 % fuel so RTB. I don't think the Spad got scratched

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/14/18 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by carrick58
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Nurses


Ok, you can go back to the hospital now.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/15/18 02:09 AM

Jerbear, I am really enjoying Goode's memoirs. It has the genuine feel of a first-hand account by a WW1 "Sammie." Very nicely done!

If anyone here hasn't tried AnKor's "No blue triangles" mod, I heartily suggest you get on it! The increase in framerate and general smoothness is absolutely remarkable. I am still catching up with Corderoy's career, but he finally broke the 40 kill mark with his best day ever.

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 49: 7 to 11 January 1918

7 January 1918 – Poperinghe aerodrome


Quigley bagged a Hun yesterday, and today we learned that it was a star turn of theirs named Bulow.[1] We are becoming a first-rate team, and I am immensely proud of all ranks of good old 70! Today we received a letter from General Trenchard, a copy of which went to every squadron in France. It began:

“I have been appointed Chief of the Air Staff in England. This will, undoubtedly, interfere with my close personal touch with the Flying Corps in France, and therefore I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you all for the magnificent service which you have rendered to the
great cause for which we are fighting during the past three years in which I have been actively concerned in trying to help and guide the work.â€

I spoke with Baring by telephone last week. He confided that the great man is quite cut up about this appointment and is accepting it with some considerable reluctance. They have both already departed for London. We are feeling orphaned.[2]

The gloom is relieved by the news that Quigley’s accelerated promotion to Captain is going through. I am looking forward to being able to give him the news. This morning I had him lead a patrol to escort a camera-equipped Camel from 43 down to the southern sector. En route we were harried by several Pfalzes, one of which I hit quite heavily and saw fall. I was unable to confirm it, though. On the return trip we mixed with some Albatri, and I again drove one down but no one saw what happened to it.

8 January 1918

We have had heavy snow all day, so no flying. Lost a football match in the snow to 29 Squadron, but drank them under the table in revenge.

9 January 1918

Grounded again.

10 January 1918

Incredible day! Off the ground just after nine this morning, headed with Le Prieurs affixed for a Hunnish balloon just 25 miles off at Annoelin, southwest of Lille. This was a squadron show, with me leading B and C Flights across the lines at 5000 feet, and A Flight about a mile behind at 8000. While we were still over the torn-up strip of front west of Haubordin, Corruthers spotted a gaggle of enemy machines approaching from the north at about our altitude. I turned our Camels to meet them and a heart-stopping melée ensued.

In seven months at the front there has not been a fight like this one. Twice in the first few seconds I hunched down in the cockpit, wincing at imminent disaster as first an Albatros and then a pair of Camels came within inches of slamming into me. We were circling low over the pockmarked earth and shattered trees. I looked behind and saw two, sometimes three, Huns trying to get on my tail. At length I turned inside the heavier German machines and got a good crack at one of them. I circled to chase off his partner and then turned to find the first, whom I was sure I had damaged. As expected, the EA was staggering eastward, its engine smoking. Closing from behind and above I fired again and the Hun pilot immediately dropped his machine into a muddy track, where it quickly slumped into a shellhole.

Turning back to the fight I spotted another Albatros making its way east. I closed on it, just ahead of Quigley. My opening burst caused its wings to crumple back as the machine exploded in flame. I pulled up so as not to have to contemplate the poor pilot’s fate.

By this time the sky had, in that mysterious way of air fighting, become empty of aircraft. I spotted two distant machines heading west – clearly Camels. I climbed back to 5000 feet and spotted A Flight, which had turned briefly back to assist us against the Albatri, but had arrived too late. Hobson was in the lead position, and I fell in outside his right-hand man. Hobson pointed in the direction of Lille – our target balloon was that way. My Le Prieurs were still aboard.

As we approached our target I took the lead and dived at the balloon at a shallow angle for nearly a mile, firing from 600 yards until the last second. I could see smoke beginning to curl up from the gasbag and I release the rockets at 150 yards, holding my course until the last second. The damned thing exploded in my face, and I had to kick the rudder and pull the Camel hard right to avoid disaster. By the time I levelled off, the balloon was falling in flames like an oil-soaked rag.

On my return, I discovered that both the Albatri were seen by Howsam. Hobson backed up my claim for the balloon. It took only a few minutes for Lieut. Gregg to confirm with Wing my 40th, 41st, and 42nd victories. I am now only three short of Bishop’s total claims!

Telegram of congratulations received this evening from General Rawlinson. [3]

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"Closing from behind and above I fired again and the Hun pilot immediately dropped his machine into a muddy track, where it quickly slumped into a shellhole."

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"My opening burst caused its wings to crumple back as the machine exploded in flame."

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"By the time I levelled off, the balloon was falling in flames like an oil-soaked rag."

11 January 1918

Defensive patrol north to the coast near Dunkirk. Chased three high-flying Rumplers and we bagged them all. Todd credited with one and the ever-impressive Quigley with two!

NOTES:

[1] Ltn Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp, a 28 victory Pour le Merite winner.

[2] MGen Trenchard was appointed Chief of Air Staff in December 1917 in anticipation of the creation of a unified Royal Air Force. His political master, the Air Minister, was the newspaper magnate Lord Rothermere. Rothermere was an enemy of Douglas Haig, and Trenchard was a Haig supporter, so the relationship was poor from the outset. Trenchard simply could not tolerate political infighting and the lack of a free hand in shaping the air service. He would resign his post in April. His battles with Rothermere continued, and following a letter from Trenchard to PM Lloyd George, Rothermere resigned before April was out.

[3] GOC 2nd Army.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/15/18 04:12 PM

Wow, Great pics this morn.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/15/18 04:22 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.\

May 15, 1918.

ObLt. Goring was smiling as I got the news. I was transferred out to Jasta 12 a unit in JG 2. ( a group of units sent to Hot Spots on the front ). After arriving, I was assigned an aircraft from one of three Hanger Queens and painted the tail and a # 3 on the side.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/16/18 04:01 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.\


May 16, 1918.

Posted for dawn Patrol only to have the motor Sputter after take off. I had 1000 meters of altitude when the power loss/ Racket started so put down back at AF. The Patrol had no contact.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/17/18 12:19 AM

Raine, congrats on a hat trick. Too bad we're allowed to claim only one victory. Great action report.
Carrick, you are keeping the thread alive with your daily updates. Good on ya!

15 January, 1918
Jasta 18, Avelin

Fresh snow was blindingly bright and kept Aldi alert, despite the sensation of rough sand in his eyes from lack of sleep.

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His friend and comrade Paul Strähle left early this morning for his new post with Jasta 57 and most of the outfit stayed up late seeing him off in the Kasino. In fact, none of the Kette members had any sleep last night, but there is a war going on and there is a job to be done. Orders to patrol front lines across from Bailleul saw the Schwarm Zwei cruise at high altitude, keeping an eye for any interlopers. It only took 5 minutes to encounter a flight of Britishers in their fancy new Nieuports. Despite being more nimble than the Albatrosen, the fight was an even match. Aldi got separated from the rest of the flight following one of the Englanders. They circled around, dropping lower and lower. The English pilot finally realized he is losing the battle by fighting low and deep in enemy territory. The decision to turn and run was logical, but the execution left a lot to be desired with Aldi’s Spandaus finding the target and proving the point.

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Nieuport’s propeller slowed down, windmilled for a while and stopped.

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Schwarzkopf followed the little scout hoping to capture it intact. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Just as it was touching down, the wheels caught on a protruding tree stump, overturning the plane. The impact was severe and the wreck kept on cartwheeling, shedding wings, tail and the engine in the process. The fuselage was a mangled mess with the pilot still strapped in. Aldi saw German infantry carefully approach the wreckage and try to free the body from the heap of wood, canvas and wires. Aldi made another circuit above, turned to point in the direction of Avelin and gained some altitude. At least there was no fire ...

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Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/17/18 11:49 AM

I know that you've all been hoping for a good Mannock story. So have I. Delays with my source material and creative indecision has caused such a terrible wait that I risk falling too far behind. Also, I have taken steps into scenery modding, thanks to help from Robert Wiggins. I hope to be bringing you something on those lines soon too. But it all causes delays!
I promise that I'll publish the story, but it will be something of a flashback. This is more up to date.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Its too cold to be sitting around in a fieldâ€, Stanley reflected. He was filling in on C flight while Lt Wolff went to visit the dentist. Tudhope and his boys were waiting by the telephone hut, waiting for reports of enemy aircraft crossing the lines.

There was a ring.

“Tudhope... Yes... Bapaume? Yes... Very good sir. We're on out way.â€
Tud stepped out of the hut. “Come on chaps.â€

Five SE5as climbed away from the stacks and smoke of Bruay and turned south. “It's definitely colder up here,†Stanley grimaced in the blast of his propeller, “what was I complaining about before?â€

They reached the area of Bapaume twenty minutes later. They were a few thousand feet above the patchy layer of cloud that stretched as far as Stanley could see. These days he was sure that he could see further. For example; why hadn't Tud turned the flight toward the three dots that were south west of them?

As tail end charlie, Stanley's SE5 couldn't quite zoom up to Tudhope's machine. Instead he sat there as the flight turned away from the obviously German aeroplanes. Stanley wondered if anyone else had seen them.

Maybe Tud had spotted them after all. Five minutes later the SE5as were closing on the enemy two seaters. As they got closer, Stanley could see that they were Hannovers, with the characteristic twin tail planes. Now the Hannovers were heading east and speeding toward home.

Stanley trained his sights on the right hand machine and counted down the seconds as his fast scout closed in.

A bump in the air made Stanley's head drop from the Aldis tube. There was a clatter of noise and Bob Stanley felt something smack the top of his head. He pushed the stick forward by reflex.

“Ohf!†Stanley breathlessly exclaimed as the clouds engulfed him. There was nothing but greyness and the bullet holes in the hardened glass of his wind shield. The wind whistled through them to remind Stanley of their presence.

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The cloud seemed to go on forever. Stanley was starting to worry. Wasn't it patchy cloud?

The haze thinned out and Stanley had a look around. The gloomy countryside below could have been anywhere. He needed to find a landmark.

A dark winged shape descended behind the lone British machine. Looking around, Stanley spotted the Albatros and swerved away from the attack. His assailant was alone and low. That probably meant that Stanley was over the wrong side of the lines. No German fly like this over the western side of the lines, surely?

In his agitated state, Stanley wasn't flying at his best, but the SE5's engine was performing well and he could avoid the German's attacks, climbing between stalling dips as he mishandled the turn. The Albatros pilot lost interest when it became clear that this wasn't easy prey and disappeared into the murk. Temporarily saved, Stanley wasn't home yet and he was quite lost.

He looked for the brighter patch of the clouds that indicated the sun and headed west.

It was half an hour later that a lone SE5a set down at Lechelle. The brown machine trundled to a halt on the damp earth that pulled at its wheels. The engine cut and silence filled the field like a noise louder than the engine that had preceded it.

The pilot didn't move from the cockpit as the propeller slowed to a halt. As men ran over they saw the pilot pull off his helmet and gingerly touch his soaking wet hair, inspecting his fingers with apparent relief.

“Are you okay?†One of the mechanics asked.
“I think so. I was sure I was bleeding, but maybe not.†Stanley looked over at them and smiled weakly, “it got a little hot out there, that's all.â€
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/17/18 04:41 PM

Thanks Fullofit. Its just I dont have much going on right now so I play WOFF daily. It looks like Maeran is heading for our share of the Nurses Foiled again.!

Maeran: Good writing and pics.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/17/18 05:23 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.\


May 17, 1918.

The Jasta put up 9 a/c in 2 flights for Patrol Albert-Cappy area. Lots of activity on the Allied side but sense we are a Defensive Patrol no attacks were made.



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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/18/18 06:01 PM

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 50: 12-15 January 1918

12 January 1918 – Poperinghe aerodrome


Three DFWs were heading northeast towards Ghistelles as we reached the farthest limit of our patrol across the northernmost tract of the Flanders front. The ground below was white and nearly featureless after a night of blowing snow and freezing wind. Now, at last, the sky was clear and the three Hun machines caught the morning sun like mirrors.

I turned our formation of seven Camels towards the enemy two-seaters and picked out the machine on the left rear. We were closing quickly. At one hundred yards I fired a long burst, holding my aim until close to a collision. When I pulled away I had the impression that the Hun observer was hit. I turned about and searched for our prey. Hobson was firing and the machine was beginning to show a faint stream of grey smoke. Hobson broke away as I closed on it, staying carefully in the DFW’s blind spot. Off to the right, one of the Huns was already falling in flames. I began to fire in five to seven round bursts. At the last second, I pulled up, seeking to fire into the pilot. But the observer was alive and alert and bullets ripped through my left wings. The ones that hit canvas have a dull note, like hailstones striking the canvas of a tent. But the ones that hit wood are completely different, sounding with a piercing crack. One, at least, hit wood. I broke away, scanning each strut for damage and noticing none. The DFW began to spiral earthward slowly. I could not be assured it was out of control, and so I began to spiral down to search for him. My machine had scarcely begun its second circle when there was a loud crack and the outer portion of my left lower plan broke away completely. The Camel yawed and hung left-side-down. It would not straighten except with full right rudder, and even then it did not fly straight or level. I pointed the machine to the west and held my breath.

Alone in the unfriendly sky, I took stock of my situation. The Camel was making barely 80 knots and was crabbing awkwardly. Bits of the left lower plane were breaking away every few seconds. Despite full throttle, I was down to 5000 feet and dropping, and the safety of our lines was still far off to the west.

Minutes passed, although to me it seemed much longer. The grid seemed to hang stationary in the air as it fought against a still westerly wind. The odd farm crawled past below, and then the land became barren. Here in the far northern reaches of the front, the ground was not as torn as elsewhere. The Belgians had opened the polders to the sea in 1914, flooding the valley of the Yser. It was impossible to dig trenches in the broad flood plain, so the lines were far apart.

The ground came up and I braced for a smash-up. The left lower plane was torn away completely, and the Camel barely held the air. Certainly I would land on the left upper wingtip and careen across the barren fields, cartwheeling until the machine disintegrated. But at the last instant a final lateral pumping of the joystick and full right rudder levelled off the grid, and I pancaked onto the snow, bounced, and came to a sudden stop. The fuselage was low to the ground. The undercarriage must have broken away, I thought. There was an ominous cracking sound.

It was ice. My Camel had come to rest on the thinly frozen waters of the Yser valley. The undercarriage had broken through the ice and the cracking was the surface breaking up under the weight of my machine. I unbuckled quickly and grabbed for an emergency bag I carried behind the seat: shoes, extra socks, shaving kit, and a map. The Camel sunk a little as I stood and icy water began to gather in the cockpit floor. I pulled my bad knee up and swung free of the cockpit, dropping onto the right lower wing. The wing served to spread my weight. The machine lurched a little, sinking deeper through the broken ice. I inched along the wing and stepped gingerly onto the snow. I could hear ice cracking beneath me as I took the first few steps.

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The flooded Yser front

The landscape was barren, snow and the stunted tops of trees. I walked gingerly towards what I assumed was the west. At times the ground seemed solid, but at other times there were ominous squeaks and cracks, and the ground sagged beneath me. Once my right fug boot broke through the snow and ice, showing black water with the pale strands of grass under the surface.

After several hours I had gone about two miles. I spotted the outline of a roof. It was a farmhouse, entirely swallowed up by the flooding except for the skeletal remains of a roof. I approached cautiously, limping now because my right foot had got soaked and was thoroughly frozen. The roof was half gone, broken beams standing out like ribs against the grey sky. I was able to clamber onto what bit of roof remained. There was an attic floor beneath, standing dry above the water level. I dropped inside and found a corner of the floor out of the wind and with a patch of solid roof overhead. I pulled off my wet fug boot and sock and dried my foot with the emergency bag. I then put on a shoe and both socks in the emergency kit. My sidcot was warm enough, so I laid down to rest, and slipped my right foot, shoe and all, into the dry upper leg portion of the fug boot I’d taken off.

I awoke after dark, shivering uncontrollably. Now I wished I’d not quit cigarettes, because I did not have my pipe with me and I needed something to distract my mind from the hunger, fear, and tiredness. I nibbled a couple of squares of chocolate.

My wet sock was nearly dry. I’d placed it under my sidcot against my underarm. It would be better to keep the two dry socks on my right foot properly dry, so I took them off and put them carefully into my little bag with the shoes and chocolate. I looked at the shaving kit. It would be the proper British thing to do, shaving. But I didn’t fancy using ice water to do it. I pulled on the old sock, which wasn’t nearly as dry as I’d thought, and then slipped back into the fug boot. It took a real effort to get back on my feet.

Across the attic floor I noticed a small table. It had three good legs and a wobbly one, but that wouldn’t matter. Letting myself down off the roof onto the frozen, flooded ground, I dragged the small table behind me. I turned it upside down and pushed it ahead of me, holding the thing by two legs. In this way it acted like a sled, and if I walked bent forward, the table distributed the weight of my upper body over the ice. I’m not sure if it was as effective as I imagined, but I made my way westward with greater confidence.

The night was clear, with pale stars showing between just a few scudding clouds. Moonlight gave the landscape an unearthly blue tinge. In the distance, green and white flares arched across the darkness and hung in the air, casting long black shadows from each stubby tree or clump of grass protruding through the ice. After a while, the flat and frozen floodlands began to be broken by low ridges of higher ground, occasionally tangled with barbed wire, and the little table no longer acted like a sled in front of me. I sat on it and caught my breath, then struggled, shivering, back to my feet. I slung the little emergency bag over my shoulder and moved on.

Around three in the morning the guns ahead of me were noticeably louder, and I began to worry about being shot by our own troops. Soon after, I heard voices a short distance to my left. I fell into the snow and waited. It was a patrol, no more than a half-dozen men. They moved clumsily, grunting guttural curses. Germans! I lay face-down and pulled the collar of my sidcot up as high as it would go over my head. Its pale, off-white shade was better camouflage than my brown leather, fur-lined flying helmet. The damned Huns were coming directly towards me. Of all the rotten luck, to have walked so many miles over the icy Yser, only to be captured so near to freedom!

“Wat is dit?†Someone said. I felt a bayonet prod me between the shoulder blades. I was done for. I slowly stood with my hands up.

“I am an English officer,†I said. “English. Offizier, damn you!†I remember my father’s instruction – when confronted by confounded continentals, just speak English louder. The fellow in front of me wore a long dark greatcoat and a bandolier of sorts, surmounted by a dull, bovine face and a woolen cap.
“Kom met mij mee!†he said, gesturing with a bayonet.

“English? You are English?†came a second voice. The shadow approached and I saw another soldier, this one with a pistol. I repeated that I was an English officer, a pilot, and I saw this fellow grin. It suddenly dawned on me that these chaps were Belgians. The Belgians held this whole sector.
“Belge?†I stammered in my schoolboy French accent.

“Vlaamsche,†the bayonet fellow said. I began to laugh giddily and shook the hand of the fellow with the pistol, whom I took for an officer. I suggested the other chap put his bayonet away somewhere warm. Three other soldiers approached and I was cautioned to keep quiet. We walked single file back to the west, and after about twenty minutes we heard a soft challenge. The officer signalled for us to halt and went forward. We were waved in, one at a time.

The next hours were a blur. The Belgians were awfully decent, and pressed cigarettes (I gave in) and brandy on me, then bundled me off to an aid station. My right foot was showing early signs of frontbite, and the pain was excruciating when the blood began to circulate. I got a telephone call into the squadron, who dispatched a tender for me at once. By noon I was back in Poperinghe, washed and enjoying a meat pie in the mess. I retired to bed for the rest of the afternoon and that evening.


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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/18/18 07:02 PM

Now THAT was a crackerjack tale, Raine. Simply marvelous! I had a palpable feeling of anxiety as I read your fine story. So many times have I managed to guide a crippled plane down to just before landing for it to suddenly turn turtle. How were you able to avoid that?

I think this fellow Corderoy has a fine future as an author, assuming he survives the war! Well done, sir.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/19/18 12:34 AM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.

May 18, 1918.

Balloon Attack: The bag was up near Arras. The 9 of us went up to put it down. Lt Victor was in the 2nd a/c and got too close. The balloon went up in a fiery gas explosion . The Fokker machine was caught in the fire. Flames bellowed and he arched into the ground below. Perhaps, he was too keen on getting the kill ?


Line Patrol: My machine went racing down the field only to have its motor stop. Luckily, I avoided the Fence at the end.




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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/19/18 12:41 AM

Excellent story telling as always Raine, very exciting, great detail. Geoffrey has some good survival skills, I would have most likely frozen to death.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/19/18 12:24 PM

Hey all, Ive been catching up on a couple weeks of fine writing and amazing storytelling with my morning coffee. I've been unable to fly for weeks due to work and travel and have just found out I will be away from my rig until September. It seems old Collin Sitwell may survive the war by default!

Please keep up the fine work so I can fly vicariously through you this Summer!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/19/18 03:52 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.


May 19, 1918


On escort for a lone Rumpler, I spotted an SE on the down low coming fast. Dropping down , I waved off the 2 seat and attacked leaving my other 2 wing-mates to look after her. My 1 SE turned into 2 and as the fight progressed it became 3 e/a's I took fleeting shots till I could Fake a Spin then run . Made it back with only 5 holes in the Fokker. All a/c in the flight made it back. No damage or claims.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/19/18 11:26 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Epiez

May 16th 1918

Raining. Epiez is about 12 kilometers from Toul, on the side of a hill. The name for this place on the map is Amanty.. The camp is hidden in a forest, with wooden barracks and 12 big hangars built for a French Bombing Squadron. The buildings are all scattered around, with plenty of space between them so that no bomber will ever get more than one building with one bomb. The Adran barracks are long shacks made of pin boards and tar paper. They have shuttered windows with no glass or screens. Dewey and I have set ourselves up in a double room on the end, so we have two windows. The Front Lines are a good distance away but the boom of the guns can be heard when the wind is right. Listening to them in the night really brings home the reality that there IS a war going on.

Found out that Davey and the 95th Aero just left this place about 10 days ago for Toul. Hope we'll be joining them soon.

Some of our Nieuports were waiting for us and the mechanics, who do all the work while we have all the fun, were busy tinkering, testing and polishing our little birds till they gleamed in the sun like Birds of Paradise. At every spare moment, we sneak down to hangars, just to look at them and gloat.

The Anti-Aircraft Artillery woke us up this morning. A German was circling at a high altitude over the aerodrome like a big buzzard. A few pilots took off to chase him but the Hun was too high and was long gone before most of them could even get off the ground. It laid it's eggs on some unfortunates in a nearby camp.

May 17th 1918

Weather was good for flying. The Chinese Aces(1) from Orly were flying in more of our birds all day, cracking up 2 of every 3. The planes are rather fragile and when they wash out they're usually a total loss. We should have been flying them in instead of taking a train from Paris, It's frustrating to see so much waste, especially at $18.500 apiece, which I am told is cheap but that's a lot of taxpayer dough and more than Daddy has ever earned in a year, even after he got that big church.

Took my first jazz(2) in a Nieuport 28! Greatest thing with wings you ever saw! Lovely lines, wonderfully wired, very elegant long tail, a real doozy! Cockpit is cramped but tolerable. The rudder bars are a little close for me and any attempt to stretch my legs is rewarded with scorched feet from the engine, which gives off heat like a cast iron stove. The rest of me may freeze but I'l have toasty warm feet.

I climbed the ladder and squeezed into the office (3), the ground crew checked the pants leg (4), turned the ship into the wind and chocked the wheels. A crewman yelled "SWITCH ON" as he pulled the prop. I repeated "SWITCH ON" and the engine roared to life, and I do mean roared. The noise was deafening. It left me in no doubt about the power of a 165 hp Gnome Monosoupape Rotary, 2 hp for every pound of plane. The thing was like a plow horse pulling for all it was worth. I held back on the stick and the mechanics were holding the wings, but even then, the little thoroughbred was straining at the chocks. We have a signal worked out with the crew, you run up the RPMs, nod your head for them to pull the chocks with long ropes, then your off like a shot. The tail is up within 15-20 feet and the next thing you know you're airborne. It has a strong tendency to nose up on takeoff but the torque is not nearly so strong as on the Clergets we flew with at Issoudun. RPM is controlled by a selector switch to increase or decrease the spark interval, so it's not just full on or full off, there are three settings and off. There is, of course the blip switch on the stick too. It burns almost as much castor oil as gas.

These things maneuver like a bird in flight, you almost feel as if they're responding to your thoughts, as if it were an extension of yourself. They whip around on a dime, with no vibration in a turn.

A couple of complaints, like everything else, Forward vision is very limited and the windshield is too far forward for me so I had little protection from the wind and castor oil flying back in my face, got the trots from that. When I get my own bird I'll have it moved back. And the rudder bars, of course.

They're a little tricky to land, the tail is so light that if you bounce too much or hit soft ground, there's nothing to stop the machine from going over on it's back. We've had two mishaps, Wolf Healy ground looped, but he's Okay. Abe crashed a bird coming in for a landing, getting a nasty cut on his chin. The Major chewed him up and spit him our, threatened to send him back to Issoudun. Really put the fear on God into him!

At dinner, the Major announced that Ken Porter will be Acting Squadron Commander while he works on getting things in order for our next move, to Toul. Pip Porter was made temporary Flight Commander for A Flight, Alk will lead B and Whitey will take charge of C Flight. I'm in Alk's Flight. He introduced three new officers, Lt. Rosenblum will be our pill roller, Lt. Walker is Operations Officer and a Lt. Roberts, an Ordinance man on loan from the 103rd Aero, is here to supervise installation and Synchronization of our Vickers.

We are now officially assigned to he 1st Pursuit Group along with the 94th, 95th, both now at Gengoult Field near Toul, and 27th Squadrons.

After the meal we challenged the mechanics to a baseball game. Pip got a hit with bases loaded and two outs. His was the only outfield hit of the game. That hit snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for us, 8 to 7.

(1) Chinese Ace - slang, poor pilot
(2) Jazz - ride
(3) Office -slang, cockpit
(4) Pants leg - slang, windsock






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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/20/18 05:35 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAAS

May 19th 1918

Friday, continuing to familiarize ourselves with the Nieuports. Abe had another incident but it wasn't his fault. A wire snapped in the undercarriage while he was landing and bent the axle. The machine was damaged but not destroyed. Frenchy wiped out a machine but came out unharmed. Mechs overpainting the French cockades with American, red, blue and white center.
m
In the afternoon, went to Neufchateau. We loaded up in the Fiat and Packard with the Major and stopped along the way to visit Domremy, saw the house where Joan of Arc was born. Bought several souvenirs to send home. At Neufchateau we went to the Lafayette Club where the featured attraction was an American dance band. There were a number of American nurses, some very good looking, from the hospital in the city there. Danced with one of them, she was very hard to talk to, didn't do any more dancing, played darts and billiards. Stayed until the wee hours.

May 20th 1918

The Majors invited a number of HQ guests for a 'Gala Event." A lot of brass hats came, among them Col. Boom Trenchard of RAF #55 Squadron.

It began with a baseball game between us and the officers of the 27th. We won, 9-7. After the game, Snake and Alk gave a flying exhibition with Fred Norton and Jerry Vasconcells of the 27th. They put on a good show, handled their birds like champs.

There was a barbecue in the hollow back behind the aerodrome. Col. Tenchard gave a short talk about the successes of his daylight bombing squadrons. The group had bombed the rail yards at Cologne early that morning and would be bombing Frankfurt next. He introduced some of his officers who had participated in the raid. Everyone cheered and a toast was raised to the Colonel and the Independent Force of the RAF.

The event concluded with drinks, singing and more cheers. LeRoy Prinz of the 27th danced for us, backed by an orchestra from Neufchateau, quite a hoofer. I allowed myself two light beers to be sociable.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/20/18 11:37 PM

Good stories. Slang in WWI ?
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/20/18 11:43 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.



May 20 1918.

Another Rock- em and Sock em -day at the Front. The Schwarn took out another Arty Balloon then a section of Camels came down to play as we re-formed. A lot of wild turning and twisting a/c with chatting machine guns . Score 0 for 0.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/21/18 12:49 PM

Just caught up with the wonderful stories. Glad I had time to read them all.
Great read Raine, very edge of the seat stuff, and Corderoy wasn’t even flying. While reading, I was thinking to myself: wouldn’t it be great if after landing behind enemy lines you’d have to actually get back home on foot a la FPS? Avoid enemy patrols or get caught, instead of the usual WOFF dice roll. Probably would take 2 days to finish the mission.
Maeran, another great tale. Glad your boy survived with just a scratch. Looked like that Albatros gave him a run for his money. To me, the AI that is able to surprise you (and best you) is the star of this show.
Jerbear, I like how detailed your reports are. It looks like Johnny is almost ready for combat and I see he’s already flirting with the nurses even without getting wounded. Carrick should be more worried than ever.
Carrick, every time I read your reports and see your pics of the Dreidecker I get jealous. Aldi is stuck with the bloody Pfalz until at least May (or at least until OBD fixes plane assignments in Jasta 18 - fat chance of that).
Once again, great stories Gentlemen. Keep ‘em coming!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/18 12:15 AM

Carrick, Looks like you and your triple had a real fracas going with those humps after you cooked up the sausage.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/18 01:54 AM

Some great reading here of late! Jerbear, your tales of Mr. Goode have a really authentic ring. What are you using for source material? I love the American terms and really American feel of the way Goode writes! Fullofit, thanks for the feedback. I had forgotten the one claim per mission rule! Was that made before the claims became harder a year or two back? I'm not sure it's needed anymore. Anyway, I had two really likely kills (witnessed and over friendly territory) that I let pass in order to put things right.

Maeran, can't wait for the next installment. Has your book on 40 Squadron come through. You'll have to keep Stanley in one piece, though. That last flight was cutting it a bit fine.

BuckeyeBob, thanks for the comments. I'm not sure how I avoided a fatal crash. My left wing was down about 40 degrees just until I landed. At the last second it came up and the machine bounced and came to a quick stop without the slightest injury. Just very, very lucky.

Carrick, you seem to be having a great time with the Triplane!

Geoffrey Corderoy has finally caught up with his nemesis, Bishop. Here he meets two remarkable women I learned about only recently...


Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 51: 16 to 21 January 1918

16 January 1918 – Poperinghe aerodrome


Offensive patrol down towards Neuve Chapelle and Provin this morning. Gossinge and Quigley have both made captain, and it was Quigley’s show. He didn’t mind me tagging along. I think he knew I had to get back in the saddle after my last journey.

We were scarcely over the lines when we encountered a group of Pfalz scouts heading SW over the Lys. We were at 8000 feet and they were well below, so we were on them before they saw us. Quigley bagged the leader and I closed on a white machine with a red tail and a black spiral around the fuselage and some sort of drawing on the side of the grid near the cockpit. My opening burst shattered its left lower wing and the thing flipped over and went straight down into the ground – another Hun they won’t need to dig a grave for! I had a new boy named Rankin on my wing and he was able to confirm this as my 43rd victory.

[Linked Image]
"My opening burst shattered its left lower wing and the thing flipped over and went straight down into the ground..."

18 January 1918

We have had two days of snow, so I took Gossinge to Pops to buy two large casks of local beer, some champagne, and a box of cigars. I threw these in my Standard along with some tins of bully and a couple of jars from my parcel from home, and the two of us made our made across treacherous and crowded roads up to Bray Dunes, where we had lunch with the chaps from Naval 3. Gossinge was in his glory as many of them were Canadians.

After lunch we picked our way east as far as we could. I was looking for the village of Pervijze, for that is where the Belgians who rescued me five days ago were centred. The village is really non-existent, but I had hoped the road would be passable, but the deep frozen ruts threatened to finish the car. I pulled over in front of a ruined farm. We did not want to leave the car with its precious cargo here and walk, but our dilemma was solved when an ambulance came crashing and skidding down the road, heading in the right direction. Gossinge stood in the road and flagged it down.

“What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?†shouted the driver, who to my amazement was a pert-looking female. I approached the vehicle and asked if she would mind awfully helping us move some gifts up to the Belgians. She scanned me with a wary eye and asked why I was so bloody interested in Belgians, so I explained my journey of the past week. She had a polished Scots accent, and was clearly not a woman to be taken lightly.

“Ah, I think I know you,†she said. To my astonishment, she described how I was brought into her basement aid station and how my feet were bathed in warm water. “Cried like a baby, you did.†Gossinge had a good chuckle at my expense.

And so we made a deal. I would contribute a cask of beer and the cigars to the aid station she was headed for in Pervijze, and she would get me there.

“My name is Mairi Chisholm,†she said. We introduced ourselves and she directed us to sit in the back. The drive was utterly terrifying. She seemed to balance the ambulance on the narrow high spots in the road and made full use of the verges. I doubt if we dropped under fifty miles an hour the whole way. At length we skidded to a stop outside a cellar. There was a bit of brick wall with a sign: “Poste de Secours Anglais.â€

“This is home,†said Miss Chisholm. “Bring your things in.†The steps from the street led to a steel door, and inside, rows of injured men were tended under good lighting, protected by reinforced concrete walls. “This is my good friend, Elsie T’Serclaes.†Despite her Flemish name, Mrs. (or rather Baroness) T’Serclaes was English, married to a Belgian flyer! And here in the warmth of the cellar, Miss Chisholm removed her greatcoat and I noted that she wore the ribbons of the Military Medal and the Order of Saint John. In addition they wore a foreign decoration I did not know. The Baroness wore the same ribbons.

“How are your feet?†asked Baroness T’Serclaes.

“Perfect,†I replied. “No problems at all.â€

She told me to take extra care as I might find myself a little more vulnerable. “Your case was superficial, but another two or three hours and you’d be without your feet.â€

I replied that I was thankful for the aid I’d received, and thankful again for the drive into the village. “Miss Chisholm missed her calling. She should be racing at Brooklands.†Miss Chisholm laughed and said the she would already have raced there but for the war. The Baroness explained that they met before the war because both of them raced motorcycles! I stole admiring glances at Miss Chisholm and once caught her looking back. It was probably my imagination. I learned she’d been engaged to a pilot for a short while, but he’d been killed.

We never did meet up with my Belgian rescuers, because their company was still in the front line, but our two astounding nurses made us tea and promised to get the beer and preserves to the men who had rescued me. I asked them to ensure the company commander got the champagne and gave them the second bottle for themselves.

We left a cheerier scene than we found, as every injured man able to do so was drinking a beer and smoking a cigar. Miss Chisholm drove us back to the Standard, and Gossinge rode in the back. This time I managed to sit beside our chauffeuse, who permitted me to call her Mairi. I asked if I could pay her a visit again, and she said I should have to bring something for the aid station if I did.[1]

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Mairi Chisholm [L] and Elsie Knocker, Baroness T'Serclaes [R]

19 January 1918

The Huns were raiding our aerodromes aggressively of late, so we flew a defensive patrol. Over Proven we met some Albatri who were escorting two Rumplers. We mixed it with them and I send one down in a spin but was not able to follow it.

20 January 1918

Flew another defensive patrol to St-Omer. Again we found a raid in progress. The two-seaters were too high to reach, but an Albatros dived at me and nearly caught me. The Camel is more nimble and it took only seconds to get behind the EA. After a burst, it dived under me and disappeared.
Hobson later reported seeing my Hun struggling for control and diving shallowly into the ground. This was quite a surprise to me, but it was confirmed as number 44!

21 January 1918

I was nervous about going up this morning – orders were for a long DOP deep to the south of Douai. Something didn’t feel right. Gorringe led his flight, C Flight, and I joined and brought along Rankin for some experience.

We were only about ten miles into Hunland when Gorringe waggled his wings and turned due south a group of four or five Albatri were circling slowly, either preparing to land or engaging in some form of training exercise. We fell on them like wolves and the poor Huns scattered. I picked out one diving for the ground and caught him just above treetop height. I fired three or four bursts before the poor chap’s machine began to show smoke and drift into a slow curve to the right. It crashed and tumbled across a ploughed field, catching fire.

Bishop had left No 60 for Canada with 45 kills. I had caught him at last. Bishop would be back at the front soon, as he was pegged for a new squadron. I needed to add to my score, because I was due for leave fairly soon.

[Linked Image]
"I fired three or four bursts before the poor chap’s machine began to show smoke and drift into a slow curve to the right."

NOTES

[1] Mairi Chisholm and Elsie Knocker, Baroness T’Serclaes, were widely feted and photographed during the war. They were accomplished pre-war motorcyclists, appearing in rallies and trials. Knocker was orphaned at an early age but adopted by an academic who sent her to an exclusive Swiss school. She married but it ended in divorce, a fact she concealed, even from her second husband, the Belgian Baron T’Serclaes, a pilot in the Belgian Flying Corps. Mairi Chisholm was the daughter of a wealthy Scottish family. Raised in Devon, she became an ardent motorcycle racer and mechanic, and it was their love of motorcycles that brought Mairi and Elsie together.

When the war broke out, they both volunteered as dispatch riders for the Women’s Emergency Corps. Soon they recruited as ambulance drivers and nurses with the Flying Ambulance Corps in Flanders. After months of service, the two decided they could help more by setting up their own aid station, and contrived to be attached to the Belgian Army. Their work in running an independent aid station earned them the name “The Madonnas of Pervyse.†They became media darlings and were highly decorated by both Belgium and the United Kingdom.

Late in the war, both women joined the Women’s Royal Air Force. Post-war, Knocker became divorced again when her staunchly Catholic husband learned of her divorced status. The news affected Knocker’s friendship with Chisholm, too, and they grew apart.
Chisholm was twice engaged but never married. She died as a successful poultry breeder in Jersey in 1981. Knocker lived to the age of 93, dying in 1978.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/18 02:36 AM

A well done and researched story. I found it very good reading.


I am having fun with the DR I ( although I am not using full DiD ) She flies on the edge and gets me out of a lot of trouble, Turning on diving attack , circles, flat turns. The only problem is SE's and rear climbing SE's on attack Shooting up under U in a climb.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/22/18 02:43 AM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.


May 21, 1918.

On escort 1 Rumpler + 5 of us as close escort. The flight got spanked by the Englanders. We had just finished one Photo pass of the lines when I spotted a Flight ,6 a/c, engaging our cover flight of 4 machines. I broke right to help as a flight of e/a dove on us . Turning twisting they drove us down or into another Flight of SE's. Mein Gott a mess and surrounded by e/a. I took hits and got wounded,but manged to hide in a cloud then dove for a rough landing near a farm. Hospital for at least 5 days The Jasta lost 2 Tri planes for 0 e/a. with both pilots KIA + mine forced down and Wnd.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/18 12:01 AM

Raine - Well blended story with your Geoffrey and the two motorcycling nurses, very believable.

Carrick - That 3rd picture is excellent, looks like the cover for a "You are there" type novel from the 50s or 60s.


Source material, as requested

The 147th Aero Squadron in World War 1 - Jack stokes Ballard and James John Parks
The Hat in the Ring Gang: The Combat History of the 94th Aero Squadron in World War 1 - Charles Woolley
First to the Front: The Aerial Adventures of 1st Lt. Waldo Heinricks and the 95th Aero Squadron 1917-1918 - Charles Woolley
Nieuport 28: America's First Fighter - Theodore Hamady
The 1st Pursuit Group - Osprey Books - John Guttman
Terror of the Autumn Skies: The True Story of Frank Luke, America's Rogue Ace of WW1 - Blaine Pardoe and John McLain
Up and At em - Harold E. Hartney ( Commander of 27th Aero and later 1st Pursuit Group)
An Explorer in the Air Service - Hiram Bingham (instructor at 3rd AIC, Issoudun)
Stars and Stripes - The American Soliders Newspaper in WW1 - Library of Congress Online
The Slang of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe 1917-1919, Johnathan Lighter - American Speech (Magazine) Duke Univ Press
Cross and Cockade International Summer 2015 Vol 46 #2 "Alkali Ike - The Life of Lieutenant Arthur Hast Jones"
Some of my own life experiences in the US Army (not at a pilot)
Dogs and other animals I have known in civilian and military life
I'm sure there are a few things here in there that I just can't think of right now but this is the main list
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/18 01:04 AM

Thanks, Jerbear. I just use whats available on the F-1 Button then pic one. An awful lot dont seem to come out well.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/23/18 01:10 AM

1st Hospital, 2nd Army.
Row 4 bed 8.
1st Floor, North Wing
Hoenbroek.

23 May 1918.

I awoke seeing my Nurse watching me. Slowly, I remembered being on the Medical Train and being pushed in the Hospital.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/24/18 03:36 AM

1st Hospital, 2nd Army.
Row 4 bed 8.
1st Floor, North Wing
Hoenbroek.


Late night, My medical Team arrives and starts to work

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/18 02:17 AM

1st Hospital, 2nd Army.
Row 4 bed 8.
1st Floor, North Wing
Hoenbroek.

May 25, 1918.


I will be released tomorrow and start heading back to the Jasta. I will be stopping to catch a French . https://giphy.com/gifs/nancy-sinatra-boots-made-for-walking-xT9Igleomf1dDvsefS/fullscreen

so I will have to be uncover https://giphy.com/gifs/the-pink-panther-inspector-clouseau-a-shot-in-dark-YZym4sImM0xdm/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/18 05:03 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.



May 26, 1918.

I arrived back in time for the last mission of the day a Patrol of the lines. We had 2 flights of 4 lined up and ready. We ran into Spads and Breguets. No joy for me i just couldn't get in position without the spay and pray. I did spot Visefeldwebel 's Knoch get a flamer on a 2 seat. The Jasta claimed 2 for 1 damaged Tri-plane.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/18 10:34 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS
Epiez

May 21st 1918

Lots of excitement today. Late in the morning, 3 Germans flew over, but they didn't drop any bombs, just having a look see, I guess. Only 9 of our machines are outfitted with machine guns, these were sent up to patrol in pairs to prevent this from happening again. The boys were hoping the Huns would come back, but they didn't reappear.

In the afternoon, Whitey took his machine up to try the guns out. He attacked a little island in the lake. He said he didn't hit it once. The Major ordered that there be no offensive flying until all the guns have been properly aligned and calibrated so the patrols were cancelled. The pilots who are armed spent the rest of the day in the gunnery pits with their machines. The rest of us were sent to the range for rifle and pistol practice. We had a shooting match with the 27th, which we lost badly. The Major was not pleased, so I guess we'll be spending a lot more of our time on the range.

News came this evening that Major Raoul Lufberry of the 94th Aero was killed in action near Toul this morning. The dope is that he was brought down in flames and jumped from his ship.

Finally got an answer from Davey. A bit of the letter was cut out by the censors but it appears they are back in business at Toul. I won't write back since, presumably we will be there before long and he should know we're coming anyway.

May 22nd 1918

Practicing formation flying. Each flight was assigned an area to patrol, but we aren't allowed to approach the front. We're flying at much higher altitude than we have generally done in the past and the pressure is bothering my ears. I got some Wrigley's Spearmint at the canteen, I don't like chewing gum as it makes you look ignorant, standing around, chewing your cud like a cow, but it's pretty good stuff and helps my ears pop quicker.

May 23rd 1918

The AEF Squadron Info Bureau came by today to take pictures of us with our aircraft in front of Hangar 3. They took a group photo of all of us with Mickey and the Major before they finally left us in peace. I assume they send the pictures to our hometown newspapers.

Major Rice, who was with us at Hicks Field was our guest for dinner. He's on leave until he recovers from being gassed. He regaled us with stories about his service with the British but it didn't go over very well. Most of us think he's a blowhard.

May 24th 1918

Cold and windy, we watched movies in one of the hangars most of the day. Frenchy went to the hospital with an earache. Pip went too, he has chronic appendicitis.

May 25th 1918

Still cold, windy, rainy, more movies The men rigged a stage by moving a flat trailer in front of hangar 9 for a show put on by two ladies from the YMCA this evening. Miss Keames sang and Miss Seiler played the harp. Before the show, the ladies had a good dinner with us, pork and yams. The Major presented them with certificates of appreciation which seemed to please them very much.


NOTE: Bare with me, the 147th will finally move up to the Front on the 31st. Things should get more exciting then.



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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/18 11:20 PM

Take your time Jerbear, the Huns don't mind at all. winkngrin
Good read.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/26/18 11:58 PM

Jerbear: well done a good read with my cup of Java.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/27/18 08:06 PM

Luthor Linderman
Visefeldwebel , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.


May 27, 1918.

Dawn Patrol : Cover Aerodromes no contact.

My 2nd Aunt by marriage sent a letter explaining how bad things are getting at home. She said that I should make my way across the Alps ( do a reverse Hannibal ) go drop into Spain. I would have an open passage on a steam ship for Brazil booked for me. and make my way to Chili where Uncle Hugo has started a mail plane business. She ends the letter with a

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/18 06:41 PM

Luthor Linderman
Leutant , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.


May 28, 1918.

The Komandant announced that I was promoted to Leutant effective a week ago. I led the Jasta ( all 9 a/c ) on 2 flights losing 2 pilots and planes for 1 Spad. I must be rusty, I collected bullet holes each time up.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/28/18 11:46 PM

Jerbear, more outstanding reading. I can't wait for Goode to get to the front. Carrick, you keep ticking along like a Timex! Watch your six.

Corderoy nearly bought the farm from one of his own squadron...

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 52: 22-28 January 1918

24 January 1918 – St-Omer


The latest chapter in my story began two days ago with a decision to accompany Gorringe’s flight on a line patrol. Line patrols are generally peaceful affairs as the Hun seldom ventures into our midst unless we stray well into Hunland, low on fuel, and missing several members due to the evils regularly brought upon us by Monsieur Clerget.

We had a sunny, cold morning for our job, with fluffy great clouds tumbling up to 12000 feet. Our height was only 8000 feet, so we had to keep alert for the chance of enemy waiting in ambush among the cumulus. After more than an hour of fruitless parading to and fro, we turned north for the fourth time and pretty much ran headlong into a group of silver Pfalz scouts level with us. The Huns were five to our six, and they quickly turned eastward. In a dive, a Pfalz leaves a Camel in its wake in seconds. But I caught one of the Huns in his turn with a good burst into its belly. The grid shuddered and began to stream a thin grey wisp, likely from a pierced radiator. In a second I was on him, firing from 150 yards and closing quickly.

Suddenly there was a cracking of rounds passing close by, and a round smacked into my left Vickers. Then a blow caught my right leg like a smack from a hot poker. Blood immediately stained the upper thigh area of my sidcot and there was a gash in the top of my right fug boot where the round had continued past, just missing my right lower leg. My Camel sideslipped away and I spotted another Camel flashing past, firing. It was Peverell. The silly bugger had dropped behind my Hun while I was closing on him and had, it seemed, shot me!

We were over the Hun trench lines when this happened so I set course for La Gorgue, our nearest field. I felt cold and a little sick, and had an overwhelming need for sleep. But I knew where that would lead. I’d seen others fall over their stick unconscious, sending their machines vertically down to a sleep without end. I switched off five miles out and sang loudly to myself, bawling out the patter to “Any Old Iron.â€[1]

As La Gorgue, the lads from 43 pulled me out and took me in a tender to 51 CCS at Merville. This was like Old Boys’ Day, for it was here at 51 CCS that I recovered from my knee injury when with 46 Squadron back in June 1917. I even got to chat once more with the tender of heart (and severe of face) VAD aide, Miss Hutchins. My wound, while painful, is minor. It appears that a round from Peverell’s guns creased the side of my right buttock and some of the upper leg, tearing a groove in the skin, but leaving bone and muscle untouched. It has been dressed and is being irrigated, and I shall be shipped tonight or tomorrow to No 7 General Hospital at the Malassises academy at St-Omer. They are sending down a temporary commander for the squadron, as I may be allowed home leave once declared free from risk of sepsis.

In the meanwhile, Peverell is in a terrible state. He has brought me my kit and a fine bottle of brandy as a peace offering, but Wing has ordered him to appear before a board of inquiry. I have offered a written account in which I stated that we converged on the Pfalz from opposite sides without seeing one another. It is slightly generous, but it does no good to destroy a man who is already punishing himself, and Peverell is a good chap.

26 January 1918 – Calais

Spent only one day at Malassises . They have stopped the irrigation and are allowing the wound to heal naturally, aided by stitches for most of its length. I can sit without too much discomfort and with my old slacks on, the dressings are not noticeable. Today I tried without success to get a ride to Pervys to see Mairi and the Baroness, but had no luck. I shall be on a leave boat tonight, bound for Dover.[2]

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The buildings at Malassises that housed No 7 General Hospital.

28 January 1918 – London

Arrived yesterday afternoon at Victoria Station and took a taxi to the Cavendish. Rosa Lewis is unchanged since I saw her in October, and there is a gathering of flying officers and young ladies every night, it seems. I am very tired and not much for parties these days, although I stayed downstairs until nine last night to hear an Irish girl sing some lovely ballads, and left when the party became louder.

I sent a message to St. Thomas’s Hospital for Catherine. It is time we met, and I have invited her to dinner at Scott’s.[3] My infatuation with Mairi Chisholm has taught me that whatever I felt for Catherine, it was not the real thing. If it were, I should have been immune. That is not to say that Mairi is the love of my life. She interests me, I suppose. But it is unfair to lead poor Catherine on. She has been so endeared to me in her correspondence and it is best I end it all before I cause her more distress.

I dread this!

Must leave off writing, as it is time to leave to meet her. I am to meet Catherine at Piccadilly Circus, inappropriately by the statue of Eros. I feel such a cad.

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Scott's, as it appeared in 1962.



NOTES

[1] This tune was a music hall staple, made famous by Harry Chapman.



[2] No 7 General Hospital was located in a former monastery and school at Malassises, just south of St-Omer and east of 1 AD.

[3] A noted London seafood restaurant. Now located in Mayfair, at this time it stood near the corner of Coventry Road and Great Windmill Road in the West End theatre district. It is a very short walk from Piccadilly Circus. In later years, Scott's on Coventry Road was frequented by Ian Fleming, who occasionally placed James Bond there.





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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/18 01:01 PM

41 sqn has reported what looks like a new Hun Squad has been spotted over the front.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/18 02:50 PM

Raine and lederhosen: Fine stories/ information/ pics. they made my morning. I believe that Jasta seen over the lines above Flanders Fields

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/29/18 11:35 PM

Luthor Linderman
Leutant , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.


May 29, 1918.

Alarm !, Bombers over the lines. The Jasta had eight machines warmed up so off we went. Over the Trench s we found pay dirt in the form of a Flight of Brequet's and Spads. We were slightly lower as we slammed into the Bombers. I got a few hits on one of the lumbering machines the spotted a kill made by Underofficer Knoch, a smoker then the lower wing came off. No time left to look as the Escorts hit us . At one time I had up to 3 Spads chasing me. Just a lot of shooting no kills . My gas tank was holed so I floated down out of the flight onto a road by a church. Some where I also saw a mid air collision. It turned out to be a new guy Bayerling, I think, and a Spad driver. No one could live thru that. The Jasta lost 1 a/c , Pilot KIA, = one Wnd with a damaged Tri plane. Enemy Lost: 1 Bomber and a fighter. the Raid broken up.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/18 03:22 AM

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 53: 29 January 1918

29 January 1918 – Cavendish Hotel, Jermyn Street, London



So. Let me begin with last night.

I stood shivering outside the Palladium waiting for Catherine. She was to meet me at seven and she was already twenty minutes late. Our table was reserved for seven-fifteen. I studied every cab and omnibus feeling their way in the darkness of a blacked-out Piccadilly Circus. At least the waving wands of searchlight beams above the city reflected a bluish light back from the low cloud. I want to come here again to see the illuminated Bovril and Schwepps signs in full electric bloom, I mused, and wondered when we’d ever see the lights will come on again. [1]

“You look lost, poor dear.†It was her. I hadn’t seen her alight. I smiled nervously and immediately began to question my resolve, for she looked lovely in a fine bluebell-coloured dress with a short woolen jacket with fur collar and cuffs, all topped with a black brimmed hat at a jaunty angle.

“And you look lovely,†I replied. “We’d best rush along. We’re a bit late.†She explained that she had been held back to assist with a surgical team working on a young sailor.

We arrived at Scott’s and were greeted by the maître d’, who began to explain our assignment to a table near the kitchen by dropping names of important guests in the room that evening, but then his eyes fell on the dark crimson ribbon on my RFC tunic as I removed my coat and scarf. In a minute he was shuffling waiters about like a whispering sergeant-major (a thing I confess I’ve never seen), and a table for two appeared near the front windows.

We settled in and Catherine ordered a sherry, while I knocked back a whiskey. Catherine ordered the sole meunière. I’d had my fill of sole in France, where it was the thing to order when the ubiquitous omelette and chips weren’t enough. I ordered a Scotch salmon dish and a bottle of 1909 Chablis. We mumbled about trivial matters for several matters until Catherine put down her knife and fork and said “So, explain the letter.â€

My first reaction was to ask, “what letter?†but that would be dishonest. We both knew what she meant. I explained that I had found that in France it was best to accept each day on as one’s sole focus. Those men whose minds drifted to what would happen to them next week, month, or year were the ones who were most vulnerable to breakdown. Everyone reaches his limit, I said, but one’s duty is to withstand the inevitable war fatigue and remain effective as long as possible. “Surfeit of imagination kills more pilots than the Hun,†I explained. I had come to understand the Stoic philosophers. Life is a game of chance, especially in war. One lives it best by accepting whatever comes. Pain, loss, and fear are simply part of the process of war. The real glory lies in handling whatever fate hands you, bad or – like the effect of a VC in gaining a decent table – good.

“I think we need to talk about us,†I began nervously. How would she react when I told her I could not reciprocate her deep feelings for me?

“Oh God, I’ve been dreading this.†Catherine placed her silk-gloved hand over mine. “Geoffrey, dearest. You must know that Alan is alive and back in England.â€

Alan Scarborough was a young pilot in my flight at 60 Squadron. He was engaged to (and had been living with) Catherine before being sent to France. He’d been missing since October and presumed dead. I’d not had a cigarette in a month but flagged down a waiter to bring me a package of Dunhills. Another bottle of Chablis was in order as well.

“Last week on Wednesday I was coming out of the hospital and there he was, sitting on a bench and smiling as if he had never left. I lost control of my legs.†Catherine dabbed tears away with her napkin. “He’d been shot down and broke his arm. He was wearing a sweater rather than his tunic and pretended to be a non-commissioned officer, thinking he might not be expected to know as much. Unfortunately, what it meant was that after he was release from hospital he went to a harder camp for non-officers where he was sent to work as part of a labour detail every day. Last month he escaped and made his way to Holland.â€

By this time the tears were flowing freely and she was struggling to speak. I could see other diners speculating about what kind of cad I was and what I’d done to upset the beautiful young lady. At length Catherine explained that she felt bound to marry Alan and to break off with me. I expressed regret, but agreed it was quite the proper thing.

“Does Alan know about us?†I asked, as if the concept of “us†were real. In truth, we’d spoken for less than an hour in Oxford, and then exchanged a half-dozen letters. She said she had not told him anything other than that I’d brought Alan’s effects to her in Oxford and been very supportive.

She declined dessert, so we left soon after. I hailed a cab, paid the driver, kissed her hand, and wished her and Alan well. She looked miserable, poor girl. I then strolled whistling down Piccadilly towards the Cavendish.

Back at the hotel, Rosa Lewis was hosting an animated soirée in which the RFC was well represented. There were several ladies of society and more than a few young and stunning actresses. I was offered a glass of champagne by Rosa and introduced around the room. To my utter joy, I spotted the familiar face of Chidlaw-Roberts, with whom I’d shared a Nissen at 60 Squadron. He was in London for only a few days and was about to receive a well-deserved MC. He’d just shot down a big-name Hun “ace†He was due back at 60 Squadron right after his MC investiture but was due for HE in the next couple of weeks. He already knew he would take over a flight at 29 Training Squadron once he got to England for good. We ordered oysters and brandy and found a table to ourselves in a corner away from the social whirl around us. [2]

I caught up on the news of 60. Major Patrick was back in England and a new commander in place. Soden had a flight. John Crompton was killed about two weeks ago. Chidlaw-Roberts himself had been shot up by Werner Voss shortly before Voss was attacked and killed by the boys of 56.

Then the conversation turned. Chidlaw-Roberts had spent a couple of days working at 11 Wing before leaving France for his investiture. One of the staff officers there had confided that Lieut. Col. Scott wanted to replace me at 70 Squadron and have me posted to England. “Watch your back, Corderoy. Until Bishop is back from Canada, you’re in danger of eclipsing Scott’s protegé. It would be better to take you out of action until Bishop is back in action.â€

I told C-R about dragging my poor captive Hun pilot into 11 Wing to convince Scott’s team to confirm the Pfalz I’d forced to land. Scott wouldn’t forgive me for that stunt, I supposed. But I was damned if I was going to turn 70 Squadron over to someone else now that we’d become something of a crack unit.

I’ve never thought of myself as a politician, but I’m sure I can learn.

Notes:

[1] The famous Bovril and Schwepps signs went up just before the war, and were the first of the signs that eventually turned Piccadilly Circus into a illuminated landmark.

[2] Capt Robert Lewis Chidlaw-Roberts had nine victories at this time. His most recent was Leutnant Max Müller, commander of the Jasta Boelke, a 36 victory ace.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/18 07:52 AM

Mission #3 for Bruno Stachel


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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/18 04:55 PM

So Mrs Canuck approaches me today as I am packing for my work trip which will take me away from home (and my computer) for the next several months.

She hands me the brand new gaming laptop ive been staring at in the store for the past several months, saying that it would be a shame to miss out on all that free time I would have to play WOFF over there.

My god this woman is a saint and a hero. I am very excited to say that the adventures of Mr Sitwell shall continue through the summer and I should have a decent amount of time to fly regularly and update here.

Huzzah and see you in the (now better rendered) skies.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/18 05:56 PM

DC,

My God, do such angels really exist??? Lucky man!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/18 06:54 PM

I agree, The woman is a Saint.!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/18 07:07 PM

Luthor Linderman
Leutant , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.


The Red Cross forwarded a letter from the Countess Dewinter ( My 3rd cousin ) in England she said that she was fine and recently divorced Husband # 3 a Lord Hackknee in the British Parliament where there was talk of trying all German Officers/ Pilots as War Criminals She thought that I should know.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/30/18 07:58 PM

Luthor Linderman
Leutant , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.


May 30, 1918.


There doesn't seem to be an end . On Escort, I led out 6 a/c into 2 flights of 6 Spads to protect the Lone Recon gathering info for the Army. What a bee hive of circling firing machines. I hit one hard and the a/c staggered then dove as I lost sight of him. Next up was getting the Spads off my wing-mates. RTB ed with a shot up DR I and over stressed wires. Totals 2 Spads + 1 Damaged ( mine) for 1 Triplane. + 2 damaged in the fight.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/18 01:09 AM

Raine your Geoffrey really dodged a bullet on that last mission, she might have handed him his bollocks! A most dangerous adversary.

Lederhosen - Did you do the "Blue Max" skins yourself, they look excellent.


2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

27 May 1918

Kaiser Bill is launching his 3rd Spring Offensive, apparently concentrating along the Aisne River. Dewey told me they pronounce it Aayn, how the French, and the Brits for that matter, get their pronunciations out of what they write is beyond me.

We continue our routine preparations for Front Line duty, can't be long now. All of us are on pins and needles.

May 29th 1918

A little excitement for A Flight on their patrol. While they were getting ready to take off all the Anti-Aircraft on the field started firing at an approaching balloon. Abe, Ash, Pip and Gas took of after it. It turned out to be an unoccupied observation ballon that must have broken loose. They didn't get too close because of all the Archie and ground units firing at it.

May 30th 1918

We were allowed leave today. A bunch of us took a truck to Neufchateau. We were ordering lunch when a driver found and told us the Major wanted us back. WE WERE LEAVING FOR TOUL IMMEDIATELY! We whooped and hollered and nearly knocked the waiter off his feet getting out of the joint.

By the time we got back to Epiez, everylthing was being loaded up. The trucks set off this evening, but were recalled when the orders were cancelled. That made us all mighty blue, I can tell you, so we all went back to quarters to get some sleep. Guess it'll all come out in the wash tomorrow.

It's 2 am. About 11 the fire sirene went off. One of the hangars assigned to the 27th was on fire. Evidently a Nieuport that was being refueled caught fire. We got the other aircraft out and some of the men managed to cut the top canvas to save part of the hangar. Too excited to go back to sleep. Dewey is already back to sawing logs, guess I'll read something.

May 31st 1918 - GENGOULT

New orders came down this morning for the move. Before morning formation was dismissed, a self important little pipsqueak of a 2nd Loot from the Dental Corps, of all things, hauled himself up in front of us. He addressed us in a fatherly tone, adjuring us to "Keep your teeth clean! You are to brush your teeth night and morning, like this," he motioned with his finger, "up and down, not sideways," making the heretical back and forth motion and frowning. Well enough, let's go to breakfast we thought. BUT NO! The little squirt pulls out a tooth brush to give us an exhibition as to how this holy and sacred procedure was to be accomplished. We all just looked at each other in disbelief. Here we all are, on the brink of flying off to do deadly combat with the Huns and he's going on about brushing our chompers! Abe broke in, yelling "Wonder if he thinks we're gonna bite the Germans to death!" That put us all to laughing, but he held his dignity, said something we didn't hear and walked away, satisfied that he had shared the Gospel whether it fell on good ground or stony. Amen

Got our bedrolls and cots packed, took our flying clothes down to the hangar and flew over late in the morning while the trucks made their way in the afternoon. So, now we are installed at Gengoult Aerodrome, about 5 k from Toul.

This is one of the larges aerodromes at the Front. The hangars are large G.I. Buildings with concrete floors. The main draw back to the place is that the hangars are on the opposite end of the field from the barracks, over a half mile away.

After landing and giving over our Nieuports to the ground crews, we were met by the Group Adjutant, who called us to attention and welcomed us, then led us toward the barracks. There were any number of pilots and enlisted men milling around the hangars, gawking at us. One yelled, "Better send word to the Boche...It's not safe to fly over the lines anymore, the Canadian Circus is here!" They all seemed to think this was the height of levity. There were a few harsh return comments from our ranks, suggesting more or less that they should put a sock in it as we changed direction to get a closer look at these mouthy birds. It was then the Adjutant's turn to express himself with a few choice things to say to both groups about the proper conduct of an officer. We then continued on our way without further incident.

The quarters are real humdingers, cinder block buildings with rooms for two and a building full of showers with a quick heating apparatus. Even concrete walks instead of he ankle deep mud at Issoudun. No mud, bookoo (1) Boches, can't beat it! Dewey and I are in a large room that has a basin and running water rght outside our door. Lawrence and O'Niell have the next room and together we comprise a suite.

Room unacceptably dirty, we got it cleaned up before the baggage arrived. Fixed up the closet and grabbed three chairs for our room.

Have seen only a few of the birds from the 94th and 95th, they're markedly unfriendly, we wonder what their problem is. You'd think they'd be glad to see us! The more the merrier.

As soon as we got the room set up, I went looking for Davy. I asked around and an orderly said all the pilots from the 95th were at the hangars or on alert so I walked back over there. It was exciting to see the real operation of a Front Line Pursuit Group happening all around me! Could hardly believe I was really here at last.

I saw a pair of pilots standing next to a ship in front of the 95th's hangars, put on my friendliest face and walked over. One was a 1st Loot with a weaselly sort of face, the other was the same rank as myself, shorter, dark, hairy, heavy eyebrows, rather unintelligent looking, chewing gum. I saluted the ranker as I approached. He responded by returning my salute in an offhanded way and proceeded to try to wind me up by asking me if I was "one of the Canuks, whose come to take over the war so the rest of us can sit back and watch, now that you're done fighting the Battle of Paris.(2)"

I did what I usually do when confronted with this type. I remained completely unmoved, just saying "I suppose so sir. Do you know if Lt. Crockett is around?"

The hairy one, lets call him The Monkey, answered for him in a hostile "WHO WANTS TA KNOW?"

"His cousin," I replied, quite un-flustered.

Then Weasel Face chimed in, "On alert, over there," pointing at a tent at the end of the field with 5 Nieuports parked in a line near it.

I saluted again, thanked them and walked toward the tent with completely unruffled feathers despite their sneering. I find that this usually takes the wind out of that sorts sails.

The flap to the Alert Tent was open but I stopped at the opening, scratched the canvas and said "Hello!"

From inside I heard "Yeah!" so I walked into the dimness. There Davy sat in his Teddy Bear Suit, helmet, goggles on his head, sitting leaned back in a chair with his feet on a table, reading a paper. Four other pilots sat around the tent in similar attitudes. Davy nearly tipped over when he saw me, jumped up with that big grin and a 'HEY...JOHNNY BOY, BOUT TIME!" Then it was back slapping , a head lock and a Chinese Rubdown (3) for me which amused everyone but myself. It was just like we were 10 and 14 years old again..

After a short catching up he said he'd be on alert for another hour unless something came down the buzz wire (4) and they had to take off. I gave him my room number and he said he'd drop by.

When Davy came around, Dewey and I were pasting illustrations from magazines on our bare whitewashed walls to give the room some color. He looks fit as a fiddle, I'll have to write his folks to tell them so. I introduced him to Dewey then I asked him why the boys from the other outfits had a stick up their butts about us. He said they had heard quite a bit about us since we had come over and we appeared cocky and arrogant, thinking that we were ready to fight the Boche the minute we got off the boat and none of the rules everybody else had to live with should apply to us. That we appeared to think that as soon as we got to Toul we should be able to handle the sector without them and we, in fact, don't know #%&*$#. Some of them had been finishing up at Issoudun when we arrived and they resented that our Majors had pushed us through there without finishing the program, shoving men aside who had been there first, going through ground school. They had heard that we cracked up a lot of valuable ships at Epiez by being a bunch of Splitass Merchants (5). Furthermore, it was maintained that our mechanics were undesirables, left at home when the first overseas squadrons had left.

That was a lot to swallow and there was more that doesn't come to mind right now. Dewey looked offended but kept silent. Davy wasn't trying to pick a fight, he was just answering my question the way Davy answers questions, direct and to the point.

I admitted that there were far too many mishaps with the aircraft but that the majority of the accidents were had by the ferry pilots from Orly. Pushing through Issoudun, I explained wasn't up to us and I was certainly well aware the we didn't know #%&*$# as did the rest of the Canadian Circus, if that's what they want to call us. I told him I was sorry that we had been perceived in that way and we hoped that we would be judged by what they saw of us when, with their help and advice, we were finally ready to meet the Huns.

Before he left he said he would introduce me around tonight at the shindig.

Went over to the enameled baths this evening and had a fine hot shower bath. Would like to go right to bed after finishing writing this but Major Huffer of the 94th is throwing a "Gala Event" and we're supposed to get an official welcome from the French trained squadrons.

(1) bookoo - Americanization of the French beaucoup

(2) Battle of Paris - Behind the lines drinking and whoring, especially but not necessarily in the City of Lights

(3) Chinese Rub Down - to hold another in a head lock and rub the top if that person's head with one's fist until the friction becomes painful.

(4) Buzz Wire - field telephone

(5) Splitass Merchant - wreckless stunting pilot.






Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 05/31/18 10:52 PM

Luthor Linderman
Leutant , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.

May 31, 1918.


As newly appointed Schwarmfuhrer of the Jasta, I took 2 wing men and went after an enemy balloon today. The flight ran into 2 Spads covering the gas bag. My wingman knocked down 1 that I had damaged the other Powered up and went home. My other wing mate got the balloon as i flew slightly above the inferno. I was Driving a replacement DR I till they get a Flying Wire Kit for my old machine. All back Safe.

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Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/18 09:57 AM

@Jerbear

Nothing wrong with being "wreckless" but reckless pilots are a bit of a worry
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/18 04:57 PM

Luthor Linderman
Leutant , 15 Victories.
Schwarm Zwei, Jasta 12, JG 2
Lemesnil, Flanders.

Jun 1, 1918. A.M.

Another Escort into Hostile Space, we spotted over 5 flights of e/a going in during the Recon. Then an enemy flight Broke into us while another circled behind. It was then I knew that we had lost the War. The flights 3 a/c fought hard and 2 a/c went down. Upon landing, I packed my bag. I knew if I and others could survive that there would be WOTR.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/18 05:01 PM

Luthor Linderman

Jun 1, 1918.

I saw my chance during the afternoon when the Hack was run up for a run to Hq. Hopping in the seat I took off headed South till the fuel ran out

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/18 05:15 PM

Luthor Linderman.

After a long Foot/ Cart rides , I go aboard Ship and Found Hilda was waiting for me. Now we head for Brazil.

https://giphy.com/gifs/ava-gardner-the-barefoot-contessa-qnqEWirSYWb7O/fullscreen
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/01/18 06:07 PM

OMG...... thats ...thats... mutiny!!




and yep those Bluemax skins are my own
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/18 02:07 PM

Intrepid Fliers News of the World for January 1918:

January 1
The Swedish steamer SS Eriksholm was sunk by the German submarine UC-58 off the coast of Aberdeen whilst on a voyage from Methil to Goteborg with a cargo of coal.
January 2
The British Government formed the Air Ministry which had responsibility for managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force.
January 3
The Air Council took over management of Britain's air services from the Air Board with Lord Rothermere, the first Air Minister, as President.
January 4
The British hospital ship HMHS Rewa was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel as she was returning to Britain from Malta carrying wounded troops.
The Russian Bolshevik and Swedish Governments formally recognised the independence of Finland.
January 5
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George outlined British War Aims in a speech to Trade Union delegates.
January 6
Germany and France recognized the independence of Finland.
January 8
Speaking to a joint session of Congress, President Wilson of the United States proposed a fourteen point program for world peace. These points were later taken as the basis for peace negotiations at the end of the war.
January 9
The British Beagle class destroyer HMS Raccoon ran aground in bad weather and sank off the North coast of Ireland with the loss of all hands. The battleship was en route from Liverpool to Lough Swilly to take up anti-submarine and convoy duties in the Northern Approaches.
January 10
The British Government assured the Russian Bolshevik Government of their support in the creation of an independent Poland.
January 12
The British steamer HMS Whorlton was torpedoed and sunk by the UB-30 in the English Channel with the loss of all hands.
January 14
German destroyers bombarded Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast of England.
The former Prime Minister of France Joseph Caillaux was arrested on charges of high treason.
January 15
General strikes were held in Prague and Budapest as workers' peace movements gathered momentum.
January 18
The Russian Constituent Assembly convened in the Tauride Palace in Petrograd in order to write a constitution and form a government for post revolutionary Russia.
January 19
Following a 13 hour meeting the Russian Constituent Assembly was dissolved by the Bolshevik Government, an action that is generally reckoned as marking the onset of the Bolshevik dictatorship.
January 20
At the Battle of lmbros, a naval engagement outside the Dardanelles, the Turkish cruiser Midilli (formerly the German SMS Breslau) and British monitors HMS Raglan and HMS M28 were sunk.
January 21
Sir Edward Carson resigned from the War Cabinet.
January 22
The Russian Bolshevik Government protested about inaccuracies in the reports of proceedings at Brest-Litovsk negotiations.
January 23
Negotiations between the Russian Bolshevik Government and the Central Powers were suspended at Brest-Litovsk.
January 24
The German Chancellor Georg von Hertling and Austrian Foreign Minister Count Ottokar Czernin made public their replies to statements on war aims made by US President Woodrow Wilson and British Prime Minister David Lloyd George.
January 26
The Irish passenger steamer SS Cork was torpedoed by German submarine U-103 whilst travelling from Dublin to Liverpool.
January 27
Lieutenant General Sir Launcelot Edward Kiggell resigned as Chief of the General Staff to the British Expeditionary Force.
January 28
Increasingly frustrated with the continuing Great War 100,000 workers took to the streets of Berlin, demanding an end to the war on all fronts.
January 30
Negotiations were resumed between the Russian Bolshevik Government and the Central Powers at Brest-Litovsk.
January 31
Martial Law was declared in Berlin due to the escalation of the workers' strikes.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/18 02:09 PM

Warbirds Rising News of the World for May 1918:

May 1
German forces occupied Sevastopol in the Crimea and established a military dictatorship in the Ukraine under Field Marshal Hermann von Eichhorn.
May 2
The Netherlands concluded an agreement with Germany regarding the export of sand and gravel.
May 4
The Second action of Es Salt ended. The battle had been fought by General Sir Edmund Allenby's Egyptian Expeditionary Force east of the Jordan River following the failure of the First Transjordan attack on Amman during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
May 5
Field Marshal Sir John French was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
May 6
German and Turkish delegates arrived at Batum to negotiate peace with the Georgians and Armenians.
May 7
The Treaty of Bucharest was signed at Buftea between Romania and the Central Powers and Turkey. Under the terms of the agreement Romania ceded Dobrudja and the Carpathian passes and leased its oil fields to Germany for 99 years.
May 8
German forces captured Rostov in south Russia.
May 9
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George overwhelmingly won a censure motion brought by his predecessor, Herbert Asquith.
May 10
The British launched a second raid on Ostend. The Royal Navy warship HMS Vindictive was successfully scuttled in the harbour entrance to prevent German cruisers using the port.
May 11
Finland and Turkey signed a peace agreement in Berlin.
May 12
The flag of the Republic of Finland, with a crest in red and yellow depicting a lion, was raised for the first time, on Viapori.
May 13
The creation of the Independent Air Force was announced. The IAF was a strategic bombing force, part of the Royal Air Force, used to strike against German railways, aerodromes and industrial centres.
May 15
The Entente powers signed an agreement with Japan and China at Peking regarding German penetration in the Far East.
May 16
Three months after Montana had passed a similar law, The Sedition Act was passed by the United States Congress. The legislation extended the Espionage Act of 1917 to cover a broader range of offenses, notably speech and the expression of opinion that cast the government or the war effort in a negative light or interfered with the sale of government bonds.
May 17
A number of Sinn Fein leaders, including Eamon de Valera, were arrested and interned due to their campaign against conscription in Ireland.
May 18
Turkish forces occupied Alexandropol in Georgia.
May 19
The German Air Force launched an intense air raid on London inflicting a high number of casualties.
May 21
A naval engagement was fought between the American armed yacht USS Christabel and the German submarine UC-56 in the Atlantic Ocean off Spain.
May 23
Costa Rica declared war on Germany.
The British armed mercantile cruiser SS Moldavia was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel by the German submarine UB-57 while carrying American troops from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to London.
May 24
General F C Poole landed at Murmansk, to organise the North Russian Expeditionary Force.
May 25
Following the arrests of the Sinn Fein leaders the British Government published accounts of the alleged Irish-German plot to start an armed insurrection in Ireland.
May 26
The Transcaucasian Federal Republic was dissolved. The Democratic Republic of Georgia proclaimed a National Government under the Menshevik politician, Noe Zhordania.
May 27
German forces attacked the French along the front between Soissons and Rheims in the Third Battle of the Aisne, crossing the river and splitting the French and British forces.
May 28
The first American offensive of the war, the Battle of Cantigny was fought and won near the village of Cantigny between American and French troops and the German army.
May 29
The Aisne offensive continued as the Germans captured Soissons and pushed the Allies back to the River Vesle.
May 30
The towns of Fere-en-Tardenois and Vezilly were taken by German forces as their advance continued on the Western Front.
May 31
Having fought King Albert I over the neutrality of their country, Gerard Cooreman resigned as Belgian Prime Minister after he had lost the support of his party. He was succeeded by Charles de Broqueville.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/02/18 09:48 PM

I apologize for my last post. Didn't have time to proofread. What a mess! Just got through cleaning it up.


2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 1st 1918

Had to fill out some of the usual dope sheets this morning. The one that asks "WHOM SHALL BE NOTIFIED IN CASE OF DEATH" seemed much more pertinent than before. Spent the rest of the day getting briefings from the Brain Trust (1) on the local situation and what is known about our competition over on the other side of the trenches.

To our front is the 26th US "Yankee" Division. The German line at this point forms a 20 mile salient around St. Mihiel. The Huns created this bulge in 1914 trying to capture the Verdun forts. It's been fairly quite around here since then. Most of the German air activity is observation. There are only 2 pursuit squadrons known to be in our area, equipped with the Albatros and Pfalz machines. One of them is supposed to be as wet behind the ears as we are but the other is a battle hardened bunch of vets, but they say our opposition is shy about engaging with large formations or our planes, only attacking single biplace (2) or flights of 2 or 3. Not a man among us isn't itching to get started.

Was too tired to write about the party last night. Went straight to bed.

It was a combination American barbecue and French Fete. Major Huffer was raised in France. He invited all the nurses in the neighborhood and a number of French ladies and chaperones from Nancy.

The 94th had reason to celebrate that night, Their Doug. Campbell had just received confirmation of his 5th Hun. That makes him the 1st American trained ACE of the war! Eddie Rickenback, the ex-race car driver is in the same outfit, he has 4 with a 5th waiting on confirmation. The 94th, as a whole, are up to 17 with 4 of their own lost. May we do so well!

There wasn't a great deal of mingling between the French and British Squadrons (3), but there was enough that, by the end of the evening, relations were, if not cordial, were no longer so hostile. More on the order of an intense rivalry now, I think.

Didn't drink any alcohol, didn't dance, Dewy did enough drinking, dancing and flirting for us both. Spent my time having Davy introduce me around to the pilots in his outfit and the 94th. Put the lessons I had learned from Daddy about handshaking (4) folks. A little humility and a show of respect, a little flattery, goes a long way most of the time. Took a little ribbing, they like to call newbies like us "Eggs." To be honest, I actually was in awe of some of them, veterans whose exploits I had read about and seen on newsreels.

Among those I met, that I can remember, were a couple of Davy's friends, Charlie Woolley and Wally Heinrichs, his Flight Leader Cpt. Peterson, formerly of the Lafayette Esc. and a lot more whose names I'll have to relearn, not as good as Daddy about that. I introduced him to Alk and the rest of B Flight, he and Snake hit it off. I also got to meet Doug Campbell , Jim Meissner and Rickenbacker, real combat vets with the Croix-de-Guerre on their chests. I found Rickenbacker a very engaging bird, down to earth, if a little foul mouthed. He insisted I call him Rick, which I did, but I won't be making a habit of it, "sir" is more appropriate.

I asked them a lot of questions and got some good advice. Encouraged them to do some ground flying (5). Doug. Campbell told me about the Rumpler he had gotten just this morning and Rick's story about losing the fabric on his upper wing made the hair stand up on my neck. They had a lot to say about the design flaws on our Nieuports. They're head up about the wing problems and the reserve gas tank and the fuel collecting the the cowling and are raising cane to try to get them replaced with SPADs. We and our Majors are aware of the problems, but no aircraft it perfect and we believe we have sufficient training and discipline to avoid such occurrences, but I didn't say so. One wise cracker said that the reserve tank was put right next to the pilot as a special target for the Boche's incendiaries to, "get things over with quickly." I thought that rather funny.

There seemed to be some question as to whether we were to be a separate group on the field or join the French Squadrons as part of the 1st Pursuit. The Major told them that as far as he and Hartney were concerned, we were part of the 1st Pursuit and they were "darned proud to be able to join the likes of the 94th and 95th Aero."

Afterward, the Major called us all together to tell us that he wasn't happy about the way the 1st Pursuit Group was set up. He was not as all pleased that it was being led by an officer like Atkinson, who's neither a combat pilot (he does have wings but never flies) nor did he have ANY combat experience of ANY kind. In short, a Kiwi. He was also displeased that no experienced pilots from the Lafayette Escadrille, such as Lufberry, Hall, Peterson, Huffer and Marr, were assigned to lead us in our early patrols and boost confidence. He and Maj. Hartney had insisted that Atkinson assign some of the veterans from the French Squadrons to take us up for our first few patrols.

One more thing he brought up was the matter of a squadron insignia and mascot. The 27th has already chosen a flying eagle (6). Mickey Two is, of course our live mascot, but we voted to used Mickey Free with the motto "Who Said Rats!" just as we had, to some extent, way back in Toronto. That made the Major smile.

We can paint Mickey on our Nieuports as soon as someone brings down a Hun. We raised our glasses and cheered, each one of us hoping to be the one to get that Hun.

Hands tired and I'm going to run out of paper at this rate.

One more thing, Davy introduced me to Weasle Face and the Monkey (7). They're in his flight. 1st Lt. Dennis Swedholm and 2nd Lt. Mike Zellmer. Davy says Swedholm is trying to butt kiss his way up the ladder and Zellmer is his flunky. You never see one without the other, joined at the hip, they probably crap together but that's just speculation, no one really wants to know.

(1) Brain Trust - Military Intelligence

(2) Bi-place - in most American reports, two seaters are referred to as bi-place and single seaters as mono-place

(3) French and British Squadrons - the 94th and 95th Aero referred to the two squadrons trained in Canada as the British Squadrons as well as Canuks and the Canadian Flying Circus. The 27th and 147th referred to the 94th and 95th Aero, who had been trained mostly in France, by French instructors, the French Squadrons.

(4) Handshaking/handshaker - seeking favor

(5) Ground Flying - telling stories about air fights, also Barracks Flying or Stove Flying.

(6) The 27th Aero Squadron used a flying eagle based closely to the one used on Budweiser Beer crates.

(7) These two men are my own invention, not real pilots. They are based on my last two supervisors in the company I worked for. Their names are slightly altered. I felt that after a 28 year relationship, working closely together, I wanted to include them as two characters who were and despicable and obnoxious as they themselves are.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/18 12:27 AM

Fine reading again to go with my cup of Java.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/18 02:55 PM

Todays flight

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/18 03:47 PM

Really nice pics.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/03/18 08:01 PM

2nd Lt. John B . Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 2nd 1918

Loomis from the 95th took the Major and Flight Leaders on orientation patrol to the Front Lines. Winslow and Chambers from the 94th took the rest of us for a look around by turns. In all, there were 21 sorties today.

I went up twice. We have only 11 operational right now. I flew #2 both times. Chambers took myself, Dewey, Ed, Snake and Haywood up to about 3,500 meters over the Pruvenelle Forrest, then we followed the Meuse until we were within sight of the Front.

Now I have finally seen the Front with my own eyes. Battered countryside, honeycombed with shell holes as far as I could see, the ground burned white by the blasts, erratic lines of trenches zigzagging away in the distance, crumbled towns, everything as I had pictured it in my mind a thousand times.

I embarased myself with poor formation flying. What with gawking at the countryside and keeping an eye out for possible Huns, I was all over the place. Both Chambers and Heywood, whom I almost rammed, gave me a good ticking off.

Chambers asked us all about the other aircraft we had seen during the flight. We all missed several aircraft he told us we should have seen, but while we were going up to the front, all of us saw another of out flights, 5 Nieuports, going back the other way and two aircraft about 1,000 meters above, one of them trailing vapor. Chambers told us these had been Rumplers, so I have seen my first Huns in the air. Would have been exciting to chase them and maybe get a crack at them, but that wasn't what we were up for today. Another day Fritz!

My 2nd flight was a repeat with Winslow, with the exception that we actually went over no mans land near St. Mihiel, Bursting black shrapnel puffs followed us up and down the line. Pretty scary stuff, big puffs of black smoke with fire inside that throws you around when it gets close, but Winslow just keep going and we followed. No one was hit, amazing! We were ordered not to engage if any EA appeared. Saw an artillery barrage in progress below us. Have a fix on a number of landmarks now, enough that I think I can find my way around if I get separated.

The 94th lost a man during their afternoon patrol, a Lt. Davis, shot down in flames near St. Mihiel. It's serious business out here!

Early this morning, before any patrols went out, a German flew over to drop something onto the field. The object was retrieved and handed to Maj. Hartney, but he won't let out what is was all about. We all assume it was some sort of challenge to us new arrivals, a gauntlet thrown down. We're a but peeved that no one will tell us anythng about it.

Going to take another of those nice hot showers now.



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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/04/18 11:27 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 3rd 1918

Gen'l Faulis, head of the USAS, came by this morning to look over our squadrons and made a superficial inspection, no pomp and circumstance, just a look around.

Number 3 has been assigned to me as my permanent mount, so I spent the day getting her ready. She was among the Nieuports ferried in yesterday. I "helped," probably mostly hindered, Cpl. Black while he and Kozicak taped gas and oil joints, mounted instruments, put on steel, copper wrapped plug wires. They put a new stick on (1). When we tried the motor, it was binding on one side, but they worked it out. Black seems to have been handed a dud when he got Kozicak as his assistant, he spent as much time chewing his ass as he did making progress on the machine.

Black moved the rudder bars forward a few inches to help with my leg cramps and brought the windscreen forward to keep the wind and oil out of my face better, all very much appreciated. Got hold of an excellent lens mirror so I can see behind me somewhat.

Took the new ship to the range to set the sights and get the Vickers to converge at 100 meters.

Late in the day, took her up for a jazz, peppy crate, but was flying with right wing low so I got the rigger on that. We'll paint the cowling and wheel hubs blue (2) when there's time.

C Flight got the first crack at the Boche. Pip Porter got a burst off at a biplace from about 200 yards before breaking off over Germany (3).

Davy got his first Hun, a Rumpler, which he shares with Sumner Sewall. The occupants survived the crash. They went out to the crash site and retrieved 3 big black crosses, even though it caught fire when it tipped over. Helped him celebrate with his bunch tonight. Going to take another of those nice hot shower and hit the hay.

(1) Stick - propeller

(2) A flight adopted Red for it's cowlings, B Flight, Blue and C Flight, White. Major Bonnell had his painted with concentric Blue, White and Red circles.

(3) Germany - In the 1st Pursuit, the enemy's side of the lines was referred to as Germany as well as Hunland, Bocheland, Indian Country, etc.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/18 04:27 AM

LT. Cyril Woolly
Instructor, Pilot
12th Training Unit
Biggin Hill
England




Officers Club 1640 Hrs June 6, 1918. Oh Tish Toss, I just got posted back to France as a Replacement. I only came back last year after flying Be2's. I had an adventure with a Be2 and Wet Grass after 22 hrs flight time. Broke a leg and Nose on that one.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/18 07:54 PM

Lt Collin Sitwell, DFC DSO
62 Sqn RAF
5 Jun 1918

As I laid here in the hospital bed, I realized it had been months since I'd updated my journal. Funny how time can get away from you when you are occupied. The last two months have been hard on 62 Sqn RAF. The last two weeks of March saw us lose 24 airmen dead or captured [1]. We were up against the best Hun fliers almost every day and we suffered for it. Those of us that emerged unscathed were both lucky and talented. I was extremely lucky and my victory tally rose quickly.

After my ordeal with the Red Baron, I gained a measure of fame amongst the higher up and my commission followed quickly. A period of quiet followed this, as the Sqn moved rearward, flying out of an aerodrome almost 70 miles from the lines. It was during this period of relative peace that Harry Hallcome was severely wounded by a flak burst. His replacement, a chap named Doug Holmes, was a bit of a coward. He would refuse to fire his machine gun at the enemy. It made for some nervous flying, especially after the amazing cover provided by Harry. Doug stayed with me until May, when he transferred back to Blighty.

My career continued to get interesting as I was pegged to lead more and more patrols. As the German offensive continued, we shifted focus to ground attacks, mounting 25lb bombs and strafing whatever we could find. This, of course, peeved off the huns and they came down in droves to run us off. The resulting melees extended my victory count into the double digits. It was then that I pulled off the stunt that won me the DSO and a promotion to Lt. My citation read:

On the morning of the 24 May 1918, 2Lt Sitwell observed an enemy two-seater well below him. He attacked this machine and after a short burst it broke up in the air. At the same time two groups of Albatross biplanes attacked him.

He was attacked him from all directions, and was wounded in the left thigh, but succeeded in driving down two of the enemy in a spin. Being greatly exhausted, he dived out of the fight to regain our lines, successfully landing his damaged machine near British trenches.

This combat, in which 2Lt Sitwell destroyed three enemy machines brought his total success to thirteen enemy machines destroyed.

The actually story is much less gallant. I saw a plane below us, and signalled to attack. My flight misinterpreted my signal and attacked an airfield further along. As I focused on the two-seater, my tunnel vision caused me to miss the two flights of Albatross closing in on my. I found myself outnumbered 12 to 1 and had to conduct a whirling gunfight with the Huns. It took all my strength, but eventually the Albatross ran low on fuel and broke off for home. I was able to pursue and down two, before running out of fuel on the way back to my lines. I made several mistakes and ended up in the hospital for five days. Some heroic action. I should be dead.

And now I am here in the hospital once again, due to my own carelessness. I dove on a large group of two-seaters and was rewarded with an aircraft and body full of holes. They say I will not return until the 14th.

[1] Capt. D S Kennedy MC, Pilot KIA & Lt. H G Gill, Observer KIA 12 Mar 1918 [claimed by Jasta 11 Ltn Lothar von Richthofen]
Lt. L C Clutterbuck, Pilot POW & 2nd Lt. H J Sparks, MC Observer WIA/POW 12 Mar 1918 [claimed by JG1 Rittm Manfred von Richthofen]
Lt. J A Ferguson, Pilot POW & Sgt. L S D Long, Observer WIA/POW 12 Mar 1918 [claimed by Jasta 11 Ltn W Steinhäuser]
2nd Lt. C B Fenton, Pilot POW & Lt. H B P Boyce, Observer POW 12 Mar 1918 [claimed by Jasta 11 Ltn Lothar von Richthofen]
Lt. F J Batt, Pilot KWF & 2nd Lt. F J McNiff, Observer KWF 13 Mar 1918
2nd Lt. C Allen, Pilot KIA & Lt. N T Watson, Observer POW 13 Mar 1918 [claimed over Marcoing by Jasta 56 Ltn R Heins]
2nd Lt. N B Wells Pilot POW & Lt G R Crammond, Observer POW 13 Mar 1918 [claimed over La Terriere by Jasta 56 Ltn F Schleiff]
Sgt. J Lake WIA 14 Mar 1918
Capt. A R James Pilot KIA & Lt. J M Hay, Observer KIA 24 Mar 1918
2nd Lt. F Keith WIA 24 Mar 1918
Lt. V K Hilton, Pilot WIA 27 Mar 1918
AMI A Boxall, Observer KIA 28 Mar 1918
2nd Lt. M H Cleary, Pilot KIA & 2nd Lt. V G Stanton, Observer POW 28 Mar 1918; DOW 29 Mar 1918
2nd Lt. H N Arthur, Pilot seriously injured 28 Mar 1918 (observer Bruce-Norton)
2nd Lt. S W Symons, Pilot seriously injured 28 Mar 1918 (observer Sgt Holmes flew a/c home)
Cpl. J Borwein injured 28 Mar 1918
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/18 10:09 PM

LT. Cyril Woolly


June 6th 1918.

Packed my kit, drew my pay and told the chaps to Bugger Off, I am off to France. I found Transport down to the docks and boarded a Channel Steamer to cross the waves, After arriving in France, I hitched / Hiked my way to the Replacement Depot. I should be posted shortly.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/05/18 11:58 PM

Canuck - I'll have to go back in time and see that Red Baron story sounds intriguing.


2nd Lt. John B., Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 4th 1918

Poor Ed Lawrence (1) is the first of us to go west. We mounted defensive patrols over the Toul area today to keep German photo planes away. Snake O'Niell and Ed took off on a 2 plane patrol at 9:45, patrolling between Toul and the Front Lines at about 4,000 meters. At about 10:30 they got heavily Archied, Lawrence's Nieuport was damaged and he spun into the ground. Ralph landed beside the crash and found that he had been killed instantly. Ralph is inconsolable, they were very close.

Dewey and I made one of these patrols, a 5 plane patrol led by Alk. Nothing sited.

Went out to see Jake, the 95ths mascot. He has a pin out back of the barracks. Brought him some dried apples which pleased him much. They bought him from an old garbage collector in Toul, who used him to pull the cart, after they adopted a kicking mule for their insignia. The poor old donkey's body shows the signs of a hard life but his eyes are bright and there's bounce in his step yet, getting fat though. Lots of stray dogs around, scavenging and following everyone around, looking for a handout, I give them something when I have it.

(1) 2nd Lt. Edward K. Lawrence, B Flight, KIA 4 June 1918



.



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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/18 03:21 AM

Canuck, where are you off to next? It's good to catch up on Sitwell's story. Jerbear, Goode's tale is building to a baptism of fire. Great story-telling, and I wish you good luck over the front. How do you find the Np27? I've never flown in in WOFF.

Carrick, how are you not up on charges? Your guy is a real gypsy!

Corderoy is finally getting back into action,,,

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 54: 31 January to 6 February 1918

31 January 1918 – Fitzroy Square, London


I’ve never been the sort of chap to cultivate people, the way politicians do. But since last Tuesday I’ve worked hard to learn the art. The morning after chatting with Chidlaw-Roberts, I set out for the Cecil Hotel, where I found Major Baring settled into a tiny office littered with books and papers. He was assiduously typing with one finger, copying something from one of the little black notebooks he carried with him at all times.

“Oh, Corderoy, thank God!†he exclaimed when I unexpectedly showed up at his door. “I thought you’d never get here.†He pushed the typewriter to one side.

“I’ve come to take you to tea,†I said. “And to borrow your brain.â€

We made our way down to the street and along to Haxell’s Hotel, where we were unlikely to run into any other RFC officer. Over tea I told Baring that I suspected I was about to be supplanted at 70 Squadron in order to ensure that Bishop remained the highest scoring British pilot. And I mentioned Jack Scott’s name.

“It is likely mere speculation, Corderoy. Scott’s been replaced at 11 Wing by Van Ryneveld from 45 Squadron. He’s been back here running Central Flying School since shortly before you went on leave.â€

I felt a fool. This is the sort of thing a squadron commander had to know, and I obviously had neglected to read routine orders thoroughly. I told Baring I wanted to get back to France as soon as possible. Baring asked where I was staying. I explained that my parents had decided to come and stay at my father’s flat in London rather than have me come home, so I was moving later today to Fitzroy Square.

“I shall set you up with our family’s doctor and get you back as soon as proper. And as soon as I see him I’ll put a word in for you with General Salmond. You went to Wellington, correct?†The man had a mind for detail. “So did he.â€

We returned to the Cecil, and Baring ushered me in to see General Trenchard, now Chief of Air Staff and reportedly thoroughly browned off with having to deal with politicians. He had a surprise for me. He informed me that General Salmond would be bestowing a bar to my DSO, which was just being gazetted. It recognized my continuing success with the squadron, and my personal success, especially the triple I scored a few weeks ago. The general shook my hand and passed me a small silver rosette to pin on my crimson and blue ribbon to signify the bar. “Can’t let Salmond have all the fun,†he said gruffly.

2 February 1918 - Dover

The next two days were wonderful. My mother fussed over my dressings. The gash on my thigh was healing nicely. I saw Baring’s doctor, a very stately fellow named Blythe, who proclaimed me fit, and after tearful farewells I headed for Victoria Station and back to the war.

3 February 1918 -- Poperinghe

Got back to 70 after dinner, in time for a sing-song and the news that Gorringe has bagged another one. Quigley and Howsam have each been confirmed as Captains. Quigley will take A Flight and Howsam C. Now, together with Gossinge, all three flight commanders are pilots how have “grown up†in 70 Squadron.

4 February 1918

Overcast day. Joined A Flight for a Southern Offensive Patrol. Saw nothing and froze.

5 February 1918

Wing called shortly after 10 am to put a flight up near Loos to chase off some Huns. I was meeting with the flight commanders so the four of us went, gathering Aldred, Rankin, Koch, and Seth-Smith. We got up to 11000 feet by the time we were at Loos, but the Huns had all gone home. Once again we did nothing but risk frostbite.

6 February 1918

This morning I joined Quigley for an attack on a Hun railway siding near Roulers. Archie was extremely keen today, but we had a good run at the place. I dropped my bombs astride a goods train and saw several carriages derail and fall over. The other set fire to a number of buildings and were rewarded with some spectacular secondary explosions.

Quigley waved me into the lead as we climbed away from Roulers back towards the lines. I turned south and crossed the line of the Lys. Around Ste-Marguerite, several Hun two seaters passed a couple of thousand feet above us, heading north. They were escorted by a gaggle of Albatros scouts, two of which dived at us. One fired from a distance and zoomed back to safety, but the other got caught in a tangle with Howden and Aldred. I managed a full deflection crack at the Hun, who split-arsed downwards. I followed him down and caught him trying to break for home. After a long burst, I saw his propeller stop and his machine sideslip into a shell crater west of the Hun aerodrome at Ste-Marguerite. Rankin had followed me down and confirmed the crash, so this has been confirmed as my 46th victory! I thought this put me in the lead of British pilots, as Bishop had 45, but I am told that McCudden bagged his 47th just a few days ago.

[Linked Image]
"I managed a full deflection crack at the Hun, who split-arsed downwards."



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/18 04:28 AM

Raine: Luthor is alive and well in Brazil waiting for the next War Blending in with the locals

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/18 11:32 PM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc
32 Sqn B Flt
Fouquerolles, Marne.


June 6, 1918.

I arrived this afternoon, and did the Hi , How are U's. Then Reported to the C.O. and assigned to B flight. I will be flying some other pilots Machine with the letter " R " on the Top Wing till I get one assigned. I say, these Long Nosed fast machines are a lot different then the Be 2's and DH 2's a/c that I have flown. A sgt pilot showed me the Taps then off I went for a circuit flight to get the feel. After Dinner and a few drinks, it was Bed time as I was posted for a combat flight in the morning. On the down side, my flight records were lost .

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/06/18 11:46 PM

Raine - I like the Nieuport 28, very maneuverable without a lot of the stalls I tend to get into if I'm not very careful. Really turns on a dime. If you play it straight and use the Selector and blip switch it's difficult to fly in formation. You also have to watch out for the wing flaw when you dive or recover quickly from a dive. I have also seen them catch fire from excess fuel buildup in the cowling, but have been lucky enough not to have had that happen, witness that John is still flying. It's also pretty fast and more than a match for Pfalz and Albatri but outclassed by the DVII, no surprise there. Visibility is good except straight ahead. I wonder if maybe the devs overdid it a little because it was bad but nowhere nearly as bad in ROF. Glad you are enjoying the story.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 5th 1918

Ed's funeral was this afternoon. Entire Squadron and a number of Flying Officers from the other 3 rode over to Evac. Hospital #1, where his body was taken. Marched from there to the cemetery, looks to be about 60 or 70 graves there so far. Catholic Service by an Army Chaplain. Ralph, Parry, Alk, Cassard, Dewey and I acted as pall bearers, Ford for a hearse. The volleys in salute, present arms (we officers at salute) and the sounding of taps over the grave, all very impressive and moving. Ralph walked off by himself during taps and we left him alone. Hard to wrap your mind around the cold hard fact that Ed's really gone, forever gone. Brings up a knot of both grief and fear in you gut.

Pulled a hitch on alert 4:30 to 10:30. A call came in about 9 signaling 6 Huns had crossed the lines near Verdun at 4,000 meters. We were up in less than 3 minutes. About 10 miles out, I had difficulty keeping up with the formation, nothing seemed wrong with #3 but I couldn't seem to maintain enough air speed so I turned around to make my way home. Didn't have any problems, I had plenty of landmarks memorized, but I felt like a sitting duck out there on my own. I saw a vertical line of smoke form off in the distance to the east, probably some fool like myself who met some badguys. The patrol didn't find the Boche, landed about an hour after I did.

Doug.Campbell of the 94th was hit in the back while taking down his 6th Hun, An exploding bullet hit one of his fuselage wires then exploded in his back. Mr. Hun is playing mighty dirty. He'll probably be out of the war. Quite a loss for us, our top ace.

Got a pile of letters from home. Guess I'll spend the rest of the evening on those.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/07/18 04:55 PM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc
32 Sqn B Flt
Fouquerolles, Marne.


June 7, 1918.

The Cpt's led both flights today, I tagged along. The low flight ( B Flt ) got into it with 3 Vee Strutters in a hit and run The 3 e/a dove from up sun the scooted low over enemy MG Nests in NML. I turned after one ,but thought better of going down to the deck over No Mans Land. Score Zero. Upton landing, I saw a Camel nose down and tail up. The riggers said that the pilot was out of juice so tryed to land here. He did a Bumps a daisy and the Prop dug in the ground . He lost a lot of teeth ,but might be ok when he leaves the Medics.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/07/18 11:33 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 6th 1918

Pip and Abe came in from Epiez today. They were left behind in charge of the datail assigned to police the place after we left and wait for two machines that were being repaired.

Flew uneventful patrol with the Major, Dewey, Bedroll and Deuce. 1st time crossing over into Germany. We patrolled along their balloon line for a time. Bursting anti-aircraft followed us up and down the line, occasionally bouncing us around. I was wishing the Major would do a little more evasive maneuvering as the stuff was even more unnerving than my first dose of it in the light of what happened with Ed.

Our American boys are in the tick of it someplace up north of us called Belleau Wood. The paper says that the French were telling our Marines to retreat and one of them told them, "Retreat Hell! We just got here!" That's the spirit that'll win this war!

We expect to move soon, there's supposed to be another big German push coming nearby.

June 7th 1918

Two eggs and toast for breakfast. Fried sunny side up, just like I like em. On alert this morning but I guess the Germans all decided to sleep in. All dressed up and no-place to go. We're all keen to get a Hun before the 27th beats us to it.

Thick clouds at 3,800 meters.

Flew over to the Aerial Target Range at Boucq this afternoon. Used up 100 rounds, good practice and I intend to keep it up, even tho they cost the Government 4 to 5 cents apiece. If I can shoot straight, hopefully I can knock down a Hun and if not one of them will most likely knock me down.

Will work on my correspondence tonight. New guidelines came down from the censors about what you can send. If you're not right up in the Front Line you can tell your folks where you are, even use the name of the town in the address, along with the APO number, but you still can't send picture post cards. They're supposed to be easy to use as a medium for secret communication.

Doug Campbell is being sent back to the States.









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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/08/18 10:57 PM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc
32 Sqn B Flt
Fouquerolles, Marne.


June 8, 1918.


Up two times today : Morning was a recon spotted a lot of e/a far off ,but no attacks.

Afternoon: Patrol on the enemy side of the lines. The flight topped at 12,000 ft and we crossed into Hun land then my Carburetor iced up . Dropped down to 5000ft and was able to re-start the motor all alone I RTB.

The X.O. said that I was to report to 40 Sqn over in Flanders. I was listed as excess here with 32 and 40 Sqn was hit hard . The excess pilots will re-form the Squadron.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/09/18 10:01 PM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

June 9, 1918.


I say, bit of joy today. Our Sqn Hop was to an enemy AF, I dove a little to steep and gunned the target, Zooming , I curved around for a second run catching the e.a alert fighters on take off. Bloody wicket, I was in behind the last one and close so held down the triggers. My guns sent off a full drum of Lewis and about 100 rds of Vickers then the e/a burst into flame. By Jove, kinda sicking seeing the pilot sitting in all that fire. I couldn't watch as he crashed near the enemy AF. Our top cover got the other 3 e/a The Maj had loaned me the Maint Officer Kite for t today but should have one assigned to me tonight. I am one of 5 pilots with kills ( if it gets confirmed ) out of 17 newbies. The Maj wants me to teach formation flying during my off time.




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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/10/18 04:58 AM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
2 Victorys
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 10, 1918.

Bit Busy, They took my assigned Kite from the stores. Early 1917 model and well used. Low oil pressure, old flying wires, and U can see where its patched. Tish , Toss, I took it up on AF patrol flight along with 2 other wingmates. Bit of joy finding 2 Rumplers under the cloud at 7-8000 ft. I got one, but we lost the other in cloud after getting a few hits. No damage to our kites. Where was the Escort ? My Kill fell on one of our AF by Doullons. Confirmed by phone also my Scout Kill was seen by wingmates the day before

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/10/18 01:13 PM

So many stories, so little time. Finally managed to catch up with my reading.
Carrick, was ist das? Luthor is a deserter? I didn’t see that coming. Good luck with the new boy.
Raine, you could not go through the Great War without getting shot in the arse at least once. Very authentic. I must say he dodged a bullet with that whole Catherine affair. Lucky Scarborough showed up when he did. Congrats on the bar and good luck chasing after Jimmy’s record. Hope you can meet the man in one of your stories.
Canuck, enjoy the time off in the hospital. Hopefully the recent experiences have taught your pilot to keep his head on a swivel and not fall for the “easy kill†trick.
Jerbear, love the extra detail to your stories and like Raine, can’t wait for Johnny to get in the fight and read the action reports.
Keep ‘em coming, Gentlemen. salute
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/10/18 02:44 PM

Fullofit: Linderman could see the writing on the Wall Spads in the morning SE's and Spads in the afternoon better to return later for WOTR and get even with the Allies.

Besides Hilda was leaving on the Boat.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/10/18 03:19 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 8th 1918

Weather bad and hazy, no patrols scheduled. Wally Heinricks, Davy, Dewey and I got together to make a visit to the Front. Wally took one of the motor-pool's Harley Davidsons and I signed out an Indian, both with buddy seats (1). Took our Iron Derbies, Mufflers (2) and side arms. We stopped at Balloon Co. 8 artillery. Took our speed buggies on up to the 75mm gun positions all along the road, Berne'court, Beaumont, Rambucourt, all of which were almost completely destroyed by shell fire. The Yankee Division holds a 20k front here, only US troops up there, no civilians, most staying in the dugouts which are 30 feet deep, only a few standing by in the daytime. Trenches are dry, 6 ft deep, with duckboards in the bottom,, shell holes everywhere, artillery everywhere you look. Went up to an observation post. Officers are fine to us. Think our work is especially dangerous. Saw German Archie fire over St. Mihiel harassing some Sopwiths and Nieuports. The Germans started shelling the road with 77s and the Yankees replied. Collected some spent 75mm casings, going to have them shaped and engraved into flower vases or umbrella stands. No one seemed to have any great sense of danger, just business as usual. Had my pocket Kodak, took some pictures.

Despite the weather, the Major took Abe and Pip up for an orientation patrol. He took them near the front, Pip's motor conked and he had to land in a mass of shell holes and wire, hit his face on the windshield. He looks like hell but he's Okay, limping around the aerodrome like an old man.

June 9th 1918

Went on patrol this a.m. with Ralph and Dewey to Bey - St. Mihiel. Stayed at 5,000 meters, above the range of Archie, Saw no HA, nice, sunny day with just a few puffy clouds here and there. I almost dropped off the sleep a few times.

Flew over to Etang Neuf later to do some more target practice.

June 10th 1918

Was on alert this afternoon but we didn't get anything.

Simmy finally rejoined. We gave him a good bit or ribbing about being so late to the party. Took it in his stride and made a joke of it. He said that actually he got out earlier than he thought he would, "it usually takes a Kiwi a month or so to recognize an error. When they do, they need another 4 or 5 clerks to verify it." He thought about going AWOL because he figured it would take them until the end of the war to figure it out, but then he wouldn't get paid, so he changed his mind.

(1) Buddy seat - sidecar
(2) Muffler - Gas mask
(3) Below picture is of a US Army Indian with side car




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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/11/18 02:08 PM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 11, 1918.

All flights were cancelled due to weather. Formation held in Hanger Tent, I was promoted to Cpt and made the Squadron Maintenance Officer.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/12/18 03:22 AM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
2 Victorys, 11 Missions
17.68 Hrs
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 12, 1918.

Two good missions under the Squadrons belt.

AF cover Flight: Long formation flight in Vee's and follow the leader. We spotted dots ,but too far away and to high.

Balloon : Easy game, no Huns about and a new guy got the Gas Bag. The Sqn now has 6 flyers on the Tally Board

Sqn Status: 17 a/c Flyable + 3 in Res. All New except mine and 1 other. Both being outfitted with new flying wire.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/13/18 04:14 AM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
2 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 13, 1918.

I tagged along on a outing with B Flight. I was tail end charlie as the flight climbed to engage 3 Recon types Dfw ? near Lens. I saw one get Flamed by the Flt Leader. Then the Enemy Rea guns flamed Lt Boys SE, but by then the rest of the flight cut them up. All 3 went down ( 1 Flamed, 1 Pilot kill just looped over and over, the last nosed down went upside down and the wings peeled off. ) Besides loosing Boys we had one crash on the way back also KIA a Sgt Pickering. Upon landing , I filled in the request for 2 re placement a/c from HQ.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/14/18 03:08 AM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
2 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

June 14, 1918.

Dawn Patrol : B Flight had AF cover so up at dawn. Spotted a flight of 2 seat a/c lower amid a Valley of clouds. Our 3 a/c made one High side run then a turnabout only to have lost them in the Murk and clouds. RTB

Afternoon: AF attack . We had 10 ships diving and swanning about the target. There must have been some kinda cock up at HQ because it appeared to be a Training Aerodrome. Some old types on the field but no sleek, powerful pursuit ships.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/18 03:37 AM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
3 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

June 15, 1918.

Hq wanted a Balloon destroyed so took 2 new guys for top cover and Popped the gas bag. Victory # 3.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/15/18 11:38 PM

Popped the gas bag...I like it!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/16/18 12:28 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron USAAS

June 11th 1918

Quiet day, only one Alert, which the 94th took, no HA found.

Spent some time with the Armorer, working on my Vickers. We honed some of the moving surfaces to get smoother action, maybe avoid jamming, at least from that angle. Went over my ammunition belts again and repositioned the feed boxes. Cpl. Black looked over the synchronizing interruptor gears. The engine and the rest of the ship are in excellent order. I'm confident that I'm as ready as I can be, now all I need it a Hun to shoot at.

Spent a quiet evening in the room, sending the picture post cards I couldn't send before.(1) It would be great to send some of the pictures I took up at the front, but those'll have to wait until the war's over to be developed. Despite regulations against it, no one bothers you when they see you using a camera but trying to get the pictures developed would be quite a different, court martial offense, matter.

June 12th 1918

There was supposed to be a patrol at 8 but it was called off because of the low clouds. Rained in the afternoon. Voluntary patrol for 16:00 called off too.

Davy, Wally, Dewey and I took our 75mm shell cases over to the French machinists at the 122nd Esc, one of them is an expert engraver. He'll turn them into flower vases and umbrella stands. Showed us some beautiful floral designs, two of which I chose for gifts home, and some more martial ones, but I'm having Mickey Free and some aircraft designs put on the other two. He said he thought he could do them justice.

The Germans have advanced 12 kilometers in their Chateau-Thierry drive and are supposed to be 20 miles from Paris. Maybe we'll be sent to a more active sector soon, we're as ready as we'll ever be and we aren't accomplishing anything here.

(1) Censorship regulations changed about this time, allowing picture post cards to be sent through the mail as long as they we not from areas near the front. Photographs could also be sent, providing they did not have any military installations or hardware in the background. Ownership of cameras was allowed but photography was forbidden unless your job involved photography. Cameras were to be kept unloaded in the bottom of a footlocker. This regulation was seldom enforced.





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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/16/18 08:40 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 14th 1918

I GOT A HUN!!!

The Major took B Flight on a long patrol out toward Chalons at 8:20 yesterday. We saw nothing on the way up, but on the return trip cream puffs were seen a few miles south of us, considerably within our lines.

Major Bonnell took us in the direction of the Archie fire. As we got closer, a dot appeared, which grew into a German monoplace, an Albatros. We were at 4,000 meters, several hundred above the Hun. The Major gave the signal, then led us in the attack. He made the first firing pass, then Dodd and Simmy made a run on the Huns tail. He didn't take any evasive maneuvers, just went into a side slip, then went down out of control.

While all this was going on, I saw more white Archie about a mile away. So, I headed in that direction, not taking any heed as to whether any of the rest of the Flight had joined me. As I approached, it became clear that there were 2 German monoplace, heading northeast. Before going after them, I looked around for the others and saw nothing but empty sky. Being outnumbered, I refrained from chasing the HA further and began to look about for my Flight.

While I was thus rubber necking around aimlessly, yet another Albatros appeared about 400 meters below me. He didn't seem to be aware of me. Forgetting about searching for the rest of the Flight, I immediately piqued behind and below him. With the speed from the dive, I was closing fast, no time to aim, just fired both Vickers and taped the rudder bar to put the tracers into his rapidly growing underbelly. I saw puffs of smoke come from his engine compartment as I banked away. I barrel rolled to keep the Hun in sight and came at his tail again, this time from above, peppering him hard. The Albatros began to smoke and make feeble evasive maneuvers, then the propeller stopped.

I got a good look at the machine. The main fuselage was black or dark gray while the forward section was painted a wine red, as was the flipper, there was a red devil, lunging with a pitchfork painted on the side, rudder was white (1).

We were down to 2,500 meters, with me behind him, matching his speed, in a perfect position to kill him. When he made no move to land I fired several short bursts over his head to give him the idea he should surrender, but he just continued to glide toward Germany. I waggled my wings and gestured at him, still he paid me no heed. I don't understand why he didn't land to surrender himself. Maybe he was wounded and disoriented, maybe there was something wrong with his controls, maybe he thought my guns were jammed after I quit firing, I don't know. I feel rather sorry for him now, but at the time, my only thought was that I wasn't going to allow him to get back to Hunland and come at me some other day when the tables might be turned. So, I lined him up in the sights and leaned on the triggers.

The right upper wing section flew off and the plane flipped upside down before it went straight down, the broken wing fluttering like a leaf, flashing when it caught the sunlight. It smoked but didn't burn, at least not until it hit the ground. I followed it down to about 400 meters, thinking of landing but decided better of it. I passed over the crater where the Boche burned near a road and looked over the area to get my bearings. I recognized Bar-le-Duc so I flew northeast where I believed Belrain Aerodrome would be. I was correct and I landed there, Dewey and Snake were on the field, having had oil leaks. Ralph got the French clerk to ring up Gengoult and he reported our whereabouts and my Hun.

Dewey talked to the Commander there and borrowed a car to look for my German while the mechanics put some juice in our Nieuports and looked them over.

Traveling south toward the still visible smudge of smoke, we saw a number of vehicles stopped along the road leading to Bar-le-Duc. We pulled in behind them and walked out 200 yards to where some Poilos and their officers were standing with several farmers next to the still smoldering crater. When Dewey told them I was the one who had sent down the Hun there was much cheering, hand shaking and some of those embarrassing French hugs and kissy face.

There wasn't much left, just charred wood, melted wires and twisted metal, the engine with it's nose buried in the mud. The body was laying where it had been thrown nearby, under a blanket which they removed so that I could view my victim. He was, thankfully, face down, neck at an odd angle, arms and legs in unnatural positions, twisted, blood was soaking through the front of the clothing. It was hard to look at and at the same time hard to look away. Finally, they covered it again and we walked back over to the wreck to see if there was anything I could take as a souvenir. I was thinking about trying to get one of the bent up Spandau barrels off when another farmer came trotting up saying something about "aile," wing. We followed him and saw something glinting a few hundred yards off,hanging in a hedgerow. It was that top wing section tangled in the top. The farmer brought a ladder, and after about 20 minutes of cursing and a tear in my jacket, we got it down.. I cut out the big black cross on the pink, blue, yellow and green camouflage canvas, rolled it up and took it back with me. I tried to give the farmer a few Francenes but he turned them down, seeming more pleased to get the hard pine wing braces, so everyone was happy as we parted.

Back at Belrain, the French treated us royally, stuffing us with rich food and some of what Dewy and Ralph told me was really fine wine, me being no judge. The French commander told me that from my description of the Albatros it was probably from the German's 65th Squadron, based at Mars-la-Tour. Dewey got a little sick so we waited for him to finish throwing up before we flew back. We didn't get to Gengoult until after 6.

Before doing my 3 circuits around the field to burn up the gas collected in the cowling, I revved my engine as I passed over to indicate that I had scored. Thought the boys were going to beat me to death, slapping me on the back, rubbing my head, yelling "Good boy Goody!"

I made my report and requested confirmation on my German before I went to the mess. Dodd, SImmy and I were the heroes of the hour, the Major didn't make a claim, despite his participation in the first kill (2) (3), I hung my cross on the wall among the other trophies while everyone hollered and clapped, with the exception of the Weasel and Monkey, I noticed. A good number of the men from the French outfits came over to shake my hand, Rick among them, which was especially gratifying. He's been recommended for the new Distinguished Service Cross they've started handing out now. (4)

The Major talked to us about the patrol, reminding us that we still have to get confirmation before we can paint Mickey on our Nieuports. He said he thought the Huns we caught were going home after getting into a fight during an escort mission, that was why they were all spread out, "fruit salad for us."(5))

Before I went to the barracks, the Major invited me to his office, Mickey accompanying us. When he had closed the door and I hand scratched Mickey a little he first congratulated me on my Hun, then put me at attention. He then proceeded, in a stern but not unkindly way, to chew my balls off for going off on my own with no one to watch my back. He made me to see that the whole matter could most certainly have gone the other way. He also disapproved of my landing at a French aerodrome so I could go souvenir hunting rather than taking myself and, more importantly, my valuable machine, home after I was done playing. I acknowledged the rightness of all he had expounded, assured him that I would heed his instructions in future, was dismissed saluted and about faced to leave, at which time, Mickey, always ready to play when he saw me, slammed into the back of my knees, causing me to fall back into the room. This broke the solemnity of the occasion and we parted with a good laugh after the Major put in one last salvo, stating that he didn't wish to see me awarded the "wooden cross." (6)

(1) The pilot of the Albatros DVa was Heinrich Zempel of Jasta 65. He was actually shot down on 17 July 1918 but survived by using a parachute. My Zempel was not so lucky.

(2) In the USAAS, full credit was given to all participants in an aerial victory. For example, if two or more pilots attacked and destroyed one EA together, each got credit for a full victory each, not a partial credit. Eddie Rickenbacker's first kill could rightfully have been shared by Bert Hall but he let Rickenbacker have it all to himself to boost his confidence and prestige, just as Major Bonnell has done here.

(3) The 147th Aero's first victory was actually not made until 2 July, it was shared by 6 pilots.

(4) Eddie Rickenbacker had 6 victories as of 30 May but will not have another until 14 Sep.

(5) Fruit Salad - an easy mark

(6) Award of the Wooden Cross - grave marker




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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/18 06:01 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 15th 1918

Rain, low clouds, no patrols.

Scabies in the 27th Aero, some of them very bad, in hospital.

Went over to the French to check on the progress of the 75mm casings. He has them shaped and most of them ready to finish up, come back in a couple of days. When I got back I was told that our victories were confirmed. Spent most of the afternoon painting my Mickey. I did most of the work myself but got Dewey, who's more artistic, to do the eyes and nose. He did a good job, very intense looking. Simmy painted a dead rat hanging by it's tail under his Mickey so I did the same, only mine is hanging on a bar over his head. I painted my rat red, with a little pitch fork in his claws. (1)

The latrine news (2) says we're going to join the big fight near Paris soon.


(1) Mickey Free was an Apache Scout and bounty hunter who served with Gen. George Crook. He had a reputation as a tough fighter and tracker. It was said by his fellow scouts that he was half Irish, half Mexican and a whole son of a #%&*$#. His birth name was Felix Telles. As a child, he was abducted by the Pinal Apache then traded to and raised by the Coyotero. The white soldiers gave the scouts nick names, partly due to difficulty in pronouncing some to the names and partly just because that's what they did. Because of his red and certain aspects of his personality Felix was named for a character in Charles Lever's 1840 novel, "Charles O'Mally, the Irish Dragoon."

The origin of the motto, "Who Said Rats!" is obscure. The pilots used dead rats, sausages, balloons and other symbols to show their tally of victories.

(2) Latrine news - rumor






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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/18 06:54 PM

Jerbear, I am loving the tales of Mr Goode. Your writing is fantastic.

Carrick, Cyril seems to have wasted no time getting stuck in. Keep it coming please!

Lt Collin Sitwell
62 Sqn RAF
Planques

Say what you will about the hospital, it gives you time to think. And think I did. How in the HELL am I supposed to take on a group of those awful two seaters without ending up full of holes? I discussed it at length with several other pilots in the infirmary before one came up with a brilliant idea: Why am I not using my rear gunner????

As soon as I returned to the Sqn I found Wendell Alverton (my newest observer) and discussed the strategy. He seemed excited and we agreed we would try it out at the first opportunity.

We didn't have long to wait. I was cleared for flying on the 14th, and almost immediately tapped by Maj Smith to take my place on the line. A group of huns had been seen hovering around the lines observing out troops and we were to drive them off. It did seem a little strange that a Sqn more than 70 miles from the lines was to be chosen for this, but everyone closer to the lines were busy shooting up Hun columns and trenches. The only reason 62 Sqn was stuck in the rear not conducting ground attacks was because a brutal run of the Spanish Flu had torn through the Sqn when the rest of 9 Wing was moved up to the lines. [1]

As we approached the lines I spotted a group of 3 Roland two seaters slightly above us and to port. I waggled my wings and broke formation towards them. I tapped Wendell and pointed. He gave an emphatic nod and set about getting ready.

I manouvered carefully underneath the rearmost Hun and pulled slightly ahead. None of the enemy had seem my approach and the first sign they had of our presence were rounds smashing through their kite. Both starboard wings ripped off and the Roland spun violently toward the ground. It was horrific.

One of the other Rolands peeled off towards Hunland, but the other carried on straight as if nothing had happened. Once again I maneuvered slowly underneath and ahead of it and Wendell unleashed a torrent of fire into it. It burst into flame and one wing tore off as it dove groundward. Satisfied, we headed for home.

The 15th saw us fly two patrols. The first we left early, long before breakfast, to catch any early Huns. All we ended up doing was ruin their peaceful breakfast with the sound of our motors buzzing high over their heads. HA! Take that Kaiser. Victory must be near. The afternoon we again took to the skies, doing nothing more than enjoy the scenery and burn some more petrol. To be honest, there is nothing wrong with a quiet patrol.

The 16th was quiet, but still death managed to find us anyways. We flew one patrol in Sqn strength, towards the west for some reason. No less than three aircraft had to turn for home with mechanical issues, including mine. Just as we were to turn for home there was a tremendous BANG and oil sprayed the windshield. I quickly shut down and headed in the direction of what I hoped was an airfield. After a nervous several minutes, I found one and settled in for a gentle landing. The mechanics at the field took a look at my crate and just shook their heads. Three days minimum to make it airworthy again. I hopped in a tender and was back at Planques for a late dinner. It was then that I learned the fate of the other two crews who turned back. Fires and hard crashes. I was crushed to learn than Harry Holtcome, by first observer and favourite drinking pal, was killed in one of the crashes. We drank a long toast to the fallen that night and went to bed in a somber mood.

Today saw us eager to exact our revenge. The orderlies woke us in the dark and Maj Smith laid out his plan to bomb a hun aerodrome just after sunrise. We were in the air before 0430 and over the Hun field before their breakfast. Our bombs smashed over their airfield and we turned for home. Not long after three DVs flew across our noses, completely focused on their travels, not seeing us. I waggled my wings and off we went after them. A whirling dogfight occurred and we all fought for our shots. I finally found myself on the tail of a hun and I unleashed a burst of rounds into the cockpit. He immediately flipped onto his back and dove into a field leaving a decent furrow in the poor farmers crops. Feeling somewhat more satisfied, I headed for home.

[1] 62 Sqn would remain at Planques aerodrome until August due to the sickness, often with up to 20 pilots unable to fly at any given time. The Sqn spent a quiet summer conducting patrols when physically able.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/18 06:57 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 16th 1918

Didn't feel up to snuff this morning. Chills and fever in the night. Not hungry, only had a cup of coffee for breakfast.

10:00 alert over Pont-a'-Mousson, Alk leading, Deuce, Ken, Dewey, Me. Felt shaky at first but better after I was in the air. Archie puffs showed us the way to Germans, 3 biplace. On Alk's signal we piqued on them. They were DFWs, I got below and behind one of them, came close up to give him a good peppering, this looked like easy meat. But before I could let loose, there was a sideways twist on the part of the man above and a crackling noise, as flaming tracer feathers descended on me from the Heinie operating from the back pew. His manner was anything but impersonal and it was clear that he intended to do me harm when a number of these projectiles struck my Nieuport. I piqued and banked to avoid his further attentions.

I checked out my machine to see if any serious damage had been done. Everything seemed fine except for the holes in my wings so I looked around to see what kind of trouble I could get into next. I saw Dewey chasing one of the Huns below me so I piqued again, but opted to fire at him from a greater distance then got the Hell away. I made a couple of these passes to get the man in back's attention away from Dewey as he came in close for the kill, I don't know if I hit anything or not. The DFW went down, out of control, the others disappeared into the clouds.

Dewey made a claim on the Hun, I did not. He's a much braver man than I to come up steady with that rear gun winking at him. Counted 12 holes in my upper and lower wings and 3 in the fuselage, just behind the office.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/17/18 07:29 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron

Monday, June 17th 1918

Intermittent rain, no patrols, no alert duty. Spent the early a.m. cleaning up the room. Went down to cash a check, pay bills and then Dewey and I went to pick up the shells. The Frenchman won't accept money for them, this was a new twist, he'll only accept sugar. We cherched 4 boxes of lump sugar from the mess (1), Tried to buy some in town but found none, guess that's why he wants it in payment. Got 5 lbs granulated out the back door from an acquaintance at the YMCA. It was more than we needed so I gave Davy the extra, good luck to him trying to find some after our raid. They're very fine, especially the ones with the Mickey on them. I don;t know if I can send the floral ones home, may end up lugging them around for the rest of the war.

Spent the evening with Davy and his pals. Lots of rough housing, there always is with them, lots of pep in those boys and more often than not, too much alcohol.

(1) cherched - to obtain something, you may have bought it, borrowed it or stolen it, but you got it, we would call it scoring now.

below is a picture of Mickey Free that I couldn't fit on in the June 15th entry

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/18 03:07 AM

Wow, Good going guys Keep em flying !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/18 03:24 AM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
4 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

16 Jun 1918.

B flight was up 2 times today. Dawn Patrol: Ran into New guys on the enemy side. Spotted a flight off to the port, they must have been at the end of their patrol because 6 e/a turned in front of us at less then 1 NM showing their tails. We went full power and the flight knocked down 5 of them, one was mine, for a lost of 1 SE.

Replaced Sgt Philbee on the afternoon Patrol , he has the French Flu He screams a lot when using the outhouse or chamber pots, Hes off to the Medico's. The flight mixed it up with a flight of Albatross Vee Struts. A lot shooting then everyone was gone.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/18 03:33 AM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
5 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

17 June 1918.

Dawn Patrol: No contact. The Sqn had 10 ships up in 2 flights.

AF Security Flight: B flight had the duty, the 5 of us went down towards Cappy and bounced 3 Rumplers at 8,000 ft. I got one. I say, when both guns are working they really Rip -up the Huns. The flight claimed all 3 e/a. We had 1 pilot wnd badly.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/18 03:37 AM

Jerbear: Ur N-28 looks really nice.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/18 04:44 PM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt , Rfc, Instructor Pilot
6 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 18, 1918.

Escorted a lone Rfc 7 Sqn RE8 down to Cappy. B flight ( 5 a/c ) was close escort at 8000 ft while Roving ( 2 a/c ) cover was at 10,000ft. Mission completed we turned for home. Looking back , I spotted The rovers ( Aces Naps, and Landis) climbing to engage a bunch of Huns. I waved Bye to B flight and turn at full power to go back to help. During the Melee , I bagged a Hun Scout then lost sight of everyone so RTB. The other 2 pilots claimed 1 each. Total of 3 for the Sqn.


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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/18 08:37 PM

Been hors de combat for several days, but will be back by week's end. Jerbear, I have been enthusiastically reading Goode's memoir. Congratulations on the first kill! Carrick, you have be the lifeblood of this thread!

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 55: 7-18 February 1918

7 February 1918 – Poperinghe aerodrome


I have been making it a practice to add a flight every day, subject to orders, in order to exercise our new flight commanders under my direct command. It is, of course, also an excuse not to become desk-bound.

Weather has been filthy of late but still we fly. Today it was a line patrol to the south, where we met a large formation of Albatros scouts of the latest type high over Loos. It was a wonderful scrap, although several times I came within a whisker of colliding with another Camel. After about five minutes of taking snap shots at fleeting Huns and split-arsing about to keep other Huns off my tail, I spotted a lone Albatros diving shallowly eastward. I banked about and dived steeply so that I gained on the yellow and black machine. At 200 yards I began firing long bursts until the Hun burst into flames and its wings folded back. It was in the very same instant that Captain Howsam’s Camel appeared mere inches from my left wingtips and I threw my grid about to avoid a dreadful tangle. The Hun went tumbling away, trailing flame and smoke. Upon return to Pops, Howsam and I compared notes and it was clear that his last burst was the coup de grâce. Rather than share the kill, I insisted that Howsam get the credit.

8 February 1918

Sheeting rain, followed by sleet and snow cancelled all flights. Two Bessoneaus collapsed, with the complete loss of one Camel and damage to two others.

18 February 1918 – Folkstone, England

I have just picked up my journal for the first time in several days. Let me fill in the gap. On Sunday 10 February I took Gorringe and Quigley, along with Rankin, Todd, and Koch, up to intercept some Huns which had been spotted over Neuve Chapelle. We had pounded a beat up and down the sector for 45 minutes, when a large formation emerged out of the haze in the south. We were at 13000 feet, but the approaching aircraft were at least 2000 feet higher. I tried to climb towards the west and slip around them to put the sun behind us, but they saw us and dived all together.

They were Pfalz scouts, at least eight of them against our six. I turned and fired a full-deflection shot at one of them and then climbed to take stock of the situation. But the fight was over before it started, for a rattle of rounds hit my grid. Holes appeared in the fabric of my wings on both sides of the fuselage and there was a loud metallic bang followed by only the sound of wind. The Clerget had cut out completely.

It was nose down time. I kicked the Camel into a right-hand spin and plunged into a vertical dive. I looked all about, but never saw the Hun or Huns that had hit me – obviously from directly beneath. There were two holes between my feet. Those rounds must have passed between my legs. There was little thought of safety in this dive. Fabric tore away and the wind ripped at the stricken Camel. I was down to less than 3000 feet before I was able to ease out of the maddened dive. The trenches passed beneath, the woof and crack of Archie shook me about. I could see Bethune in the distance and spotted a space on a rutted road where the stumps of trees thinned out enough that I could land. The propeller stopped its windmilling as I skimmed over a sea of upturned faces – turbaned Sikhs lined the country lane. With a bump I stalled the Camel onto the road, trying to stay between the ruts. The machine bounced once and settled down after a few yards, close by an abandoned brickyard.

[Linked Image]
"The machine bounced once and settled down after a few yards, close by an abandoned brickyard."

It was only later that I realised my ears were ringing madly and a blinding pain overtook me. It was like a needle through my brain. Apparently the loss of altitude has affected my middle ear. I returned to Poperinghe that evening, but felt sick to my stomach with pain and was nearly deaf. I was dispatched to a CCS, then to the hospital at Calais. Within a couple of days I was back in England at this place, the Canadian Westcliffe Eye and Ear Specialist Hospital in Folkestone. They have kept me under observation and half-drugged, but the good news is that the eardrum has not ruptured. The liquid that collected in the middle ear has now begun to drain and I should soon be released, although they are unsure how the ear will react to flying at high altitudes. I had hoped to go back to SE5As, but working at lower level in Camels might be the only ticket I have.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/18/18 11:22 PM

Raine: U need a Nurse/ Nurses. I recommend The Ye Old Ear Establishment and Travel Shop in Kingston upon Hull.

https://giphy.com/gifs/screamqueens-scream-queens-fox-tv-season-2-l0HlJ8U25gF4B1P8Y/fullscreen
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/18 01:47 AM

Great stories everyone. Just caught up with my reading and the quality just keeps getting better and better. Kudos to all!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/19/18 02:49 AM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt , Rfc, Instructor Pilot
6 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


Dash it all, I was done in by a rear gunner on his 1st rata tat. ( 5-12 rds ? ) B flight had low Patrol down by Cappy when we spotted Huns. I was number 2 in a Line astern attack Lt. Hogan led and got his 2 seat after we passed under the 5 scout escort. As soon as I got inrange the rear gunner fired and his rds hit my fuel tank. Nosed over and turned for our lines shutting off the motor. I had enough height to cross to our side and land on a road near a farm. Spent the rest of the day waiting for a ride back to the Mess.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/18 12:25 AM

Summer 1968, Great War Museum somewhere in Belgium.

“Daddy, Daddy! Who is this man standing in front of the plane with the lady on it?†A girl of 6 was pointing to an old black and white photograph in one of the displays.
A man of about 30 leaned over and read the inscription: “Rittm Aldi Schwarzkopf. The leading ace of Jasta 18 with 111 confirmed victories was shot down on 19 February, 1918 while conducting infantry support mission in the area of Lens. The Schwarm was attacked by two flights of Brisfits. Schwarzkopf, heavily damaged and wounded managed to disengage and make a run for the nearest aerodrome. According to witnesses he was followed by a British machine and repeatedly fired upon from behind. The German ace lost control of his mount and crashed into one of the houses on the outskirts of Lens. He was killed instantly. Hmm ... that was 50 years ago.â€
“Daddy, was he a bad man?†The little girl inquired.
“Why do you say that, Pumpkin?â€
“Well, he shooted people.†The girl answered.
An old woman dressed in black was standing nearby listening to the conversation. She smiled with encouragement at the man as he was deciding how to best answer his daughter. He returned a curtesy nod to the stranger.
“Well Pumpkin, it was a different time. Each country tried to defeat their enemy and shooting was the way to do it. He simply did what his country asked of him. Was it right? No. War, killing is never right, but he did his duty for his country and that does not make him a bad man. I’m sure that if they could resolve their disputes by eating ice cream, they would. How about some ice cream, Pumpkin?â€
“Yes!†The little girl’s eyes lit up.
“What flavour would you like? Lemon?â€
“Bleh!†The girl made a sour face. “Chocolate! I want chocolate!â€
“Alright Pumpkin, let’s go get some ice cream.†The man grabbed the girl, lifted her on his back and walked toward an ice cream stand. The little girl’s giggles were now faint in the distance.
The woman in black watched them disappear behind the corner.
“No. He wasn’t a bad man.†Käte Otersdorf-Schwarzkopf leaned heavily on her cane. She moved toward the exit. It was midday and the heat was unbearable.
The black and white photograph in the display was all that remained of the young pilot. The photograph and the memory.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/18 12:45 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Tuesday, June 18th 1918

Intermittent rain up until about 14:30. Alk led Dewey, Simmy, Ralph and me on 3 Alert patrols between 14:00 and 17:00. All of them, apparently, the result of observed Archie barrages. 2 west of Pont-a'-Mousson and the last one over Martincourt.

On our 3rd outing, 2 enemy photo planes, Rumplers, were seen snooping around over Martincourt. We made for them and they turned north as soon as they caught sight of us. While the others chased them from behind, I separated myself from the others to cut the Heinies off as they made a wide turn toward Germany. In this way I was able to get ahead of them, then do a renversement to come at their front but a little below.. I brought the nose up for a good burst at the lead planes belly as we passed, then followed through with the loop to get in a quick burst into the rear from an upside down attitude. After my 2nd burst I banked away and piqued quickly beneath to avoid fire from the rear man's gun. I observed smoke, probably coming from the gas tank but no fire as the biplace sped away from me.

The two Germans split up after my frontal attack. Alk, Simmy and Snake chased my German while Dewey went after the other bird. As I flew toward Dewey to give him support I saw the top wing part company with the rest of the German plane. The pilot proved to be a plucky fellow and continued to fight as best he could with only his elevators and rudder. The rear man did significant damage to Dewey'r Nieuport before the Rumpler went into an irreversible spin into the ground.

Dewey followed it down while I stayed above to watch out for him. We lost sight of the rest of the patrol so I escorted Dewey back to Gengoult. His engine was cutting out and he made the last few miles in a glide with a well dead dead stick landing at the end.

We took the Indian out to look for his Hun but had no luck as it was getting dark. Maybe tomorrow. Quite the celebration tonight. Fired about 100 rounds in the fight.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/18 01:26 AM

Fullofit, I'm just gutted to hear about Aldi. Wonderful vignette to put him to rest, though. Well done.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/18 02:48 AM

Fullofit: Sorry about Aldi. How about trying a French Flyer next time ?

Good stories all.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/18 03:32 AM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
6 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

Took the Lewis gun off to check for barrel wear and replace worn parts. Noticed a lot of Chemical deposits being ground into the barrel. adding to that , The Incendiary type shoots high . I decided to replace the Incendiary ammo in the Lewis with the reliable 303 Ball ammo . Took the gun over to the tree line and fired off a Drum seems a lot more hits on target.


https://youtu.be/p31mw0WPGrk
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/18 03:37 AM

Cyril Woolly
LT, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
6 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

20 June 1918.


Back to Cappy: Spotted and attacked a flight of 2 seat types My 2 wing mates got 1 for 1 SE damaged Then I popped mine. I saw the Hun fall like a brick.


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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/18 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
Fullofit, I'm just gutted to hear about Aldi. Wonderful vignette to put him to rest, though. Well done.


Originally Posted by carrick58
Fullofit: Sorry about Aldi. How about trying a French Flyer next time ?

Good stories all.

Thanks guys, I’m still kicking myself for not noticing the white “x2†in the middle of my screen during that fight. Everything happened so fast ...
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/18 10:07 PM

Full of it: Thats a lot bettter than : leaving it on X4 or X8 and getting up to get coffee then returning only to see a crash.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/18 10:34 PM

Carrick, that’s one way to see a lot of nurses!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/20/18 11:11 PM

Beautifully done Fullofit, my sypathy on the loss of Aldi. I can only imagine how it must feel to loose such an old friend.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/18 12:20 AM

Thanks Jerbear, it took 13.5 months to bring him down. Another month and Raben would have taken over Jasta 18.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/18 12:30 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Wednesday, June 19th 1918

Woke up this morning at 3 am to the sound of a tremendous bombardment powerful enough to shake our barracks. Alk came in saying that it looked like the Germans were starting something and that we needed to get ready and go down to the hangars. We were in the air by around 5, half an hour before sunrise. All we could see were hundreds of flashes on the ground twinkling out of the twilight. Our job was to remain in the area between Beaumont and Seicheprey an hour and a half and jump on any Huns who came out to regulate their artillery fire. They stayed in their nests, not a one did we see. We saw a cloud of gas drifting north , and thought the wind changed on the Germans and it had come back in their faces. It blew up rain about the time we landed and there was no more flying. No infantry went over.

Dewey and I took the Indian out again to look for his Hun. We went up toward Mandres and stopped at a Balloon Company that had been driven back by the artillery fire. They said that they had seen Dewey's fight and had made their report, gave us directions to where it lay. We found it near the road but it had been picked clean, nothing worth taking as a souvenir, just metal and wood and ashes, but at least I was able to take his picture in front of it with my little Kodak.

We continued on up to Mandres, which is about 8 k from the lines. We watched a French battery of 75s until several shells hit the cross roads about 200 yards from us. We mutually agreed that it was time to make a withdrawal. Talked to some of our Infantry on the way back, they said that what was happening was the first American gas attack and it was believed to have been highly successful. They also told us that some Germans had come up to one of their machine gun emplacements a few days ago with their hands up, yelling "Komerade." They had grenades strapped on their backs which they threw when they were close enough. The Germans took the position but were driven back. None of them were allowed to surrender and our boys said they wouldn't be taking any prisoners from now on unless they were ordered to.

Dewey's biplace from Sunday was confirmed, still waiting on the other.

Several days ago 3 paper balloons were seen over the aerodrome. One of them landed on the field and was found to have newspapers in both English and French attached, propaganda and cartoons disparaging Britain, I guess the intent was to cause dissention between our two armies. Not very effective.

Below is Major Geoffrey H. Bonnell's Nieuport 28





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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/18 02:50 AM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
7 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

Went into Abbeville with the Chaps for a Show and dinner. The Chaps stayed late, but I went back looks like rain clouds coming in.

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancing-chours-line-3LApWHZV3c9PeuZ1hc/fullscreen

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/21/18 03:01 AM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
7 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 21, 1918.

The Chalk board read: B Flight: 0705 Take off 5 a/c Balloon Attack at Loos.
C Flight: AF Security Patrol 0910 T/O Local AF's 4 a/c
A Flight: Alert A/c Stanby Home base. 3 a/c

B Flight mostly has new Pilots except for Landis and I. He Led and I stayed up as Top Cover among the scattered Rain Clouds. A new guy got the Bag. RTB

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/18 03:12 AM

Finally back in action!!!

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 70 Squadron RFC
Part 56: 19-22 February 1918

21 February 1918 – Poperinghe aerodome


I received a medical clearance to leave the home in Folkestone on the 20th and was headed to Calais on a returning leave ship that same evening after a splendid dinner at the Burlington Hotel in Dover.[1] I was to report directly to Wing for a meeting with Lt-Col Van Ryneveld followed by a full medical assessment.

A former London cabbie named Whiteside ferried me and an older RFC sergeant in a worn-out Austin from Calais to St-Omer, where the sergeant de-bussed. I never learned his name. He was Welsh and I struggled to make out his accent. Besides, Whiteside kept up a steady patter the whole time, holding forth on the subjects of dog racing, motorcars, Russia, Frenchmen generally, several Frenchwomen specifically, and food. On the latter topic he was an obvious expert. We paused for lunch at Kemmel, sandwiches and tea at a YMCA canteen, and arrived at Mont Rouge at one o’clock.

I had met Van Ryneveld only once before, on the occasion of his first inspection of the squadron at Poperinghe. Then he’d been all puff and questions, but now he was a charming man. His Boer accent was heavy but polished and a keen intelligence came through with every utterance. After some pleasantries he came straight to the point.[2]

“I have heard that you do not want to go to Home Establishment. Is that correct?†Thank you, Baring.

“It is, sir,†I said. “Of course, I will serve on the army’s terms, but there is word afoot that I will be sent home soon to limit my ability to challenge some other pilots.â€

“Where did you hear that?†Van Ryneveld asked.

“I’d rather not say from whom, sir, but I was told as much in London last month. Likely a rumour passed about at the Savoy bar.â€

The Wing Commander then asked about my health. I told him I felt tip-top, but needed to get back in the air to see how the ear would react. He motioned me over to a map on the wall. “Enemy activity is becoming intense. Now that the Russians have quit, the Hun must strike a blow before the Americans enter the war in force. General Haig believes the attack will come for certain in March, perhaps even earlier. Even without the Americans, the economic situation in Germany will not allow the enemy to stay on the defensive all summer. The top priority of the RFC is clear. We must push the offensive at all times, and we must monitor all enemy activity to identify where and when the attack will come. General Gough is convinced that his Fifth Army will take the blow and that the Hun will push on Amiens, seeking to drive between us and the French. Our patrols suggest he may be correct. In the last four weeks there have been signs of new units, new depots, and new rail lines in that sector.â€

He tapped his fingertips over the Cambrai salient, and then pointed north to the area between Arras and Armentieres. “And we are seeing activity farther north. Perhaps the initial blow will be here, to draw in our reserves before a blow in the south. Depending on what we learn in the next week or two, squadrons will be redeployed to the threatened sector. What is your opinion of 70 Squadron’s readiness?â€

I was justifiably proud of the squadron’s progress and told him so. In three months, the squadron had adapted to Camels and become one of the crack units we had. Van Ryneveld nodded and expressed agreement. “I shall not be sending you home. We need you here at this dangerous time. But you may be given another squadron to knock into shape.â€

It was like losing a family member to leave 70, and I said so. “Where will I go?†I asked.

“Some influential people want you in London. To placate them, General Salmond will approve a transfer to another operational unit only if it is not front-line. I fear, however, every squadron will be front-line when the Hun starts the big push.†I pressed for details, but the colonel could not, or would not, say more.

The Wing MO cleared me for flying below 10000 feet for the moment, and preferably below 8000. And then I was driven back to Poperinghe.

22 February 1918

It is good to be back. Today’s patrols are all at higher altitudes except Gorringe’s flight, which is ordered to attack Haubordin aerodrome. Gorringe is gracious enough to insist I lead, saying I can decide what height is best. Every machine is slung with four bombs.

I take off on a hazy, damp, and cold morning, turning south-southeast. I have picked a bend in the Lys as my “jumping off place,†from which I climb to 6000 feet above the clouds and follow a compass bearing for ten minutes. Then I shut off and glide down to find we are too far south and now over Lens. I start up and lead the other four Camels north. Within a couple of minutes our target appears in the distance, a row of hangars and huts that show white in the early sunlight.

Just then Aldred pulls ahead and waggles his wings. He points directly overhead. There, high above, a very large formation is passed directly over us, heading south. They are without doubt Fokker triplanes, which means very probably they are von Richthofen’s lot; they have been reported up and down the sector from Ypres to Arras. I hold my breath and drone on towards Haubordin. Rankin and I sweep to the east to take the hangars in line. The others, led by Gorringe, bomb from higher. Their work is solid. Plumes of fire and earth erupt from the field and I see the explosions among parked aircraft and hangars. Then Rankin and I sweep in and finish the job, hitting some undamaged buildings. I fire the flare to regroup immediately, as I don’t fancy strafing at zero feet five miles into Hunland with the Baron sitting above me. But the lads gather round quickly and we are soon heading west and climbing. I turn north along the lines for about ten miles looking for trade, but there are no adventurous Huns about so we head home.

[Linked Image]
"...Rankin and I sweep in and finish the job, hitting some undamaged buildings."

Notes:

[1] Built in 1860, the stately Burlington was a landmark on the Dover seafront. Hit by German naval gunfire in 1940 and again by bombs in September 1941, it was rendered unstable and demolished in 1949.

[2] LCol, later General, Hesperus Andreas “Pierre†Van Ryneveld KBE CB DSO MC, later founded the South African Air Force. He served as Chief of the General Staff for South African forces throughout the Second World War.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/18 03:42 AM

Well done
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/22/18 03:58 AM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
7 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 22, 1918.


Bigest Fight yet. We were doing a Sweep down past Cappy and had a Punch Out with the Huns. Our 7 a/c spotted and attacked in Heavy cloud 3 Recon types. As tail end a/c I got off 1 drum of Lewis and 44 rds of Vickers , no hits, then pulled of to reload the top Gun. I spotted many e/a of a new type coming down. Turning into the them I fired as I climbed shot past, reloaded then turned into them . I was trying to keep my wingmates tails clear pot shooting at them. I damaged one ? then another flashed by and I chased ,but couldnt get in a good shot. The enemy pilots were very good or their machines much better than ours. I landed with the Vickers Gun empty and 1 Lewis Gun ,47 rds, drum. Total : 2 Recon shot down + 1 Scout. Losses: 1 SE destroyed pilot KIA + 2 damaged and 1 pilot WND.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/18 12:35 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 21st 1918

No patrols yesterday, rain all day. Spent the morning repacking my trunk and cleaning my leathers, shoes, boots, belts, can't get the orderlies to do it for love or money, well...maybe money. Soap and water first, then used gasoline on them and finally the polish. I did an extra good job on my shoes, glopped on the polish good and thick, lit it on fire, then spit shined them until they looked like glass. Dewey and I did a thorough cleaning of the room. The Major let me have Mickey after her reminded me to keep him away from the flight line. We went out to a pasture back behind the barracks to play chase and dodge and catch in the mud puddles, got soaked to the skin. He was really tired out by the end. The Squadron clerk and I got him pretty dry with an old blanked before I turned him back over to Maj who ordered me to get my "wet ass out of here and get some dry clothes on, you get pneumonia and I'll Court Martial you for mis-use of Government property!

I did catch cold. Went straight to bed, skipped supper. Dewey came in with some red wine what put me to rights. Never felt better this morning.


Still raining today. Some of us went into Toul. Full of American troops, their bringing in a bunch of draftees to replace the 26th on this front. Had lunch at the Hotel Metz, no bon. Threw Cackers (1) at the French kids for them to catch. They wear black aprons if their fathers have died in the war, boys and girls alike. Lots of black aprons and hard times for them. Many of the French are making sacrifices and adopting a standard of living that the average Negro in our country would think pretty tough.

Bought cherries and strawberries and ate them in the barracks until we were sick of them.

Still expecting word to move to the big show toot sweet. The tooter the sweeter as far as we're concerned. Photographers coming to take our pretty pictures tomorrow.

(1) Clacker - large copper coin of little value.

Below, lineup of the 147th at Toul.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/18 02:47 AM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
7 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

Jun 23, 1918.

Patrol: 0545 Hrs. B flight did a sweep over at Lens, dark skies, scattered rain showers, No Contact.

AF Attack: 1301 Hrs. B flights 5 a/c did a little damage. I lined up the parked e/a and gave them a full Lewis gun plus 44-58 rds of Vickers Then zoomed reloaded and gave it to them again. Spotted some of the New type e/a taking off on my 3rd run but couldn't line up. The Flight reformed and RTB. Cpt Landis had a motor failure trying to land on a Right tun to base and ended up in a Church Yard Minus landing carriage and parts of lower wings.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/18 03:12 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey returns:

24 Feb 1918 @ 08h22 DOP to Villers-au-Tertre aerodrome

The morning of 24th Feb broke clear and cold as the sunlight streamed in through the window of Godfrey’s hut. Throwing the blankets aside he immediately felt the chill in the air. His mind stirred to the thought of the cold water in the basin, currently coated in a layer of ice, which he would soon be using to freshen up. It was not a thought he relished. He made short work of the affair, quickly washing, shaving, and suiting up. The O.C. had advised him in advance of the mornings mission. “B†flight had been chosen for this special mission. A DOP to Villeres-au-Tertre, to assess the build up of enemy craft on the closely adjoining airfields of Masny, Guesnain, Cantin, Erchin, and Aniche. It was clearly intended to be an OP but Godfrey had made up his mind to deliver a calling card to the airfield of Villers-au-Tertre.

He hustled off to the ordinance shed to ensure that each of “B†flight was loaded up with 4 25lb Cooper bombs. Having issued his orders, he promptly headed for the mess. As he entered he noted his crew already assembled at the table near the coffee dispenser. He glanced at each man as he approached, mentally recalling their names. (Ltn Salisbury, Capt Alfred “Pat†Saunders, Capt “Art†Duncan, Capt john Crompton, Capt George Hegarty, Ltn John Griffith and Ltn Robert “Little†#%&*$#) So many new men, he thought to himself and none of the Original crew. It was not a thought he wanted to dwell on and so announced himself to all. “Well lads, this should be a cracker jack outing this morning. It will be “B†flights show on a special run to assess the enemy buildup on the airfields surrounding Villers-au-Tertre. Of course a proper OP to assess the build up can’t be achieved without waking up the sleeping Huns, so….. I have had the ordinance crew issue each of us some Cooper bombs which we shall use judiciously as the opportunity presents itself over Tertre.
If the mission goes as planned we will take our observations and then head for Mont-St-Eloi to report in. No hanging about lads. Drop the ordinance and quickly assess the situation and then we get out quickly. No point in hanging around the hornets nest.â€

A suite of smiles went up round the table as chuckles began to break the silence of the mess.

The flight took off promptly at 08h22; formed up at 11,800 ft over Droglandt at 08h57 and turned SE towards Lens and Douai.

09h09 found them approaching the lines at 13,500 ft. NE of Lens.

At 09h11 they were over Haubourdin and no sign of enemy flak.

At 09h21 they passed over Douai and Godfrey could make out the outline of the circle of enemy airfields. It was only a matter of minutes until Godfrey could make out Villers-au-Tertre and wobbling his wings he began a slow circling descent cutting back to throttle to idle.

The flight broke into two’s, each heading for an adjoining field with intent to wake the Hun from his sleep.

Things went quickly. The number two man of each group was tasked to take the primary observations until his turn to go in and then the task was reversed.

Godfrey and Salisbury teamed up on Tertre, each loosing his load and taking assessment of ordinance on the fields.

Following the drop, the sky quickly heated up with flak and Godfrey headed back up to altitude with Salisbury in tow. They headed NW of Masny to the planned rendezvous position, sent up flares to rejoin and awaited their flight mates arrival. All made it back to rendezvous except Griffith. Whitney would later indicate Griffith had been hit by flak and headed west.

Godfrey took “B†flight in the same direction, headed for Mont-St-Eloi and hoped that they might spot Griffith hobbling along in the same direction.
They never did see him but it turned out he crash landed across the lines
On the Bethune Cambrai road, a little worse for wear and shaken up but otherwise no serious damage other than to his SE which was a write-off.

Back at Eloi Godfrey called in the results of the mission, indicating significant build up of aircraft at the Huns airfields. Clearly something was up.

Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/18 01:27 PM

Wow, awesome stuff all around gents.

Fullofit, a well and proper salute to Aldi. I will miss his stories. What a great sendoff too! Well done and best of luck with your next pilot.

Raine Glad to see you back in the air and giving the Huns a proper what for! I hope the ear stays intact for you.

Robert Always nice to catch up on Mr Godfrey's story. It amazes me he has managed to last so long in this crazy war!

Jerbear I love the little americanisms you add. It gives a different flavour to the stories here.

Carrick Cyril is a beast! Keep it going.

Good old Collin has been up to the usual misadventures that seem to plague my pilots whenever I get actual time to fly, although this time it took a more interesting turn:

Lt Collin Sitwell
62 Sqn RAF
Cappy

I was the guest of honour at a dinner I never expected to attend when I awoke that morning. My current dining companions are the fine gentlemen of Jasta 5. I do feel a tad under-dressed, as I did not bring my mess kit with me on this particular excursion. Wendell is similarly dressed, and looks similarly uncomfortable with the circumstances. After several days of patrols with empty skies, we came upon a group of V strutters near Baupaume or however it is you spell it. The fight was a fierce one and I was forced to disengage after taking some damage. As we struggled for altitude on our escape to our lines, Wendell smacked my shoulder and pointed. My heart immediately dropped through the floor.

[Linked Image]
Wendell and I on the way to dinner

No less than seven Fokker Triplanes were bearing down. There was two options: Land on the hun side of the lines or try to fight it out and hope to survive until the rest of the Sqn came along. As my good friend Gord from back home always would say, courage couldn't come at a worse time. I turned into the attack and immediately regretted the decision. A hail of machine gun rounds snapped past, most passing through the fabric of the wings. there was nothing for it now. I slammed the stick forward and lost altitude as quickly as possible. The ground rushed up towards me and I leveled out at the last possible second, damn near losing the undercarriage on some trees. Seconds latter we were bouncing down a lane in Hun occupied France.

Mercifully, neither of us were hit, and we scrambled out of our doomed craft. Wendell looked at me and I at him and for whatever reason, despite our predicament, we began laughing like children. How the hell had we survived that nonsense? Wendell recovered from our momentary insanity first and remembered that we were supposed to light the damn thing on fire to deny it to the enemy. It was not five minutes later that the Boche found us sitting on the side of the road watching our crate burn like a bonfire.

We were searched and then taken to a prisoner collection point, where I could not tell you. There we were hearded into a pen with several other Allied soldiers, although this seemed like a transitory camp, as it was not particularly full. About an hour later a finely dressed officer with a great mustache approached us. In heavily accented english he asked us if we were the flyers of the two seater forced down. When we confirmed this, he broke into a wide grin and introduced himself as Leutnant Fritz Rumey [1], the pilot whose bursts finally put us down. He insisted that we join him for dinner at his aerodrome. In no position to refuse, off we went.

[Linked Image]
Fritz Rumey

The dinner was delicious and the drinks flowed freely. We were closely watched, however, to be honest, the thought of escaping never really crossed my mind. Maybe it was because of the alcohol, but the thought of running through the cold night trying to evade capture and death seemed like a poor substitute for our current circumstances.

After the dinner concluded the Leutnant led us out to the hanger to show us his mount. After the suitable amount of ooing and ahhing he gave a sly look and took us into a separate hanger. Here he showed us his new mount. Freshly arrived he told us. I had never seen one like it before. It had a square nose and a VI strut pattern. It was painted a bright yellow. He seemed particularly proud of the machine, and he said it would win Germany the war in the air. Wendell and I nodded politely and were soon loaded into the Sqn vehicle to be escorted back to the prisoner collection point.

As our hosts left, the reality of the situation began to set it. What were we going to do now?

[1] Leutnant Fritz Rumey started flying his yellow Fokker DVII sometime around June 26th. He would achieve 45 victories, including 16 in the month of September 1918 before he was killed due to a parachute malfunction on 27 September 1918.


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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/18 02:06 PM

endlich
[Linked Image]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/18 05:40 PM

Nicely done Gents
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/18 09:26 PM

Enjoying the stories all. Canuck - nice touch to show the face of the enemy in your story. Hope Cpt Sitwell gets a chance to make a break for it.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Saturday, June 22nd 1918

The photographers came today. They did both still photographs and moving pictures for the military records. The process started about 15:00. They took individual photos of the pilots who had gotten Boche with their aircraft, which included myself, and a number of group shots. The most interesting of these was a staged shot with a group of us, all in our finery, gathered around Mickey and Jerry being introduced to Jack (1). I hope I can get hold of a copy of it. Some of these pictures will probably make it home to the newspapers.

After the photo sessions, a parade was held for an awards ceremony. The French from the 122nd were present also. There were a large number of us, both American and French receiving the Croix-de-Guerre with palm or in some cases, palms. A French Major from their 8th Army read the citations for each of us, then an old Colonel with so many medals on his chest that they made him walk lopsided stalked up, affixed the hardware to our chests, saluted, then tried to wring our hands off. No kiss, apparently they give so many of these pieces of tin away that they save the smooch for higher awards. A movie guy was there to record the process while one of his crew played soft music on a hand organ. Dewey and I put them away in our trunks, not the sort of thing you walk around with on your chest all the time.

(1) Mickey Two, a bull terrier, mascot of the 147th Aero; Jerry, a boxer and mascot of the 27th Aero; Jack the donkey, mascot of the 95th Aero. There were a number of other mascots, the 27th had two geese as well and one of the mascots for the 94th Aero was a Fox named Joe.



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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/23/18 09:45 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Sunday, June 23rd 1918

Cloudy, windy, occasional rain. Went out with Snake, Dodd, and Dewey to escort a French camera kite, couldn't find it so we patrolled just in front of our balloon line, saw two EA, probably biplace but they avoided us.

Went over to visit Davy, they made some really delicious fudge, going to have to try to make some myself.

Dewey got confirmation on his 2nd Hun, many congratulations, both of them his alone.

A regiment or two of US Infantry passed by on their way to the Front, no doubt replacing the Yankee Division. These birds were from the 82nd, drafted in April and don't look like very high class troops.

Going over to the bath house, then to bed.

Below: Dewey's 2nd kill



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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/18 02:43 AM

Great stories, as always, gentlemen! Fullofit, sorry to hear of Aldi's passing. A touching farewell, well done! Raine, DarkCanuck, and carrick, keep up the good work! Robert, nice to see you back in the fray! And welcome to our latest wordsmith, Jerbear! It's nice to have a Yank reporting from "over there", usually with wonderful historical detail.

I'll also add a good word for Olham, whose early stories really picqued my interest in the sim. Maybe if we repeat his name three times he will show back up again!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/18 03:04 AM

I agree, Herr Olham helped my interest in this Sim and Mr. Rawlings got my interest in Skinning. I wish him well, The last I heard, Herr Olham was enjoying Naval Action as a sea Cpt aboard a Ship named the Albatross ? on the European Server of the Naval Action Game. I play every so often ,but on the American server
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/18 03:20 AM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
7 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 24, 1918

As the Ami's say, I was robbed. The Sgn put up 10 a/c in two flights with Cpt Elroy leading , Hes our Big Hunter 26 Kills and he got another today, We did a sweep near Vimy and got into it with 2 flights of e/a. One high, Tri planes, and one low Albatross Scouts with a lot of cloud between and below. I chase a 3 wing down thru the clouds and got him smoke fire and the e/a fell apart. I had used all my Vickers plus 1 Drum Lewis to nail him Reloaed and chase and Albatross peppering him good,but he didnt go down. I must have hit him because he stayed level so I reloaded the top gun and got much closer Bang Bang JAMMED. All that was left for me was to Petal to the Metal and RTB. I told my story to the Adjutant and he sad, I get the picture old Boy,but no witness , no proof being under the clouds and on the enemy side equals Dont bother to fill out the claim. The Sqn claimed 4 e/a for 2 damaged SE's.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/18 08:48 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

June 24th 1918

The Major led 6 of us on protection patrol for a French photo plane alone the Meusse, east of St. Mihiel. Near Thiaucourt aerodrome, 4 Pfalz monoplace began to chase our Frenchman, evidently unaware of our presence.

When we were in a perfect position to swoop down on them from the sun, Maj gave the signal. The leader of the enemy flight, in a silver gray bus with a red tail (1), turned to face us while the other 3 Fritzies dove away, whipping their Mercedes for all they were worth. While the others engaged red tail, Maj, Simmy, Shawhan, Dewey and I streaked past him to chased the other birdys. I had the better machine so caught up with the tail man, had him on a plate, Dewey watching my tail, delivered a long burst and saw the flaming feathers go directly into the body of the plane, near the office, from about 50 yards. The Silver Pfalz caught fire. He went straight down, just east of Lake Madine. Hard luck for the German, hope he was already dead before his machine caught fire, but I was particularly proud of this achievement since the Major was close by, watching the whole show. We were pretty far into Indian Country so I don't know if I'll get confirmation but Maj said to put in for it anyway.

Art, Parry and Snake said red tail was a spectacular pilot and they had quite a scrap with him. He disengaged after putting holes in all their Nieuports and they left off chasing him when they saw the Major's flare, ending the festivities.

We reformed at about 3,000 meters under heavy Archie. Maj picked up some shrapnel so he turned the formation over to Snake and made for the lines. Dewey and I left the formation to escort him until he landed within our lines. Took a little ground fire as we were down to 1,000 meters as we crossed the enemy trenches.

That evening we talked about what we would do if we found ourselves in the position of the German I sent west. Some plan to jump, like Lufberry, some take their 45s with them while others think it best to try to side slip and land if possible, maybe try to jump out just before they crash and take their chances. I take my 45 with me, I don't like the idea of jumping, would, of course, try to fan out the flames first but if it looks like I'm going to be barbecued I'll do what's necessary.

(1) Friedrich Hengst of Jasta 64W, a 5 victory ace who took down two Nieuport 28s on 7 May and 2 June. The 2 June victory was 1Lt Phillip Davis of the 94th Aero.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/24/18 10:22 PM

well done Jerbear. A nice read + a good Pic.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/18 01:36 AM

Albert Earl Godfrey

25 Feb 1918 @ 08h22 DOP to Villers-au-Tertre aerodrome

No time to submit story line for this mission. Hopefully update it tomorrow.

What is worthy of note in the video is the Unbustable balloon (07:13:10 minutes in); and the weird terrain tiles which I suspect were affected by cloud cover since they disappear on approach and reappear on withdrawl (09:11:23 minutes in). Anyone else experience this?

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/18 03:16 AM

Another Well done for Mr Wiggins.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/18 03:27 AM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
8 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 25, 1918. Morning Formation, I was awarded the D.F.C.

Morning Escort :: Covered an RE 8 going to targets near Cambrai Lots of e/a flying by ,but no attacks

Patrol: I was Acting Flight Leader for a Sweep near Vimy and I didnt do to great. Our 6 a/c spotted and flew under a flight of e/a. I kept such a close watch that I didnt see a Lone ? Albatross come up behind me. I heard a Rat a tat then spotted holes in my kites lower right wing. I broke left while my wingmate broke right. The e/a peeled off after my wingman so I kept in a turn and came up his tail. Holding down the triggers, he came apart. The rest of the flight had tangled with the other e/a and got 2 destroyed mine made 3. B Flt had 2 a/c damaged.

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/18 03:49 AM

Originally Posted by carrick58
Another Well done for Mr Wiggins.


Well, the darn balloon was impregnable but at least we got back to base without any losses.
Posted By: Hellshade

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/25/18 02:42 PM

Talk about shooting the wings and feet off of a fly! Nice going, Carrick. I feel bad for that poor chap.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/18 01:00 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Wednesday morning, June 26th 1918

Yesterday, rained in the morning but cleared up about 11:00. At 13:00 the Major took four of us on an offensive patrol into Germany. We were to hang around the aerodrome at Thiaucourt to bounce anything that came along. We stayed at 5,000 meters and kept, as much as possible, between the sun and the aerodrome to avoid a shrapnel barrage that would call attention to us.

After about 20 minutes of this the Major brought us around to head south for home, when four dots appeared about 12 or 1500 meters below us, flying toward Thiaucourt. He waggled his wings, pointed downward and began tumbling his Nieuport down like a leaf. It was a beautiful thing to see. Ralph and Alk followed suit but I'm a little cautious of that maneuver. It's hard for me to recover from it and I get very dizzy so I piqued as steeply as I dared. I didn't look around to see where Dewey was, just assumed he we diving or tumbling somewhere in one of my blind spots.

I was correct, he was in one of my blind spots, directly beneath me and no more aware of my whereabouts as I was of his. Suddenly his Nieuport was right there in front of me, I yanked the stick back hard, heard a loud crack and saw my top wing appear to break loose and whip back. I knew what this was, it was the reason I had been cautious about my dive in the first place. I knew too that the bottom wing would probably hold and the ailerons are on that, which would give me some control. The plane was still diving and the motor had cut off but it answered to the controls.

I made a careful recovery at 2,000 meters, restarted the motor by catching the prop. There was a blue flash from the gas accumulated under the cowling but I didn't blow up or catch fire, for which I was immensely grateful. Keeping the motor full on and nudging the plane in a southward direction I examined the top wing. All the leading edge back to the main spar had torn off, taking the linen completely off the starboard surface, half the covering on the lower surface was held against the ribs by wind pressure alone. Nearly half the left wing was a naked skeleton. (1)

In my Father's sermons, this would be the moment that I cried out to the Lord to perform a miracle, give me guidance or repent, trust myself to his mercy "Thy will be done," or make a deal with the Almighty, which would have been as much use as my Nannette and Rintintin hanging on the control panel. They say there are no atheists in foxholes, but it's not true. The idea never even occurred to me. Instead I ran the advice Rick had given me from his experience of this very scenario through my head as I tried to take the proper steps that would keep me alive. It was up to me and my Nieuport. The starboard wing was getting almost no lift at all so the crate kept wanting to bank and go into a spin. I had to apply both rudder and ailerons over to the right to compensate for the instability, which caused me to edge west. Keeping her going south was a continual process of easing off the controls to change direction every so slightly, then reapply them hard over before loosing the balance. Rick had shifted his weight by leaning over to the right, this helped a little as well and I thanked him.

All through that, seemingly endless journey, I coaxed and caressed the controls, completely attuned to every sound and movement my little ship made. I talked to her, told her what a good girl she was, how beautiful she was and how much I loved flying her and she talked back to me with the sound of her engine, the humming of her wires, her movements, telling me what she needed from me to keep us in the sky. I started calling her "Babygirl." It seemed I had heard the nickname before somewhere but still call it up. Anyway, that was her name now. We were like one being and I wondered, "is this what it's like to be with a woman?" I decided that if we survived this adventure I would find out as soon as practicable.

As soon as we crossed the Lines we began a shallow dive, a very shallow dive. I was having problems keeping her on an even keel because of the drag of the torn fabric whipping around, I told Babygirl we'd be home in a jiffy, just hold on and we'll get you taken care of.

I was at 300 meters by the time I sighted Gengoult. I went straight in at full throttle because I didn't dare let up and loose the lift from the wings. I killed the engine as soon as her wheels touched and when she had slowed enough I yanked back the stick with all my might to dig her tail skid into the ground as we went into the field next to the landing field, stopping just before we hit the fence.

I just sat in her as what seemed like every vehicle at the aerodrome came racing up to us. Black was first up the side, asking me "Hey, you Okay Loot?" I just looked at him and nodded, I couldn't feel my face, I must have been pale as a ghost. He helped me out of the cockpit onto the ground. As soon as my feet touched the good earth my knees buckled and I vomited on all fours. I muttered something about "Damn Castor Oil," but I didn't fool anyone.

I got up on my own after awhile and stood with my face and hands on Babygirl's side. I whispered to her "Thanks Babygirl, we're going to be fine now, Black'll take care of you and your'll be right as rain, lets both get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow." They wanted to give me a ride to the orderly room but I wanted to walk. Two enlisted men walked with me, just in case.

Dewey came in while I was making my report, looking like he was going to cry. He thought I was dead and it was his fault and kept apologizing but I told him it wasn't anyone's fault. You can't see everything up there, especially down and forward. I should have been essing so I could see around me instead of fixating on watching the Major's stunt. I punched him his the chest, calling him an SOB, and received a like blow, after which we both had a hysterical laugh in loo of what might have manifested itself in a hug, that just wouldn't do. By the way, the four Boche got away.

While I was in the orderly room they told me my Pfalz was confirmed. I'm quite surprised, maybe the flames caught someone's attention and they put two and two together from my report and those of the rest of the flight. Anyway, now I've accounted for two trained Germans and their machines which I'd say pays for my training at least.

The Major talked to me a little about the incident then told me to get some rest, which I immediately did.

(1) The damage in the picture from the game does not match the damage described in the journal entry. The damage description and what was required to keep the plane in the air is a compilation of several reports of similar incidents, among them, Rickenbacker and Meissner of the 94th Aero.

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Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/18 01:07 AM

Wow, quite a close scare there, jerbear! Your description of nursing "Babygirl" back to base had me on the edge of my seat. Good show!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/18 02:19 AM

Hellshade
I dont know how I did that because I was aiming at the Pilot. Some how, I got the wing root and it came apart.

Jerbear
E gad man ! How did U fly that !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/18 02:23 AM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
8 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 26, 1918. B flight hit an enemy A.F. today. A real brawl even had a e/a flash by then he was gone.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/26/18 11:39 PM

Carrick - The Nieuport was unstable and I didn't dare make any sudden movements but it wasn't nearly as nerve wracking as the historical accounts. Not expecting to die in reality took some of the stress off. The sim can only do so much. I did have to make that straight in landing at full power because the plane wanted to stall any time the engine wasn't at full. Certainly doable.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/18 04:10 PM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
8 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 27, 1918.

Another big fight over by Menen. The Sqn's 10 a/c were doing a sweep and caught 3 Hannover Recon types over then lines. The fight took the Flight down to the deck , knocking down all the machines) while I stayed high. I had spotted a flight of Fokkers. Out of a 7 a/c total 3 came down to play the rest went home. After much turning and doing chandells my flight came back up and saved my bacon. B flight had 5 Kills, A flight 1 Kill total 6 e/a destroyed. The flight had 2 damaged with 1 pilot wnd + mine a well shot up SE over 18 holes.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/27/18 11:55 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Evening, June 26th

Seemed like every mechanic in the place was working on Babygirl today. In addition to recovering the wing they're having to replace damaged ribs, overhauling her engine, repairing and replacing the controls overtaxed by our ordeal. Her landing gear is having to be changed, new shock absorbers, tires.

There's no reserve machine for me to fly so my time is relatively free today but I couldn't stay away from the hangars, guess I'm a little infatuated with my plane. Well, love is where you find it and we certainly had a bonding experience yesterday. I tried to stay out of Black's way as much as possible but painted her name underneath the office and put my 2nd Rat on the rail above my Mickey.

Everyone else was busy, a number of patrols flown. Very strong wind from the Northeast. Roby and Pip crashed their planes after becoming separated from their flights, Bedroll and Ash are missing and we fear the worst.

The 27th finally put something on the scoreboard. In the same fight, MacArthur sent down a biplace over Lorry, SE of Metz and their Major Hartney got an Albatros. Now they can paint their beer crate eagle on their machines.

Talked to Davy this evening about the private matter I want to take care of as soon as possible. He's much more a man of the world than I am and said he knows just the place. We'll go over to Nancy at the first opportunity, hopefully soon because we expect to be moving to the big show at any moment.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/28/18 02:46 PM

Cyril Woolly
Cpt, Rfc, Instructor Pilot
9 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 28, 1918.


Morning Sweep by Fricourt. B flight engaged 5 Fokkers. Our Cover Flight was out of position so did not engage. B Flight just went at it Pell Mell with the devils. We knocked down 3 ( 1 was mine ) the others went home. The cost was 1 SE destroyed Pilot KIA + 3 damaged. My Chap was flying across the front during the opening of the fight. I was firing at everyone as we smashed thru. I must have hit his gas or oil lines because his Prop came to a Stop. As I dove and zoomed , I turned and saw him smack the ground in a huge Dust Cloud. Victory # 9.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/29/18 02:42 PM

Cyril Woolly
Maj , Rfc, Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
9 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


June 29, 1918.

Morning Parade: Promoted to Major and made B Flt Commander.

1001 Hrs. B flight was assigned to Offensive Patrol near Vimy. Met and engaged , I was mostly chased till the Flight tore into them, a flight of Pfalz Scouts. B Flt scored 3 of the e/a for 0 losses with 2 damaged.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/29/18 04:10 PM

It's been difficult to keep up given real-life commitments recently. Jerbear, I continue to be an avid fan of Goode. Your story of his near-fatal collision was a true nail-biter. Very well done! Robert, great video. That was a giant fake wooden balloon, I think. Carrick, you're an amazing trooper. Great photos.

Here is the latest from Geoffrey Corderoy, who is going to a new squadron.

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 43 Squadron RFC
Part 57: 23 February 1918 – 1 March 1918

23-24 February 1918 – Poperinghe aerodome / Dunkirk


Awoke to high winds and sleet rattling on the tin roof of the hut. Flying was out of the questions so had a good sleep and caught up on letters. Brother Reggie is bound for Egypt after all, flying RE8s. Wrote him to send commiseration.

Wrote recommendations to promote Koch and Seth-Smith to lieutenant.

We had a tender laid on to take all interested parties to Dunkirk for shopping. Bought shaving soap, brandy, a small carpet, and a couple of good books. Quigley and I discovered a little place called the Café au Centre at Malo, and had a fine tea.

The weather being unfit, several of us decided to overnight in the town and stay on until the next morning. I had to arrange a drive home as there was a conference at Wing to attend in the afternoon. The Huns are looking to make things hot when the weather breaks, it seems. Lieut-Col Van Rynevelt confided that a move was in the offing for me.

25 February 1918

Wing called around 10 and ordered a flight to chase off some Huns over Choques. Rushed off with all available, including Hobson and most of his flight. Patrolled over Choques for an hour but no one showed up for the party.

26 February 1918


Joined Gorringe’s flight to attack the Hun field at Haubordin. We came down through the cloud and hit their hangars and sheds quite successfully. Poor little Huns were running about with the breeze nicely up. Gorringe spotted some two-seaters off to the east and we climbed to attack them as they headed home. I got behind one and shot him about, but the crew was keen and the gunner managed to get a few bursts in my direction during a turn. The rounds cannot have missed by much, for the odour of phosphorous was very distinct as they passed, and at least one round hit my machine forward of my position.

Discretion being the better part and all that, I turned west and climbed away, accompanied by Rankin. Scarcely had we crossed over no man’s land than the revs dropped away and the prop windmilled to a stop. I stared out over a mass of torn brown mud under a grey sky, looking for a place to put down. Our trenches passed below and I could hear cheering and see the upturned faces of the poor buggers who lived and fought down there. Then ahead I made out a narrow guage line heading back towards Amentieres, and resolved to put down alongside it. I stalled the Camel into the muck beside the line and came to a stop in mere feet.

27 February 1918

Line patrol south this morning, joining Gorringe again. We took off at ten amidst falling snow and climbed into the sunshine. Orders had been to patrol at 10000 feet, but Gorringe pushed higher, looking for clear visibility. My ear seemed to hold up well.

Patrolled up and down from Lens to Havrincourt for an hour and a half, seeing not a thing, and then returned frozen and miserable to Poperinghe.

On landing I was handed orders from Wing that I was to be transferred to take over as OC of 43 Squadron, another Camel squadron, based at La Gorgue. After lunch I packed everything into the Standard and headed for Mont Rouge to see the Wing Commander.

I had to wait for twenty minutes before the striking Boer emerged from a meeting and I began by informing him that I was reporting to La Gorgue that afternoon and thanking him for posting me to a front-line unit.

“Depending on the enemy you might be in the thick of it or you might be pulled back,†he said. “Your new lot have been decent enough, but HQ thinks you can get more out of them. There have been hints that the unit is earmarked for new machines, and it will be your job to ensure they deserve them.â€
“Bentley Camels?†I asked. The RNAS had already received these 150 hp machines and were very pleased.

“Can’t say,†said Van Ryneveld, but his smile betrayed somethings.

“Snipes?â€

“Oh God, those things are a long way off. But,†he said with a conspiratorial grin, “I hear that a Snipe will be sent over to 1 AD for evaluation. If you’re available I’ll give you a call to take it up.â€

The drive to La Gorgue was miserable. The poor little Standard skidded all over the place and twice I needed to recruit some willing Tommies to push the thing up hills, but at five o’clock I pulled up to the squadron office – the same little building I’d reported to when I first arrived at 46 Squadron in May of last year, fresh from England. A dusting of snow covered the field, but the cindered runways were visible and the row of Nissens, including old No. 3 that I’d once called home. The RO was a pleasant fellow named Purdy, and I was introduced to the Engineering Officer, a chap name Greene. Purdy reviewed the squadron organization with me.

The three flight commanders were all British. We had far fewer colonials than most squadrons. There was Trollope on A FLight, who’d flown with 70 before I was there He’d had a flight since the summer battles. Balfour had B Flight. He’d come from the King’s Royal Rifle Corps and flown Strutters with 43. Had the MC. Then there was Woollett in C Flight, also with an MC. He was described as a bit of a character. I’d get to know the others at dinner. The one name that stood out was Lieut. Charles Chaplin Banks – his real name, I was assured. In fact, he’d recently arrived in France from HE, where he’d won an MC downing a Gotha in January.

28 February 1918 – La Gorgue

Despite the snow, we had several patrols this day. I joined Trollope on a DOP to Avelin. On the return trip we ran into a group of Albatros D5s near Houplin. The fellows handled themselves well. I managed to get onto one Hun, a yellow machine with a black tail, and sent him down out of control. Unfortunately no one saw him crash and he remained officially only a “driven down.â€

[Linked Image]
"I managed to get onto one Hun, a yellow machine with a black tail, and sent him down out of control."


1 March 1918

We are trying to close the eyes of the Hun, and so were ordered to attack their field at Lomme, south of Lille. I joined Trollope’s crew again and led the attack, hitting the hangars and sheds heavily and destroying two machines on the ground. We lost a new man named Bliss. No one saw his end; he simply failed to form up when the attack was done. The Hun Archie was surprisingly good. One puff erupted under my machine, throwing it up a hundred feet. Just as happened the week before, the engine cut out over no man’s land and I put down in a snow squall, again next to a rail line.


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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 06/29/18 11:45 PM

A good read Raine, as always. Good luck with #43 Squadron, they sound like a top notch outfit.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/18 12:50 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Saturday, June 30th 1918

Touquin Aerodrome

Living in tents at present, eating canned horse and dog bisquits (1) should get quarters tomorrow. No flying until today, shortage of gas and castor oil.

Bedroll came in, seems he was so lost he ended up about 15 or 16 km from the Swiss border near Belfort. Ash is detained in Switzerland and expects to be repatriated. Now that's LOST!

Orders came down on Thursday and the ground squirrels left right then, all except the mechs and some trucks to transport them. Flew all the planes here on Friday, nice hot, dry day, only a few pilots got lost or had mechanical problems. We got back from our adventure just in time. More about that. The mechs stayed until Saturday, the place was bombed Friday night after we flew out but no casualties in our outfit. Rick didn't get to come along, his ear is giving him fits and they sent him to the evac. hospital.

Big muster of the entire Group this morning, told us the fuel shortage had been alleviated and patrols would begin. Made 1st familiarization flight over our new sector, Faverolles which is 24 km SE of Chateau-Thierry, East to Dormans. Found our landmarks and best routes. This place is only about 10 miles from Paris. It's a long run to the Front tho, about 40 miles.

The Major took Me, Dewey, Alk, Snake and Steve on a cooks tour inside our lines at 5,000 meters, concentrating on the area around Chateau Thierry. Babygirl running beautifully.

Now, about Thurday evening. Davy made some phone calls and got everything arranged, borrowed a car from the French, for which I payed a handsome bribe. Couldn't get one of ours because they all left in the morning. Loafed, read and worked on Babygirl all day, butterflies in my stomach, worrying that something would put a damper on our plans, while at the same time wanting to back out of it.

We left about 5, Davy, Dewey, Me and Wally. Went to Pont St. Vincent where there's a Maison Tol'er'ee, a blue light brothel for officers, first rate, the girls get regular exams, condoms provided. Off limits to AEF, Black Jack frowns on this sort of thing, even though he has a French mistress in Paris, RHIP (2). Davy had everything arranged and I had the purse. Three of us sat in a parlor with erotic paintings and statues scattered around and a girl playing the piano while Davy haggled with the madame, I was glad to be spared all that, especially since I would have been far out of my depth.

After a bit, four women came in with the madame. I was introduced to Colette, who would be my flight instructor, to aid me in earning this new, very different, set of wings. Slim, but who isn't slim in France these days, except for the Politicians, Bureaucrats and Generals. A few years older than me, but only a couple I'd say. Dark hair piled in a softly swirling Pompadour, dark, intelligent, almond eyes, one slightly rounder than the other but compensated for by cosmetics, she wore quite a bit of makeup as did the other three, an unusual, upward curving nose, long, elegant neck.

We were ushered into a dining room where the chef they employed had put on a feast of a pork dinner, Champagne, I paid for everything. Davy had been amazed at how much money I possessed. I still had the money Uncle Bob had given me when I left the States and I don't gamble and seldom drink. I didn't drink a lot of the Champagne but enough to fell guilty about not holding to the Temperance Pledge I had signed in the Family Bible to please my mother. Sort of funny, feeling guilty about drinking a little wine when I was sitting in a whorehouse.

The room was a little stuffy with the blackout drapes pulled tight. She spoke fair English. I was a bit tongue tied so she carried the conversation in a deep but not harsh or masculine voice, drawing me out. She had long expressive hands which she used continually for emphasis, making a point of lightly touching me from time to time. She was fascinating to watch.

As the Champagne took hold I became more relaxed. Davy made a point of letting everyone know that Dewey and I both had 2 Boche to our credit, which impressed them very much. She started calling me "Mon Foucon," My Falcon. The girls schedules were entirely open for us, so there was no rush, no time limit, no 15 Francs for a half hour. We all smoked in the drawing room after dinner. This was the first time I had seen a woman smoke, except for my Granny with her corn cob pipe, smoking to relieve a tooth ache. Colette had a very suggestive way of blowing the smoke out her nose, in fact, everything she did seemed suggestive, but then it could have just been my frame of mind.

After a bit she stood up and took me by the hand, each pair of us going upstairs. I spent six glorious, profitable and educational hours with her. When it was time to go, actually past the time when I should have left, she gave me a kiss, told me,"Eu weel com back teu see me Mon Foucon, ann bring me the ead uv ae Boche, oui," then she laughed and shoved me out the door before I could respond in any way.

We had to race like the Devil was chasing us to get back on time. Jumped into our gear and drove out to the field in the French car. Everyone else was already at the hangars, getting ready to mount up. The Major just pretended he didn't see us. The 147th flew out last, right behind Davy's outfit.

I'm glad I did it and it was certainly something I'll never forget and I'll never forget her. Didn't want to die without ever having known a woman. It's not like I have some premonition of my death but there's certainly a high chance I might die, given where we are now.

(1) Canned horse and dog biscuits - Bully Beef and hardtack

(2) RHIP - rank had it's privileges








Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/18 02:19 AM

Careful Jerbear Goode may get the French Flu and need a lot of shots.

Thanks Raine, I try to " Hang in There ".
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/18 02:29 AM

Cyril Woolly
Maj , Rfc, Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
10 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.



June 30, 1918. The chaps were doing an Escort and engaged a flight of Albatross Scouts. A bang em up type brawl. I damaged one but couldn't follow him down because 2 of his buddies dropped on my tail. I gained speed the did a reversal spitting them . I swung 180 , and sitting in front was a Hun. By jove, I pulled the triggers and the e/a smoked then flipped over and went into the ground. B Flight claimed 3 a/d that day + mine However, we lost an a/c and 1 more pilot was wnd.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/18 05:12 AM

Cyril Woolly
Maj , Rfc, Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
10 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

July 1 , 1918 B flights sweep area was down by Fricourt. We Flew at 12,000 so to have height advantage over them. Sure enough an enemy flight appeared and as soon as we turned my Motor went u/s. I nosed over and lost a few thousand feet but was able to re-start. Looking up I saw e/a coming down and picked up a couple on my tail. after a wild few minutes , and wild shooting. I nosed over and ran for it. The mec's said it was Icing again. B Flight claimed 2 e/a but lost 1 SE.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/18 07:11 PM

carrick - could happen, and in the US Army you get a Court Martial too boot.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Sunday, July 1st 1918

Billeted in the village of Touquin now, in the hotel. Settling in. The 27th fared much better, Hartney was able to get them a large Chateau near Ormeaux.

New guy arrived today, 1Lt. Bennett Wells. He's an ex-ferry pilot. Major asked for him, says he's first rate.

The Brain Trust tells us that the Germans have a full 3rd of their Pursuit Squadrons posted in this sector now, including Richthofen's old Circus.

The Major took all 8 of us with operational machines on a familiarization flight to Chateau-Thierry then to Troesnes, just south of Faverolles this morning. Orders out, we're supposed to learn every town in the sector and it's relative distance to every other town. Huge job for the memory. Dewey and I drill each other, I always had trouble in school, trying to remember things by rote. Whole Group kept on alert all day, very tiring.

O'Niell led Dewey and me on a protection patrol in the afternoon at 3,500 meters over the big American attack, straight at the Chateau-Thierry/Belleau Line. Artillery preparation was tremendous. Huge clouds of smoke and dust at over 3,000 meters. Saw a large formation of Germans come over, 7 or 8 of them, too many to engage. They didn't attack us or the boys on the ground so we left them alone, I suppose they didn't see us or we weren't what they were hungry for.

The Hat in the Ring Gang had a fight with the new Fokkers, lost Harold Tittmann.

Quentin Roosevelt is with the 95th now. He's been assigned as Davy's flight commander but he had enough sense to let them know that he didn't expect to lead patrols any time soon. They all seem to have really taken to him. Seems like an entirely different bird now that he's here instead of at the mud hole. I was introduced to him, he either didn't remember me from Issoudun or pretended not to. He has that big toothy smile, like his daddy and that kind of handshake that'll wring your arm out of it's socket.



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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/18 10:09 PM

So many great stories. I’m glad I drop in here from time to time.
Jerbear, very engaging story. Would like to hear more about the “pork dinner†at Madame’s.
Raine, good luck with the new outfit. I know Corderoy will be able to whip them into shape. Are they really getting Bentleys? It’s weird but I was able to catch them much easier than the regular Camels in my Pfalz.
Dark Canuck, looking forward to how your pilot will get out of his predicament.
And finally Carrick, I think you’re flying too high and keep getting iced. frosty
Keep the stories coming and keep us all engaged. salute
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/18 11:08 PM

News of the world for February - Intrepid Fliers:

February 1
Governments of the Central Powers formally recognised the Ukraine republic.
February 3
The British Government announced the enlargement of powers of the Supreme War Council at Versailles.
February 4
General Mikhail Alexeiev moved towards Moscow with a force of Don Cossacks for action against the Bolsheviks.
February 5
The British liner SS Tuscania was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of Ireland by the German submarine UB-77 while carrying American troops to Europe.
The Russian Government announced the separation of the Russian Orthodox Church from the state.
February 6
The German Government sent an ultimatum to the Romanian Government demanding peace negotiations within four days.
February 8
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Boxer sank after colliding with the merchant ship SS St Patrick in the English Channel.
February 9
A peace treaty was signed at Brest-Litovsk between the Central Powers and the Ukraine.
Alexandru Averescu replaced Ion I. Constantin Bratianu as Prime Minister of Romania after Bratianu refused to negotiate with the Germans and resigned.
February 10
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George entrusted Lord Beaverbrook with the responsibility of establishing the new Ministry of Information in charge of propaganda.
February 11
US President Wilson addressed Congress to add extra aims to his fourteen point program for world peace.
A staunch opponent of the Bolsheviks, Russian General Alexei Maximovich Kaledin committed suicide by shooting himself.
February 12
The British steamer HMS Polo was torpedoed and sunk without warning by German submarine UB-57.
February 14
The Gregorian calendar was adopted in Russia. The Council
of People's Commissars had issued a decree that Wednesday 31 January 1918 was to be followed by Thursday 14 February 1918, thus dropping 13 days from the calendar.
February 15
A sustained German destroyer raid in the Straits of Dover resulted in the sinking of a British Admiralty trawler and several net drifters.
February 16
General Lionel Dunsterville led his "Dunsterforce" troops to Enzeli on a mission to gather information, train and command local forces, and prevent the spread of German propaganda.
February 18
The Armistice on the Russian front expired. German armies resumed hostilities and began to advance towards Dvinsk on the Eastern Front.
February 19
The Russian Bolshevik Government indicated a willingness to sign the peace treaty at Brest-Litovsk.
February 20
German troops continued their advance towards Petrograd, Moscow and Kiev.
February 21
British forces captured Jericho in Palestine, thus depriving the Turks of their advance base for the defence of Palestine.
February 22
Owing to the growing fear of German spies and domestic labour violence, the Montana Sedition Law restricting freedom of speech and assembly was passed in the United States.
February 23
An Inter-Allied Labour and Socialist Conference in London passed a resolution with regard to war aims.
February 24
Turkish forces recaptured Trebizond in Asia Minor.
February 25
German forces captured Pernau and Pskov as the advance against Russian troops continued.
February 26
British hospital ship HMHS Glenart Castle was sunk by German submarine U-56 in the Bristol Channel whilst en route from Cardiff to Brest to pick up war survivors.
February 28
In the United States a new bill was introduced which was intended to protect war materials including arms, ammunition, clothing, food supplies, and other items used by the military.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/01/18 11:10 PM

News of the world for June - Warbirds Rising:

June 1
The Battle of Belleau Wood, fought between the United States Marine Corps and German forces, began near the Marne River in France during the German Spring Offensive.
June 2
German forces reached the River Marne at Chateau-Thierry whilst the US Marines held the frontline near the Paris-Metz Highway.
June 3
The British, French and Italian Governments declared their support for the national aspirations of Poles, Czecho-Slovaks
and Yugo-Slavs at Versailles.
The German submarine U-151, commanded by Heinrich von Nostitz und Janckendorff, was responsible for the sinking of nine American ships off the coast of New York over two days.
June 4
American Major General Omar Bundy took command of the American sector of the front at Belleau Wood and continued to repel the incessant German assaults.
June 5
The British Independent Air Force was constituted under the command of Major-General Sir Hugh Trenchard with its headquarters situated near Nancy in France.
June 6
The Dutch hospital ship PSS Koningin Regentes was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB-107 on her way from Boston to Rotterdam.
American troops captured Bouresches and the southern part of Belleau Wood.
June 7
British forces landed at Kern in northern Russia.
A Czech-Slovak force in Russia occupied the key railway town of Omsk in Siberia.
June 8
The Russian Bolshevik Government ordered Allied forces out of northern Russia.
The Georgian Government and Armenian Council signed a peace agreement with Turkey; Georgia also signed a treaty with Germany.
June 9
The German offensive Operation Gneisenau began. Also known as the Battle of the Matz the Germans launched an attack on the French sector between Noyan and Montdider.
June 10
The Austro-Hungarian dreadnought SMS Szent Istvan was torpedoed by the Italian Motor Torpedo Boat MAS-15. The battleship capsized and sank several hours later near Premuda Island, Croatia.
June 11
French and American troops counterattacked on the Marne salient. The Americans captured Belleau Wood while the French captured Mery, Belloy and Fretoy.
June 13
The Battle of the Matz ended when the Germans halted their offensive.
June 15
The Battle of the Piave began in Italy with an Austro-Hungarian offensive along the River Piave from Lake Garda to the Adriatic.
June 16
Austro-Hungarian forces attacked Italian troops across the Piave River. In the Montello sector they established an effective bridgehead but elsewhere they were driven back to their original line.
June 18
The Russian battleship Svobodnaya Rossiya was scuttled by four torpedoes fired by the destroyer Kerch in Novorossiysk harbour to prevent her from being turned over to the Germans as required by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
June 19
Italy's leading flying ace Francesco Baracca was killed whilst on a strafing mission on the Montello hill area in northern Italy.
June 21
Aleksandar Pavlov Malinov replaced Vasil Hristov Radoslavov as Prime Minister of Bulgaria.
June 22
Austro-Hungarian forces started their withdrawal across the River Piave.
June 23
The Austro-Hungarians were ordered to retreat by Charles I of Austria. The Allies recaptured all territory on the southern bank of the river ending the Battle of the Piave.
June 25
The first Crimean Regional Government was established under German protection with General Maciej Sulkiewicz as Prime Minister.
June 26
American troops forced the Germans out of Belleau Wood and brought to an end the German Aisne offensive.
June 27
The British hospital ship HMHS Llandovery Castle was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-86 off the coast of Ireland whilst on a voyage from Halifax to Liverpool.
June 29
The United States Government announced a view that all Slav races should be free of German and Austrian rule.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/18 12:18 AM

Jerbear: I dont know about the Court Marshal for the French Flu. However , I did hear and was told about Getting a Sunburn ( The Serious kind where U can hardly move around ) would get U an Fined and there was a possibility of being put in the Stockade and Rank reduction.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/18 03:24 AM

Cyril Woolly
Maj , Rfc, D.F.C
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
10 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

2 July 1918.

B Flight did a little Railroad work today near Loos. I say, did a little damage too ! On the down side we have a missing machine no one saw what happened he just didn't come back. After getting back, I took a different SE 5 , dumping my old machine , I Made it the Hanger Queen for parts . On my new Ride I painted a W on the top wing for Woolly. and patched up some big holes in the side.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/02/18 03:26 AM

Cyril Woolly
Maj , Rfc, D.F.C
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
10 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


New Ride.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/03/18 04:26 PM

Cyril Woolly, DFC.
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
10 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

July 3, 1918.


0610 Hrs, Offensive Patrol Viny Area : B flight had a row with some enemy Tri-planes. Knocked down 3 of them,but lost 1 SE. None for me.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/04/18 01:24 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Wednesday, July 3rd1918

Our outfit got into our first big fight with Richthofen's old circus yesterday. I wasn't present but Snake told me the 7 of them engaged 12 Huns and shot down 5 without a loss to ourselves. They came in revving their engines over the aerodrome and whooped and howled like red Indians when they landed. The Major toasted the victories and stated he was grateful there had been no losses. There was some bad news too, he learned from Hartney that Elliot and Wanamaker were missing, last seen in Apache Country about 3 km north of Chateau T. He proposed a toast to the lost Eagles of the 27th.

My morning didn't go as well. I was on an earlier, 07:30 patrol. Alk led Me, Dewey, Bronson, Simmy and Parry over the Chateau T to Dormans sector, 5,000 meters. On our 2nd pass over the area I spotted 5 of the new Fokker monoplace in my mirror, trying to sneak up on us and damn near succeeding.
I got Alk's attention and we immediately did a renversement to meet them head on. We've all read what the British pilots had to say about their experiences in air fighting, that if you flew straight at a Hun who was coming straight at you he'd be the one to give way and duck, so have no fear of a German coming straight at you, Well, let me tell you, that's all hog wash. That German didn't flinch. It was me who ducked, and within feet of colliding. He swept over my tail and missed me by inches. We were both firing at one another but he didn't hit me, I have no idea if any of my shots went home or not, didn't seem to phase him if they did.

After that I was just firing at anything that had a black cross on it that came in front of me, no chance to observe any results. I was doing another renversement to keep one of the Kaisers friends off my back when I suddenly noticed that Huns were all that were to be seen. I was entirely alone with 4 of them. I still had plenty of altitude so Babygirl and I kept maneuvering, not even bothering to try to get a shot in. I nearly twisted my head off trying to keep track of them all. I was too busy to be frightened. Babygirl responded so quickly to my touch that we seemed to be able to outrun the tracers that streaked by us just after we had made the next twist or turn or slip or dive. She stalled a couple of times. That seemed to throw the Square Heads off more than a perfectly executed maneuver.

I kept thinking the Cavalry would show up at any moment but I saw no one except my new Hun friends. All the whipping around cost me a lot of altitude. When I was down to about 1,000 meters I figured I was done for, so I followed some of the other advice I had heard or read about desperate situations like this. "If your attacked by a Hun and things look grim, don't try to get away. Go at him as though you'd made up your mind to ram him; it's your only chance; it will give him the idea that you mean business, even if you don't, and the Hun will think you're mad and leave you alone." (1)

So, we just started going at any of them I could get in front of me, throwing lead all over the place. I actually got on one of the Fokker's tail, peppering his behind good before I broke off as his buddies came to his rescue. That one went off, then another, then it was just me and a single Boche. I zoomed up at him, fired a few more wild shots in his general direction and he was off. Can you believe it? I was down to about 300 meters with him on top of me, 5 miles behind his lines, he had me cold on a plate and he'd had enough! Maybe I hit him with some of that stray lead I was spreading around, maybe his guns jammed, maybe he felt sick from trying to keep track of me, who knows. All I can say for sure is that I was glad to see the back of him and glad to show him mine. Felt like I had a brand new life.

I patted Babygirl on her side and thanked her for being such a good girl as I headed west. We were taking heavy Shrapnel and some ground fire so we clawed for more sky and kept changing course to throw Archie off.

Back at Touquin Black and I looked Babygirl over good and found only 2 holes in her lower left wing. Amazing that we had come through that almost unscathed! Dewey and the rest of the patrol had been waiting for me, so I told them, briefly, about the fight. They said they had stayed until their fuel got low, looking for me after all the Huns had taken off. They had no idea I had been with them. As I was walking away from the field the fear that I hadn't felt during the fight came on with a vengeance. I felt a chill come over me like there was cold air between me and my clothes and I tingled all over with goosebumps. I was so shaky and weak I sat down on a crate for a long while. When I got up, I went to my room and passed out until I heard the later flight coming in, revving their engines. I got up to share in the festivities but left early to go right back to bed.




Still a little shaky this morning but ate a good breakfast. Just came back from Group HQ. Dewey, Me, Davy and Wally were all called to Atkinson's office this morning. We figured what it was about. Davy said to let him do the talking. Atkinson was sitting at his desk as we came in and stood at attention. Major Bonnell and Major Peterson (2) were standing behind him. Atkinson told us that he had received a report that we had been in Pont St. Vincent the evening before the Group had moved to Touquin in a French military vehicle. Was this report correct? Since an answer was required at this point Davy agreed that we had. When asked what the nature of our visit to that town was Davy replied that we had a night on the town and lost track of the time.

Atkinson continued by saying that there was a house of ill repute in that town and reminded us that if we had visited there we were required by General Order #6 to report to a prophylactic station for treatment within 3 hours of sexual exposure, failure to do so and contracting a venereal disease through neglect was a Court Martial offense. The rest of us were scared to death but Davy was as cool as a cucumber. He replied that this was not the case and any report to the contrary was false and we would like to face our accuser. We were all pretty sure it was Weasel Swedholm.

Atkinson looked at the two majors and said "Well Bonnell, what do you think." The Major replied in kind, not addressing our Kiwi commander by rank or calling him sir, "These officers deny the accusation and I believe the proof will be in the pudding shortly if that's not so. Innocent until proven guilty Atkinson." Atkinson got red in the face over that little insubordination, but he asked for it. We were dismissed and the matter ended there. We haven't decided what we'll do about the Weasel.




(1) From one of the Biggles books by W.E. Johns, "The Camels are Coming," I think.

(2) Major David McK. Peterson - commander of the 95th Aero Squadron from 25 May to 8 Oct 1918



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/04/18 02:47 PM

Nicely done
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/04/18 03:02 PM

Cyril Woolly, DFC.
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
10 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


July 4, 1918.


0544 hrs:

B Flight 6 A/C

T/O and attack enemy airfield at Beersee,
Bombs and Basic Ammo load. Ball Type. .
Altitude 10000 ft.

T/O and attack Enemy Balloon at Loos
Incendiary Ammo
Altitude 3000 ft

Remarks. The flight did a lot of good work today Bombs looked spot on. The Balloon mission went off without a hitch I stayed high as Top cover while the New guys got the Gas Bag.



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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/04/18 08:02 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Thursday, July 4th 1918

INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Misty and cloudy in the morning, no patrols scheduled until 17:00.

Colonel Mitchell came with a group of French officials and civilians for ceremonies. We put out all the French and US flags we could find. Vasconcells and Hudson from the 27th performed some aerial acrobatics to entertain the civilians. The Mayor of Ormeaux's daughter presented the Colonel with a huge bouquet, very pretty girl.

All of us were formed up in our best dress for an inspection by Col. Mitchell. He was accompanied by some old French bird who gave us an address. Inspirational; gloire, patriotisme, la victoire, all that. He had an American translator who seemed, by the way he kept looking at the old fellow, not quite sure what was being said so I think he just made stuff up.

Our mascots were in formation with us, Mickey in his coat with the wings on it, Jake with his handler, Jerry sitting and panting, even Joe the fox from the 94th, being patient and good. But he just kept droning on and on and they got restless, as did we all. Then Jake had enough, broke free from his handler, almost pulling him down, and trotted up to the front to stand right in front of the old Froggie, looking him squarely in the eyeballs. The old boy just continued on as if nothing had happened. Maj. Hartney put his hand out for the handler to stay put.

Next, Jake brayed at him a few times. You would have thought he'd pause and at least acknowledged the donkey in front of him, maybe said, "Gat thees damn le donkee aut ouv ere," something, but no, he kept on without a pause, no one hearing a word he said. We all started to get those shoulder shaking giggles you get in church or the classroom, when you know you're not supposed to laugh and it makes the whole thing even funnier because it's forbidden.

Jake stopped braying, let out a huge, disgusted sounding huff, then flopped onto his side and I do mean flopped. It was like someone had kicked all four legs out from under him and he hit the ground with a hollow thump, like a watmelon hitting hard ground. What did the old bird do, carried on gassing, completely unperturbed. That was it, of course, no one could hold it in any longer, all of us laughing and whooping, the dogs barking, fox yipping, all order and discipline gone.

The old fellow finally shut up after that, looking rather hurt and confused. The Majors, even Atkinson just waved us away in dismissal, tears streaming down their faces. Jake got up, then trotted to his pen, a job well done. Everyone stopped by to see him with a treat that day. (1)

Some of the boys talked the Major into letting them take a quick trip into Weewee Town (2), he went with them. Dewey went but I'm just not up to it, stayed around, read, slept.

The weather cleared enough for us to do a scheduled patrol at 1700. Nothing of a hostile nature seen.

Two escort protection flights for photo planes yesterday. I was still a little shaky but was fine as soon as I heard Babygirl's roar.

Only one of the Pfalz brought down yesterday was confirmed. (3)

Dodd Cassard is pretty blue. His friend Tittmann from the 94th went down Tuesday and is in a hospital but he doesn't know which. He asked the Major to let him take leave to go looking but he says he'll have to wait until things settle down, we need every man right now.


(1) This is based on an actual incident from my time with the 2nd Bn, 2nd Rgt, US Artillery, which was once a pack howitzer outfit. We had a donkey mascot named Jack. It was an old Colonel who addressed us.

(2) Weewee Town - Paris

(3) The 2 July victory was the actual first victory for the 147th, after which they were officially authorized to paint Mickey on their aircraft, although it was already being used by some pilots, painted on the left side only. The victory confirmed was a Pfalz DIIIa, shared by Tyler Bronson of C Flight, Cleveland "Deuce" McDermott of A Flight, and Ralph "Snake" O'Niell, Maxwell Parry, and Ken Porter of B Flight. Not from Richthofen's Circus as the participants believed but I have not been able to ascertain the Jasta it was from, red noses and tails.



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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/18 02:39 AM

Jerbear, loved the donkey story. Didn't know you were a gunner. God on you!

Geoffrey Corderoy is settling in at Forty-Three...

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 43 Squadron RFC
Part 58: 2-7 March 1918

2 March 1918 – La Gorgue aerodrome


I have begun to know the fellows here and they are a good lot, I think. Of those I have got to know there are, the flight commanders: Trollope, Balfour, and Woollett. I’ve mentioned them before. Balfour and I seem to hit it off well. He likes to talk about ideas more than just people, which is always a sign of something deeper. I’ve already written about Banks, who has been – inevitably – labelled “Sandy.†Owen is our Welshman, as all Owens are. Hales from Cardiff. Cecil King served in the ranks before joining the RFC and getting his commission. George Lingham is an Australian by birth, but has lived his whole life in London since before he can remember. Geoffrey Bailey is another Londoner, a slight fellow with an evil sense of humour. The lads have nicknamed him “Lumpy.†There is a story there, but no one will tell me. He has bagged three Huns in a short time with the squadron. A South African, “Daisy†Daniel is called Daisy in preference to his given name of Hector. He has been out here since November and has a confirmed Hun. There is a new man named Carl Holtcombe, who retains his rank of major from the Royal Engineers, although he serves with us as one of the ordinary flying officers and, although he is 32 years old, he mucks in with the subalterns like a schoolboy. I admire this sort of fellow.

I flew once today, just before ten. Led a composite flight of A and C down to Loos to attack a balloon. I hit it with one of my rockets, but it was Woollett who came in behind and put it alight.

Tonight I am driving to Amiens with our wing commander, Lieut-Col MacLean. I’ve met the man only briefly. He’s a New Zealander, dark and clipped in manner. He commanded a Bristol Fighter squadron last year and did rather well, I hear. 56 Squadron is hosting a dinner for Captain McCudden, who is the RFC’s star turn, and General Pitcher wants Colonel MacLean to present a gift on behalf of I Brigade and has asked him to bring me and Squadron Commander Collishaw of Naval Three, an accomplished Canadian, to show the flag for 10th Wing.

4 March 1918

High winds and freezing rain yesterday and today, so I’ve had time to catch up on paperwork and personal letters. The dinner in Amiens was a good time. In the end, Collishaw couldn’t make it so it was a chance to get to know the wing commander. He seems a quiet sort, but we talked aircraft and tactics, so the drive passed quickly.

Dinner was at Les Gobelins, and a damned fine meal it was. We had a delicious fish soup and stuffed pork tenderloin, meat such as I had not seen since England. The selection of sweets was splendid. The black market must have been working overtime. I had not met Jimmy McCudden before. We chatted at the bar before dinner and I found him witty and straightforward. He came over in ’14 as a mechanic with the fledgling RFC and has had a stellar career. He will be returning to England in a few days to train others, and certainly will return with his own squadron. He has 57 Huns to his credit, and since he make stalking two-seaters his personal art, many of his kills have fallen within our lines and are beyond dispute. His thinking about airfighting is scientific. Not for him the mad blood-lust of Ball or the bravado of Bishop. He goes after the Hun like a Highland ghillie stalking a red deer stag.

A French colonel made a speech, and as I was sitting just along from McCudden, he asked me to translate for him. I apologised and explained that I hadn’t paid much attention to my French in school, to which he replied that schoolboy idleness is great leveller. Young Rhys-Davids helped us both, as he seems to have swotted his way through Eton. Fifty-six has a notable orchestra, which their OC assembled from every technically-minded musician in the RFC, and the fellows would not have been out of place at the Savoy! After the King had been drunk to, Colonel MacLean presented McCudden with a carved and painted model Rumpler, a wonderful piece of work cadged from some poor NCO. The gift was appreciated.

The lads from fifty-six clearly wanted their own evening, so I said my salaams to Colonel MacLean and wandered over to the Hôtel de Commerce, having obtained leave to spend the night in town. The squadron sent a car for me the next morning, but not before a splendid sleep, a real bath, and a fine lunch at the Café Vincent.

5 March 1918

In addition to our normal assigned patrols, Wing asked us this day to lay on an escort for a lone RE8 from 5 Squadron which had an important photographic reconnaissance task east of Athies. The flight was uneventful. If the Hun was about, they were hidden by cloud. Once we had shepherded the RE8 back to our lines, I waved good-bye and turned northeast to patrol into Hunland and back up to the line of the Lys. Not far from Lille we encountered a group of eight Pfalz scouts and attacked – Woolett, King, Banks, Bailey, Owen, and yours truly. The Huns were no bon, for they dived away east, but we managed to get rounds into two of them, who made the mistake of turning towards us. A Pfalz in a dive could leave a Camel behind in a few seconds, so I wonder what they were thinking.

I quickly turned inside the nearest Hun and caught him in a zoom. He wobbled, and then dived eastward, streaming a white trail of steam. I half-looped down onto his tail and fired again, and the pilot slumped forward. The machine, white with red stripes, went into a steeper dive, eventually passing the vertical. The pilot fell out, all arms and legs. It was horrid to see, but I rather think the fellow was dead before he quit his machine.
Woollett saw the crash, so this has gone down as number 47! Woollett bagged the other Pfalz.

[Linked Image]
"I half-looped down onto his tail and fired again, and the pilot slumped forward."

6 March 1918

Another escort job this day. Completely uneventful, even though every other patrol reported heavy Hun activity.

7 March 1918

We attacked the Hun balloon line on the north side of the Ypres salient. King bagged one and I went after another. This balloon resisted three passed and the expenditure of 150 rounds. I certainly hit it with one or two of my Le Prieurs as well. In the end, King and I made a pass and the thing exploded as I was skimming just above its upper surface. The blast nearly tore off my left lower wing, leaving it more air than fabric. The Camel held itself together and I put down at La Lovie, the closest field. Far too close a call for this boy!!!

[Linked Image]
"The blast nearly tore off my left lower wing, leaving it more air than fabric."


Attached picture Kill #47.jpg
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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/18 05:26 PM

I say Old Chap , Good Show.
Posted By: BuckeyeBob

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/18 05:33 PM

Carrick, I agree! Raine's stories remind me the most of a graphic novel, like those you might find in the 1930's--although not quite as lurid! Still, great show, Raine!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/05/18 05:46 PM

Cyril Woolly, DFC.
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
12 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


July 5, 1918.

Did a Double Tap today, during our morning hop. B Flights 6 ac had a punch out with a Flight of Albatross Scouts over Vimy. We were scattered widely and somewhere near Bersee AF My e/a's wing buckled under my fire the it just ripped off. It was at this time we ran into diving Pflaz types I took 5 holes then saw them zoom. My shooter had a yellow band around his belly. I couldn't catch him but did spot a loner in a slow climb ( Must have Undershot his target ) off to the starboard so did a wingover and sled over on his tail. I put my last 100 rds of Vickers in hit + a full 47rd Lewis Drum. The e/a caught fire and did a slow corkscrew over the Bersee AF till it crash. Looked over at my wing man, who gave me the Thumbs Up. Sqn Total was 5 e/a 2 were mine. In turn, we lost 1 destroyed + 1 forced down ( POW) ?

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/18 12:33 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Friday, July 5th 1918

No mail since the first part of June, when it comes in it'll probably take a week to read it all, much less reply.

Six plane protection patrol at 10:35, Alk leading. Followed a camera kite over the Chateau T area, 5,000 meters, clear sky with only a few wispy clouds. Crossed the line into Germany just N. of Chateau T. Four Fokkers with black and white striped noses and tails went after our biplace.(1) When they saw us trying to ruin their fun they turned to climb at us, straight on. After the first pass the fight broke up into separate contests, all cohesion gone. Dewey and I fought one together, taking turns shooting at him while the other stood watch, following him through a series of dives, renversements, side slips and what appeared to be deliberate stalls. I set him on fire at about 2,000 meters. It was a sickening sight, he kept flying for almost a minute, leaving an agonized trail of twisting smoke before he went down out of control and crashed. He must have been frying alive that whole time. I should have continued to fire into him, maybe put him out of his misery. Got back at 12:08. Dewey and I both requested confirmation, good chance, the fight was close to our own lines. Revved engines as we came in. Photo mission was spoiled.

Snake led an Alert out this morning, mixed it up, four against 6 Pfalz. He and Simmy shared one and Doc Raibly got another on his own. No losses from either fight.

Big dinner in Melun, about 30 minutes away. Everyone in high spirits, toasts to the victors. Snake was the hero of the hour, he fought the leader of the Hun patrol and took him down, though Simmy did his share. Bedroll is back with us and we have a new boy, Bennett Wells,(2) just arrived. Lots to celebrate, not least that we have accomplished all this with no losses to ourselves. For that we credit the Major and we all sang a Jolly Good Fellow to him and 3 cheers.

Wally, Davy and Mitchell got a Fokker together, but their flight lost 2, Rhodes and Thompson.

Rick is back from hospital. haven't seen him. He flew back in one of those damn SPADs the 2 French outfits are so head up about.

(1) Jasta 6

(2) 1st Lt Bennett Wells, C Flight, wounded 17 July 1918



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/06/18 03:05 PM

Cyril Woolly, DFC.
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
12 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


July 6, 1918.

On escort duty B Flt got into a Row with the Huns. One dropped in scattering the formation ( 6 a/c ) then everybody swarmed on the Sods! I nosed around to help cover our New Pilots as my wing man Cpt Whieldon Got one ( his 9 th Kill ) I nosed over and got a real close look at a Yellow Nose V Strutter whose Propeller had stopped. Cheeky Bloke shook his fist at me. Why be mad at me ? I didn't shoot him down ! B Flt got 3 Kills and had only 2 damaged SE's. 2nd Mission : Offensive Patrol Bersee A.F. Ran into Fokkers What marvelous machines, I only got one pot shot then an e/a put holes in me and the a/c. The e/a must have been up sun because I never saw him till he was firing . Wnd, I spun out and made to a Friendly forward AF. Bit of good luck not getting pursued. I heard later that we got 1 E/a ,but had 1 missing and 1 forced down POW. + Me Wnd and Damaged.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/18 12:23 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Saturday, July 6th 1918

08:30 patrol, Whitey leading, the usual area Chateau T to Dormans, 1st patrol for Wells. Sky full of aircraft, all ours. Lots of activity on the ground around Chateau T.

In the afternoon, Dewey and I took the Indian up to the Front with Wally and Davy. Went via Coulomiers and Ferte-sous-Jouarre to Lucy-le-Boucage, back of Bouresches Wood, 2 km back of our present lines. No entrenchments there. Village was shelled into ruins. Found US Springfields, lots of ammo, belts, blankets, ponchos, etc. Two nice prizes, a fancy German helmet with the spike on it and two decorated 75mm shell cases. The 5th and 6th Marines had been here and left in a hurry, being replaced by Yankee Division. Wally and Davy found 2 AWOL chickens and cherched them for their mess, lucky dogs. Several blowouts, didn't get in until 9 pm.

The boys having lots of lively arguments about the respective merits of the SPAD and Nieuport. The French outfits can't wait to get rid of their Nieuports, WE'LL TAKE EM!

The 2nd Balloon Co., was attacked today, their gas bag destroyed. Observers got out. There was some discussion among us as to why parachutes can't be adapted for our aircraft, some of the Germans are supposed to be using them now.

Confirmations came in for all the claims made yesterday.

There is a report that another balloon was attacked by a bunch of captured SPADs. The black crosses on their wings weren't noticed until it was too late, neat trick for the Huns if they don't get themselves shot down by their own people and they are SPADs, after all, so they probably won't be able to keep the things flying.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/18 03:53 AM

Hospital 3rd Army
Ward 7 Row 3
Bed 14
Cyril Woolly
Maj Rfc.

7 July 1918.


Well here, I am for a few days. At least my Ward Nurse is nice.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/18 09:35 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Sunday, July 7th 1918

Major B. led afternoon protection patrol for French Breguet's, Me, Snake, Bedroll, Ty, Abe, Max, Dewey down with engine trouble. Almost completely clear sky with a little haze. Met the French biplace's over the War Ax (1), crossed the lines west of the Cow's Udders (2) at 5,000 meters. After the Frogs finished with the Vivaise railyards we split from them just east of Chateau T for a short area patrol. Heavy shelling about 10 km NW of there, the entire front in this area looks to be heating up. Good visibility over the lines, except where their shelling. Expecting a German push any time now. No HA sighed.

94th lost Chalmers today, McKown of the 95th missing.

About 17:00, 20 Humps (3) came along and sat right down in our yard. We're told the 5th British Pursuit Brigade is coming in the morning and we're supposed to be moving up closer to the Front.

Found out at dinner that Ash isn't coming back. He's been assigned to the Swiss Consulate. Still lot of discussion about the new SPADs, not all of it friendly. Some of the friction between us and the French Squadrons has come back over the issue.

(1) War Ax - a curve in the Marne River suggestive of a war ax located a few miles east of Meaux

(2) Cow's Udders - W shaped curves in the Marne just to the south of Chateau-Thierry

(3) Hump - Sopwith Camel

Below - Dewey and Goodie attacking Fokker on 5 July





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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/18 10:45 PM

Raine - enjoyed you story, especially the good character development on Geoffrey's Squadron mates. Tell him congrats on his 47th.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/07/18 11:02 PM

Nice reading this morning, Keep em Flying.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/18 05:41 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

July 8th 1918

Lost Max Parry today. Routine patrol at 10, Ralph leading 8 of us, Me, Dewey, Whitey, Doc Ty, Bedroll, Simmy and Parry. Over Dormans 10 Fokkers observed, chased them about 12 miles into Germany before our fuel started to get low and we had to break off. As we banked to the South, I saw Parry still following the Huns. Raibly and Ty went back after him but were intercepted by a Fokker that flew rings around them. Too low on juice to play with Mr. Hun they turned back to rejoin. There's been no news of him, we expect he's been killed or captured. (1)

What could have gotten into his head! Makes me remember the stunt I pulled back in early June when the Major gave me what for, even if I did get my first Hun.

Doc and Ty are pretty blue, feel like they let Max down. We were discussing it at dinner when the Major cut in to say that there was no reason for any pilot to feel guilty when they consider a situation beyond their capability, as was the case here. "It's better to break away and be available to join the next patrol as a bit more knowledgeable and skillful fighter pilot."

He lightened the mood by reading a memo that he declared was the most ridiculous statement he had ever seen, even from our HQ. It read "The carrying of canes is prohibited. Riding crops, whips, and kindred ornaments should be restricted to officers actually on mounted duty. Much good boot leather is being damaged by the constant beating given it by officers who seldom see a mount." The Major paused, shook his head, then asked, "Now who do you think might write-up such an asinine memo?" The unanimous and immediate reply was, of course, "MAJOR ATKINSON!"

Orders have been received for the move. We go to Saints, 8 miles North of here, tomorrow at 0930.

(1) Credited to Ltn. Friedrich Friedrichs, Jasta 10, his grave site found in German records after the Armistice.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/08/18 07:03 PM

Good day to all,
Very good stories Gents! Some real gems among them to boot. Fullofit, as bad as it was to hear Aldi had fallen, your send off was top notch.
Been very busy and preoccupied as of late but hope to be back in the skies before it’s all over. Keep the stories coming folks, they make very good reading.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/18 12:25 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Tuesday, July 9th 1918

Packed up everything and got an orderly to help me load it all on a truck. Trucks moved out at 5 am, our outfit took off at 10:00. Rick's not coming, his ear has him down again and he will probably end up in the hospital again.

The landing field at Saints is short, a lot of us ended up overshooting into the adjoining field, almost ended up in some barbed wire.

The place is square with big poplars flanking two of its sides with hangars on both sides. A 3rd side is a road and the 4th is the open field full of barbed wire I almost ended up in. It's littered with the debris of an earlier engagement, I may poke around there to see what there is to find but if there's much unexploded ordnance in there, maybe not.

We of the Canadian Flying Circus are on the right side of the field, while the French Squadrons are on the left, like minds with like minds.

I'm quartered in the village with a nice couple, Jean Luc and Diana. When I found the house, the baggage detail was still there, my host and hostess were serving all 10 of them wine and cakes while my baggage sat on the truck. Very nice folks. The house is neat as a pin and they have given me the very best room. They treat me very well but I don't like living in someone's house uninvited, forced on them by military law.

Got my stuff organized and went back to the aerodrome. At supper, Major Bonnell announced that Shawhan is being transferred to Group HQ to be Group Lision Officer. He presented him with a nice black marbled pen with the Major's initials on it. He then said he was going to start rotating officers to command the Flights as well as the Squadron so that everyone would be able to fill these positions if need be. Wolf Healy is Acting Squadron Commander as of tomorrow.

Still no word on Max.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/18 12:49 AM

Hospital 3rd Army
Ward 7 Row 3
Bed 14,
Cyril Woolly
Maj Rfc.


July 9, 1918.


My favorite Day Nurse came in today. It was a relaxing visit.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/18 11:02 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Wednesday, July 10th 1918

On alert this morning. Dud for flying, intermittent rain, fog. Group HQ ordered patrols to examine the lines. A few 3 or 4 plane flights went up but visibility was down to zero so they came back toot sweet.

A report came through about a pilot in another group who took a shot up into the seat of his aircraft. It hit him in a very critical point and it's assumed he's going to be a Eunuch now. We got so upset about it that the Major got us some steel plates. The Mechs screwed them onto the wood of the seats, under the cushions to protect our family jewels. A great relief to us all.

Quentin Roosevelt pulled off a neat trick today. He went out on one of those sight seeing patrols this morning and lost his 3 mates in the soupy weather. He saw 3 planes, figured they were his pals and pulled in behind them. When he saw the black crosses on their tails, he offed the tail man. Then he had to cut and run before the other two could pay the compliment back.

Still no word of Max. Hope he's at least a prisoner and Okay.

1st Lt Quentin Roosevelt

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/10/18 11:20 PM

Jerbear, keep up the great work. Notice that steel plates came well before parachutes. Shows where pilots' priorities are!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/11/18 11:29 PM

First things first Raine, a man has to have priorities.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Thursday, July 11th 1918

Alk tried to take us on an escort for a Salmson photo plane, but within 10 minutes of hooking up the clouds became so dense that the photo man scrubbed the mission.

We used the down time to get our machines in better condition. Black, Sergeant Black now, is taking Babygirl's motor down to clean it up and put in a new cluster of connecting rods and new magnetos.

The enlisted men are living in tents or corners of hangars right now, so some living quarters are being constructed. After those are completed they will work on some officer's quarters, maybe I can give the Picard's back their peaceful house again soon. I can't help but feel like an intruder when I come tromping in a all hours.

All of us pilots went to the range for machine gun practice. Dewey and I brought our Springfield's along. Dewey's a crack shot, can hit a can on the fly 3 times out of 5. I'm pretty good but nowhere as good as him or Davy. I got 6 hits out of 13 in a 6"X8" target at 75 yds. Davy got 8 and Dewey 11 the show out.

Scheduled for an 08:00 patrol tomorrow if the weather allows.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/12/18 12:40 AM

Hospital 3rd Army
Ward 7 Row 3
Bed 14,
Cyril Woolly
Maj Rfc., DFC.

Jul 11, 1918.

The French Nursing Staff put on a show for us tonight. I say, Well done.


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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/12/18 11:37 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Friday, July 12th 1918

Dud for flying today. After all the work done on her, Babygirl's guns are out of alignment. Had her taken down to the range to be put up on blocks and I and the armorer got them zeroed in again.

We expected Pershing this morning but, as usual when he's expected, he didn't show.

A bunch of us got a wild hair to go up to the Front, so we took the Hudson to Lucy-le-Boucage, 2,000 yards from the Boche Lines back of Belleau Woods. The town was heavily shelled since our last visit. Went up to the 75mm gun positions of the 101st F.A. (Massachusetts) and watched them spending some hate (1). They said they drop 800 shells per night into the German Lines. All the Yankee Division is up there now. One of the non-coms told us we were "crazy as bed bugs to go up in those contraptions." We agreed with him, he's perfectly right.

(1) spending some hate - Hate was a term used to describe regularly scheduled bombardments, usually morning hate or evening hate.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/13/18 02:11 AM

Jerbear, great reading all week. I've been on the road, so I'm just catching up tonight. Corderoy is on a real tear!

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 43 Squadron RFC
Part 59: 8-12 March 1918

8 March 1918 – La Gorgue aerodrome


Increasingly we are probing the Huns, flying deep into their territory. There is no doubt that we are in for it soon. Even after sunset, there is a touch of warmth in the air. As soon as the ground dries, I fear all hell will break loose, as the Hun has many divisions fresh from the East and wants to put us out of the war before the Yanks can get here in force. The great speculation, both in the mess and at HQ, is whether they will attack along the line of the Lys, where we are, or along the line of the Somme. My money is on the Lys. Their objective must be the Channel ports. But today gives me doubts. I join Trollope’s C Flight on a D.O.P. towards the Douai plain, but we see nothing.

Purdy, the RO, is a gem and makes my life simpler in so many ways. The mass of paperwork this job entails is play to him and he navigates it with ease. Documents are pencilled over with the important bits marked, and he works up a schedule for the next day every evening. He learned his trade under Sholto Douglas and has held down this job since before the Somme push. He came over from the Argylls and is fond of bantering with me about the inferiority of county regiments like the Royal Berks. Every morning I find him at his desk at the crack of dawn, hunched over a typewriter in shirtsleeves and kilt, pipe smoke curling up as if over a crash site. His humour is invariably good and his common sense invaluable.

I am informed that the sergeant in charge of the men’s messing has been pinching items for himself, shorting the men of a number of better foodstuffs. Sergeant-Major Worthing and Captain Purdy have conferred and draughted a charge. As the matter involves an NCO, I would be compelled to move it to court martial, so I have asked to see the culprit. He was marched in and gave a stammering confession, which quite unmanned him. I chose to offer him the option to transfer back to the infantry from which he came, in which case the charge would not be proceeded with. Until his transfer comes in, I have ordered him billeted under canvas, separate from the others of the squadron, and he is to take his meals in his tent. His duties have been limited to assisting the supply officer, who has assured me will keep him too busy to worry about.

9 March 1918

I led a composite patrol to the southeast to attack the Hun balloon line there. Major Holtcombe, my novice pilot who has retained his field rank from the infantry, got credit for downing a gasbag. We mixed with some Pfalzes and I sent one down, which was confirmed by Captain Balfour – number 48!

10 March 1918

We received special orders this morning by dispatch rider so I put together another composite patrol that included all three flight commanders. We were to shoot up enemy road and rail transport east of Loos. This is sticky work, as the ground fire is often intense and no amount of skill will help one avoid a lucky round. Nonetheless, we get the job done with nothing more than holes in our grids.

On the way north again, we saw a large group of Pfalz scouts approaching us. They were heading south and had a height advantage. I turned towards our lines to draw them westward, but they saw us too soon and were on us in seconds. What a scrap! I caught one Hun in a vertical bank and fired a full-deflection burst that tore his machine apart. The Pfalz immediately nosed down and before long its wings crumpled back and fluttered away while the smoking fuselage thundered into the mud below. And then the sky was empty. It’s odd how in an instant so many machines seem to vanish. I climbed westward and Woollett pulled alongside. He pointed down and then gave me a thumbs up sign and a wide grin. My 49th victory was thus confirmed.

11 March 1918

Today I led another D.O.P. nearly to Tournai. We saw several groups of Huns but they were too far off and showed no fight. Returning to the lines near the Hun aerodrome at Houplin, the Archie attracted attention to us and we were attacked by several of the latest type of Albatros. The fight quickly came down from 9000 feet to less than a thousand. I engaged several EA, but had to break off to avoid collision with other Camels. Finally I spotted a black Albatros making for Houplin and fell on its tail. Sands nearly ran into me, but then broke off and I closed to within feet of the Hun before firing. The machine fell vertically onto the Hun aerodrome.

On my return I learned that Balfour had seen the black machine go down. This makes number 50! We have a memorable binge to celebrate, and the chaps are planning a dinner in Hazebrouck which I am not supposed to know about.

[Linked Image]
"Finally I spotted a black Albatros making for Houplin and fell on its tail."

12 March 1918

It is late and I am too tired to write much, not to mention being a bit tight. Today I joined Woollett’s flight for a balloon attack. These are never enjoyable. Much like ground attack, balloon work leaves too much up to chance. The target balloon is north of Menen. I lead the attack but manage only to leave the thing smoking. Holtcombe, however, is successful with his rockets and bags his second kill.

We are regrouping south of Menen when we spot a large formation of enemy machines. I fire a red flare and turn towards the other Camels so that we can come together more quickly. The Huns are among us and we are reeling about the sky. There is time only for snap shots here and there and one does not dare fly straight for more than a couple of seconds. One of the Huns is a triplane. I have scrapped with one of these machines only once before, back in the autumn. This thing is painted with a sort of blurred green and black camouflage. The Hun pilot is competent enough, but I get the impression that he is new to the machine, for he seems to come close to a stall several times. God, how those machines zoom, though!

At length, I chase the Hun down to 2000 feet and he makes the fatal error of trying to reach the aerodrome at Ste-Marguerite. I have the height advantage and close on the triplane. I fire a long burst into it from such a close range that I doubt many rounds failed to hit. The Hun rolled over and dived straight into the field next to the aerodrome. Holtcombe saw it go down, and this one was quickly confirmed.

I have downed four Huns in as many days. General Salmond phoned his congratulations, and I am feeling far too confident for my health!


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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/14/18 05:06 PM

Geoffrey's on a roll, good show Raine. Lovely pic of the black Albatros too bad you had to mess it up.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Saturday, July 13th 1918

The 94th got their damn SPADs today, 14 of them were ferried in today. Davy's pissing his pants over them, his outfit will get some next. They're ugly things, big and clumsy, none of us from the right side of the field even went over to look at the things. I like Rick, but he won't shut up about them, he's like a slick snake oil salesman when he gets going, trying to convince everyone that they're the greatest thing since the wheel. I hope he's right because their lives depend on it. We got all their Nieuports for reserve machines and parts.

About half the 27th are quarantined with Scabies, a couple of them have it so bad they were sent to the hospital.

Pulled a hitch of alert duty, 12:00 to 17:30, useless occupation, low thick clouds, no calls. Reading Tom Sawyer again, read it when I was 10, good then but much better read as an adult. Much of the nuances of the relationships went right over my head as a boy. Got mail yesterday, not much, need to start on replies.

Swedeholm in hospital, got dysentery somehow.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/14/18 05:51 PM

Cyril Woolly, DFC.
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
13 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

Back at it, Arrived with rations Truck last night then posted to the afternoon Patrol today. July 14, 1918. It was a Sqn Show with Cpt Elroy leading ( 33 Kills ). The flight was at 8000ft when a lone Fokker zoomed to attack. It split the flight but led us to 4 Recon types over an enemy AF. During this fight we found 5 Fokkers joined in. By, Jove it was a Punch out. I got one , it was dark blue with a white circle and damaged a 2 Seat then zoomed over the AF shooting up some Red colored Fokkers on the ground. RTB All ammo gone. The flight claimed 3 Recon + 2 Scouts ( 1 was mine). The Sqn lost 1 Destroyed ( KIA) 2 damaged and 1 SE landed short of the AF a write off.


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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/18 10:10 AM

Hmmmmm... Stachel is having a hard time getting victories.

Today we escorted a Möbelwagen to bomb the lines. First group we bump into was Spad XIII's. A short fight and it seems the Frenchy's didn't have the stomach
to stick it out. The 3 Tommies that later arrived were made of better stuff though.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/18 03:55 PM

Wow, very impressive
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/18 04:14 PM

Cyril Woolly, DFC.
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
14 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


July 15, 1918. Bagged a Scout this morning, after bombing an AF. A flight with Maj Landis leading 4 a/c stayed high as Cpt Elroy ( the Big Hunter) led B flight. with bombs as the attack package. I brought up the rear as a rover/ bomb damage assessor. The flights flew under 2 enemy patrols then made good hits on the target ( we had to stay at 6,000ft to be under the overcast.) Reforming to withdrawal we ran into a flight of Pflaz Scouts Low Slow and landing at the next AF. A bit of a cake walk, I slid in behind and hose the e/a Rear to front with both guns. Elroy got 2, Landis 2 , and I got 1. The Sqn had 3 damaged + My a/c. Nearing the lines , I took a Flak hit and started loosing gas, but managed to make our side and land. ( Only in WOFF )


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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/18 06:01 PM

1/7th of a victory...again.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/15/18 09:26 PM

Lovely photo essays Herr Lederhosen!

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Sunday, July 14th 1918 'Bastille Day'

We put out all the French and American flags we could scrape together again, the least we could do after the way they honored our 4th, but the French aren't making a big deal about today. They're all hunkered down waiting for the next German push which is expected to be along the Marne.

The SPADs didn't come with any guns so the 94th's ground crews are scrambling to get them fitted out and having a Devil of a time getting them synchronized with those complicated, geared engines.

The weather started out nice and warm, almost clear sky, just a few patchy clouds here and there, light southerly wind. We had a patrol scheduled for 13:00 to Chateau T to look at the lines. By that time the wind had freshened considerably and thick clouds had developed. That was going to make it pretty easy to get into Germany and have to buck a strong head wind to get out if we got into a fight. The Major called to tell HQ that he was scrubbing the mission for that reason and because visibility had deteriorated so much. Atkinson told him that he was to do as ordered, take the patrol out and if the conditions worsened and proved to be too dangerous for him by the time he reached his patrol area he was then "allowed" to use his own judgement as to whether to continue or scrub the mission. He hit the roof, from what his clerk told us, but followed orders.

Seven of us went up, two fell out with engine problems. The Major took us back after only about 20 minutes in the air. When we got back he stormed off to Group HQ. Haven't heard what came of that.

The 95th sent 7 planes out at 11:00 and attacked 7 Fokker monoplace over Dormans with everything in their favor except the wind. They got in a general rat fight with the Huns when Quent and Knowles didn't pull up with the rest of the formation after they delivered a burst into the Fokkers but kept after 2 of them, then were attacked by the rest. Everyone had to make their way home alone, as you usually do after that kind of fight, against that wind. Everyone came back except for Quent. There's been no word, he hasn't landed at any of the American or French fields around here. Davy says none of them saw a machine fall. They believe he's landed somewhere and can't get through on the phone and they'll hear from him soon.

Quentin Roosevelt's Nieuport 28





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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/16/18 05:18 AM

yril Woolly, DFC.
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
15 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

July 16, 1918. The Huns dont seem to be aggressive anymore. While on Patrol near Roulers, we passed under a flight of 5-8 Scouts only 3 came down to play. As we chased about, we nosed into a flight of Albatross Types in a landing circle. It was a repeat of the day before, I just slid in behind and held down the triggers the 303 cal Guns just tore the e/a up. 1 for me and 3 more for the flight we had 2 damaged Se's and one with a serious Wnd pilot.




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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/16/18 11:22 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Monday, July 15th 1918

The long expected serenade woke us all up at about midnight, our artillery beat the Huns to the punch. It must be hell for the boys up there in the trenches, first our preemptive bombardment, then the German's throwing everything they have at them, gas too from what I hear.

Hotter than the dickens today, the whole group was on alert, got called to the operations tent 3 times to look at the changes on the map. According to reports the Germans hit the US 3rd Div. hard and are crossing the Marne east of Dormans.

Small patrols went out all day, flying low to see the extent of the enemy advance and strafe the pontoon bridges on the Marne. These planes, mostly from the 27th, came back looking like colanders.

At 18:00 the Major took a 15 plane patrol up, the largest patrol we've ever sent into Indian Country, to cover the area from Chateau T to Triessy. Two flights, ours at 3,000 meters and the top cover at 3,500. Shortly after we took off, the Major, Ken, SImmy and Alk had to turn back because of the water and rust in our US Issue gas.

We made our first pass over the patrol area and were making our turn to go back over the route, a left turn which took us over Germany, when we were jumped by a gaggle of Fokkers, I couldn't tell you how many, they were just everywhere. I was in the son-of-a-#%&*$# position (1) and saw one in my mirror, coming down on my tail, put Babygirl's nose down for some speed, then pulled her head up and over on her back in an vertical virage. which put us head to head. I'm not good at this maneuver but I got off a decent burst at him before her nose dropped and I could no longer see him. I don't know if I hit him but I heard a few whacks somewhere on Babygirl.

The other flight joined in and we had a real mob riot, planes rolling and turning and diving, firing at anything that was unlucky enough to get in front of us, hopefully hostile, everything happening too fast to see results. I extricated myself from the general melee as soon as possible and got in the rear of a Fokker trying to go Ches Eux. (2) I fired about 50 rounds at him from too far away then pulled up to protect Abe as he came in fast and tore into him. The Fokker went straight down, engine on full, probably with a dead pilot leaning forward on the stick. I saw it's wings break off before it hit the ground. I lost sight of Abe. He got into another fight with 5 other Fokkers and was lucky to get out of it, engine all shot up, landed east of Chateau T within our lines, cracked up his plane. Robertson got all shot up too and had to make an emergency landing at Angers. (3) No confirmation on Abe's Fokker, didn't expect any.

Lost contact with the rest of the patrol so I headed back on my own. Sgt Black showed me 2 holes in Babygirl's stick, lucky it didn't snap.

The Major ordered all the gas to be filtered through chamois before use, that'll get the rust and dirt but won'f help with the water.

(1) Son-of-a-#%&*$# position - rearmost plane in the formation

(2) Chez eux - literally "at their home" seems to have been somewhat misused by American flyers.

(3) Abe Abernethy was claimed by Ltn Harry von Bulow of Jasta 36; Ltn Frommherz of Jasta Boelcke' was credited with Robertson.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/17/18 02:12 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
16 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

July 17, 1918.

We had a Rumpler Morning, The 5 of us ran into 3 Rumplers at 8,000 ft in and out of Rain showers. I got one and my wing mate Maj Landis got one the other got away in the scud and gloom. Afternoon Parade awarded the D.S.O. and had # 16 confirmed.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/18/18 12:21 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Wednesday, July 17th 1918

Washed out today, intermittent rain and patchy fog all day. Gave us a chance to get all the machines back in good flying condition again. Had some modifications done on Babygirl's rigging, took her up for a test flight, that's about all the flying that was done.

The dope is that Ludendorff called off their advance and now we're going to hit them back with a big push of our own. Ordnance is recalling all the armor piercing ammo, the casings just weren't made true, it's the cause of many of the jammed guns. Group is working on getting the contaminated gas problem ironed out.

French VI Army Aero issued a warning, SPADs with French markings and Breguets with French and American markings have been firing on our troops and balloons.

We now know for sure that Quentin Roosevelt gone west. A German communique from the 14th was intercepted, stating that he was shot through the head and fell at Chamery. It was very complementary in regards to his courage. (1) Truth of the matter is that he died because that flight should never have gone near the lines with that southerly zephyr blowing. It pushed him further into Germany and made it impossible for him to fight his way home. Atkinson and Group HQ are responsible for his death.

There was a story going around, supposedly started by a YMCA man who put it out that Quent's patrol was attacked by an inferior number of Germans and that all the pilots, except for Quent. panicked and ran, leaving him alone. Needless to say, Davy and the rest of the boys from the 95th went looking for him with blood in their eyes. They're accused of roughing up a few people but they couldn't pin down exactly who the mouthpiece for that rumor was. If Swedeholm wasn't in the hospital I'd have suspected him even if it did cast a bad light on his own outfit.

95th Aero got 11 SPADs in today, that doesn't make up for the loss of Quent but it pepped them up some and gave them something else to do and think about. A new Nieuport was ferried in along with them, so maybe we'll get to keep flying them for awhile yet.

Yesterday, went on a strafing party to hit the roads leading to Conde'-en-Brie from the north, 11 of us, Alk and Whitey leading the 2 flights. We left at 13:20 and approached the target area at 2,500 meters, found nothing to strafe, nothing at all on the roads. so we circled around the area to gain altitude when 9 EA came into view. We turned west to get in the sun before trying to attack them but Dodd got antsy and piqued on one of them, forcing all of us to attack before we were ready. I piqued on the closest Fokker and saw my tracers go up his fuselage but he didn't fall. Fired at several others but had no time to observe the results. The party ended as suddenly as it began and after Alk gathered up his chicks we went home. Dodd, Wells and Brew weren't with us. Wells and Brew crashed their Nieuports in forced landings but there's no word on Dodd Cassard (2). Alk, Pip and Simmy all made claims for downed Fokkers.(3)

Went on a 2nd patrol with the Major leading 6 of us but Babygirl's engine was missing so I had to come back, bad magneto.

The 27th has both Raymond and Gunn missing

94th is trying to mount patrols but when they go out, most of them come right back, lots of problems with those gear drive engines. They've crashed two, caused by shoddy workmanship. Nine contractors are building these flying bricks for us, the Brits, Frogs and the Dagos as fast as as humanly possible and their quality is inconsistent to say the least.

The Major thinks he has things worked out with HQ and Flight Commanders will be able to use their own judgement from now on as to whether to scrub a mission or not.


(1) 1st Lt. Quentin Roosevelt was shot down by Uffz Carl Emil Graper of Jasta 50. A photo of his body lying next to his Nieuport was taken and was going to be circulated for propaganda purposes but it was supressed by the Kaiser, who was an admirer of Theodore Roosevelt.

(2) 1st Lt. Daniel W. (Dodd) Cassard is believed to have been shot down by Ltn Walter Blume of Jasta 9.

(3) These three pilots shared a credit for one victory.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/18/18 12:53 AM

Carrick, it seem Wooley is really doing well. How many victories so far?

Jerbear. your account of the loss of Quentin Roosevelt was compelling. I am loving these stories. Meanwhile, I am caught up with Corderoy's story. He's had some luck lately, but it's 19 March 1918 and the storm is coming...

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 43 Squadron RFC
Part 60: 13-19 March 1918

13 March 1918 – La Gorgue aerodrome


The pace of operations has certainly picked up. Every night our orders arrive, inevitably as we are going into the mess to eat. And so I have the unenviable task of announcing which flights will be penetrating far into darkest Hunland at dawn, or which will be weaving through tracer and Archie to attack balloons or aerodromes. One senses the conversation muffle for a period after orders are spoken, to be written up and posted on the bulletin board by the ever-efficient Tom Purdey, our RO.

There are more briefings at HQ now, and we fully expect the main enemy push to be towards Amiens now, although there is still a deal of suspicious activity where we are, farther north. This morning I lead a patrol of A and C Flight personnel. I have taken Major Holtcombe under my wing. The man is a gem. It is a joy to watch this gentleman, who mere months ago led a company of Regular Army engineers, mix so naturally with nineteen-year-old subbies.

We take off short after eleven in the morning, the second patrol of the day for all except me. Ours is a line patrol of our southern sector, and we are to circulate between La Bassée and Athies. The morning is pristine and clear, the sun warm and visibility excellent. I am surprised to see no activity over our sector. Far to the east, several groups of Huns punch the clock for their shift, but do no work. They make feints in our direction, but come no closer than several thousand yards. After an hour and forty minutes, I turn north for the final time and plan to patrol into Hunland once our task is done. Fuel will be nearly spent, so I shall simply show the flag over Menen.

As we approach Comines, a large group of Pfalzes flies south to meet us. They have a height advantage, so I turn west and drawn them towards our lines. In seconds they are on us and we turn as one to meet them. The fight is short and intense. I get behind a silver and black machine and am stitching it with rounds from my Vickers guns when Lingham appears a mere three feet off my right wingtips. I pull away and Lingham sends the machine down in flames. It is his second Hun.

Letter from Reggie in Egypt. Apparently they are expanding RFC training facilities in Egypt to supply pilots for the entire Mediterranean and Middle East. He is being slotted in as an instructor, which delights me. As long as some ham-fisted youngster doesn’t thunder in, he should stay in one piece until this whole sordid affair is over.[1]

14 March 1918

Again took a mixed patrol up late morning. This time we escorted an RE8 on a photo shoot along the Hun lines northeast of Arras. We were not molested in our work and saw the RE8 safely back over the lines, after which I led the patrol towards Haubordin, which is often good hunting ground. Indeed we ran into a large group of Albatri and had a short but energetic scrap, during which I sent one EA tumbling down. Unfortunately I could not follow it far enough down to claim it.

15 March 1918

A call came in around 9:30 this morning to chase off some Hun two-seaters over Vimy, so I joined Balfour’s crew along with Woollett, who had just finished his combat report from his first patrol. We climbed to 12000 feet and had scarcely arrived over the assigned area when a pair of Rumplers and a lone Albatros passed just overhead, apparently without noticing us. Balfour, Holtcombe, and I stalked the Rumplers while Woollett and Owen mixed with the Albatros. I closed to a hundred yards and fired at the nearest two-seater, which immediately broke up and caught fire. I then turned to find the Albatros diving past, heading for home. I snap-turned and dived after him. By diving at a shallow angle I was able to catch him when he levelled off. He would pull away quickly, so I had only a brief chance to get him. Fortunately, my first burst killed the pilot, who must have fallen forward since his machine nosed down and, passing the vertical, broke up in the air. Both kills were witnessed, so this morning brings by bag up to 53. Jimmy McCudden sits at 57 and I must admit feeling pleased with myself today.

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"I closed to a hundred yards and fired at the nearest two-seater, which immediately broke up and caught fire."

16 March 1918

Flew twice today, with much credit to Purdey for letting me get away from the office. Our chaps are getting worn ragged of late, and low work is especially unwelcome. Both my flights were ground attacks, the first a strafe of Phalempin aerodrome and the second a strafe of Haubordin. In both cases we bombed and shot up the fields and we didn’t see an air Hun the whole day!

17 March 1918

Today at 9:30 in the morning I led a mixed patrol to escort a DH4 from Naval 2 on a photo-reconnaissance flight north of the Salient. We were just wrapping up and turning home when a very large group of Huns spoiled the morning. They fell on us like hawks and, although we saw them and turned into the attack, we had a very hot time of it for several minutes. I was twisting and turning with three Pfalzes on my tail for several minutes. Every few seconds one of them would get a burst at me and there was little I could do without incurring the wrath of the others. Several times I split-arsed under the fight to let one of my mates join in, but at first everyone had their hands full. Finally, I saw a machine with black crosses falling near to me, clearly heading for the scene of the crash. And then another Hunnish machine tumbled down.

At length another Camel (2/ Lieut. Daniel, I think) drove my last pursuer away and I turned westward, a good seven miles from the lines, with the engine dropping revs. I descended gently from 8500 feet, playing with the mixture. For a few minutes, the Clerget seemed to come back to life, and then it began fading again. As ever, I flew into a brisk northwest wind and crawled over the battered landscape. The fight had brought us well north of Ypres. It seemed an age before the brown scar of the front gave way to green fields and I knew I was safe. The nearest field was Bray Dunes, so I made my way there and put the machine down. It took a moment to get my legs under me (the damaged knee is acting up again), but I limped around and patted the cowling. When the war is over, I owe Tommy Sopwith a drink!

18 March 1918


At 8:45 we were called to put a flight up over Bailleul, as some Huns were crossing the lines north of Ypres. I led a group of six Camels, and we climbed directly from takeoff towards Armentières and then back towards Bailleul. We’d hardly got to the patrol area when King signalled that EA were in sight and motioned to the northwest. There were two vics of three Huns each approaching from that direction. Coming from the northwest, I should have though them ours, but the EA were Hannovers, and their distinctive biplane tail gave them away. By this time we had nearly reached their altitude and as soon as we turned towards them, the Huns turned for home.

I got behind and below one and fired, moving aside to clear a jam and let Holtcombe have a go. The Hun tried to dive and turn under us, but I caught him in mid-turn and fired. The Hannover’s left lower wing folded back and fluttered away and the machine began a death dive. I watched the observer fall free of the stricken aircraft and turn in slow circles, his leather coat fluttering as he fell.

To the west, several Camels were circling another Hannover, which was already trailing steam. I joined in and, on my opening burst, the left upper plane parted company with the rest of the Hunnish machine. Bailey was firing at the same time, so I made no claim. The first Hun, however, was witnessed by King (just made up to Lieutenant this week) and is confirmed as number 54. The other Hannover went to Holtcombe.

The mess was somewhat subdued, however, as Major Holtcombe did not return to La Gorgue. Purdey and I called every squadron north of the Lys as wells as our Archie batteries, but there is no news.

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"I joined in and, on my opening burst, the left upper plane parted company with the rest of the Hunnish machine."

19 March 1918

It is raining heavily this morning and there is no flying. Wing wanted us to try a balloon strafe, but Balfour took off and was lucky to get back down five minutes later.

A call has come in. Holtcombe’s Camel crashed near Diksmuide. He was taken to a CCS but died soon after. I have taken on the task of sorting his effects and shall have to write his wife. The man had two children.

Had a brief meeting at Wing late this afternoon. We are getting more details on the upcoming merge with the RNAS into the new air force. There will apparently be a blending of terminology and tradition, which will take some getting used to but is only fair. The biggest news has just arrived, and it is that “Boom†has given the Air Minister an offer to quit the Ministry.[2]

When my work is done, I shall walk to Merville and get blissfully drunk, all myself.

NOTES

[1] Around this time, the RFC began expanding training in Egypt. By July, there would be five Training Depot Stations, each with the strength of three squadrons.

[2] Trenchard’s relationship with the Air Minister, the newspaper magnate Lord Rothermere, was never good and became markedly worse in February and March 1918. Rothermere was in favour of replacing Haig, to whom Trenchard, the Chief of Air Staff, was fiercely loyal. Further, Rothermere pursued plans that, to Trenchard’s mind, detracted from the primary task of supporting the land forces on the Western Front. Pressed by Rothermere to reconsider his resignation, Trenchard agreed only to defer it until after 1 April, when the Royal Air Force would be born.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/18/18 03:39 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
16 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


July 18th 1918. Mission: AF attack, I led B flight on this one. The flight stayed at 8500 ft for the run in then dropped and bombed from 3000 ft followed by one MG run then our 4 a/c cover flight gave it a go with Guns. A little damage was done. I think we should go lower or maybe dive at the target. 2 a/c were damaged in A Flight.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/19/18 12:02 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Thursday, July 18th 1918

The Allies counterattacked today on the Huns flank and retook their old trench line on a 20 km front. The sky at the Front was full of Allied planes this morning.

Went out at dawn on a patrol to strafe trenches and roads to prevent the enemy from bringing up supplies and reinforcements. Ennis' Nieuport caught fire and he dropped out of formation. Found very little to fire at on the roads, so we hammered away at any trench that looked occupied, I didn't get too close though, lots of teeth down there on the ground. The barrages down below were terrific and threw clouds dust and smoke thousands of feet up.

The Major told us later in the day that a fire stated in Ennis' cowling. He managed to smother the fire with his dive but cracked up his Nieuport in a shell hole. He hit his mouth and his teeth are a mess and he hurt his back. He may be out of it.

Same results on the 2nd patrol at 13:00, nothing moving on the ground in Germany as far as we could see and nothing in the air that wasn't ours.

Whitey took up the 3rd patrol at 18:00, 7 of us. Art, Simmy and Steve all had to drop out. Our Nieuports are wearing out and 3 patrols in the day are hard on them. We have the Nieuports from the French Squadrons but most of them are older and more beaten up than ours. Babygirl is still ticking along well enough though, Black took good care of her yesterday while we were down.

The 4 of us that remained found 3 Fokkers above us, just north of Chateau-Thierry, Whitey maneuvered us until we were above them and in the sun. They didn't get wind of us until we were within 300 yards of them, then the leader did a renversement to come straight at us while the other two made sharp turns left and right to flank us, they weren't amateurs and they weren't afraid of us. All three were in that lozenge pattern the Huns favor so much with yellow noses and white rudders. I made several passes with the one on the right, managed to get behind him to throw about 50 rounds at him with unknown results. He shook me off with a number of reinversemonts, then seemed to loose track of me and head chez eux at 2,500 meters and climbing. I stayed below him and managed to catch up, so either he was having problems with his machine or he really thought I was gone and relaxed, could have been tired, I certainly was after 3 patrols. That's just the kind of thing that'll get you killed.

I got right up on him and let loose a beautiful stream of tracers, going straight into him. He started to belch smoke,then he made a quick reinversement again, apparently in full control of his bird, and disappeared into a cloud. I followed him into the cloud, got disoriented and went into a spin, when I came out under the clouds and regained control saw no trace of him and no smoke trail. I was way lower than I like to be over Germany and the Archies found me, really pummeled us good. I headed home alone with a trail of black smoke puffs trailing me, grabbing for more sky. Babygirl took a few shrapnel hits, for which I apologized, I shouldn't have tried to follow the Hun down, it's not like I was going to get comformation or take him prisoner. I put him in my report but didn't request conformation. We have new US ammo now. The stuff has a terrific kick, I hope it doesn't tear a gun loose or damage it.

The 95th was able to make one patrol in their new SPADs and the 94th made two. The 95th had 4 drop out with problems and the 94th, 9, but their still sold on their new machines. Davy raves about it, brags that as soon as they get them going they'll have the Germans on the run.

I was thinking this morning how incongruous it is that I wake up in the morning in a comfortable bed, have a nice breakfast with a nice old French couple in their cozy cottage, then an hour or so later, I'm miles above the earth, sitting behind two machine guns, freezing my face off, hoping to have the pleasure of killing someone.

No word on Dodd.



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/19/18 03:44 AM

Raine: 16 confirmed + 4 un confirmed almost 50 some hours and over 25 missions. With Luck he might go all the way.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/19/18 03:51 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
16 Victory's,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.


July 19, 1918.

B flight did two hops today, number 1 was cover the AF's No contact. The second was an AF Attack led 5 a/c with bombs in a Glide from 6,500 down to 1,500 then dropped. Took a lot of ground fire 4 a/c damaged including mine 18 holes in the kite. Un sure if the low approach is worth it.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/19/18 12:33 PM

Raine - I'm with Carrick- Here's to Geoffrey, and, as Reed Chambers put it when he was trying to cheer up his comrades in the 94th Aero, "surviving the war so that we can die in a car accident."

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Friday, July 19th 1918

Seek and destroy mission over the Dormans area this morning, Whitey leading. On the way Babygirl's engine starting missing and sputtering. I had to drop out and land at La-Ferte-Gaucher. The French mechanics found the problem. It was only a loose ignition wire shorting out on the aluminum cowling.

The patrol spotted a German sausage and attacked. The balloon's crew started hauling it down so it was only about 1,000 meters off the ground when our boys opened fire. They didn't destroy it, the Archie and ground fire was so intense they had to break off. Dewey's Nieuport took some shrapnel and he crash landed on our side. I haven't seen him yet but the Major says he'll be back in a few days.

Went out on a late patrol over Germany at 19:30, 14 planes, no EA seen. Got back at 21:00. It was dark by then and we landed between the fire barrels. I hate a night landing and the fires spoil my night vision making it hard for me to judge altitude.

The French Squadrons tried to do a few patrols but most of the SPADs pooped out on them. The hat in the ring boys are getting frustrated with them. Davy's still sold on his SPAD, but then he always was a stubborn ass.

They got a shack built for me at the field so I had to get everything ready for a detail to pick it up tomorrow before I could sit down to write this and bed down.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/18 02:19 AM

good stories
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/18 02:38 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
17 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

July 20, 1918

Only 1 hop today, a real cock up. Wing called down an ordered a Railyard hit near Oppy. When the supply wagon arrived last night , it carried Paint and Raincoats along with overshoes,but no bombs It would hard to bomb with those so we gave it a go with MG ammo. The next problem was they wanted us to cross the lines at 3000 ft . What about e/a on Patrols ? Hq said not to worry the enemy should be North of us and we would be putting fear in the enemy. The sqn put 11 a/c up B flight had 5 and crossed according to orders. We flew under 3 enemy patrols before one fell on us. A real shambles everyone firing at everyone. I almost had a mid air when a new guy cut in front of me and got my target. I managed to get one Hun on the down low ,but took 3 hits from ground fire as I did the e/a . Our cover flight missed the Melee but attacked the target so Hq was happy. Damage ? maybe holes in the roof. B Flight had 4 damaged and knocked down 3 Huns. 1 was Mine out of a flight of 5.


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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/20/18 07:34 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

July 20th 1918

Two SPADs were ferried in today, not for the the French Squadrons but for us. Looks like they intend to cram them down our throats rather than let us fly the Nieuports the Government has already paid for until we've used them up all up. Our mechanics have enough to do without being burdened with these engineering wonders.

Said goodbye to the Picards this morning. Gave Jean Luc the spiked Kraut helmet he had admired so much. I gave Dianna all the sugar I could cherch, about 7 pounds, that's like gold in this country right now. Hugs and kisses all around, Dianna gave me a kiss right on the mouth that I thought was a little more than motherly and right there in front of her significantly older husband. Not quite sure what to make of that, she's pretty old. They made me promise I'd come back to see them when the war's over. If I see the end of the war, I will. Didn't say that to them though, it's understood.

Ralph led us on a photo escort mission , left Saints at 12:20, rendezvoused with a Salmson from 1st Aero over Torcy.. Archies galore. They took photos near Bonnes and waved to us when they were finished. A gang of 12 planes that looked Bochey appeared further north but didn't follow us when we turned for home with our photo bus. Good thing too, but surprising since they had every advantage, maybe they were ours after all. There were only 4 of us. Doc and Deuce had both dropped out before we met the Salmson because of that crap U.S. gas. Someone needs to go to prison for selling that soup to the Army.

The Salmson started to loose altitude when we got over the Lines and had to make a landing just a few miles on our side. Steve landed next to them, took the observers notes and photo plates and flew them to HQ. Their going to write him up for something, he certainly deserves it, pretty dicey landing.

Went up on Alert at 17:00. An enemy Biplace was spotted, apparently heading for the rail junction at Plessis Bellevue, I was in #4 position. We patrolled the area for almost 20 minutes after we got there but didn't see any sign of the biplace, no Archie fire, nothing, but just as we started to go , Bedroll waggled his wings. There were 7 Albatri, passing behind us, must had been escort for the photo plane. An Albatros always makes me think of a yellow jacket or hornet. Two of the yellow jackets ran, I guess they were newbies, while the rest of them swarmed in our direction with stingers at the ready.

Babygirl took a few hits on her fuselage during the first pass. I did a few passes with one of the yellow jackets before he found someone else to play with. I spotted one trying to slink away home and swooped down under him. He evidently didn't see me sneaking up on him and I got within about 50 yards, had him on a platter. Plastered him with both Vickers but one jammed up. He made a virage and dove but couldn't shake me off. I fired about 200 rounds at him before his gas tank started to smoke. He went down under some control, despite the wounds to his bird, much of his upper wing was gone, but he wiped out when he touched mother earth near the tracks.The bus had the usual varnished yellow wood body with a black and white ring around it behind the office. Deuce and Bedroll made claims too, we all revved as we came in and were greeted in style.

I got a little chill thinking about it all just now, I know darned well I was so concentrated on fidgeting with my, selector, gas throttle and gun lever that I didn't glance in the mirror or look behind me once to see if someone was sneaking up on me, while I was sneaking up on the that Hun. Could have been my ticket West. If I survive this thing it'll be just by shier luck. Daddy will probably say it was because I had a "Godly father praying for me at home," and like dribble. Just as likely it's Nanette and Rintintin. Well, whatever works but I have been extraordinarily lucky in more ways than one.

Got the dope on Dewey. He'll be back tomorrow, hurt his neck.









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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/21/18 02:56 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
17 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.



Got hurt today , attacked and shot up and wnd by a Lone Fokker. The flight was on Patrol in near white out conditions in 9/10ths cloud cover at 10,000 ft when a lone Fokker dropped on my tail and pumped two bursts at my my Kite 18 hit including 1 in my hip. I did a wingover and spun out then did a Blue Max , low level among the trees, to a friendly AF. My flight nailed the attacker. Cpt Elroy ( 42 Kills ) will take over B Flight. No one reported any other attackers. ( above the clouds ? In the clouds ? ) On the good side, the medics are sending me to III Corps Hospital in Cassis, Its not far from Marseiille. I hear its a Nurse Corp staging area.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/21/18 10:05 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Sunday, July 21 st 1918

Escort for 1st Aero photo kite, 4 pm, no HA.

SPADs still in hangar, no one goes near them, we pretend they're just not there. Heard the Major sent in his readiness report to Atkinson, "21" combat aircraft on hand, "21" Nieuports and 2 SPADs. Heard it made Atkinson mad as an old wet hen.

Lots of French civilians rubbernecking around the aerodrome today on their Sunday outings. One of them is going to get hurt one of these days, standing around gawking while were trying to run missions. Mickey tried to bite one today, not like him.

Dewey is back, with a neck brace on. I had his cot and everything fixed up for him in our new shack. We had a little welcome back party for him. He's medicating himself with alcohol, said Mercy Blow Through to everyone for the welcome.(1) He should be able to get back in the office (2) by the end of this next week. Good to see him, said he was crazy to get back, was afraid he might be hurt bad enough to be grounded or sent to Issoudun as an instructor, that would've killed him. But then, coming back here might kill him quicker. Dodd is definitely not coming back, maybe we'll hear that he was captured, pretty sure he's dead though.

(1) Mercy Blow Through - slang Americanized French, for merci beaucoup,

(2) Office - cockpit
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/18 02:21 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC, DSO.
Maj, Rfc.

Hospital La Bamc
2nd floor bed 14.
III Corps. Field Army.
Cassis, France.

7/21/1918.

Well here I am for awhile. The Doc said Nothing too serious after they dug out the slug. Will have to use a Cane to walk for a few years.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/22/18 03:55 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Monday, July 22nd 1918

WE LOST MAJOR BONNELL! He's relieved and assigned to command Aerial Gunner School at St. Jean de Mont. Atkinson ordered him to send us on 2 patrols today. Fog on the ground, low visibility so the Major says no, refused to send us up, went to see Atkinson. Major wouldn't say anything about what happened, rumor is that Atkinson threatened him, told him he could be shot for disobeying an order under combat conditions. It appears to have been a trap as orders reassigning him magically appeared and he's gone already.

Our morale is at zero! To add to the humiliation he assigned Hambleton (1) to command us. Johns a good guy and a fine pilot but he hasn't had and particularly exemplary career as a chase pilot and he's no leader. Any one of a number of our own pilots could handle the job just as well or better. Whitey, Snake O'Neill, Simmy, Art. Jones are all excellent leaders.

It's all old Army politics. Atkinson's the one who should be relieved! This Penguin is allowed to walk all over a man who's out to win this war, flying every day, risking his life every time he gets into a cockpit when he doesn't have too, refused promotion to stay with the Squadron. Now he's relieved of command and shuttled off to a useless assignment after the outfit he trained and led sent down more Huns in 3 weeks than the French Squadrons have done in 2 months!

Alk was forced to take us up twice, despite the other 3 Squadrons staying on the ground all day. Couldn't see anything for the fog on the ground. The only thing we could report was that Fere-en-Tardenois is on fire, all a waste of time and just to punish us.

(1) 1Lt John A. Hamleton, 95th Aero Squadron and later reassigned to command the 213th Aero, 2 confirmed victories during the war, member of an old banking family related to the Vanerbilts, later one of the founding partners of Pan Am Airlines.

(2) Penguin - Atkinson fit this label, having wings and a personal aircraft in the 94th Aero's hangars which he never flew, a flightless bird.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/23/18 02:09 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC, DSO.
Maj, Rfc.

Hospital La Blanc
2nd floor bed 14.
III Corps. Field Army.
Cassis, France.

July 23, 1918.

The Ward's Day nurse came by to check on us. I Say, she's a Peach. Things are looking up.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/18 12:52 AM

Thank God for Jerbear and Carrick keeping the campaign alive! Jerbear, I think you'll eventually warm up to the Spad. It's a very different beast, no? Corderoy's 43 Squadron has moved south to the Arras sector, but is being pressed into supporting the northern part of the crumbling British front on the Somme.

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 43 Squadron RFC
Part 61: 20-26 March 1918

20 March 1918 – La Gorgue


Rain and fog kept us on the ground all day. At 3 in the afternoon a dispatch arrived from Wing with orders for a squadron move. We are to redeploy to Avesnes-le-Compte, behind Arras. This puts us on the northern flank of the expected German push, so we are far from the non-operational unit-in-training that Van Ryneveld promised me, a thing that suits me fine!

Moving a squadron is an operation to behold. First, hangars are stripped on all materials and machinery except petrol and ammunition. Machine tools are crated and placed in waggons. All canvas is struck and accommodations packed, officers and senior NCOs slink away to strip the messes of all war booty and creature comforts, and by one in the morning the place is a mere skeleton. The aircraft are ready for takeoff at first light, the last tenders are standing by, and local cooks and cleaners weep and express their undying regret while inquiring about possible future occupants.

We saved a little whiskey and gin to see of my good friend Harold Balfour, who is posted to HE. I am truly sad to see him leave, as he is one of the most admirable men I know. For the last while I have worked hard in the style of the Stoics to abandon thoughts of the morrow and live fully for the here and now. It has served me well, even though I fear I may not be the same person a year from now if this war ever ends. Balfour was different. Ever the intellectual, he was haunted by his own imagination and tortured by his dreams for the future. Yet he persevered, not through natural and blissful simplicity like some, but by sheer courage and force of will. It is not the man without fear one must admire. It is the man wracked with fear who climbs into his grid, calls “contact†and rises into the dawn to face his worst fears. That man is Balfour, and we are the less without him.

I fell into bed shortly after one, expecting to be roused around five. But before first light a pressure wave of sound engulfed us. In silk pajamas and slippers we gathered on the duckboards in a chill breeze to see the eddies of red and orange light cascade from north to south on our eastern horizon. The sheer volume of artillery that the Hun unleashed took our breath. Nothing, we thought, can survive this. I gave orders to prepare the aircraft for movement on my orders.

At 5:15 we cut the phone service and took off. Still the eastern sky rippled with fire, but now a pink ribbon of sunlight lined the horizon as welll. There was a heavy ground fog so the first few minutes of our flight was tense. We gathered over Armentieres and turned south, picking our way from the snatches of ground visible through the mist. Somewhere south of the Lys we spotted three Hun two-seaters and immediately gave chase. They were several thousand feet higher, and we closed on them far too slowly. Only as they approached their own lines were we able to open fire, and then at long range. But the Huns were in close formation and did a first-rate job of defence. After being hit twice at a range of 250 yards, I decided that discretion was the better part and put about for our new home.

The field here is small and we are its only occupant at present. Many of our vehicles have not arrived and we are not operational until they do. Brigade phones relentlessly, but the roads are impossible by all accounts.

News are not good. Apparently the Germans are through already in some places, and the Fifth Army is falling back.

22 March 1918 – Avesnes-le-Compte

We are here without machine tools, without petrol, and to a great extent without food. We have sent provisioning patrols into the nearby town, a typically squat and bricky commune stretched out along a main road. Dinner is bread and cheese, helped with some good wines. We have some decent little huts, and the sergeants-major are beating some order into the place. The guard is doubled and the country is rife with rumours of breakthrough and spies. I inspected the place and asked one man on guard what the drill is if a spy with a bomb is caught entering the aerodrome. He did not know, nor would he hazard a guess, so I commanded him to find out. I must ask Purdey myself, for I admit I have no idea at all.

23 March 1918

Despite the developing disaster to our south, we were ordered to mount a patrol to escort a DH4 on a photographic reconnaissance north of Arras. I put together this extra flight and spent a frigid two hours. We saw absolutely nothing.

24 March 1918

Captain Trollope has astounded everyone today by claiming 6 1/2 Huns down is two flights! This is the most in a single day I have heard of.

I joined Woollett in a patrol about three miles into Hunland, just east of Arras. We spotted several groups of EA at a great distance off to the east, but nothing came our way until we were about to head home. At that point a large formation appeared heading south as we were turning north, and we met them over Anneux. The Huns were all triplanes, the largest gathering of these machines I have yet encountered. Woollett wisely turned west to lure them closer to our lines, but we were still over the enemy trench lines where the Huns were upon us.

What a melée it was! Like a drunken brawl in a docklands side street, with Camels and Fokkers all over the sky. At one point I glance over my should to see no fewer than three triplanes banked vertically, each trying to get on my tail. The scrap lasted at least ten minutes and then, in that mysterious way that has become so common, I found myself alone in the sky. I turned east, hunting for any Hun trying to make its way home. Nothing was in sight, so I turned southwest for home.

I had not gone more than a couple of miles when I spotted a lone triplane stalking a Camel westward. I tuned the fine adjustment for maximum revs and gave chase, gaining only slightly over the next five minutes. Then the Hun gave up and turned east and I set course to cut him off. He did not see me and I was able to get within mere feet before firing. The triplane zoomed up to the left, streaming smoke. I struggled to follow, for I had blipped my speed away and the Camel was not fond of climbing turns to the left. The Hun pilot must have been wounded, for he next turned eastward and dived for home. In my Camel it took only seconds to turn and dive onto his tail. I fired a long burst and the German machine erupted into flame and fell apart in the same instant. I pulled away to avoid the fluttering debris that littered the sky, and it was then I saw another Camel closing in. It was Woollett. I had a witness for my 55th victory.

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"Like a drunken brawl in a docklands side street, with Camels and Fokkers all over the sky."

25 March 1918

Orders have us covering some of the Third Army front, as the situation to our south is grave. All units of the Fifth Army north of the Somme have been placed under Third Army command as our forces are beginning to lose cohesion. To the south, the German advance threatens to split us from our French allies.
Shortly before ten, I took a composite patrol of B and C to sweep along what we supposed might be our lines but saw nothing we could engage.

At four I was back in the air, ordered to take down a Hun balloon near Monchy on the Arras front. As we crossed the Hun lines, a very large cloud of Pfalz scouts descended on us from the north and blocked our way. We tore into them with gusto and I had a few very tense minutes indeed. The Pfalzes were well-handled and I took a number of hits before I managed to dive under some other Camels and lose my pursuers, for I had for several minutes three enemy machines on my tail and, because of a broken spar, I dared not turn the Camel as tightly as I wanted to. In the end, I caught one of the Huns in a zoom and set the Pfalz on fire. It was a silver, yellow, and green machine with the new style squared-off black crosses. Banks vouched for the kill, number 56.

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"In the end, I caught one of the Huns in a zoom and set the Pfalz on fire."


26 March 1918

Enemy forces are massing this morning west of Bapaume, and we are ordered to sweep the skies over Doullens – Candas of enemy aircraft, which are conducted low-level attacks on our formations. I took an ad hoc group up at ten o’clock. The enemy has penetrated deeply towards Amiens and all our airfield are coming under attack.

We had scarcely passed over the fields at Vert Galant when King signalled that EA were in sight. There, off to the east about a mile and a half, was a cluster of machines, bobbing and weaving like midges on a summer night. I turned us about and gave chase, and before long could make out the distinctive shape of Fokker triplane scouts. The Huns headed east as soon as they saw us, but one stout fellow turned back to harry us. What a wonderful scrap he showed us, twisting and zooming. I took several hits before catching him in a climb and shooting off his right upper wings extension. The machine fell away, but it turned out that our newest squadron member, a young fellow named Alden, gave the telling blow and we were happy to confirm his first victory.

Throughout the day, our squadron sent up low-level offensive patrols over the area of the German advance.

Australian and New Zealand troops have stabilized a line north of Albert, and the crisis on the III Army front is, for the moment, abating.

More news: Foch is now appointed to overall command of all our forces. This was needed.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/18 02:50 AM

Raine: Luv ur Pics. It looks like ur pilot took out an Ace.

Jerbear: U will start loving the Spad when u get a Hun on your six and U can run away from him.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/18 03:35 AM

Originally Posted by carrick58
] It looks like ur pilot took out an Ace.


Heinrich Seywald of Jasta 23b -- in real life he later became a major general in the Luftwaffe. Corderoy headed off that career move!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/18 03:58 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC, DSO.
Maj, Rfc.

Hospital La Blanc
2nd floor bed 14.
III Corps. Field Army.
Cassis, France.


July 25, 1918.

Moved to a Semi Private room as befits the Rank. Bit of a mess as the maid was cleaning.

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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/25/18 11:41 AM

Todays events


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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/26/18 01:01 AM

Lederhosen, your Albatros had its feathers plucked! Good job getting it safely down. I'm away from my PC for a couple of weeks, so I'll continue Corderoy's story on my return. Here is his latest entry...

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 43 Squadron RFC
Part 62: 27 March 1918 – Avesnes-le-Compte


Much of the fighting on the ground today followed the line of the Somme River, and the enemy made some penetration of the Fifth Army front along the river. Our role in the north was to provide cover for the Corps machines to do their work and to keep pressure on the Huns. The squadron flew sixteen patrols today and I was able to join two of them.

At quarter past nine I joined Captain King’s flight on a Distant Offensive Patrol to the area around and behind the enemy airfields around Haubordin. We encountered yet another large group of Fokker triplanes, a type that is now appearing in larger numbers. I circled with one machine for an eternity and finally dipped at the start of a stall, only to emerge with the Hun in front of me. Two good bursts made short work of the EA, which shed its right wings and fell south of Haubordin. Lieut. Alden, who is one of our many new men since a recent rash of postings to HE and other squadrons, did a marvellous job and stayed on my tail the whole time.

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"Two good bursts made short work of the EA, which shed its right wings and fell south of Haubordin."

I have begun a series of brief “Tac Talks†after lunch or tea, each only 5 minutes and led by myself or a flight commander. The idea is to transfer as much air-fighting knowledge as possible to the tyros so that we might keep them alive long enough to get competent. We lost two lads in the past week and it distresses me when I have to ask Purdey to brief me on a boy I’ve scarcely spoken with so I can write his poor parents.

In the late afternoon we received orders to escort a DH4 to photograph troop movements east of Arras, as it appears the Huns may open a new offensive in our sector. The DH4s normally do high work, so to order one down to 5000 feet for this work, the mission must be of importance. We saw several large groups of enemy scouts, but they appeared not to notice us in the haze over Monchy. Once we saw our ward safely back over our lines, I turned our flight of seven Camels to the south and began climbing into the late day sun. A formation of six Pfalzes had passed over us ten minutes before, heading south, and I hoped to meet them on their return back north.

It took about ten minutes before we spotted them, a little east of us. That put us up-sun, although we were still a little below the Huns. We began the stalk, but were spotted. Two of the enemy machines turned to engage us. Camels can out-turn Pfalzes nicely if the Hun decides to waltz, and mine did. I got behind and fired 80 rounds from only about 10 yards away, clearly killing the pilot. The machine, a silver grid with the older-style Maltese crosses, crashed south of Monchy.

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"I got behind and fired 80 rounds from only about 10 yards away, clearly killing the pilot."

Alden formed up immediately and the two of us headed for Arras, picking up Lingham on the way. Over Arras we found a Pfalz stalking a damaged Camel and gave chase. The Hun saw us and dived for home with three Camels on his tail. I hit him and moved aside for Alden, who closed until he nearly touched the Hun. He had been listening in the last Tac-Talk (led by Trollope). One short burst was enough to finish the EA.

My Fokker and the Pfalz over Monchy were both confirmed, and my tally now stands at 58. I have one more than Jimmy McCudden, whom I expect will be on a tear when he returns to France.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/26/18 02:47 AM

Good going
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/26/18 02:52 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC, DSO.
Maj, Rfc.

Hospital La Blanc
2nd floor bed 14.
III Corps. Field Army.
Cassis, France.


July 26, 1918.

We for a swim with the Nurses as part of my therapy. I will hate to go back in a few days, after being here.

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Posted By: Maeran

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/26/18 08:55 AM

Its been hard finding writing time as well as flying time of late. When the baby comes, it will probably be even harder.

In the meantime, I have been reading your adventures with relish gentlemen.

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Captain Tipton was an earnest looking man with a toothbrush moustache and a big story. He arrived in the last week of February and had been telling the squadron about his adventures in Turkey and Russia ever since.

“They were marching us back to Kastumuni when we heard shots. I dived onto the floor, not knowing what to think. One of the guards shouted “haydutlar,†which Bishop told me meant 'bandits.' Here I was, unarmed and wondering what bandits might do with us.†Tipton took a sip of his brandy and carried on, “Phillips bolted into the dark. Bullets were flying. By the end of it, one guard was dead, and the rest surrendered. It turned out that our brigands were rebels, fighting against the Turks in Turkey itself. Circassians, Armenians, Georgians and even a Turk who was on the wrong side of the fence politically speaking. They called themselves the 'Comrades.' We never saw Phillips again, though we searched for him after the fight.â€

Tipton had been captured in Egypt, escaped in Turkey. Recaptured briefly before joining these comrades for a month. Then the group had captured two boats and crossed the black sea to Russia, just in time to witness the Bolshevik revolution. This had been topped off with a private interview with the King before Richard Tipton rejoined the RFC and came back to the Front.

“Good grief!†Gwilym Lewis laughed as he nodded at the mess waiter who had signalled him. “My car is ready, and just when you've got going!†He stood up and and picked up his valise. “Look after my flight, old boy. And be careful. They are experienced air fighters, but you've been out of it. Get your eyeballs in before you cross that line!â€

“Have a good leave Noisy,†Tudhope chimed from his chair beside the fireplace.
“Will do, Tud! Toodle-oo chaps!†And Lewis was through the door and one his way to Blighty.

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A few days later, Stanley was on an escort mission with C flight when the SE5a next to him burst into flames. Stanley watched in horror as the fire engulfed McBride's cockpit and the aeroplane slowly fell away from the formation. Unbidden, Stanley heard Mannock's voice in his head, “you don't want to burn. Take a revolver and blow your brains out before it gets to that!â€

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Stanley hoped that McBride could find his gun.

The rest of B flight had better luck. Tipton had ignored Lewis' advice and taken Wallwork, Harrison, Tudhope and Napier over the lines. After months of little to no contact with the enemy scouts, Tipton had led his pilots into a furball with Pfalz and Albatros scouts. The results had been good for 40 squadron. The flight came home with six claims and no loss. Everyone had got one kill, and Harrison had two.

“Things are getting hot up there!†Major Tilney declared at lunch. “I'm going to tag along this afternoon. See if I can't bag myself a brace of Huns too.â€

Stanley was manning the recording office, and saw two SE5as land and taxi in. It was Wallwork and Bion. He saw them climb out of their machines and greet each other before making their way into his shed.

“Hullo Stanley. We had quite a fight. Tipton brought us down on a flight of Albatri. He got the rearmost machine in the first pass. It all got a bit messy after that. Quite a scrap! I got one.â€
“Me too!†Lt Bion smiled.
Wallwork frowned. “Not all good news. I saw an SE breaking up in the air. Too far away to see who.â€
Stanley gave the Lancastrian pilot a frown. “Someone's a goner. We'll have to see who comes in.â€
“Yes. Give me that report sheet.â€

No other SE5a did land at Bruay. Shortly after 5 the telephone rang. It was an artillery officer.

“We've had one of your pilots land behind our billet. Nice landing, but the man is wounded. He says that his name is Captain Tinton... Tipton? Oh, so he is one of yours. He's quite the cheerful chap, but I don't like his belly wound. I've sent him up to clearing. You'd better send someone for this machine.â€

By nightfall two pilots were still missing. A new chap called Foster and the commanding officer, Major Tilney.

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It was very quiet in the mess that evening when Gwilym Lewis came back from leave.
“Hullo chaps,†he said. “What's going on?â€
“We lost three pilots in a scrap yesterday. One of them was the old man.â€
Lewis frowned at the news,“what happened?â€
One of the survivors of the combat, Lt Wallwork, recalled the encounter with the black Pfalzes and Albatri.

“What do we do now?†Napier asked. The room was quiet for a few minutes.
“Inform Wing. That's obvious,†Tudhope said. “They will send us a new CO.â€
“Perhaps we can have Mannock back?†Napier wondered.
“No, no. I heard he's just come back out with seventy four. They won't want to give him up.â€

Captain Lewis took over the CO's duties over the next few days and 40 squadron continued to fly as normal. The improving weather led to increased enemy air activity and the pilots were anxious to 'get at them.'

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

Two days after Tilney and Foster went missing, Stanley shot down a white Pfalz. It was running for home after shooting down a lone RE8. Stanley's SE5a had altitude and speed on the German scout. After Stanley loosed a long burst from both guns, the Pfalz pilot slumped in his chair and the machine dived away until it crumpled into a small stand of trees.

Stanley had a grim satisfaction. This was the first aircraft that he had shot down since January.

The next morning started with a shocking scene. Stanley was on a mid-morning patrol with Tud, a new man called Hind and John Wallwork. The SE5as were lined up on the field warming their engines when a lick of flame came from underneath the exhaust pipe on Wallwork's machine.

[Linked Image]

In moments the whole engine was covered in fire. Wallwork hurriedly released his seatbelt and stood, an arm raised to ward off the flames. Then he clambered over the side and leaped out of the stricken aircraft.

--------------------------------------------------
On the Tuesday, Stanley was escorting an RE8 from 9 squadron. It was three days after Major Tilney had gone missing, although the consensus was now that his SE5a was the one Wallwork had seen break up.

Four Albatros scouts attacked the RE8 and the SE5as dived against them. The Germans broke off and a melee began while the RE8 sped away westwards.

As things started to dissipate, Stanley found himself alone. A rattle of machine gun fire alerted him to two new German scouts diving on him. They were triplanes! This was the first time that he had seen them. He twisted and dived for speed. A burst of Spandau fire shredded his wing.

[Linked Image]

Stanley continued to dive for as long as he dared. The SE5a still seemed to be flying, rather than falling, but he could no longer be sure of out running the triplanes. They didn't follow, but instead turned away eastwards.

“That's lucky,†thought Stanley as he nursed his machine back to Bruay.

The SE5a wanted to roll and yaw to the right all the time due to the shattered wing, but Stanley made a gentle landing. After he shut down his engine he reflected that it had in fact been one of his better ones.

“What happened to you?†Harrison asked as Stanley approached the recording office hut.
“I had a run in with a pair of tripehounds Harry,†Stanley replied. “What fun they are!â€

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

The evening was sombre. First word came that Stanley's Pfalz claim had been rejected. Then that was knocked into insignificance by the news that Tipton had died of his wounds.

“I went to see him in the infirmary this afternoon.†Captain Lewis reflected. “He was clearly halfway between life and death, but showed such wonderful pluck. Said that it was alright, as he'd gotten his Hun.â€

“Yes,†Stanley nodded. “That's all a man can hope for. To get his Hun before the Huns get him.â€

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

It was a hard week, and although Stanley hadn't scored any more victories, the air war was clearly heating up with the improving weather.

On the Friday, six days after Major Tilney went missing, Captain Lewis addressed the officers before dinner.

“I'm sure you have all heard that 1st Brigade has been doing very well this week. Eighteen Huns in one day. We ourselves have not been slouching, with fifteen confirmed victories! Easily heading the list. Well done chaps.

“I know that this has been a hard week, with the loss of several men and most notably our commanding officer. I can now tell you that a new commander has been appointed.†Lewis looked around the room. “And it is commander. Squadron Commander Dallas is coming to us from the RNAS.â€

The room was filled with a murmur of surprise.
“What?! A bloody sailor!â€
“It doesn't make sense!â€
“Why?â€

“Why?†Lewis answered, “is not for us to reason. Although if you ask me, it probably has something to do with the merger we have coming up.â€
“No reason for him to come here. I'll keep my brandy and the rum can …â€
“Language,†Lewis cautioned. “Commander Dallas does come with an impressive war record. I believe he has accounted for twenty-three enemy aircraft.â€

“Well, that's all very well,†Stanley commented to Wallwork. “The question remains; what kind of man is he?â€
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------

Its been frankly boring for Bob Stanley for months. Railyard attacks and bad weather. Now things are hotting up. This story doesn't even bring us up to date. The next story will cover Dallas' arrival and the first few days of the offensive.

I'm glad I found out about Captain Richard Tipton. He's one of those people whose life reads like a spy novel. See Graeme's post on the aerodrome for a good summary of his story.
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40863

That picture of a crashed SE5a is reportedly Tilney's. Two members of Jasta 52 claimed him, Paul Billick the CO and Wilhelm Hassenbeim, who can be seen standing in front of the wreck, marked with an x. It's worth noting that British reports have Tilney's SE5a breaking up in the air, but this crash looks like the aeroplane reached the ground largely intact. The parts are close together.

The news that a naval man was coming to command them was received at 40 squadron with dismay. However, 'Breguet' Dallas was a charismatic and capable leader and the tune soon changed. But that's to come.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/26/18 11:59 PM

Busy week Raine - excellent stories

Carrick - SPAD XIIIs are great when you get them off the ground and hopefully keep them there. I speak here as Johnny Goode. In the game they're pretty great but the Americans had a hard time keeping them going, partly because of inexperience. Rickenbacker finally got most of the technical problems worked out satisfactorily and by the end of the war the 94th, at least, was getting 100 hours out of an engine.

Of course, John Goode will have to live long enough to be flying a SPAD.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/18 02:36 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC, DSO.
Maj, Rfc.

Hospital La Blanc
2nd floor bed 14.
III Corps. Field Army.
Cassis, France.


July 27, 1918.

Well, I am packing it in and getting ready to head back to the Sqn. I sure will miss the house keeping staff

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Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/18 01:01 PM

Great stories all round folks!

Thanks for keeping this thread alive.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/28/18 11:50 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Wednesday, July 24th 1918

Yesterday evening, all the pilots and most of the other officers drove to Melun to have supper with Major Bonnell. The 4 new guys just assigned came along to meet him.(1) He had little to say during the evening, except that being with his officers was wonderful and he would keep in touch and visit when possible. I think he kept what he was feeling to himself to avoid starting a mutiny. He’s one in a million! Mickey wasn't with him, so I didn't get to say goodbye. We didn’t have anything to present to him, so I gave him my 75mm shell with Mickey on it, I can get another.

Hambleton's not going to be our C.O. after all. He was reassigned to the 213th Aero and now 1st Lt. Meissner from the 94th is coming to take over the Squadron. I think He’s going to be Okay, he’s shot down 4 Huns so far and has been in it since the beginning at Toul. We're still leery of how his French training is going to affect how we do things. He's, of course, big on the SPAD and is bringing his with him. Whitey did a test flight in one today, wasn't impressed, wrote on his flight log, "Give me my Nieuport!"

Two patrols yesterday, 6 plane patrol, Dormans/Chateau T, and photo plane escort, Tardenois. No HA.

New orders are to destroy enemy balloons wherever possible to keep the Huns from observing the progress of our ground units.

Took out our frustrations on the Huns today, 7 confirmed kills.(3)

Went up with a patrol led by Whitey at 5 pm. Patrolled at about 4,000 meters west of Chateau-Thierry. Whitey dropped out and, of all people, I took over. My first patrol lead.

Just beyond Chateau-Thierry we spotted 4 Rumplers attacking our troops on the ground. I signaled an attack and we piqued at them, breaking up the attack. I made passes at 3 of them without observable results. Dewey got one of them, I saw it’s wings break off as it went down in flames, a long trail of smoke behind it, a very exciting site to see. I saw another one crash land near the Marne.
[Linked Image] [Linked Image]
Whitey, in the meantime, got his engine straightened out and came back looking for us. Instead he found two Hun scout machines, snuck up on them with the sun at his back and took them both down. He got confirmation on one already and there is a good possibility the other will be too! The claim on my Albatros was rejected. I'm still going to paint a rat on Babygirl, but put it at Mickey's feet like Abe did. (2)

Went up on a 2nd patrol, 6 planes, but dropped out. I believed Babygirl's engine had a knock, a trace of smoke on the nacelle and a few other things so I left the others. Her engine smoothed out so I turned back to rejoin the formation. I saw 5 planes below and behind me and approached them, only to find that they were Fokker monoplace. I goosed the motor and went straight at them, firing at one as I passed. I kept on going in as steep a dive as I dared, straight south. Three of them turned back but two followed me over the lines where I took them near the balloon positions to give them a nice taste of shrapnel. They kept after me for a short time finally but turned around. The patrol ran into a dozen Huns, Pfalz and Fokker mono-place and brought down two.




Becoming harder to get replacement parts for Nieuports, the mechs have to scrounge. There's a large bone pile behind the parts tent. Big fights like the ones today take a tole. Everybody involved had damage. Pip had 40 holes in his left wing.

(1) Four new pilots were assigned to the 147th between the 22nd and 24th of July.

1Lt. James P. Herron, B Flight
1Lt Walter P. Muther, B Flight
2nd Lt. George G. Willard, B Flight
1Lt. Lansing G. Holden - reassigned to 95th Aero next day

(2) Unconfirmed victories, about which a pilot in the 147th and his Squadron mates was certain, were painted at the feet of the planes terrier insignia rather than being hung by their tails as confirmed victories were. 1st Lt. James 'Abe' Abernethy mentions having done so.

(3) 6 victories were confirmed for the 147th on 24 July, the 7th belongs to 2nd Lt Dwight Rothchild,my fictitious wing man in the game.

2 Albatros' credited to Wilbert 'Whitey' White
1 Fokker DVII credited to 'Pip' Porter, Arthur 'Alk' Jones, and James Healy
1 Fokker DVII credited to 'Pip' Porter, Arthur 'Alk' Jones, Francis 'Simmy' Simmonds, Ralph 'Snake' O'Neill, and Thomas 'Abe' Abernethy.
1 Fokker DVII credited to Jame Healy
1 Fokker DVII credited to James Healy and Joseph 'Doc' Raibly.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/18 12:32 AM

Good reading, Keep em up. Nice pics Jerbear.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/18 12:44 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
17 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

July 28 ,1918.

Bit of bad luck. I was posted to the afternoon Patrol. As the flight reached 10,000 ft , My kite lost power. The prop was still turning. but I wasn't going anywhere under full power. The flight shot pass me so cut motor, cut fuel and nosed down to make a hot landing. A little rough on the a/c ,but a safe landing. The C.O. said not to fret about it. He had heard that Wing was looking for an Acting Commander for an under achieving Squadron. My name was one of three talked about in the dispatches.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/18 02:44 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Thursday, July 25th 1918

Big doings in the 95th today. They got in a fight with a bunch of Fokkers. A new guy of theirs named Avery, in his first fight, brought down one of the German’s big dogs, a bird named Menckhoff who commanded their 72nd squadron.(1) He was forced to land with his manifold shot away and was really ticked off when he discovered he had been shot down by a green American in his first fight. Avery cut the big “M†off the side of the Fokker and brought it in for a trophy. Davy got a Fokker as well.

Seven man patrol this morning. They had no business sending us up, the clouds were very low and most of our flying was limited to 300 meters. Even at that altitude most of the time we were in the clouds. Several times we were in the rain. The only activity on the ground is artillery fire. The Germans are steadily pulling back. Lines greatly advance N and NE of Chateau-Thierry

Flying so low we saw much of the damage done by the big guns. Every city and town was nothing but a mess. Much of Chateau-Thierry is a heap of stones and there is evidence of terrible street fighting in that place. Archie was pretty hot and machine guns rattled at us the whole time we were over the lines. Luckily, the Archies had trouble making their shrapnel burst at our low altitude so they did little harm.

NW of Dormans, 3 Hannover bi-place were spotted, just off our starboard wings. One of them streaked for home, but two of them stayed together. Whitey and I attacked the two while the rest of the boys chased the single Hannover. I put about 200 rounds into one of them and he went down, turning end over end. I took some hits from the back pew but no serious damage. Whitey wasn’t so lucky, he had to make for Champaubort. The rest of us reformed and escorted him until he landed.

Meissner took command today.(2)
[Linked Image] [Linked Image]
(1) Ltn Carl Menckhoff, Pour le Me'rite, 39 aerial victories

(2) 1st Lt. James A, Meissner, previously of the 94th Aero. 8 aerial victories, 4 of which were while serving with the 147th.

Note: On 25 July 1918 Frank Luke reported for duty with the 27th Aero.




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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/18 03:10 PM

Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
17 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

July 29, 1918.

I might have bagged a Tri-plane this morning. The fight was a Buzz-saw and over enemy territory so don't know if the kill will be confirmed. The flight was on escort when we ran head on into the 3 wingers. I got numerous hits with the 3rd or 4th burst the smoke poured out of the e/a. As an enemy dropped on my tail and I took 8-10 hits so did a Wing over. Running for home, I did not see if my kill went down. The Sqn claimed 3 e/a for 1 SE destroyed ( a flamer ) + 1 SE forced down ( POW ) and 3 Lightly damaged.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/29/18 08:03 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Friday, July 26th 1918

All 7 of the claims from the Wednesday fight were confirmed, as was mine and Whitey's Hanoverian.

Went up at 11 am on a low-level for strafing of enemy troops and supply convoys in the area of Fere-en-Tardenois, Jack Stevens leading.

While we were searching for troops to strafe we saw a big fat horse c@(k hanging in the air just west of where we crossed the lines. We all went straight at it, right through the Archies and machine guns. The thing burst in a huge fireball almost instantly with all of us firing at it at once. Simmy, Healy, Wanamaker, Deuce McDermott and myself made a shared claim on it.

After we cooked up the sausage we broke up, looking for targets. I found a large supply dump and made a low strafing pass on it, firing the whole time. I took very heavy ground fire and just didn’t have the stomach for a second pass, went home alone. Black and I counted 40 holes in Babygirl's wings and fuselage. There were two dents in the metal plate in my seat. Thanks to the Major's foresight my jewels and posterior are safe for posterity.



Saturday, July 27th 1918

Dud for flying, grounded all day except for a few test hops.

It came down that Billy Mitchell is Chief of Air Service, 1st Army. He sent congratulations down to the Squadrons Commanders on our work at Chateau T, said it had been "remarkable."

Went nosing around the field at the end of the landing field. Didn't find anything remarkable in the way of relics, just a lot of rusted metal and wire, but I did find something. I heard low whining from an old shell hole and looked in. At the bottom was a mud covered pup, too tired to try to get up the slick side anymore, just laying there whimpering.

She's laying here in our room asleep on a blanket dry and more or less clean. Ate so much from a can of goldfish (1) that I had to stop her before she busted a gut. I'm calling her Pup for now. I have an arrangement with one of the orderlies, Cheeseman, to make sure she gets fed when I'm not around and taken out so she doesn't dirty up the place. Dewey's not crazy about having a dog in our shack with us but he's not giving me any trouble over it. I think she's a Spitz, which makes her a Heinie. So maybe I'd better call her an American Eskimo Dog (2) so no one will thin she's a spy.



Sunday, July 28th 1918

Went up on a big patrol led by Alk, 15 planes from all three flights. Covered an 18 mile stretch from Tre’loup, NW to Beuvardes and then Oulchy-la-Ville. We flew at 4500 meters in a heavy mist, very poor visibility, stayed up only a little over an hour. Red Simon
had motor problems and had to land at Cre’teil. He damaged his Nieuport to such an extent that it was written off.

Rick is back but he looks awful. Can barely turn his head.

No confirmation on the sausage.



Monday, July 29th 1918

Was Operations Officer all day today, 7am to 21:00. Patrol went out but I couldn't get a substitute. Busy day, answered the phone, made sure patrols got off, reports made and turned in, wouldn't want to do this all the time. Got to drop in to check on Pup a few times. Cheeseman is living up to our bargain. She's still sleeping most of the time but got pretty lively at eating time. I'm going to get her over to the vet at the Artillery Battery refitting up to the North of us, have her look her over. Need to worm her but she needs to get a little stronger first, gonna be a mess.

2 patrols for our outfit today. One led by Alk with all 4 newbies and Meissner in his SPAD. Whitey led the 2nd one.

Meissner dove on a bi-place but his telescopic sight fogged with moisture and he couldn’t get a good shot, so he chased the HA over the lines, firing about 100 rounds at random with no apparent result. Still, he impressed those present with the excellent diving qualities of the SPAD, they said you could never have done anything like it in a Nieuport and lived.


(1) Canned Goldfish - tinned Salmon rations.

(2) American Eskimo Dog - German Spitz dogs were referred to as American Eskimo Dogs due to anti-German sentiment in the US prior to and during WW1.






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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/18 02:18 AM

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Sweet looking Spad.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/30/18 02:32 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
18 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

July 30, 1918.

Wing wanted a Show the flag flight across from Arras. I nearly got the Chop. I led B flight ( 5 a/c ) up to 11,000ft and we we able to mix it up with a flight of Fokkers ( 6 a/c ) I had one in my sights ,but the e/a just skidded away. It was at this point my motor spurted to a stop. as the e/a's closed in on me. Nosed over in a screaming dive, Some fabric ripped and made a terrible noise. I was over 200 mph in that dive, but was able to pull out at 100 ft and do the Blue Max routine bleeding off speed then landed. I got a wagon ride from a farmer to a village with a phone The C.O will send a repair party an said my Tri-Plane Kill was confirmed # 18.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/18 12:10 AM

SWEET!

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Tuesday, July 30th 1918

Fifteen plane patrol today. The Lines have moved so far North that we run out of fuel. Most of us made it back on fumes but Whitey, Alk, Snake and Herron had to land to beg fuel off the French to get home.

The Group is opening a refueling station at an aerodrome abandoned by Germans near Coincy

Recommended for another Croix de Guerre for the lone attack on the enemy camp. Lots of recommendations for Croix de Gs and DSCs going up the ladder, when they come back down is anybody's guess.

Found time to get Pup over to the Army Vet. Extremely nice bird. She's got a spot of mange. Glad I got her over to him before it spread and we had a problem like the 27th had with Scabies. Could've been a Court Martial for me and, I guess, deserved. The Vet. Captain is quarantining her until he can get it cleared up, so he'll worm her and do a rabies vaccination and look her over some more. Very nice of him, he could have reported me and put Pup down. Have to burn the box and blanket she was using for a bed. I don't see any signs of mange on me and neither did the Cpt. but he said to keep an eye out for it. I'll tell Cheezeman and Dewey to do the same. Hope they both don't take my head off.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/18 02:29 AM

Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
Instructor Pilot
B Flight Commander
18 Victorys,
40 Sqn, Bryas, AF
Flanders France.

The Sqn was assigned to a Rail yard Jct Attack. B Flight had the bombs and A Flight would cover us ( 5 a/c ea ) C flight had a diversion Patrol near St Vasst as we crossed over to Oppy. A couple of bombs hit the target and others near by. We climbed to 8000ft and headed home. Looking back, I spotted our Cover flight in trouble with a flight of Huns with another Flight near by. I peeled off with Chilrow my wingman and jumped in the melee. My wing man cracked on a Blue colored Fokker then Nothing ? Gun Jam ? He broke right so I dropped on the Huns tail and at 100 yards Smoke and fire puked from the e/a. By then we were alone so RTB. I landed with 20 % fuel.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 07/31/18 11:05 PM

Lovely shots of that flaming Fokker. Particularly the one from the cockpit.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/18 12:04 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Wednesday, July 31st 1918

Jack Stevens is missing. Alk Jones led a 14 plane escort for a 1st Aero photo ship. We were supposed to meet it at Francheville but it didn’t show. We continued on to patrol near the new lines at Fere-en-Tardenois but it was of little use because of poor visibility. Five of us had to leave the formation because of mechanical problems. We had to land at Francheville for fuel before heading back to Saints, hope they get Coicy up and running soon.

Jack went missing somewhere around Mareuil. We're waiting for some news of him.(1)

12 SPADs ferried in for us. Meissner his being diplomatic about it and hasn't assigned any of them to us while their being put in shape but it's obvious he's anxious to begin transitioning us into them. If the Major was still here there'd be fireworks, but then, I guess that's WHY he's not here, can't fight city hall.

Packing up my 75mm shell casings and souvenirs to ship them home and my personal belongings in case we move soon. We Americans are getting thick on the ground. 2, 3, 4, 5, 26, 27, & 87th US Divisions on the Front now.

(1) 2nd Lt. John H. 'Jack' Stevens, C Flight, victim of Ltn Emil Rolff, Jasta 6. His plane was found on 8 August but no grave was found until after the war.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/18 03:19 AM

Thanks Jerbear Most of the time, I miss the good shots. Because I am caught up in the game, or just too slow and miss the opportunity. .
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/18 03:33 AM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
19 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn Clarmarais
Flanders, France.

July 31, 1918. Assumed Command of the Sqn during Morning Parade. Broke up C flight and scattered the pilots among A and B Flights. This way the Sqn will fly and fight in a 12 a/c group Assigned the Sqn Ace to A Flt while B flight will always leed. In case of combat all a/c are to gang up on the enemy machine when possible. One on One combat is to be avoided. I then tagged along on a Flight after being shown the Taps on the 180 HP SE 5 Viper. Found a Flight of Huns but only 2 came around to attack the other nosed down and went home. The Sqn knocked down both e/a.


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Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/18 02:58 PM

Great reads Gents! Wish I was with you. Keep the stories coming.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/18 07:01 PM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
19 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn Clarmarais
Flanders, France.


Aug 1, 1918.

I picked out a New a/c from the stores she's running fine. I like these nose heavy Vipers. Then Hq called and wanted a strike on a Hun AF at Zeldelgem. I led with B flight's 6 bomb carrying a/c. Top Cover would attack with MG's after us. The attack went in at 2500 ft. Good Hits,but we lost 2 a/c both forced down due to ground fire.

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Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/18 10:59 PM

News of the World for March - Intrepid Fliers:

March 2
German forces captured Kiev in the Ukraine.
March 3
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between Russia and the Central Powers. Russia recognised the independence of Ukraine, Georgia and Finland while handing over Poland and the Baltic States to Germany and Austria-Hungary.
March 4
German forces occupied Narva in Estonia.
March 5
Representatives from Romania and the Central Powers, Bulgaria and Turkey signed a preliminary peace agreement at Buftea.
March 6
Shipping loss figures were released in Britain on the same day as the British steamer HMS Kalgan was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-53.
March 7
Germany and Finland signed a peace agreement.
March 8
The first case of Spanish influenza was reported. The disease quickly spread and the resulting worldwide epidemic ended up killing more people than the war.
March 9
The Marxist revolutionary Georgy Vasilyevich Chicherin was appointed as the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs in Russia.
March 10
The British hospital ship HMHS Guildford Castle was torpedoed, but not sunk, by a German U-boat in the Bristol Channel while she was flying the Red Cross flag.
March 12
Lenin and the Russian Bolshevik Government left Petrograd for the new capital city of Moscow.
March 13
German forces occupied Odessa on the Black Sea.
March 14
The Congress of Soviets met at Moscow to ratify the Brest-Litovsk treaty of peace with the Central Powers.
March 15
Prince Lichnowsky's pamphlet, which had accused the Russian Government of failing to support him in efforts to avert the war, was published in the Swedish journal Politiken.
March 17
On Saint Patrick's Day cartoonist Clifford Berryman published a cartoon depicting Uncle Sam rolling up his sleeves and preparing to use a large club to deal with the many German propagandist snakes slithering in the grass around him.
March 18
The Entente Governments issued a Note which formally refused to recognise the German-Russian peace treaty.
The Dutch Government accepted the Allied terms for the use of Dutch shipping in United States and Entente ports, with reservations.
March 19
President Woodrow Wilson signed up to the Standard Time Act, setting federally mandated time zones across the nation and calling for daylight saving time (DST) to begin on 31 March.
March 21
The Second Battle of the Somme was launched as a series of attacks against British forces along the Western Front. The offensive was made up of four separate German attacks, codenamed Michael, Georgette, Gneisenau and Blucher-Yorck launched in that order.
March 22
In Operation Michael German forces continued to make gains in the northern sector, capturing Vracourt, Tergnier and the Oise Canal.
March 23
The Paris Gun, a German long-range artillery weapon, was used to bombard Paris from 120 km (75 miles) away.
German forces continued to press their advantage on the Somme as British troops pulled back.
March 24
In the First battle of Bapaume the towns of Peronne and Bapaume were captured by German forces as Operation Michael succeeded in forcing a retreat by the British Army.
March 25
In further action during Operation Michael, the town of Noyon was captured by German forces.
March 26
The Doullens Conference was held between French and British military leaders in order to better coordinate British and French military operations on the Western Front.
March 27
At the Battle of Rosieres the Germans captured the strategically important communications centre of Montdidier.
March 28
Under the codename Operation Mars the Germans attacked the southern Arras sector, but were defeated sustaining heavy losses.
March 29
A single shell from the Paris Gun hit the roof of the St-Gervais-et-St-Protais Church in Paris whilst a Good Friday service was in progress, collapsing the entire roof on to the congregation and resulting in a high number of casualties.
March 30
The First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux saw the renewal of a German assault on the French position on the south of the newly formed Somme salient whilst another attack was launched towards Amiens.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/01/18 11:00 PM

News of the World for July - Warbirds Rising:

July 1
The US troop transport ship USS Covington was torpedoed by German submarine U-86 off Brest, France.
July 3
Turkish Sultan Mohammed V of the Ottoman Empire died at the Yildiz Palace in Constantinople and was succeeded by his brother, Mohammed VI.
July 4
The Battle of Hamel took place. The successful attack was launched by the Australian Corps and American troops against German positions in and around the town of Hamel in northern France.
July 5
The Treaty of Bucharest, which had been signed between Romania and the Central Powers in May, was ratified by the Romanian Senate.
July 6
Wilhelm von Mirbach, the German ambassador to Russia, was assassinated in Moscow. He was succeeded by Karl Helfferich.
July 8
Ernest Hemingway was severely wounded when he carried a fellow worker to safety while working as a Red Cross ambulance driver on the Austro-Italian front. Hemingway was sent home and later received the Italian Silver Medal of Bravery for his heroism.
July 9
Paul von Hintze succeeded Richard von Kuhlmann as Germany's Minister for Foreign Affairs.
July 10
The Russian Constitution was adopted by the Congress of Soviets.
July 11
Henry Ford's innovative new type of anti-submarine vessel, the first Eagle class patrol craft was launched in the United States.
Prince Wilhelm of Urach was elected King of Lithuania with the regnal name Mindaugas II.
July 12
The Imperial Japanese Navy battleship IJN Kawachi sank in Tokuyama Bay after an ammunition magazine exploded.
July 13
Turkish forces attacked British positions on the Jordan River and began their final offensive to recover Jericho.
July 14
US Air Service pilot and son of former US President Theodore Roosevelt, Quentin Roosevelt was shot down and killed by a German Fokker plane over the River Marne in France.
July 15
The Second Battle of the Marne began and marked the final phase of the German Spring Offensive when German divisions attacked French troops.
July 16
Austro-Hungarian commander-in-chief Field Marshal Conrad von Hotzendorf was relieved of his command.
July 17
In the early hours of the morning, Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their children Alexei, Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia were executed together with other members of their household by the Bolsheviks in the town of Ekaterinburg.
July 18
A French led counterattack halted the German forward momentum during the Second Battle of the Marne and seized the initiative for the Allies on the Western Front.
July 19
The British troopship HMS Justicia was sunk after she was torpedoed by the German submarines UB-64 and UB-124 off the coast of Scotland whilst sailing from Belfast to New York.
July 20
The British destroyers HMS Marne, Milbrook and Pigeon attacked UB-124 with depth charges and sank the German submarine with gunfire after she surfaced.
July 21
The Attack on Orleans took place when a German U-boat opened fire on the US town of Orleans, Massachusetts and several merchant ships nearby. A tugboat was sunk but the town only sustained minor damage in the naval and aerial action.
July 22
The Battle of Soissons between French and American troops and the German armies ended after four days with the Allies recapturing most of the ground lost to the German Spring Offensive in May 1918.
July 24
French and American troops advanced south of Ourcq towards Fere-en-Tardenois and along the Marne in the Forest of Fere.
July 25
Baron Max Hussarek von Heinlein replaced Ernst Seidler von Feuchtenegg as Prime Minister of Austria.
July 26
A coup d'etat overthrew the Bolsheviks in Baku and launched the Battle of Baku between the Ottoman-Azerbaijani coalition forces and Bolshevik forces. The battle was fought as a conclusive part of the Caucasus Campaign.
July 28
Allied forces recaptured Fere-en-Tardenois as the northward advance continued from Marne.
July 30
General Field Marshal Hermann von Eichhorn was assassinated in Kiev by the Socialist-Revolutionary Boris Mikhailovich Donskoy.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/02/18 12:03 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Thursday August 1st 1918

No news of Jack.

Four of us answered an alert to intercept a Rumpler. We found it up near the lines on our side in the midst of white schrapnel bursts and went after it but were jumped by 6 Fokkers, like amateurs. We had a real dust up with the Huns, most of the time just trying to keep them off our tails. One got me pretty good, damaged Babygirl's motor and cut the cable to her left aileron. We went into a spin and he left us alone, too busy with the others to follow us and probably thinking I was done for. I was able to get her out of the spin and when I got though being dizzy, I made my wobbly way, covered in vomit, to Champaubert to get the cable fixed before going home. The Fokker shot through one magneto and one cylinder but that good old Gnome rotary still functioned well enough to get me home. Amazing things!
[Linked Image]
Dewey and the others were mighty pleased to see me when I got in. They thought for sure I was the next one gone west.

The 27th had a peach of a fight with 15 or 16 Huns. They claim five. They lost some of their own, I don’t know how many yet.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/02/18 04:06 PM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
19 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn Clarmarais
Flanders, France.

Aug 2, 1918.

Up on Defensive Patrol, Mixed it with som Pflaz Scouts the lost in clouds as Rain closed in on us. Score 0 to 0 maybe e/a damaged ?

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/02/18 11:28 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Friday, August 2nd 1918

Strafing party today. No troops on the roads. Saw no sign of any EA. Attacked a camp where supplies were being loaded up then stumbled onto a Railroad Train with a dozen or so box cars and flat cars attached. Fired all but 200 rounds put lots of holes in the boxcars and engine but no discernible effect exced possibly making the engineer and brakeman fill their lederhosen full of saurkraut.
[Linked Image]



Many thanks to4L0M for his fine work on the boxcars.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/03/18 04:09 PM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
19 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn Clarmarais
Flanders, France.


Aug 3, 1918.

# 20 ! I took 6 a/c with me on a Offensive Patrol as the weather began to close our sector of operations down. I say, good thing too ! we caught some Huns ( 4 a/c ) by surprise. My target was one that appeared to be heading after a wing mate so broke right and slid right on his tail After a few bursts his wing broke off. The Flight lost 1 SE for 3 e/a. After RTB the Adjutant said that HQ ordered our Sqn Transferred to Fienvillers AF. Nice the Met says 3 to 5 days rain no flying. The a/c will go by road. The rest u s by Horse Wagon.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/04/18 12:07 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Saturday, August 3rd 1918

Rain this morning but did an Infantry Morale Patrol in the afternoon. We passed up and down along our own lines at 600 meters to let the Doughs see us overhead. We were continually Archied and machine gunned from the ground. Hope the mud crunchers got a lot of lift in their morale because these low levels certainly do put our wind up. Saw a formation of Huns above but they didn't try to molest us.

The 27th lost 5 in that dust up with Richthofen's Circus on Thursday. Beauchamp, Sands, Hunt, Martin, and Whiton. (1)

(1) Nieuports were credited to Ltn Ernst Udet, Johannes Jessen, and Egon Koepsch of Jasta 4 and Ltn Richard Wenzl and Vzfw Franz Hemer of Jasta 6.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/04/18 09:54 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Sunday, August 4th 1918

Dud for flying. Went over to pick up Pup from the Army Vet. She put on a little weight and is much more lively, tail up and wagging, probably didn't think I was coming back. He gave me some pills and a couple of bottles of dip for the mange and skin critters in general, and some general advice, will have to dip her again in 2 weeks. I'll represent it to anyone who asks that the dip is just for fleas. I won't be able to take her back to him, he's returning to his Vet Hospital unit, was just attached to the Battery. Cpt. Johnston wouldn't accept any money, mighty white of him, (1) so I just gave him the other thing I brought to show my appreciation, a piece of the wing fabric from the Albatros I didn't get credit for awhile back. He collects war souvenirs like most of us who can and was very pleased with it. Had me sign it and put the date, place and aircraft type on one corner of the canvas.

Got Pup all settled in, played a bit of tug-of-war with a sock. Dewey warmed up to her now that she's more playful. We talked about her and came up with the idea of presenting her to the boys as a new live mascot for the Squadron, Mickey III, even if she is a girl. That way there'd be someone to look after her if something happens to me.

Nothing on Jack, assuming the worst.

(1) Mighty white of you - an American expression that, at that time, meant "that was very fair of you, thank you."
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/04/18 11:15 PM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
20 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Flanders, France.



Aug 4, 1918.

In our move to our new airfield, we are plagued by problems. Break downs, Rain, and Mud.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/05/18 06:16 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Monday, August 5th 1918

Whitey led an attack on the enemy balloon line in very bad weather conditions, mixed formation of SPADs and Nieuports. Very difficult to maintain formation because of the different flight characteristics. I stayed up as top cover. We didn’t get any of the sausages, took very heavy Archie fire. On our way back, we saw a lone Fokker below them but Ken spotted 13 more in the sun above us. The Huns were trying to decoy us into a trap.
[Linked Image]
The refueling station at Coicy is operational now.


This pic. shows the new, heavier Archie protection for balloons from OldHats MOD


Attached picture Shot08.jpg
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/06/18 09:28 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Tuesday, August 6th 1918

Got a big pile of mail from home. Clippings from home papers of my first aerial victory back in June. Sounds more heroic than it was. None of my fights have been exactly what you would call heroic, mostly just trying to save my tail and occasionally sneaking up and hitting someone from behind.

Dewey, on the other hand, is brave as a lion, goes right at whatever there is. He’s going to get himself killed if he doesn’t give more respect to the rear gunners on biplace.

Low clouds today but took a trial flight to spot landmarks now that there have been so many changes in the lines over the past week and landed to look at tthe new forward refueling fields. We can still hear the guns, but the Front has been running away so fast we can hardly fine it.

Presented Pup to the mess tonight. Most of them didn't know I had her in quarters with me. Meissner eyed me but didn't make any comment. I put her on the table, introduced her and told her story, leaving out the incriminating details. Everybody agreed that, even though Mickey II was still our mascot, he wasn't here to fill the slot, she would do fine as a #2, even if she was a German...and a #%&*$#. I assured them she was 100% loyal, applause and toasts all around for Mickey III, long may she live. She spent the evening in one lap or another taking tidbits until she looked like a Hun sausage. Threw it all up when I got her back to the shack. She'll spend most of the day in the orderly room with lots of people around and I'll pick her up in the evening.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/07/18 03:35 PM

Good stories Jerbear
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/07/18 03:45 PM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
20 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.

Aug 7, 1918.

Finally, the Sqn was set up. I took 6 a/c with me on a Balloon mission. The boys knock down the gas bag while I stayed high. As we reformed I spotted 2 e/a so led the attack. The flight got 1 Balloon, 2 Recon types. Our losses were 1 SE destroyed + 4 damaged. Mind had holes in the fuel tank so had to put down near a road on our side. Those 2 seat machines are dangerous. Cpt Hoidge led the Sqn on the afternoon Defensive Patrol No contact

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/08/18 04:17 PM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
20 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.


I took B flight ( 6 a/c ) and went along on a Bombing mission. I say, not to shabby a job. I stayed high and bounced a 5 a/c flight of Huns so the boys could gain height. No score for me,but the flight knocked down 2 for loosing 1 SE.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/08/18 10:18 PM

Vzfw Bruno Wolff, Jasta 64w

7 April 1918

We crossed the lines to attack the verdammt Amerikaner who have just established themselves at Gengoult Aerodrome, near Toul. We caught a flight of them as they were taking off and massacred four of them, two of which were mine. We will make the interfering Swine wish they had not come here! They are flying some sort of new rotary engine plane, perhaps a new version of Nieuport. [Linked Image]

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/08/18 11:13 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Wednesday, August 7th 1918

Dud for flying, rain and storms. A big black storm blew up in the afternoon, did some damage around the aerodrome but no planes damaged.

One of our 2 missing months pay arrived today. Some fool paymaster has it all balled up. The whole crowd was getting penniless, or rather centimeless. Even I wasn't as flush as usual and even more so after everyone hit me up for a loan. I've gotten partial payment on some of the I.O.U.s but I'm not going to try to dunn anybody, maybe after the next month's back pay shows.

Pup spent her first day in the orderly room, or most of the day. She was so exhausted after all the activity there and all the attention she was getting, that I took her back in the afternoon so she could rest. She's out of it now and snoring.



Thursday, August 8th 1918

Fog in the morning and heavy, low clouds all day. The only thing going was Alert, which the 95th pulled today. With the weather and the Front 80km away, it was a mere formality. Any German would be long gone before we got there.

Jack Steven's wrecked plane found near Mereuil by groundpounders, but no body or grave. Believed to be POW (1)

Dodd’s plane was reported found 2 km west of Dormans. (2) Meissner and Brew loaded a casket, cross and digging equipment on one of the Fiat trucks, Dewey and I hopped in the back and we took off on the Chateau-Thierry – Dormans road.

We found the crash site in an orchard between the railroad and main highway. The Germans had taken the rudder with it’s number #6210 and nailed to a nearby tree. They were in retreat and probably in a hurry but they took the time to strip him naked and leave the body in a nearby depression in the ground. Guess they could have done worse. He was badly torn up but we recognized him by his red hair. Awful sight that I'll never forget.

We dug a grave in the mud next to the tree and gave him as proper a burial as we were able. After we covered him we placed the cross, marked with his name and organization. I took the Mickey off the right side of his Nieuport and nailed it to the tree under the rudder. Brew searched the wreck and found his overseas cap under the cushion, hope never to see a man cry like that again.


(1) 2nd Lt. John H. 'Jack' Stevens fell victim to Ltn Emil Rolff of Jasta 6. His grave was found by burial parties after the war between Chateau-Thierry and Dormans.

(2) 1st Lt. Daniel W. 'Dodd' Cassard, shot down July 16th, possibly by Ltn Walter Blume of Jasta 9.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/18 02:30 AM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
20 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.


Aug 9, 1918. I led the afternoon attack on an enemy AF. We did a job that flight all our 8 a/c had Four 25 lb Contact bombs. We had to fly around 2 flights of e/a to get the target, but we did hit it from 2,000ft and lower.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/18 06:27 PM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
20 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.


Aug 10, 1918.

Big fight on Dawn Patrol. I led B flights 5 a/c into a fight with 6 Vee Strutters while Our cover flight 5/ac mixed it with a Flight of Fokkers high up. We were holding our own when another 4 Fokkers showed up and joined in the circling , diving , and zooming a/c. What a Bee Hive of machines. I damaged one e/a then had one one my tail. Full power I ran for it only to have a Fokker dive on me ( I didnt see him ) The e/a was so close that I could hear his Twin Spanau's clattering. The enemy fire ripped open my fuel tank causing the tank to empty and a bullett tore through the fleshy part of my side. along with numerous hit in my a/c. The e/a over shot past me which gave me time to set her down in a Church yard albeit a Hard landing. Heavy Damage. All said and done the sqn lost 3 SE's ( including mine ) + 2 damaged. for 5 e/a destroyed.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/10/18 10:02 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Friday, August 9th 1918


In spite of very low clouds and poor visibility, we had to go on patrol this evening. Stayed below 1,000 meters, the mist and clouds made it difficult to keep formation, almost collided twice. All we could see of the ground were the flashes of the artillery. Harman crashed while landing after the patrol, he’s in the hospital but his injuries aren’t particularly bad so he should be back soon.

Pup, or rather Mickey III is doing well. She seems to have taken up with Meissner, follows him around whenever he lets her. I guess she can see that he’s the pack leader, but she comes back with me for some peace and quiet in the evening. They tell me she growled at Atkinson when he came by today, good judge of character, I’d say.

Can’t get what was left of Dodd’s face out of my head and I think sometimes I smell the body.



Saturday, August 10th

Covered a French photo plane over the lines today. Losts of Archies but no HA. We landed at the refilling station at Coincy before heading on back to Saints. The place is up close to our balloon line and used to be a Hun aerodrome.

Abe and I walked a km or so from Coincy to see the huge base where a Paris Gun was located. The Huns tried to destroy it when they evacuated but their dynamite just bent the plates a little. We were near the lines, within sight of the balloon line. The air was full of the pounding of the guns all around and then all of a sudden we heard the shallower "whang, whang" of the black Boche Archie clustered around a group of our returning planes.

Real chicken dinner tonight, we made sure Pup got her share. She thought she’d died and gone to heaven. Meissners having a coat made for her like Mickey II’s for formal occasions.


Pup/Mickey III with 'Pip' Porter.


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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/11/18 10:20 AM

Captain Collin Sitwell
3 Sqn RAF
August 1918

It has been some time since I have last written. Getting captured is hell on ones writing ability. The Huns are short of everything and paper is not a luxury afforded to most prisoners. Since I returned to our side of the lines I have heard every story imaginable about my escape: I snuck out with the help of a friendly Hun, I snuck out with the help of a local villager, I killed my captors with my bare hands etc. Although, I will say my favourite I heard involved a very friendly Farmer's daughter, a false mustache and a pig.

They are all bullocks of course. The real story is much less exciting, much more horrifying and I will not share it here. Once I managed to return to our side of the lines I was immediately sent rearward for debriefings followed by a spell of leave in London. I hit the sites, tried to put back on some weight and failed to shake the nightmares. Exciting times indeed. Oh, and I was promoted to Captain as well, which meant I would not be returning to 62 Sqn on my return. Instead I was sent to 3 Sqn, flying Camels.

3 Sqn had been in the fight for months on end and was short of experienced pilots. You know what, no, that is not accurate. The reality was that apart from the CO and the two remaining flight commanders, the Sqn was full of pilots with 10 or less hours of flying experience. They did not stand a chance. Despite the fact that the Hun's Spring Offensive had petered out and we were making gains on all fronts, the remaining aircraft of the enemy were still dangerous, especially with the release of the D.VII. I was told it was now my job to take over B Flight and try to keep some of these poor kids alive. It would have been kinder and more efficient to get them drunk in the mess, take them out back and shoot them. At least then we wouldnt lose the aircraft as well.

Over my first three missions, we lost three of them. Only one was to enemy action. The other two crashed their camels. What a waste. It sickens me that my eight months in this war make me one of the most senior pilots we have in the Sqn. What do I know of teaching these kids? The Camel is a completely different mount the my old Brisfit. The Brisfit is as stable a gun platform as you can get. It goes where you want it to, when you want it to without any kind of trouble. The Camel is a vicious #%&*$# that will kill you at the slightest insult. If you stall her, she will whip you into a vicious spin. Forget to immediately fiddle with the mixture on takeoff and the engine cuts out, it flips onto its back and will slam you into the ground in seconds. I do almost wonder whose side the Sopwith company is on.

In the hands of an experienced pilot, the Camel is a true killer. If I can get one of these pilots to that point, I will consider myself a success.

Well it is time to lead another batch of new guys to their death. Patrol over the lines in 30 minutes.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/11/18 09:46 PM

Welcome back Cpt Sitwell. Best of luck with your Eggs (USAS speak for new boys)

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Sunday, August 11th 1918

Fourteen plane patrol, no EA sighted. Forced to fly low by the weather, Archie particularly unpleasant, everyone returned with holes in their wings.

Cpl. Herd is training Pup to sit, stay, heel, speak, roll over, lay down, shake hands, etc. He hope to get her to salute like that dog in the Yankee Division.(1)


(1) Sergeant Stubby, mascot of the 102nd Infantry Rgt. 26th Division US. Served 18 months in France, participated in 17 battles, twice wounded. Gave early warning of barrages and gas attacks, found wounded in no'man's land, captured a German by holding him by the seat of his pants until American soldiers arrived to take charge of him.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/18 12:06 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Monday, August 12th 1918

No bon for flying today. Meissner ordered all of us to get familiarized with the SPADs, same with the 27th. More are coming this week, we knew it was coming, but it still feels like a punch in the stomach, first our Major and now SPADs. You would think, from the operational problems the French Squadrons are having, they would leave us flying our Nieuports and use the ones already purchased rather than scrapping them. Then the Group would have at least have SOME planes they could keep in the sky.

Having nightmares about Dodd. Most of the time it's his smashed face in the mud, but sometimes he's alive and whispering something important in my ear that I can't remember when I wake up.



Office of a SPAD

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/18 02:31 AM

Maj Cyril Woolly
DFC, DSO.
Lille, France
II Corp Hospital
Ward 3.

Aug 12, 1918.

The Doc said its just a flesh wound so should be out of here in a few days, a week at most. On the up side , my Nurse just came in.

https://giphy.com/gifs/nurses-nurse-nancy-l2RnkPIJKoJtEW32E/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/18 02:33 AM

Jerbear, its up to U to hold the Thread together Tails up and keep em flying.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/18 07:53 PM

Capt Collin Sitwell
3 Sqn RAF
12 Aug 18

I almost died twice yesterday. The first time up we were escorting a Harry Tate on a basic recce mission to determine the success of the latest offensive. Jerry is running scared now. We brought up some of the more senior members (relative term) of the Squadron, due to the priorty put on this intelligence.

Out of nowhere an entire flight of DVIIs were tearing into us. I turned and twisted for an eternity, my crate slowly being filled full of holes. I was running out of altitude quickly. Finally, I made a break for the lines, having no other choice. The fusilade of gunfire from our boys in the trenches sent the Huns packing and I ditched the Camel in a shell crater.

I was back in time for the afternoon flight. It was a short hop to the East to bust a Hun sausage spotting artillery onto the advance. It turns out this one was well protected and we ran into another flight of DVIIs circling the target. A fierce scrap followed, and once again I found myself at the mercy of several Huns. Out of desperation, I ended up flying below treetop level, into the remains of a ruined town. I flew like a madman, wingtips inches from disaster.

It was enoigh to convince the Huns I wasn't worth it and they left me alone to stagger back to a friendly airfield with holes all through the cockpit. It was a miracle I wasn't hit.

I spent the evening getting very, very drunk in the mess. We lost four aircraft today, but somehow only one pilot, a new chap whose name I never learned. Only 11 hours on his log book. He never stood a chance.

Today went much better. We were called up to intercept a flight of two seaters over the lines. We spotted them just North of Amiens and sent two of the four smoking into the earth. I definitely did damage to one of them, but he was finishedoff by a chap named Cecil. It was his first victory and I let him put in the claim.

Ive come to the conclusion that I will not survive the war. Although Jerry is falling back before us, it is only a matter of time before I buy it. The DVII is just too good of an aircraft and Ive dodged death so many times already. What if one of those bullets yesterday was an inch to the left or right.

And yet once combat begins I feel no fear. I used to, but now a calm settles in. Afterwards, I am a mess. I shake and grow cold. Every time. I think my nerves are beginning to break. God help us all.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/12/18 11:22 PM

Vzfw Bruno Wolff
Jasta 64w

April 9th - Caught a flight of Amerikaner attacking our infantry. They were low on fuel and ammunition and well behind our lines east of St. Mihiel. Most of them ran and we could not catch them, but I fired on one from about 200 meters and he turned to fight after I hit him with a lucky shot. The Amerikanisch was more interested in escaping than fighting and I had height advantage. When I shot out his motor at low altitude he landed in a field. I saw him being captured.

April 12th - Attacked two French Sopwith two-seaters. Ltn Hanko brought one down in flames.

April 13th - Called to intercept British DH4s going toward Arlan to bomb the factories there. Caught them after they delivered their bombs. Had a fight with them and 7 French SPADs who joined in. The British lost 1 DH4 and we lost a Pfalz.





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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/13/18 10:57 PM

Get well soon Maj Woolly

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Tuesday, August 13th 1918

Babygirl and I flew our last patrol together today. Twelve of us made an uneventful sector patrol this morning. Her engine pooped out on the way home. Luckily we were near Coincy so I made a dead stick landing there. Burned out three cylinders.

There were no parts to do the repair there so I called Saints to let them know where I was and get what was needed taken up there to fix her. That’s when I got the worst possible news, well maybe not the worst POSSIBLE but certainly way up there. We're ordered to fly our Nieuports to Orly tomorrow, so Babygirls wouldn't be repaired. I was to just leave her at Coicy and return with the next truck going back.
[Linked Image]
I went out to see her one last time before I left, she seemed dead already with her cowling off and engine exposed but I told her how sorry I was and how much I appreciated working with her these last two months. We had a good run, 55 missions, 5 smashed German machines and 6 dead Huns. I took Nanette and Rintintin, my rear mirror, the compass then patted her on the side and left without turning back to climb in the truck.

I asked the operations officer there to have my Vickers removed and sent to me. The American Marlins these SPADs come with just aren’t up to snuff, besides, I’ve done a lot of work on mine and I don’t want to have to start over.

No way around it, now I’ll be flying a Pooping SPAD. (1)

(1) Pooping SPAD was a double entendre, the first meaning was that the SPAD continually pooped out mechanically and the second was a reference to fecal matter.


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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/14/18 08:13 PM

Would it be too late to get in on the action? Also, do the same rules apply as the old DiD thread (particularly regarding starting on two-seaters)?

I thought I’d find out before I take a camel over the channel wink

- Cheers, and sorry to disrupt the aesthetic of the thread!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/14/18 10:45 PM

Not ignoring you Wulfe but I'm pretty new myself, started in March, and feel that should be answered by the senior members. Welcome though! With a handle like Wulfe I'd expect you to be flying a Fokker.


2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Wednesday, August 14th 1918

Ten Nieuports were flown to Orly by our pilots this morning. At least I didn’t have to fly Babygirl there with the rest of them, she more or less died with her boots on.

Went out and looked at my SPAD. It'll be number 16. Black's looking it over and isn’t very pleased with it. It has a faulty carburetor and the oil pipes leak, among other things. It’ll be a couple of days before he feels he can trust it enough for me to try it out.

B flight commanders SPAD will be 11, that’s Alk's. Flight Bs spads are 11-20, A flight are 1-9. C f;ogjt 21-29, Alk wouldn't let them put number 13 on any of our SPADs, just to be safe. Whitey used it on his Nieuport with no ill effects but he has 21 now, being C Flight Commander. Dod Raibly has A Flight.

Pup’s training is coming along, her salute looks more like a wave, I’m not sure Herd will be able to get anything better than that.

One of the Eggs in the 27th, a bird named Luke, claimed he brought down a Hun yesterday. No one saw it and no one believes him. He and Hartney were the only two, out of 13, who could keep their SPADs flying for a photo escort mission. Luke claimed a Hun had latched onto Harney’s tail and he had a big fight with it and brought it down, but he wasn’t sure where it had gone down or what type it was. I heard his story and I don't think I believe him either. His story is too elaborate, talks to loud and tries to hard to convince you. Seems a good pilot though, was a ferry pilot before he came to us last month. Funny looking hair cut.

The boys in the 27th don’t care for him, he brags about what a hot shot pilot he is all the time. Just won't shut up, apparently he likes to talk just to hear his own head roar. They say he’s constantly dropping out of formation to go off on his own. Hartney seems to like him though and said he believes him about the Hun. The pilots over there refer to him as a “Four Flusher†"The Coo Coo BIrd" (1)or “Hartney’s Boy Friend.â€

(1) Coo Coo Bird - pilot who does his fighting when no one else is around.

LT. FRANK LUKE, 27th AERO SQUADRON


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/18 02:34 AM

Wulfe: Welcome to the challenge!

I dont think anyone would abject if U fly over from England and take up fighters. Have fun !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/18 02:52 AM

Maj Cyril Woolly
DFC, DSO.
Lille, France
II Corp Hospital
Ward 3.


Aug 14, 1918.

I say, my Night Nurse came in and seems to be in a mood.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/15/18 11:47 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Thursday, August 15th 1918

SPAD still not ready. Helped the armorers and mechs. Inspected ammunition belts for stiff links.

Everybody who has one that will fly is trying out their new mounts.

Went for a joy ride in the afternoon with some of the boys in the Cadillac. Pretty country, it’s the season when all the trees, flowers, shrubs, crops, clover fields, etc. have on their best dress. The small farms look like a patchwork quilt.

They’re harvesting their wheat now. They still cut and bind it by hand and use a horse tread mill thresher like my Grandpa would have done. (1)

Word came down that we can wear our foreign decorations now. I’d like to wear my tin next time we're in dress uniform but I’ll wait to see what the older hands in the British Squadrons do first, don’t want to look like a yahoo.

(1) Adapted from letters written by members of the 36th Division USEF, “They Called them Soldier Boys†by Gregory W. Ball.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/18 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by carrick58

I dont think anyone would abject if U fly over from England and take up fighters. Have fun !


Awesome! Thanks! In that case...

Sgt. Albert Mayes
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F,
0 victories.


August 14th, 1918:

Today was a tremendously trying affair, and it was very much a day of firsts.

My first flight across the Channel, my first day in the 'Great War', my first mission and, consequently, my first time being shot down...

...My first hun.

After making the long and trying journey from Biggin Hill, I arrived at my new Squadron and reported to the C.O, Maj. McClintock. To my surprise, I had already been selected to fly in 'B' flight, and my first mission was at 1500 hours, a patrol of the front lines. We took off in our Sopwith Camels (9 of us in total) and proceeded to the front. Gazing over the scars that the Great War had left was...unsettling.

Over the front, much to my disappointment, we did not spot a single enemy aeroplane, and I was deeply disappointed when we finally turned back west. However, just as we were nearing Béthune my formation seemed to explode outwards in all directions, a mess of wings and high-speed turns. In a panic, I too went into a hard breaking turn, thinking that the Hun had caught us off guard. As I did, four ungainly hun two-seaters flashed overhead, with two of my flight already pursuing. Filled with exhilaration at my first chance to have a crack at the Hun, I immediately gave chase, and eventually came level with the hun formation to their three O'Clock position. I made one slashing attack, in which both my Vickers fell silent, jammed. Oh, how I cursed those damned guns! Pulling to the side, I attempted to clear the jams. At one moment I peered back to see two Huns falling in flames.

Suddenly, my left Vickers' charging handle obeyed, and the jam was cleared! I set my sights now on the lead DFW, and dove at him from his seven O'Clock. Seeing he was distracted with another Camel, I decided to get within point-blank range. To my horror, the wily hun observer immediately swung his gun around, and opened fire. One round smashed clear through my windshield, showering me with glass shards and narrowly missing my left arm! The panic rose again in my throat, and I pressed down on the trigger, wildly shooting back at the now-imposing hun, when he suddenly went into an almost totally vertical dive from 17,000 feet. I had gotten him! I had shot down my first hun!

I circled, watching my hun, still in his death-dive at 3000 feet, when suddenly to my utter horror my engine coughed, and fell silent. My fuel line had been severed! Trying to keep my composure, I drifted in the direction I determined home to be. However, I was dropping like a stone, and was only able to make it as far as the outskirts of Béthune before my plane stalled just as I was maybe a foot off the ground, leading to a very rough landing indeed!

I sat for maybe 15 minutes in my cockpit, stunned into silence by the whole affair. Eventually I was able to muster up the energy to de-plane and walk into town to find a phone and call my mechanic. As I walked, I vowed that I would never again approach a hun in such a reckless manner. Upon my eventual return to Valheureux, I submitted my report, along with a claim for a hun two-seater. Maj. McClintock seemed dubious (despite the fact that he was up there in our fight!), but filed the claim all the same. I eagerly await its confirmation.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/18 02:05 AM

Maj Cyril Woolly
DFC, DSO.
Lille, France
II Corp Hospital
Ward 3.


Aug 15, 1918.

Ah , they are kicking out of here so back to the Sqn. I was just getting use to the staff and Tea and Biscuits for breakfast.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/18 01:03 PM

Waahhhhhh

4 Claims today and not one was granted!!!! grrr.
[Linked Image]


forced to land at a friendly field. Pic says it all, I need spiritual intervention to get my score up.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/18 07:14 PM

Welcome to the fray Wulfe! Collin Sitwell just missed you in 3 Sqn. He just got transferred out on the 14th.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/18 07:23 PM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
20 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.


Aug 16, 1918.

A bit Browned Off today. Arrive at the Field just as the morning Patrol returned. Cpt Hoidge ( 27 Kills ) The Sqn's Flight Commander said that they had been Hammering the Huns ,but lost 3 a/c while I was out. I took the afternoon Patrol. Our 9 a/c spotted some Fokkers and Camels doing a punch out so we went to help. I only saw 1 Camel go down, a flamer, then latched on to a Fokker. I did most of the work then eased up to reload the Lewis ( the Vickers jammed after 48 rds. ) My new wingman opened fire at long range and the Hun burst into Flames puking out thick black smoke and spun in. Lt. Knight got the kill. It was the flights only kill no losses or damage reported. As the Americans say I was Robbed !

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/16/18 10:56 PM

Good story Wulfe, exciting 1st campaign mission. Contrats on your Hun but save some for the rest of us.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Friday, August 16th 1918



Very hot today, took my new SPAD for a test flight and almost roasted to death in it. It’s certainly different from a Nieuport., much heavier and not as responsive, you can't handle it with the light touch I got used to flying Babygirl.

The Nieuport's actually a much harder machine to fly, but having become accustomed to flying one, it seems more difficult to fly this SPAD. You have a lot more things to look out after. The Nieuport’s air cooled motor runs at top speed all the time unless you use the selector to cut out one or more cylinder or the blip switch. There are no throttle adjustments and the only instruments you have to bother with are the rev counter, compass, altimeter, clock and gas & oil gauges. On the SPAD, with it’s water cooled motor, you have, in addition to these instruments, a thermometer which you have to monitor closely to make sure your motor isn’t getting too hot, a shutter arrangement for the radiator, which you open to keep the motor at the right temperature, an air pressure gauge and another for your oil and so many other things that you don’t know where to look because it all seems to require your attention at the same time.

I have to say tho, that the throttle should make it easier to fly in formation than with the Nieuport.

I’m sure I’ll get used to it and maybe even like it but it’ll be a long time before I’m as comfortable as I was in Babygirl and I don’t feel like I’m a part of the plane, flying with an old friend, intimate.

The office is larger from side to side, but not as long from front to back and there is a firewall between you and the engine. The exhausts pass by the cockpit on both sides and you roast unless you are at high altitude. You have more protection from the rush of air from the prop and it's not nearly as noisy as my dear old Nieuport.

I don't like that wider lower plane which increases the blind area.

We all feel that the Nieuports are directly responsible for our recent combat successes. The Nieuport 28 suits our style of dog fighting, staying until the fight'ss over, rather than the game of “shoot and dive for home†style thats so popular among SPAD pilots. I guess you could say the Nieuport.is like a barn swallow while the SPAD like a hawk. I miss my barn swallow.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/18 01:41 AM

A real treat to return from holidays to find Maeran back in the campaign. Some frightening moments with igniting SEs there! And the story of Tipton was very interesting!

Jerbear, I have read Goode's stories too quickly and need to go back and savour them. First rate stuff, and very true to the period. I hope you adjust to the SPAD. I've never flown the SPAD 13, but I think it's an acquired taste. A good machine to survive in, though! Carrick, great job keeping these pages full. Hope you can get your man through to the end.

In the latest installment, I have begun the big job of catching up with the campaign. I didn't want to skip dates during the German offensive. Corderoy has finally reached 60 victories despite my horrendous ratio of claims to confirmed kills. Also, for only the second time in WOFF, I've reached 200 hours with a pilot. Corderoy now has flown 238 missions and 201 hours.


Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 43 Squadron RFC
Part 63: 28-31 March 1918 – Avesnes-le-Compte

28 March 1918


The Huns delivered a new parcel of hate at four this morning, a massive barrage that signalled a push on the Arras sector. We put up twelve patrols this day. I led a composite flight shortly after nine in the morning, with the unusual job of flying west towards our fields at Le Quesnoy-en-Artois and Auxi-le-Chateau, most of the way to Abbeville! For the past two days, enemy aircraft have been unusually audacious, patrolling in large numbers by day into our rear areas.

We arrived over Auxi at 8000 feet in two staggered vees of four machines each. I was lead man in the first group and Woollett led the second, higher group. Archie alerted us to the presence of Huns over the aerodrome there and we climbed to put the sun at our backs. Even from a long way off we could recognise the biplane tails of three Hannovers.

Before we got to the enemy bombers, Woollett’s group turned south and climbed away. There, above us in the sun, was a large group of Pfalz scouts, silver with black tails. They outnumbered Woollett, so we left the Hannovers and joined in the dance.

The Pfalzes were well-handled and made of stout stuff, for only one broke off. For several minutes I had two of the fellows on my tail. At length Bailey drove one of them away and I turned under the remaining Hun, eventually catching him in a turn with a good burst. The rounds did damage, for the machine no longer seemed as nimble and I was able to close on the Hun. I fired a couple of bursts and the EA caught fire and fell away.

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"I fired a couple of bursts and the EA caught fire and fell away."

We chased some remaining Pfalzes and Hannovers but our Camels were no match for their speed, especially as they climbed. The Pfalz was called into the RO before we landed back at Avesnes, and has gone down as my 59th victory.

In the afternoon I joined Woollett’s flight for a patrol to provide cover for an RE8 taking photographs east of Oppy. We mixed with several Pfalzes once again, and Alden sent one down out of control.

Owen went missing on a balloon attack this afternoon and is believed to be a POW. We have also lost Captain Trollope, one of our best Hun-getters (it was he who bagged seven in a day just last week).

Wonderful long letter from my uncle Tom. It is lambing season back home and Eliza, a ewe I raised since birth, has given birth to four little lambs. This quite unsettled me, as it was the first time in months I have allowed myself to indulge dreams of England and peace. Oh, how I hate the Hun for tramping into France and Belgium with their big muddy boots. The poor people here should be planting their crops and raising their livestock and flirting in church, and instead their countryside has been turned into a sodden dung heap and their women are all in black. Such a rotten state of affairs! We humans are an evil lot.

29 March 1918

Uneventful patrol five miles into Hunland. Saw a very large group of EAs overhead but they were either blind or no bon, for they ignored us.

Late afternoon patrols often meet up with the keenest Huns, and mine this afternoon was no exception. I took another C.O.P. over to Mont-St-Eloi and we ran into a massive group of Tripehounds shooting up our gun lines. We engaged and every single Hun threw himself at us. It was a truly frightening affair, all done at low level amidst strands of tracer weaving up from the PBI below. I saw a Camel and a Tripe collide and fall in a tangled, flaming ball – I learned afterwards it was poor Alden. The Huns looked like sections of venetian blinds as they turned towards us, spitting fire. And God, can they climb!

I hit one Fokker in a head-on pass and quickly got on its tail. It took about 50 more rounds to put it down into a field full of advancing Hun soldiery, where it shattered and burned and doubtless caused some injuries to the infantry it fell on. This is number 60 – a real milestone.

30 March 1918

In two days the Royal Flying Corps will pass into history, replaced by the new Air Force. Each day’s routine orders contain new instructions. We shall be somewhat navalised, with left becoming “port†and right “starboard,†and the naval types will have to toast the King standing. It warms the heart to know that such matters are receiving their due attention despite the continuing penetration of our front by a hundred fresh German divisions.

Joined King’s flight to attack the aerodrome at Phalempin this morning and destroyed a number of buildings and some machines.

In the afternoon, we attacked the Hun balloon lines east of Vimy. Daniel got credit for a balloon.

31 March 1918

We returned to the balloon lines this morning and got one more gasbag, this one credited to Lieut Meyer, a new man.

The weather turned foul in the afternoon, a gift from the fates. Our pilots and ground crews are barely holding themselves together, and several of the chaps are visibly close to their limit. Every man has his point of no return. Some simply fall apart. Some withdraw into themselves, patiently awaiting death. Yet others take risks and do foolish things they would in the past rail against.

It is all the low work we have been given of late.



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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/18 09:51 PM

Thanks, Jerbear! Glad you enjoyed the write-up! I'm a couple days behind, but I can catch up on my days off wink

Sgt. Albert Mayes
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F,
1 victory.

August 15th, 1918:

'B' flight was assigned to two patrols today. One on our side at dawn, and a second in Hunland at mid-day. As my Camel was still undergoing repairs, I went up in a Vickers-built spare. I must admit, it felt nicer in the air than my own Bolton & Paul Camel. Our first patrol was uneventful, and I was able to enjoy the sunrise over the beautiful French countryside. It almost felt like there was no war on, so long as you neglected to look East. However, my morning was spoiled when, upon my landing, I was informed by Maj. McClintock that my D.F.W claim from yesterday had been rejected. Perhaps the hun had managed to pull out of his death-dive after all.

Our second sortie swiftly reminded me that the war was still on. 'A' flight, consisting of five pilots, took off just before us and headed towards Amiens, which was our destination also. Once they had cleared the aerodrome, we ascended and climbed to 10,000 feet before following 'A' flight's trail. At one point we passed by six S.E.5s...how deadly they looked, and so fast! I hope I will have a chance to pilot one in the future. As we flew over Amiens, I suddenly spotted a mess of twisting and looping planes ahead of us...a furball! I couldn't make out who was involved at first, but as we got closer my stomach turned as I realised it was 'A' flight locked in combat with several Fokkers. As I watched, an orange glow consumed one aeroplane and it begun to fall to earth, leaving a thick black trail of smoke in its wake. We turned to rush to 'A' flight's aid, fearing for our comrades' lives.

Just as we reached the fight, one hun machine with a red nose and a green tail* flashed underneath us, apparently making good his escape from the furball. I rolled my Camel on its back and fell upon him, guns blazing. He ducked under my wings and immediately disappeared. When next I saw him, he had gotten squarely on my six, guns blazing! I instinctively banked away and we got into a prolonged dogfight. Most of the time I couldn't see my man, owing to the large wings of the Camel, and several times I caught a glimpse of him lining up a shot on me, but eventually I put a burst into him as he flashed in front of my Vickers. Again, he ducked under my wings, and that was the last I saw of him.

As I attempted to climb back up into the fray (I was quite low by this point) a second Fokker now fell upon me. This machine too had a red nose, and at first I thought it to be the same hun from before, but as we circled each other I could see that this German had painted his whole fuselage green, with a wavy yellow line running down its side*. After two turns I was behind him, and I stuck close to his tail. I fired several bursts at him and eventually got him good, at which point his engine begun to trail a thin line of black smoke. He briefly flashed out of my sights, but I saw him again running for Hunland at about 2000 feet, so I dove on him and got very close before pressing down on the trigger, at which point he went into a nosedive before smashing into a thousand pieces on the ground, just short of his lines. I was now very low, and totally alone, so I headed for home. Upon my arrival, my fellow 'B' flight pilots had all returned. As I stepped into the mess hall they all fell silent and turned as white as sheets, for Lt. Sigismund and Cpt. Hubbard had both been certain that they had seen me go down in flames.I later learned that the furball had turned into a massacre for 'A' flight. Of the five pilots that had taken off three had been wounded, and two had been killed (including the squadron's only Canadian, a bright young fellow named Edwards, and one of only two pilots in the Squadron to have downed a hun). Both pilots killed had flown less than 10 hours.

In the evening, a telephone call came from an Infantry Captain, informing Maj. McClintock that the wreckage of a Fokker matching my description had been found in the area I had reported it falling in, and so I scored my first confirmed victory. However, after learning of Edwards' and Black's fate, I couldn't find the heart to celebrate.

*:
1) Possibly Ltn. Otto Schmidt, Jasta 5.

2) Ltn. Freidrich Vollbracht, Jasta 5.

Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/17/18 10:51 PM

Excellent stories all

Carrick - evidently that's what WOFF wingmen are for, stealing your kills.

Welcome back Raine, congrats on Geoffrey's 60th and 238 missions, quite a feat.

Wolfe - Congrats to Sgt Mayes on his first confirmed WOFF victory.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Saturday, August 17th 1918

Took the SPAD up for more familiarization and a gunnery flight. Having problems with the new sights. Either my Vickers are out of alignment or I am. Got up to 10,000 feet to try some piques, took it easy the first couple of tries until I got up enough gumption to let her drop straight down. My God this thing can take some stress! Thought I was going to pass out. The real test came when I pulled out of the dive and my wings didn’t come off, started to black out after that too.

Cut the throttle down to idle to practice gliding. Nothing like floating along in Babygirl. This heavy thing starts to drop immediately. Going to be a devil of a thing to make an emergency landing in.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/18 02:03 AM

Great stories and pics everyone.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/18 02:08 AM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
20 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.


Aug 17,1918.

I took the Sqn up on morning Patrol and we mixed it up with some Recon types. We were turning for home, when under the Overcast 2 Hannover Types popped into view. I was out of Position so followed in the rear Guard position as B flight Knocked down both A/c near Albert and Our side of the lines. We now have 12 pilots on the Board with Kills.

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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/18 03:32 AM

Good to see Maj. Woolly feeling better and sticking it to the hun again! Also, I wish Mr. Goode all the best in the SPAD S.XIII!

Sgt. Albert Mayes, MC
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F,
2 Victories.

August 16th, 1918.

'B' flight was assigned to a patrol of allied lines. The more experienced airmen among us were very pleased with this, as it meant that there was little chance of seeing any hun machines. Our patrol altitude was 17,000 feet, and was onl about 8 minutes North of Valheureux. On the way to our target, we saw 'A' flight returning from their line patrol. One machine looked to be trailing fuel, but at the time I didn't think much of it.

We reached the patrol area, and had flown back and forth for about twenty minutes when I suddenly saw Archie puffs far below us. I squinted and stared down, and suddenly six Fokkers made themselves apparent to me, flying along bold as brass. I tried to alert Cpt. Smuts, our flight leader, but he merely irritatedly waved me back into formation. It was then that I decided to do something incredibly stupid.

I broke formation in order to stalk the huns from above. I followed them back South, as far as Doullens. When they flew over the city, quite low now, out of nowhere a torrent of Archie went up at them, and their formation was scattered. Now was my chance! I dropped down closer to the huns, searching for a target. I noticed that all the machines had red noses. Was this the same squadron from yesterday? Just as I had chosen my target, I looked behind me and got the scare of my life when I saw a Fokker right behind me, climbing up to shoot me in the back! I immediately rolled over and we got into it, spiralling down into the Archie cloud. I danced with the hun in what felt like an ocean of artillery, which was very off-putting. To make matters worse, the German pilot was very good, and was soon behind me. I dodged Archie fire and Spandau fire alike, beginning to feel panic rise in my throat. I pushed my nose down as I turned, and suddenly my opponent straightened out, as if he had lost sight of me. I took my chance and stood my Camel on its tail, firing directly up at the Fokker and putting several holes in its wings, at which point he dove steeply for the ground. I followed, much to his surprise, and pressed my attack, putting bullet after bullet into the red-nosed Fokker until I had shot away several of his control surfaces.

The hun wobbled about the sky like a merry drunkard before finally wallowing over and impacting with the ground nose-first. To my disgust, the Archie gunners fired another few shells at the wrecked Fokker. I decided to make good my escape before the rest of the huns came back looking for their missing friend. Upon arriving back at the aerodrome, I entered the mess hall and found several 'A' flight pilots, who had told me about running into a flight of Fokkers earlier in the day. Regrettably, another young rookie, Sgt. Powell, had been killed in the short fight just before 'A' flight had turned tail.

I had spoken to Powell a few times. He was an incredibly nervous fellow, and was most days terrified before going up. Hopefully the hun that got him is the same one that I had shot down.



August 17th, 1918.

It is still only the morning, and I am yet to fly my first sortie of the day. However, I was very pleased when, being summoned to Maj. McClintock's office very early in the morning, I was presented with a Military Cross! In the evening there will be a formal ceremony, in which I will officially receive the award. It turns out that the hun I had downed over Doullens yesterday was an ace of 9 victories*. Upon learning this, I asked to be driven out by a Corporal in order to collect the wrecked Fokker's rudder, which is now currently residing on the wall of the mess hall. Although I have had a fortuitous start to my war, I hope today is considerably more quiet.

*
1) Eberhard Mohnicke, Jasta 11.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/18 11:34 AM

Wulfe, great work here! I'm so pleased to see you joint the campaign and hope your man makes it to the end!
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/18 03:42 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome, Raine! I hope so too, but the hun might have something to say about it!

Sgt. Albert Mayes, MC
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F,
2 Victories.

August 17th, 1918.

'B' flight has been assigned to patrol behind enemy lines. So much for having a quiet day. As per usual, 'A' flight went ahead of us towards the target area, and we didn't see them again until we arrived at Albert, where we could see them surrounded by Archy. Upon our arrival they turned West and headed for home, handing us the Archy as they left.
A few moments later, I looked up to see two or three Fokkers circling overhead, deliberating about what to do with us. Suddenly the three became six, all circling over us like vultures*. Our formations cautiously circled one another for a few moments, and then they fell upon us.

I quickly got behind one hun with a green-and-white striped upper wing. With me was Cpt. Hughes, and we quickly drove him down and out of the fight. Circling back, I tried to single out one Fokker in the mess of aeroplanes. After circling for about 30 seconds, another striped-wing Fokker made a sudden reappearance to my left, and fired a stream of bullets across me. Thankfully he missed, and Cpt. Hughes was quickly behind him, with me trailing. I think he must have been wounded, for he straightened out and sat perfectly still for me as I lined up my shot. At close range I saw my tracer bullets flying into his back, and he slumped forwards before going into a dive*. I admit, I felt awful about this later. As strange as it sounds, it is easy to forget that men occupy these machines as you chase their tails. By this point the fight had become a scattered mess of individuals, some looking for their next target, some looking for their leaders and some simply trying to get back home. I spotted Cpt. Hubbard flying along and formed up with him, before spotting a Camel shooting up a Fokker to my right. It was Cpt. Hughes, still giving the huns the good stuff!

Hughes disappeared below my wing, still after his Fokker, when suddenly a stream of bullets impacted my machine. I wildly swung into a left-hand turn, and as I did so I caught a glimpse of a silver machine with a sharply pointed nose and diagonally-cut wings*. I later found out that this machine was a 'Pfalz', an outdated hun aeroplane. Within two turns I was behind him, and I put a speculative burst through his planes, causing him to dive away. I quickly realised now that I coudn't see any Camels, only Fokkers and Pfalzes, and the Archy was hammering away at me with a newly-found vigour, so I decided to make for home.


*
1) Probably Jasta 44s.
2) Possibly from Jasta 46.




*
1) Unfortunately the game crashed as I finished the mission, and I didn't get a chance to put in a claim for my Fokker. I think I would have gotten him too!


Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/18/18 07:12 PM

Sorry about your Hun Wulfe - happens sometimes but don't let it put you off, frustrating I know. Balloons are problematic for claims sometimes too, I think they fixed some of it but I haven't had one to claim for awhile so I don't know.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron

Sunday, August 18th 1918

Practice patrol, well behind our lines over our old stomping ground, Dormans and Chateau-T. Pip Porter crashed his brand new SPAD, under-shot the touchdown area when his motor conked, ruts stripped out his undercarriage and he turned turtle. Not badly hurt tho. Cuts around his mouth and jaw.

SPADS giving us every conceivable trouble, from broken oil pipes, to motors on some that the ground crew have never been able to start since they arrived. Makes you wonder how they got here.

Rick left for Paris to have another operation, I don’t think he’s coming back, but I didn’t think so before. He’s a tough S@B.


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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/18 12:26 AM

No worries, I bet it's not the first time a hun's gone down on their side and not been credited wink

Sgt. Albert Mayes, MC
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F,
2 Victories.

August 18th, 1918:

Today we were sent into Hunland to knock down a kite balloon. We crossed the lines after climbing to 15,000 feet. As we approached, 'A' flight made their usual appearance ahead of us, being shelled by Archie. We flew over to join them, and started scanning for the balloon. At one point I saw a formation of 10 huns coming our way, but they seemed to have a change of heart and turned for home. Cpt. Hughes did away with the balloon and we turned back West.

For our second sortie of the day, we were to escort an R.E.8 from No. 52 as it flew a recce. Nine of us went up - the R.E. must have been after some important photographs! The weather had soured considerably by the time we went up, with dark clouds hanging low over the countryside. We picked up the R.E. over Doullens, and headed East. As we flew down the R.E's reconnaissance route, we could see 'A' flight being pummelled again by Archie. Upon our return I suggested that perhaps they should be known as 'Archie' flight. From that point on, the name seemed to stick.

I remember thinking afterwards about how remarkably fast the R.E. had gotten his photographs and turned back. I was grateful, as we never enjoyed being in Hunland for too long. The R.E. was marked with a number 7 on his top wing - I hope we get "Number 7" again the next time we are flying escort.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/18 02:56 AM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
20 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.


Aug 18, 1918.


Hq ordered another show the flag flight over Oppy. I hate these flights someone will get the chop for sure. I took 9 a/c in 2 flights and off we went looking for huns. Find the blokes we did. a Jasta of Vee Strutters. Must have been 12 or more of them. We punched into them causing some to scatter then it was individual fights I helped keep the huns off the tails of some of my flight, But there was so many. Finally, the sky was clear and we reformed for the RTB. Missing 3 SE's The flight did claim 4 e/a.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/18 05:49 PM

DISCLAIMER: To Raine and others who have either been offended by or confused by my descriptions of the SPAD XIII. The SPAD XIII in WOFF gameplay has mechanical problems just like any other aircraft model in the game but it is an excellent aircraft to fly in the game. The comments about the real world problems the USAS faced with their SPADs are John Goode's opinions, based on what is found in the journals and letters of his contemporaries, not my own experiences in gameplay. Most of the breakdowns of John's SPAD are contrived for the sake of the story, not game model issues. And as Raine wrote, it is "A good machine to survive in."

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Monday, August 19th

Another practice patrol. Half of us had to drop out almost immediately for one reason or another. My machine started to vibrate so much that I thought it would go to pieces and the engine started missing. Black said it was the reduction gear housing. I probably got a nick in the prop from flying gravel. This threw the gear out of line. The vibration loosened just about every nut, bolt and plumbing connection on the crate. He’s going to replace and modify the housing and maybe that'll keep the thing from falling apart under me. Crate will be down for a few days.

Davy rounded some of the of us up and we went into Paris for the evening. We got several rooms but Davy’s was our resort. Five different WWs(1) dragged in and fooled around awhile. Oh the sin in the world!

WW– Wild Women – slang term for prostitutes and showgirls.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/18 06:49 PM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
20 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.

Aug 19, 1918

Another Show the Flag Patrol over Bapaume. I had the Flight Commander take the covering flight of 4 a/c while I led with 5 a/c. Hq had us going under Patrols at 8000ft. we ran into 3 Rumplers + Escort of 5 Fokkers. Our cover caught the rumplers and knocked 1 down as the escort turned we got into range and the fight was on down to the deck. I damaged 2 , I think ,but no kills. The Flight claimed 3 Fokkers and the 2 seat. TT 4 destroyed for 3 damaged SE's.

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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/18 07:48 PM

Sgt. Albert Mayes, MC
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F,
2 Victories.

August 19th, 1918:
(Part 1)

Edwards' replacement arrived this morning at about 6 A.M; a Scottish 2nd Lieutenant named Francis Wilkins. He had been in the war since 1916 (although he had only recently transferred into the R.A.F), and it looked like by this point his nerves were shot. He had gotten one hun before arriving at No. 3.
At 6:45 we were sent out to look for some huns who had apparently been seen by an artillery company south of Amiens. Upon arriving at the place, we spotted 'Archie' flight all pointing their noses up and 'prop-hanging', trying to shoot at a lone Fokker that was circling above them. I found the sight very amusing, as it looked to me like a cat that had been chased up a tree by a pack of dogs, and was refusing to come down! As the Fokker passed over our heads, I saw it was painted black with what looked like a white buck (or at some angles, a skull!) painted on its side*.

Suddenly the Fokker dove for his own lines at some speed, and two damned fool pilots, Lt. Maxted and Lt. Franklyn, gave chase. Maj. McClintock tried to reign in the eager pair in, to no avail. By this point they were already in Hunland! Reluctantly we crossed over to collect our would-be hotshots. We had gone quite deep into Hunland after several minutes flying, still with no sign of our two colleagues, and we had begun to get quite nervous.

All of a sudden, through a break in the clouds, I spotted an aeroplane going down in flames, falling out of a fight! I signalled my wingman and gunned my engine, diving into the fight. I quickly spotted the same black Fokker from before, hot on Maxted's heels. I dove in on him, my Vickers spitting fury, and he attempted to pull up into a vertical stalling manoeuvre. At this point I walked my tracers up the length of his fuselage, and he went into an inverted flat-spin before vanishing into the clouds.
I was now surrounded by several Fokkers, and with no Camels in sight I turned and ran for my own lines. On the way I caught a nasty hit from Archie, and my engine stopped just as I was crossing the mud. Luckily, I was able to safely land in a field just behind our lines. After a long wait, a car came to drive me back to Valheureux. My fellow pilots were quite releived to see me, as they had lost sight of me shortly into the fight. To my delight, everybody was accounted for, and Maxted even claimed that the burning aeroplane I had seen was his handiwork!

I put in a claim for my Fokker, citing Maxted as a witness. If I'm lucky, I may be awarded an 'out-of-control'.

*
1) Description matches the machine of Carl Degelow, Jasta 40 (30 Victories), however, based on the position of Jasta 40's aerodrome relative to the area of the combat this seems unlikely.

Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/19/18 11:32 PM

Vzfw Bruno Wolff
Jasta 64w

April 15th 1918

On routine patrol behind our balloon lines our Kette was attacked by five French Nieuport 27s, one of which became my 5th Luftsieg and will earn me the Iron Cross 1st Class if I live to collect it.

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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/18 06:44 AM

Major Collin Sitwell
22 Sqn RAF
26 Victories
20 August 2918

It seems someone up top like me. I was at 3 Sqn less than two months before I received my promotion to Major. It seems with the losses being taken and the tempo the Allied forces are trying to maintain, open spots are being filled quickly. For me it meant another transfer, this time to 22 Sqn. The absolute best news out of this whole thing is that I am back flying Brisfits. I couldn't be happier about this turn of events. The chaps at 22 Sqn are for the most part experienced and battle hardened, which means it is the end of my days playing wetnurse to a bunch of green pilots who are better at dying than flying.

It has been hard to find time to write with the combination of the launch of the offensives of 8 Aug and the monsterous piles of paperwork that must be completed and submitted. And once the paperwork is complete, there is travel back and forth to HQ for Orders Groups and meetings and every other thing that High Command can think of to keep me out of the cockpit and strapped to a desk.

It is not all pushing paper however. Just yesterday I got up on a nice 1.5 hour cruise over the lines to see what Jerry is up to in the vicinity of Cambrai. Our attacks have petered out for now and the boys were so successful in the initial stages that they outran their support and stalled on the German reinforcements. Rumour is that Haig is keen on resuming the attacks as soon as possible, so it is a mad scramble to shuffle things behind the lines for the next push. For us in 22 Sqn, it means recce after recce, punctuated with ground attacks on Hun reinforcements and railways.

Yesterday's recce was a grand success. No losses. No combat. Good intelligence gathered. We did see a flight of DVIIs pass about 6000 feet below us, highlighted against a cloud, but there was no benefit to going after them. You can almost feel it in the air that this is the march towards the end of the war. The fight hasn't gone out of Jerry, but the counter attacks against are gains were less than what we are used to and the momentum we are building seems to be growing every day.

It has been said before, but not for a long time. I think this war will be over by Christmas. My job now is to make sure the lads are around to see it.
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/18 09:50 AM

Side note, has anyone else listened to the wonderful Blueprint for Armageddon Hardcore History Podcast series by Dan Carlin? I just finished listening through it (6 episodes at around 4 hours an episode) and I really enjoyed it. It covers the whole war, focusing on the western front, but touching on other spots as required. There is not much on the air war, and individual battles are not really the focus, but he takes the time to explore context and reasons for why important decisions are made.

I'd highly recommend it if you've got some time you need to kill mowing grass, commuting or enjoying the evening air with a tasty beverage.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/18 08:40 PM

Sgt. Albert Mayes, MC
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F,
2 Victories.

August 19th, 1918:
(Part 2)

I made it back to Valheureux by the early evening, just in time to join in on a planned raid of a German-controlled railway station. As my Camel was back under repairs, I again flew the Vickers-built spare, which I have named 'Mistress'. As we flew towards the lines I was alarmed to see seven aeroplanes cross overhead. However, to my releif, the machines were S.Es.

We crossed over the top of Arras before flying into Hunland. We reached our target, but I quickly lost my flight entirely whie we attempted to evade some particularly nasty Archie clouds. At one point, I thought I could see a Camel attempting to land in a German field, but my attention was swiftly diverted by the artillery. Having no luck in spotting my flight, and feeling very vulnerable alone in Hunland, I decided to turn back. As I was about to cross back into the mud, I saw the twisted burning remains of an aeroplane, but couldn't make out what type it was. After a while of lingering over the mud, wondering what to do with myself, my flight reappeared, although there were only four. Including myself, we had set off with 8. Suddenly I felt very ill, and so landed at Etrun aerodrome near the front. Fortunately everybody made it home, although 3 Camels had to be written off, and Maxted & Smuts had both been wounded by shrapnel although, thankfully, their wounds were only minor.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/20/18 10:54 PM

Sgt. Albert Mayes, MC
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F,
2 Victories.

August 20th, 1918.

We had another replacement arrive today, a Londoner like myself! He introduced himself as "Nathaniel Hurst". We immediately became friends, being from the same place. I also received a letter from my younger brother, Brian, mentioning that he had just undergone his training as a Scout pilot. The damned young fool! Hopefully the war will end before he gets his chance to meet the hun.

I'm back in my Bolton & Paul machine for now. 'Mistress' is with Franklyn. We're being sent to bomb a hun airfield (Focuacourt), and in all honesty I don't fancy the job one bit...flying so low in Hunland seems downright suicidal. To make matters worse, the weather was very poor, with low clouds really hampering our visibility. At one point, I had to bank away violently to avoid colliding with Cpt. Hughes as we flew through a cloud. We crossed into Hunland at below 4000 feet, and I admit that I was sweating bullets by this point. I should think we all were, maybe except for Hughes.

As we neared Bray the Archie got quite bad and, being so far in Hunland, I could only pray that I didn't take a knock. We cleared the city and proceeded over to Cappy before doubling back and heading North-East towards our target. We first dropped our bombs, then went down to strafe the hun machines on the ground, all the time surrounded by a storm of Archie. I strafed one Albatros on the ground, and was rewarded by seeing a large cloud of steam hissing out from the engine. We turned back for a second pass, and I targeted the same Albatros. However, I had misjudged my speed and was headed straight for a hangar! I pulled up hard, but felt a sickening lurch as I passed. Looking to the side, I saw that my lower right wing was practically smashed to pieces, the wingtip being completely gone, but, by some miracle my machine was holding together. Dread surged over me, and I have no shame in saying my nerve went completely.

I immediately turned for home, my thoughts racing. Landing now meant salvation, but this far in Hunland I stood no chance of getting home. Carrying on was an unlikely gamble, the prize being my life. Beggaring my own belief, I decided to try and get back to our side. The hellish Archie bursts followed me like a pack of beasts, and I knew that I was for it. My mind suddenly went blank, and nothing at all seemed to matter to me. I simply looked ahead, and let fate run its course. After some minutes had passed, I was snapped out of my haze by a great barrage of artillery to my left, tearing up the mud...the mud!

My senses flooded back to me in an instant. I was almost over the lines! Just a few more miles, I urged my wounded machine, and we're safe...it was then that I looked down and saw a mass of Tommies, all lazily regarding me flying overhead. Some were waving. Relief surged over me in such a crashing wave that I almost lost control of my Camel! But I wasn't down yet.

Ahead of me lay green and yellow fields. I picked one out and cut the throttle back, my heart working in double-time. After what felt like an eternity, I hit the ground, hard. My machine rolled onto its right and I skidded along on one wheel and one wingtip. I stared out the front of my machine helplessly, as a picket fence rushed towards me at 40 miles per hour...there was no pulling up to clear the fence, my wing was completely destroyed by this point...I turned my head away as the fence rushed up to greet me...

I woke up in a hospital bed several hours later, my whole body in agony. Smoking cigarette after cigarette to keep my mind away from the pain, I awaited any news of my flight's fate. At maybe 8 PM, Cpt. Hubbard made an appearance. He had found out my whereabouts when the C.O of the Tommies that had pulled me out my wrecked Camel had telephoned Valheureux. As Hubbard explained, poor Lt. Sigismund, who had been my wingman since my arrival at No. 3, had been seen to crash right on the German airfield, and was presumed to be dead. Apart from that, everybody had made it home safely.

My Camel was as shattered as I was in the crash. The engine had been torn from its cowling, the lower wing spars on the right side were splintered to matchwood, the rudder had been ripped of, the entire fuselage had been warped and the undercarriage had buckled away. I didn't mourn the passing of my machine. I was too busy being grateful that I was alive.

Hospitalised for 20 days. See you all on September 1st!
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/18 12:48 AM

Wulfe, too bad about the injury. That's a long time to be away. Please entertain us with stories from the recovery period.

Jerbear, your SPAD woes don't surprise me. I recall reading of the terrible teething problems they had with the USAS. I think the Americans got all the Monday morning production run!

Dark Canuck, great to see you back with us. Are you home from your posting yet? And congrats on the quick promotion to Major. Isn't that the old Navy toast: "To a bloody war and quick promotion." I recall a friend telling me about a staff course he attended in which the instructor opened a discussion on offensive operations by asking "What is an acceptable casualty rate?" A superannuated captain in the class replied instantly: "A busload of majors going over a cliff."

Geoffrey Corderoy is flying more than a squadron leader should these days, so I may get him to England for a spell after the spring offensive.

Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 43 Squadron RAF
Part 64: 1-2 April 1918 – Avesnes-le-Compte

1 April 1918


And now we are a new service. The eggs are still too hard-boiled, and the tea is no better.

Orders are to expend every effort to support ground forces. We are directed today to send patrols at intervals south to stem the enemy advance on Amiens, and so it is that I led a patrol mid-morning to the area around Villers-Bretonneaux. We carried 20 lb bombs and picked up the road from Villers to Amiens, dropping bombs on anything that moved. Every machine gun in Hunland seemed to be trained on us. Great fun!

A largish gaggle of Albatros DVs flew overhead and I thought they’d missed us. Unfortunately they turned about and dived on our little group of six Camels. It was rather a brawl, fought amongst tracer from the ground and occasional ragged Archie. I met one Hun head on and my undercarriage touched his upper wing surface at a combined speed of well over 200 miles an hour. It was quite a bump, but the Camel handled none the worse, although the poor Hun spiralled into a farmer’s field, where the pilot spared his countrymen the task of digging a hole to bury him. I found myself then with three Huns circling onto my tail in search of revenge, but my Camel out-turned them and I at last caught one with a deflection shot from above and behind, and the EA immediately dived down and crashed not far from the first chap.

Daniel bagged two, which made for a good morning. We were all shot about, but no one was lost and all but Lingham landed back in Avesnes within the hour. Lingham had already called in and was back with us by one o’clock.

My count now stands at 62, leading the RAF. I am going after the Bad Baron before I’m done. I have been told I am to take leave once we are done with this push, and once again there is a good chance of posting to HE. Further, there is to be a bar to my DSO. We kept the binge modest, as we have three patrols up before seven in the morning.

[Linked Image]
"...my Camel out-turned them and I at last caught one with a deflection shot from above and behind, and the EA immediately dived down and crashed not far from the first chap."


2 April 1918

In the pre-dawn we took off to escort a Bristol to take photographs down south, this time near Cappy. We spotted some Hunnish two-seaters on the way; orders forbade us from engaging them.

I joined King’s flight – he is now made up to Captain and commands Trollope’s flight – for a patrol east of Oppy. We are to deny the area to enemy observation and shoot up roads and assembly areas. En route, however, we spotted three Rumplers about 11000 feet north of Arras and gave chase. King bagged one and Daniel another, a good day’s outing. I thought I had one because I fired at it from directly in front, albeit at long range. The EA completely fell apart the moment I fired, but it seems Daniel was also firing from much closer and we all agreed it was his Hun.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/18 03:13 AM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
20 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.

Aug 20, 1918.

Bagged # 21 while on an Escort Outing. Myself and 4 other pilots were covering a Recon Photo Op a/c From Albert down towards Bapaume. A flight of DR I's attacked as we dove to the rescue a section of Fokkers dove on us. During the Melee, I had the high perch on a Fokker so did a wingover and got close. Firing both guns as we swung about in the dogfight, I scored. ( I was down to 2 drums of Lewis my Vickers had gone dry ) Flames erupted and black smoked came back from the e/a the he spun in. He crashed on the enemy side dont know if I will get credit. We had 1 wnd + 1 SE destroyed. Claims were 2 Fokkers. I escorted the Photo a/c back to base and saw it land then RTB.

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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/18 06:43 AM

Great stuff Gents. Raine, I haven't returned yet, but will be coming back in the not too distant future. We shall have to catch up at some point during the fall.

It has been nothing but paperwork for Maj Sitwell for the past two days. Sending out the young chaps to have all the fun. Lost a bloke named Ogden to mechanical failure yesterday. The good Major is not looking forward to drafting the letter for a chap he barely knew.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/21/18 11:29 PM

Enjoy the down time Wolfe. Plenty to write about while Albert is in the Hospital. I think I spend more time writing about what happened on the ground and during down time than I do about flying and fighting. As icing on the cake, Albert lives another 20 days, unless the Hospital kills him of course.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Tuesday, August 20th 1918

Came back from Paris late this morning, no worse for wear. My SPAD not ready.

I took Pup out for a long walk through the countryside, let her do what she wanted, chased and barked at everything that moved. Very peaceful, but signs of the war everywhere. Saw a few planes fly over.


Wednesday, August 21st 1918

Atkinson is out, Hartney is in! The Penguin Atkinson has been kicked upstairs.(1) Major Hartney will take over command of 1st Pursuit, Horrah! Ack Grant is taking over the 27th.(2)

That Luke character’s not very happy with the new arrangement. Hartney was letting him go out by himself. Ack put a halt to that.

Pip had to go to the hospital. His cuts weren’t healing. Heard there was glass stuck in his jawbone and there was a lot of puss.

(1) Major Bert M. Atkinson was promoted to Lt. Colonel to command the 1st Pursuit Wing which was to consist of two new Groups then being formed.
(2) 1st Lt Alfred ‘Ack Grant, DSC, 4 aerial victories by war’s end. A member of the 27th Aero from its inception to Armistice.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/18 03:34 AM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
21 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.


Aug 21,1918.

Covered Air fields today , no e/a contacted. Hq said over the phone my 21 st Kill was confirmed by the Recon machine we escorted on the Photo Op on the 20th. The Mec types are over hauling my kite so will pop into town after posting the missions for a look at the night life.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/18 04:00 AM

Death of Major Geoffrey Corderoy, VC, DSO and bar, MC -- 4 April 1918

Corderoy took 3 April off from flying. Lieutenant Purdey, the RO, noticed that he spent long periods staring out the window and puffing on his pipe. The major studiously avoided speaking of home, or "after the war", but now he interrupted Purdey with stories of sheep farming and riding in the hills. He spoke of the Vale of the White Horse, a pub called the Anchor, and other places near his home in Berkshire. He asked Purdey about his parents, his girlfriend, his studies -- something he'd never done before. The Old Man was ready to go home.

In the pre-dawn purple of 4 April 1918, Corderoy took off to lead a patrol of six Camels northeast towards Lens. They crossed the lines at 11000 feet with the rising sun in their eyes and soon after, Corderoy and Loudoun both signalled that enemy were in sight. Corderoy pushed his Camel higher to 13000 and climbed under a formation of three Rumplers. He took station behind a below the trailing machine and began firing at 100 yards. Characteristically, he fired in a succession of short bursts, no more than six or seven rounds each. The Rumpler shuddered. Corderoy drew level with the German machine, normally a dangerous move, but the observer did not move. He continued to fire and drew ever closer until he was only feet from the Hun's tail. Meyer, a new man with the squadron, was directly behind the Major and saw the German observer suddenly stand to his gun and fire. Instantly, Corderoy's Camel banked and turned west.

They were about nine miles over the lines, but a stiff westerly breeze was blowing. Corderoy's prop soon windmilled and stopped. Meyer broke off and dived down, taking station off the Major's right wingtips. He saw Corderoy's head slump forward and then come up, and then slump forward again. Ground fire began to get heavier and Meyer climbed away. The little brown Camel continued to glide down and pancaked into the mud, narrowly missing several shell holes. Grey-clad figures ran to the machine.

On 6 April, the squadron got a call from the field artillery. A German aircraft had dropped a message that read, in surprisingly good English: "Your esteemed pilot, Major Geoffrey Corderoy, VC was shot down and captured on the morning of 4 April. He was badly wounded and taken fto hospital but sadly has died of his wounds. He was buried today at Lens-Sallaumines, on the Douai Road near Lens, with full military honours. The German Air Service."

[Linked Image]


Attached picture End of Corderoy.jpg
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/18 06:17 AM

Oh no! Condolences Raine, I thought Maj Corderoy was going to make it through. I will miss his stories. There will be many drinks in the mess to his memory tonight.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/18 07:37 AM

Terrible news, and no doubt a blow to the fledgling R.A.F....I'm sure that the sadly departed Major can be cited as one of young Sgt. Mayes' role-models!

I, too, enjoyed Corderoy's stories, despite only being present for his last few tales.
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/22/18 02:30 PM

Raine,
Terrible news my friend. Another stellar pilot gone in the prime of life. That’s a tough pill to swallow after such a long career and with the end so close.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/18 03:29 AM

Golly Gee. Such bad luck lately , 1st Wulfe, then Raine. Its getting ruff.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/18 03:34 AM

Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
21 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France.


Aug 22, 1918.

We had a good time in town watching the Matches then back to get it to gather for the next missions.

https://giphy.com/gifs/brock-lesnar-dudley-boyz-raw-recap-10wKW1i4OPuSFW/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/ufc-190-gKSbsD6wkngGc/fullscreen
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/18 01:01 PM

Just had a peek in here. Raine, sorry to see Corderoy go. I’m sure German doctors did everything they could with the means they had at their disposal. German nurses were probably also rearing to bring him back to health. So much disappointment ...
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/23/18 07:52 PM

Thanks for the condolences, guys. Here's my latest effort. Meet Holger Barfuss of Jasta 7.

Part 1

Holger Barfuss grew up comfortably in Heidelberg, where his father, Max Barfuss, was a respected professor of linguistics at the famous university. His mother, Mathilde, was the daughter of a prosperous manufacturer of medical instruments. Holger was the baby of the family, the youngest of three children. His two sisters, Mathilde (Mati) and Emilie, married young and well, Mati to a doctor in Mannheim and Emilie to the owner of a furniture business.

His was a happy and bourgeois childhood. A studious boy, he excelled at school and shared his father’s love of languages, learning to speak French fluently from an Alsatian governess and acquiring a good command of English and Italian. Holger loved adventure and coaxed his friends into one plan after another. A summer of raft-building saw him pulled by police from the Neckar many kilometres downstream from home, and an attempt to copy one of Otto Lillienthal’s gliders resulted in a broken leg.

In 1913 he enrolled in the university, walking out with his father every morning. He read English and German literature, and planned to pursue the law as a career. In those militaristic days, he enrolled in a local militia affiliated with the 14th Foot Artillery Regiment. Called up at the outbreak of war, he longed to serve at the front, but his bookish manner and knowledge of French and English resulted in his attachment to military intelligence. He stayed close to home, working as an orderly corporal in the large officers’ POW camp in Heidelberg, where he was assigned menial tasks and directed to hide his understanding of anything other than German. He eavesdropped on conversations and produced a written report at the end of each shift of work.

By 1916, Holger was thoroughly bored and applied for a transfer to the Luftstreitkraefte. After a rigorous initial course, he transferred to a Fliegerersatzabteilung, a pilot replacement unit. Again, after qualifying quickly and well, his academic bearing led his leaders to make him a flight instructor rather than allowing him to be posted to an active service squadron. He applied repeatedly for transfer, even going as far as to ask to serve as an observer. But it was not until January 1918 that his pleas were acted upon. In that month, Holger Barfuss was promoted to Vizefeldwebel and assigned as a student to a Jadgfliegerschule and, in April 1918, was assigned to Jasta 7, then based in Flanders at Roeselare (Roulers).
...
5 April 1918, Ingelmunster, Belgium

Vzfw Barfuss dropped down from the back of the truck, aching and bruised from the long drive on solid tires. Another NCO, this one bound for a different unit, slid his kit bag off the truck bed and Barfuss adjusted it on his shoulder. A Leutnant, also newly-attached to the Jasta, dismounted from the front of the vehicle and looked down at his case, then over at Barfuss. Barfuss sauntered off towards a couple of pilots who were smoking and chatting beside a canvass hangar.

The aerodrome was tidy but small, a couple of battered-down beet fields abutting the last row of houses at the north end of the village of Ingelmunster. There were only two wooden buildings, more clearly maintenance sheds. Barfuss approached the two pilots and saluted. They were both in flying gear and their rank was not visible, but better safe than sorry. He asked for directions to the Staffelfuehrer.

“You’ve found him,†said the impressively fit-looking man to Barfuss’s right. The other officer nodded his farewell and left them alone. Barfuss introduced himself, and then the other new arrival, who was not a Leutnant after all, joined them and introduced himself as Offizierstellvertreter Jansen. The Staffelfuehrer name was Ltn Josef Jacobs. He was pleasant enough, but all business.

“With the offensive we are in the air throughout the day. The phone rings and tells us where to find the English. We run to our machines and go get them. We return and eat, piss, and prepare to go up again. Day after day. Are you ready for this?â€
Jansen and Barfuss both nodded.

“I’m afraid there is no time for a proper introduction to war flying,†Jacobs said. Your first flight may see action. Stay close to your leader and try to see as much as possible. You’ll be quite oblivious to your surroundings at first. Learn to see in the air and you might live.â€

Jansen pointed to some Fokker triplanes that were up on wooden supports as mechanics worked on them. “I haven’t flown a Fokker yet,†he said. Barfuss said nothing, although the machine was new to him, too.

Jacobs laughed. “No problem. New boys like you two fly Albatosses or Pfalzes. We still don’t have all the Fokkers we need. Perhaps if you kill yourself in the old crates we’ll get newer models, right?â€

In the next hour Barfuss found his billet in a small house just 50 metres up the road from the field. Two other pilots lived there with a local family, but neither was home. He dressed quickly in flying gear and returned to the field to see about his machine.

The Albatros DVa was painted all in black, as were the other machines of Jasta 7. This was Jacobs’s idea, it seemed. Barfuss had enough time for a 15 minute flight to see the field from the air and put the Albatros through a few dives and zooms, some rolls, and one quick loop. It was well maintained and rigged, it seemed, much better than the training machines he was used to. He landed and gave a thumbs-up to the mechanics.

Scarcely ten minutes later there was a great hullo and Barfuss saw Jacobs running to his Fokker. He called for Barfuss to form up in the rear of his Kette and do whatever he did.

The gaggle of six machines climbed into the late morning sun, four Fokkers and two Albatrosses. The formation circled a little north of the field until reaching 1500 metres, then turned southwest. Menen passed beneath and the silvery line of the Lys glimmered like a thread dropped onto a muddy horse paddock. Barfuss stared with awe at the devastation of the front, still some kilometres away. He remembered to scan the sky.

In his long months of work as an instructor, Barfuss had made a point of practising his aerial spotting. It was not a simple thing. One could scan a section of sky but focus too much into the distance, missing an aircraft only a few hundred metres away. Or one could do the opposite, and miss a formation only a little more distant. He began a careful examination of the sky, dividing it like pieces of pie. He scanned right to left. The other way was too much like reading, and he might skim over something he should have seen.

He noted a vee-shaped formation well off to the east and a few hundred metres higher. It must be ours, he thought. The faint specks grew more distinct. They were approaching. Barfuss waited for someone else to take the first move. A Fokker lagged behind a little until he was flying alongside it. The pilot smiled at him and waved. Barfuss pointed up at the approaching machines.

In the next second the Fokker fired a flare and the entire group began climbing towards the unknown formation. Barfuss tried to keep up, but the Fokker climbed like a lift. The unknown aircraft broke formation and dived towards them, the rectangular shape of their radiators and the dihedral of their wings making it obvious that they were British SE5As. He looked for Jacobs – “do what I do.†There was only confusion.

Barfuss climbed through the melee and was shocked when a machine fired at him and tracer flashed close to his head from the lower right side. He could smell it, like burnt matches. He kicked the rudder hard right and turned about, seeing nothing except a few machines flashing past. He spotted a biplane below and saw the roundels. A roll and dive brought him close behind and he fired for the first time. The metallic rattle of disintegrating links thrilled him. The British machine began to smoke and nosed down.

In seconds it was all over. The sky emptied of aircraft. He circled, searching for other machines but found nothing. A brown smear of smoke descended from his level to the earth below, marking the fall of the machine he’d shot at. Barfuss could scarcely believe that he had downed the Britisher. He had fired only thirty rounds.

[Linked Image]
"The British machine began to smoke and nosed down."

He returned to Ingelmunster and took a few circuits before seeing his home field. The Albatros settled over the poplars and onto the rough field. He turned at the end of the aerodrome and headed towards the hangars. Just then he saw the black puffs of Flakartillerie a short distance away. Another enemy! Barfuss opened the throttle to take back to the sky. The hangars loomed up, the undercarriage banged against the rough earth. He pulled the machine into the air at the last second, just clearing the canvas. Alas, on the other side of the hangar stood a stately house with three chimneys. Barfuss struck one of the chimneys and the Albatros staggered in the air, left wings down. Full rich mixture – he’d nearly forgotten. But the Albatros did not respond. Engine failing, it sideslipped into a tree-lined street below, killing a cart horse and smashing a wagon full of cheese. Shorn of wings, propeller, and undercarriage, the black Albatros skidded sideways in the road.

Barfuss emerged bleeding profusely from a cut over his eye and aching from a rib that was certainly cracked or broken.

He was taken to a nearby Lazarett for examination and returned to the field in time for dinner, but forbidden to fly for two weeks. He sought out the Staffelfuehrer to apologize. Jacobs, however, brushed him off, saying only that they would speak later in the evening. Barfuss kept largely to himself and drank some heavy Flemish beer until the call for dinner led them from the Kasino rooms to the dining area.

He picked at the fish and potatoes that were served, and dreaded the after-dinner meeting that would ensue. At length, Leutnant Jacobs rose, lead a toast to the Kaiser, and lit a cigar.

“Gentleman of Jasta 7,†he began, “we have a very entitled young man in our midst. This morning I met a fine new pilot, Offizierstellvertreter Gustav Jansen. Please stand, Herr Jansen.†There were shouts of “Willkommen†and “You buy the drinks.â€

Jacobs continued. “But the young man I refer to is Vizefeldwebel Holger Barfuss, the fellow with one eye closed, a lovely white headdress, and – I think – a very sore chest. Please stand.â€

Barfuss pushed himself up from his seat. The boss was right about the chest.

“This young man must be very confident. He took off this morning for his first flight, saw the enemy first, and shot down an enemy single seater with only a few rounds. And he was so thrilled with his feat that he took it upon himself to provide his own reward. Not for him was the long walk to his billet. Instead, he presumed that it would be a fine thing to fly to his residence on the Schoolstraat. Unfortunately, the chimney of the Kasino building spoiled his trip.â€

There was loud laughter and pounding of tables.

“But, my dear Barfuss, please understand that in this Jasta, I shall decide rewards. So you may NOT fly to your billet. Instead, you will take this Ehrenbecher in commemoration of your first Britisher and put it in your room. But before leaving, you will buy a round of drinks for the other pilots and apologize to them for littering their lovely town with pieces of your damned machine. And then we’ll say no more of this whole affair, right.â€

Barfuss was grinning from ear to ear. These were comrades, and this was a wonderful club unlike group he’d yet served with.


Attached picture Kill 1.jpg
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/18 12:02 AM

Just got my first look a the thread in several days. So sorry about Geoffrey Raine. Rickenbacker said it made him nervous when he became the American Ace of Aces since all the others had died. Not a healthy title of own.

Holger seems like a good sort. Sounds like he got in a Jasta with some great comrades and and exceptional Jasta-Fuhrer. Really a good introduction. I'm hooked already.



2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Thursday, August 22nd 1918

Everything’s Ham and Gravy here. Five of us stood alert this morning and a call actually came down the buzz wire. Ridiculous really, with us so far back of the lines.

Snake’s SPAD wouldn’t even start. It took ten minutes to get the other four going. Ty had to return immediately, Ash had to make an emergency landing in a nearby field and Abe came back separately within five minutes with one ailment or another.

I went looking for trouble on my own, luckily I didn't find any.

It's not that we never had any trouble with our Nieuports, far from it, but they would have been in the air in a little more than a minute and would have stayed up, most of them anyway. We all miss them terribly.
Posted By: Space_Ghost

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/18 03:24 PM

RIP Major Corderoy.

His exploits shall go down as legend.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/18 10:05 PM

Already loving the sound of Holger, sounds like a very Stachel-esque character, less vain perhaps...but definitely something of the cobra about him wink

Sgt. Albert Mayes, MC
No.42 Stationary Hospital,
2 Victories.

August 22nd, 1918.


Yesterday, at mid-day, a Hun airman was rushed into my ward, in a sorry looking state. He was placed in the empty bed next to mines, with a nasty gash on his forehead and a fractured leg. At first he sheepishly kept to himself, he must have been expecting all the tommies in the ward to jump up and bayonet him where he lay! However, I decided to approach him in the evening and strike up a conversation.

"Gootern Arbund" I said, my English tongue tripping the words on their way out. The Airman looked up from his cigarette, surprised to hear (at least some attempt at) the language of his Vaterland. "Good evening" he nervously replied, in frustratingly clear English. "Oh, you speak the King's. Hope you don't mind if I do the same. I couldn't help but notice your flying coat as they brought you in. Are you a pilot?" I asked, and the German's eyes lit up slightly. "Yes," he replied, and then paused. "Or, at least I was. I suppose now, I am a prisoner". He sighed, and then heaved himself up, sitting on the edge of his bed and offering me an expensive French cigarette. I accepted, and in turn offered my lighter (The hun's refused to cooperate). "Yes, sadly, I suppose you are. What landed you in a British hospital anyway?" I asked, and the German gave a wry smile. "The British Flying Corps, of course", was his response, and I couldn't help but feel prideful.

"The Royal Air Force now, actually. You were shot down?" I asked, keen at the chance to learn about my enemy. "Yes, one of your S.E's. My Staffel was pushed too far West by the winds, and I found myself alone with three British machines. They soon had my petrol escaping my tank, and so I thought I had better put in. I was able to spin away, and picked out what I thought was a suitable field. However, I struck a damned wooden fence and turned myself over!". I blinked, then burst into raucous laughter. "Those same bloody fences put me in here!" I shouted, and the German shakily laughed along with me. We then sat quietly for a moment, smoking our cigarettes. I looked over, and extended my hand. "Sergeant Albert Mayes, No. 3 Royal Air Force". The Airman shook my hand, and introduced himself as Vizefeldwebel Ernst Köhler, Jasta 5.

August 23rd, 1918.

Ernst was taken away to be interned this morning. A shame, really. I had rather enjoyed the company of another airman, even if it was a Hun. Jasta 5...I wonder if I've ever met them in the sky?

Around three O'Clock a telephone call came through from Valheureux for me. I answered, and was met with Hughes voice. "Mayes? I'm afraid I have some bad news" he said, and i held my breath. Was someone injured? Dead? "Go on, Hughes, what is it?" I urged, and I heard Hughes take a deep breath. "A replacement was scheduled to go up with 'Archy' flight today. He crashed while trying to take off". My heart sunk in my chest. "He's dead?" I asked quietly, not really wanting a response. "What?", Hughes barked, astonished, "No, he's not dead! He's fine! But he was flying that Vickers Camel of yours. It's completely wrecked". I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, before answering. "Well, you can tell him that I'll give him a bloody hiding when I return!" I barked, and hung up.

It's a shame that Mistress was so carelessly destroyed. She was a very nice machine to fly. But if that was the worst news from Valheureux, then I was content.

August 24th, 1918.

Today I read through an English newspaper while I had my morning tea. One article, entitled "OUR FALLEN HERO FLYERS" caught my attention. It spoke of how it was a 'Good Englishman's duty to not forget the heroics of our fallen aces", and other such dreary patriotic propaganda. It was not the patriotic aspect that held my interest. Instead, it was the names that were mentioned, for it seemed that all our top boys were in there. Ball, McElroy, Corderoy, McCudden, Mannock...I couldn't help but think "If they can fall, what chance do I have?". I don't know when the war will end, nobody does. During our talk Ernst briefly admitted he thinks it will be soon. Perhaps even this year. But, will it come soon enough?

The nurse told me this evening that I can go back to No. 3 in six days.

I've been considering kicking off a German April campaign while I wait for poor old Albie to get out of No. 42 Stationary...is there any policy on running 2 careers at once?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/24/18 10:48 PM

Wulfe,
Nothing wrong with it at all. Enjoying all the stories.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/18 01:24 AM

Wulfe, thanks for continuing your story! I'd welcome another pilot here if you have the time.

MFair, great to see you checking in. And thanks to all for the kind words for Corderoy. Don't let the RAF know, but I'm enjoying Barfuss...

Vzfw Holger Barfuss, Jasta 7:Part 2

“Excellent work, Vizefeldwebel Barfuss! Really, you’re made for this kind of thing.†Leutnant Jacobs grinned evilly as he scanned the neatly typed pages of the Jasta’s weekly return outlining cash expenditures for non-combat rations and equipment. “Perhaps you should manage the Kasino’s accounts, or begin a squadron official history. Really quite remarkable.â€

The man knew how much Holger Barfuss hated being tagged as a studious staff type and ribbed him mercilessly. Since his accident, Barfuss was the resident lackey “zur besonderen Verwendung.â€[1]

“Your talents are wasted on flying, truly.â€

The squadron had moved in the past two weeks and was now based on the wide field at Marckebeeke, near Courtrai. The squadron office, pilots’ Kasino, and officers’ quarters were in a handsome château nearby the field, and the NCO pilots were billeted comfortably in one of the outbuildings – likely a servants’ quarters in peacetime. Regardless, the building had private rooms for the non-commissioned pilots, Uffz Bergmann, and Vzfw Stauffen, Staenger, and Barfuss.

[Linked Image]
The chateau at Marckebeeke

Barfuss laid his pen down on the desk, stood, and came to attention with a sharp click of the heels. “Permission to take a s**t, Herr Leutnant?†Jacobs laughed and waved Barfuss off for the rest of the afternoon. It was after four, anyway.

The stitches were out and he was done with office work. Barfuss made his way to the outside latrines beyond the château wall. This area, a series of hessian-walled cubicles along a wooden bench over a foul-smelling trench, was his sanctuary. Here he could quatsch with the mechanics and share cigarettes and dirty jokes. He settled his affairs and took from his pocket the handwritten draft of the report he had finished typing minutes ago. The army writing paper was rougher than the toilet roll provided, but its use was more satisfying.

On 23 April 1918, Barfuss was in the air again, part of a large formation of mixed Fokkers, Albatros DVs, and a lone Pfalz, all led by Ltn Huettenrauch. They patrolled the lines south beyond the Lys. It was a busy morning. To the east two large groups of aircraft milled about, likely friendly units for they made no move to approach the front. Then a little below and farther south, Barfuss spotted a stream of black smoke arch downwards until it fell vertically. Tiny black dots milled about like midges, occasionally catching the sun with a flash. There was a fight underway. The entire group opened up, the Albatrosses and Pfalz pulling ahead of the Fokkers.

Within a minute, Barfuss saw that a group of Camels were clustered around a lone two-seater and were harrying two Albatros scouts. He picked the closest and began firing short bursts at it from a distance to shake it off the two-seater. Just like that first day, the fight suddenly became a confusing series of images that flashed before him and disappeared like the crystal images of a kaleidoscope, only far more deadly. Then he saw a Camel a little above him turning slowly westward. In an instant Barfuss was behind the Sopwith and firing. The Englander fell into a spin and disappeared into a cloud, seemingly out of control.
And then it was over.

For another hour they patrolled the skies on their barrier zone, but saw nothing else close enough to merit a chase. Back at the château, Barfuss mentioned the Camel that fell, but no one had seen it crash or reported it hitting the ground, so the claim was ignored.

In the afternoon, he went up again, this time sparring inconclusively with some French Spads. At the end of the fight, Barfuss found Ltn Degelow’s Fokker and formed on him for the return flight.

The squadron went out in force on 24 April to attack a balloon on the north side of Ypres. Barfuss fired more than 100 rounds into it, but it caught fire only after Ltn Huettenrauch attacked it, so the Leutnant got the credit for the Luftwuerst.

On 25 April, Barfuss was in the air at first light with a formation of six machines led by Ltn Degelow. They were to patrol the friendly balloon lines along the north side of the Ypres sector. They had not been in the area long when a strong formation of SE5As attacked them from the east. Barfuss was surprised to be jumped by the English from this direction so early in the morning. They must have been thirty or more kilometres into German territory when the sun came up!

The first English machine passed beneath him, and Barfuss rolled and half-looped to get on its tail, except that by the time he pulled out of the half loop, the SE5A was already turned and firing on him. He jinked to one side and tried to turn to catch the Britisher before he could zoom away. Rounds hit his Albatros. A second British machine was on his tail. He tried to roll and swerve, but the Albatos was scarcely responding to the controls. He got the nose down and the Britisher hit him again. Then a searing pain stabbed his left eye. His goggles had been shot away and shattered. He closed one eye and dived. All the stories of collapsing lower wings came back to him. The wires whined and the wings shook ominously. A cloud loomed up.

As soon as Holger Barfuss entered the cloud he switched off and eased the sticken machine out of his dive. For several seconds he had no idea which way was up. Light appeared and he got his bearings. He was still right side up, but diving too quickly. He gingerly levelled off just below the clouds. None of the English machines had followed him. His eye was intensely sore. Barfuss looked for a place to land and picked a wide field several miles east of the balloon lines. He could make out horses and wagons and grey uniforms.

As soon as his machine trundled to a halt beside a row of poplars he felt his eye. It was nothing serious, but it would ground him for another week. The damned CO would be delighted.

Notes:

[1] On special duties – a pilot posted to ZbV was an administrative officer / NCO or acting adjutant.


Attached picture Chateau Marckebeeke.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/18 03:33 AM

How did that song go ? Aother one bites the dust !


Squardon Commander
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO
Maj , Rfc,
21 Victories
1 Rfc Sqn
Fienvillers, AF
Flanders, France. DECEASED Killed OFF He ate it Exit stage left. D E C E A S E D

On a bombing attack: Took a Flack hit lost fuel and power but had height, Turned fir home and got jumped by Fokkers from Jasta 11 as my pilot crossed the lines , a crash ( Mid Air } then both a/c went in upside down. Yes another pilot bit the big One.

Aug 24th 1918.

Attached picture CFS3 2018-08-24 20-20-06-05.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/18 04:28 AM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.

Arrive at my new Esc and took up another pilots machine ( Hes on leave in Paris ) to fly in the area. I will be assigned one later

Attached picture CFS3 2018-08-24 20-59-54-57.jpg
Attached picture CFS3 2018-08-24 21-07-57-23.jpg
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/18 07:06 AM

Damn...Woolly as well? Two great pilots gone in as many days...it's been a tough month for the R.A.F...my condolences!
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/18 01:40 PM

Collin Sitwell just about joined the parade west today. A series of logically poor decisions led to the most intense fight of my WOFF career.

Major Collin Sitwell
22 Sqn RAF
Maisoncelle
27 Victories

Shaky knees upon landing today. What started out as a Railroad attack ended up with my and my Obs Lt Gerber fighting for our lives against six bloody DVIIs.

We had reached the railway without incident and released our bombs, causing significant damage. I then spotted three Rumplers, less than a kilimeter ahead of us, plodding along. I signalled the attack and we dove amongst them. I sent one down in flames quickly, with Mr King and Mr Newsome scoring the others. Suddenly, an entire Jasta of DVIIs were among us, splitting up the party.

We whirled and turned firing often. I saw Mr Wakeford's crate burst into flames and plow into the mud near a Hun Airfield. I realized I was alone with nothing but a gaggle of angry Huns for company. My observer Mr Gerber was active on the guns as I manouvered for shots wherever possible.

For more than thirty minutes we dodged, ducked, dipped, dived and doged again. Holes appeared all over our crate, but somehow it kept on flying. I saw two huns smash into the ground as a result of our actions. There may have been more. My vickers had run dry and I made a desperate rush for our lines.

Thankfully the remaining huns had had enough and left us alone, maybe hoping the extreme density of flak would get us before the lines.

We managed to make it to a friendly airfield and made a rough landing. After several hours Gerber and I made it back to our airfield via a car. It was here I was able to piece together the full story. Mr Thompson had made it back safely, albiet shook up. Mr King had ditched on our side of the lines and had called in from the trenches. His observer Mr Bagley was severly wounded and was on a casualty collection station. Mr Newsom was in a similar straight, however his observer Mr Orton was dead. Mr Wakeford I had seen to crash and was clearly dead.

A Flight suffered as well, with Mr McNaughton and his Obs Mr Roderick both perishing after being hit by flak. Mr Beddow had also been hit, his Observer being killed in a fight with yet more DVIIs.

It was a costly day for the Sqn and too many chairs are empty in the mess. 6 KIA, 4 Wounded, every crate damaged in some way and everyone feeling the weight of the day.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/18 07:25 PM

Wulfe: I think that I put the Jinx on myself when I talked about the other recently lost pilots. I was Doomed.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/18 07:30 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.

Aug 25,1918.

Assigned to 2 Section and posted to patrol duties. Morning 2 Section departed on defensive patrol. No contact. Afternoon: Fuel line plugged ? Motor wouldn't run after starting. The Commandant said to draw an aircraft from the Spares and paint it.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/18 11:15 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Friday, August 23rd 1918

4:30, patrol led by Meissner, I hate taking off before full light. Two of us had to drop out before we reached altitude, my SPAD's been acting pretty good, fine plane when it works. Patrolled at 5,000 meters over low, thick cloud cover. Northwest of Reims, Meissner signaled attention, there were 5 monoplace HA about 1,200 meters or so below us. The 5 of us and our 3 man top cover maneuvered into position and dove on them. I used the SPAD to its best advantage, diving, making a strike, then streaking up for another go, hit and run. After a number of these attacks, I spotted one Albatros attempting to leave the fight. I got below him and used the SPADs speed to catch up easily, sneaking up on him, out of his sight. When I closed to just under 100 meters I gave it to him with both Vickers. I did some engine damage and destroyed most of his upper right wing. He reversed and dove into the cloud below and I lost sight of him. His upper wing had two diagonal white stripes leaning toward each other painted over the camouflage fabric. I didn't attempt to follow him through the thick clouds but I’m as sure that I got him as I am that it wasn’t observed from the ground since we were well into Germany and because of the clouds. Mesissner saw it fall but that won’t confirm my claim, reported it anyway. [Linked Image] [Linked Image]

Healy, O’Niell and Abe are sure they got another of the Huns.

Landed at Coicy on the way back for fuel.


Saturday, August 24th 1918


Patrolled behind our Balloon line. Went up and down it twice, everything looked fine so we went home.

Pup follows Meissner everywhere now, even comes to the mess with him. She gets served like everyone else, then begs more off the rest of us. But when the day is over, she still follows me home, sleeps with me now, a real bed hog but don't mind. I still dream about Dodd,(1) it's nice to have her there as a distraction. I can rub her awhile and drift back to sleep.


(1) Lt. Daniel W. ‘Dodd’ Cassard, member of B Flight, KIA 16 July 1918





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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/25/18 11:28 PM

Sunday, August 25th 1918


Good weather, only a few sparse clouds. Meissner led Love, Ken Porter, Brotherton, McDermott, Dewey and myself on a patrol near Fismes and Rheims. Amazingly, no one dropped out. I think part of the better performance has been that we keep our speed down almost to stall speed as much as possible. We started doing that on Rick's suggestion before he went to the hospital again. The dope is that he's getting better and might actually come back. The hard work of the Mechs is, of course, the other part of the equation.

A line of white Archie puffs led us to 5 Fokkers flying just on our side of the lines. We piqued on them and they did likewise, whipping their Mercedes motors to get back to Germany. Our top cover stayed up and to keep an eye out for a trap as we chased them but no more Huns appeared.

I caught up first and tried to off the tail (1) with a burst and the formation broke up to turn on us. I did a number of firing passes with one particular Fokker with green and white candy stripes on the upper wing surface but mostly I just took pot shots at whatever came in front of me.

Just as with the Albatros from my last fight, I saw a Hun break for home, climbing for all he was worth. I was able to catch him after a short chase without him detecting me, then throttled back to approach slowly. When I was very close, matching his speed, at perhaps 20 or 30 meters I cut loose with a long burst which, amazingly, didn’t cause any jams. Couldn't have missed if I'd tried. The machine exploded right in front of me and I felt the heat of it at I zoomed up and to the side to keep from running into it. It fell straight down, burning like a roman candle. Crashed near Fismes. In all, I fired about half my ammo in the fight.

Dewey claimed a Fokker as did Love and Deuce. (2,3,4)

(1) Off the tail - take out the rearmost machine
(2) Dwight G. (Dewey) Rothchild - a fictitious wing man assigned by WOFF
(3) Lt Cleveland W. (Deuce) McDermott - served with A Flight. KIA 28 October 1918. Credited with 3 victories.
(4) Lt. Ernest A. Love, A Flight, KIA 15 Sep. 1918


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/18 03:03 AM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.


Spent part of an hour looking in the sheds for white paint and a brush, Wa la ! It is done, my assigned machine.

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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/18 06:09 PM

Fl. Anselm Odenthal,
J.G.1, Jasta 6.
Cappy Aerodrome,
0 Victories.


April 25th, 1918.

I arrived today at Cappy, along with five other pilots, all in spotless well-pressed uniforms. They spoke a lot among themselves on the trip over, but seemed reluctant to approach me. Perhaps because i'm only Odenthal, and not von Odenthal. Many pilots from affluent backgrounds tended to gravitate towards the Richtofen Circus, using their fathers' influences to secure them a position. Not me. I had lied about my age at 16 to join the army, like many of the young fellows from Bonn, expecting the excitement, comradarie and glory that the recruiters so expertly sold us. I felt awfully important as my unit, 58. Infanterie-Division, marched on towards the front. That was until we got caught in the battle of the Somme. Suddenly I realised I had been sold Hell, into which I had willingly thrown myself. Many of my hometown friends were killed in that awful battle, but I somehow survived, and my war continued. My luck stayed good until April 20th of 1917, when I caught a bullet in the right knee at Soissons. Left with a permanent limp, I was deemed unfit for service.

Not accepting my exit from the war after seeing so many give their lives for the Kaiser, I applied to the Luftstreitkrafte and was accepted. I underwent a long training period where we flew all kinds of machines. Old Albatroses that had been replaced, Pfalz IIIs, even one Fokker D.IV with a powerful rotary engine put in. Eventually, a truck came to take me to my assigned Jagdgeschwader. Surprisingly, it was Richtofen's old circus they sent me to, and so here I am. At this point, the St. Michel offensive was taking place. Although I wanted to fight, I can only thank god I'm not still on the front-lines.

We stepped off the truck, the affluent pilots and I, and before us stood a prideful looking Leutnant with a clipboard. Without so much as looking at us, he started listing off our assigned Jastas. "Klein, Jasta 4. Arndt, Jasta 10. Rosenzweig, Jasta 6. Bernauer, Jasta 4. Odenthal, Jasta 6. Proceed to the Chateau over there" - he pointed to a grand old building that stood just beside the airfield - "and find your commanding officers".

Off we went, and soon I found a group of Jasta 6 pilots. Upon asking where I could find the Jasta's C.O, one of them, a Hauptmann with a walking cane, looked me over, before slowly rising to his feet. "That's me. Which one are you?" he asked, a hint of tiredness in his voice. "Flieger Anselm Odenthal, Herr Hauptmann". The Hauptmann nodded. "Willi Reinhard. I'll be heading your Staffel. Our machines are parked in that hangar over there, and you will be staying in the cottage behind it with the other replacement. Where is he, by the way?" At that point, the Gefreiter named 'Rosenzweig' came bounding over, panting and out-of-breath. "Gefreiter Gustav Rosenzweig, Herr Hauptmann!" He shouted nervously, and stood to attention. Reinhard irritatedly waved him off, and he stood at ease. "Gentlemen. Welcome to Jasta 6. You will both fly tomorrow. If you wish to inspect your machines, they are the leftmost two in our second hangar. That will be all". I paused, and then a strange boldness took over me. "Hauptmann Reinhard, may I personalise my machine?" I blurted out, trying to catch the words as they came out. Reinhard's head snapped round to face me, his eyes burning a hole through me, but then he relaxed, and chuckled. "Herr Odenthal, is the machine not yours? There are buckets of paint and brushes in the hangar." and with that, he turned away and walked up the stairs of the Chateau.

I walked across the aerodrome to our hangars. As I walked I looked over the vast amount of machines that littered Cappy. Red Triplanes, Yellow Albatroses, silver Pfalzes. How magnificent they looked. One machine was a bright red Albatros, covered with wreaths and bouquets of flowers, and banners with words of praise and loss. I felt a twinge at being remimded of the awful news that Germany had received four days ago.

I entered our hangars and looked over my machine. To my surprise, it was a Fokker Triplane! I had expected nothing better than an Albatros. I looked it over, and noticed several patches on the wings and fuselage. I spotted the paints and brushes in a corner, and brought over two cans. I observed the machine for a moment before going about my work.




April 26th, 1918.

Rosenzweig and I are to fly together. He's an unremarkable fellow, and seems only to be able to talk of his father's accomplishments as a career soldier. Hopefully he will not be as mundane in the air. I felt immensely prideful when I saw my machine being wheeled out by the mechanics and added to the 'ready' line, the paint barely dried on the new markings I had given it. As I stood and marveled at it, I was surprised by Leutnant von Breiten-Londenberg, who was to lead my patrol today. "That's your machine? A bold insignia. I hope you can live up to it." He said, and gave me a sharp-toothed grin and a pat on the back.

At 20 minutes to 9 AM, engines roared to life. We had been ordered to patrol near one of our Drachen balloons near the front. Off we went into the skies, and the exhilaration rushed through me. I scanned the sky and dreamed of my first Englander. We flew to Fricourt and begun to ascend in a large circling climb. There we ran into five of our Staffel mates, who were flying a seperate patrol, and we all decided to group up for a while. I have to admit, I was having some trouble flying my Fokker Triplane, as it was more temperamental than any machine I had flown prior, and required constant rudder input to stay in control.

Suddenly Wenzel broke out of formation in a hard turn, and soon after my whole flight had broken up. Looking around in confusion, I scanned to see what they had spotted. Then, with a start, I saw a single aeroplane diving at incredible speed towards our friends in the other patrol. It was an English aeroplane! I pushed my throttle fully forwards and started in the direction of the enemy, as two more English machines appeared through the clouds. To my right I saw Rosensweig under attack from one of the British machines, and rushed to help. I got behind the enemy, and had just started firing when a hail of bullets rattled through my planes and fuselage. In a panic I spun away, seeing one of the Englanders right behind me!

I turned and looped like a madman, dodging attacks and trying to get my bearings, when suddenly the English machines disappeared as quickly as they had arrived. I had lost my flight completely, and so decided to head for home. On the way, I spotted Schubert and one other of my flight, and decided to join up alongside them. Suddenly, three English machines flashed underneath us. I dived in on one unaware Englander, and gave him quite the hiding! His machine wallowed across the sky, the lower right wingtip shot away. I gave him another burst, and he went into a spiralling dive. I followed him down, holding my breath...and, yes! The British machine smashed into the ground in a great ball of flames! I whooped with joy in my Triplane, punching the air, when a second British machine screamed past me at an unbelievable speed. Immediately I was alert again, but there was no need, for the two remaining Englanders had gone off like a shot in the direction of their lines.



[Linked Image]



There was no sign of Schubert after the fight, so I turned again for home. Reaching Cappy, I could see several of my wingmen circling the aerodrome. We de-planed and went off to have lunch. On the way I stopped by Reinhard's office and put in my claim for an English single-seater. "What type?" He asked, and I hesitated. "An S.E.5." said a voice behind me, and I turned to see Ltn. Wenzel had entered the office. "That Verdammt S.E.5 flight fell upon us over Fricourt again!". Hptm. Reinhard looked me over. "An S.E.5, you say? Okay. I'll telephone the army." I muttered my thanks, and turned to leave. "Oh - just a word of advide, Odenthal...we don't like 'false claimers' around here, you know?" Reinhard said, in an unnervingly soft tone. I went red, and turned around to face him. "An S.E.5, with a white 'Z' on its wings! He fell just South of Albert, I saw it!" I shouted, and then checked myself. Reinhard smiled, relaxing in his chair. "Yes, I think you did". He said, and placed a cigarette in his mouth.

Returning to the mess, the pilots all seemed very solemn and quiet. I later learned that Ltn. Helmut Berr, the oldest pilot in the squadron (as well as being an ace of 6 victories) had been shot down and killed. I found it odd that nobody mentioned him, but as Ltn. Schubert later told me that the squadron was a superstitious lot, and had a tradition of not mentioning a pilot's name on the day he died, for fear of invoking bad luck.

I had the holes in my machine patched over and before going up again at 4:30 PM on a line patrol. Hptm. Reinhard led our flight. This time I was far more alert, craning my neck constantly as I looked for the dreaded S.E.5s. Again we climbed over Fricourt, and Wenzel's words burned in my mind; "...that S.E.5 flight fell upon us over Fricourt again...". On edge, I doubled my efforts to spot the English. No S.E.5s came, and so we climbed up to 2km and headed towards Beauhamel. Here we circled for a while, seeing nothing except for the odd ambitious flak burst fired from an English "Archy" gunner. Nothing of note happened, and so we flew home.

That evening my S.E.5 claim was rejected. I couldn't believe it - he had gone down in our lines! I saw him hit the ground! Furious, I retired for the night.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/18 06:21 PM

Sgt. Albert Mayes, MC
No.42 Stationary Hospital,
2 Victories.

August 26th, 1918.

A rather dull day today. Mostly all of what I did was watch the rain hitting against the window beside my bed. At around 3 PM, I saw the telltale smoke trail, many miles in the distance, of a machine going down in flames. I wondered briefly who it was. I telephones Valheureux again today to ask if everybody was okay. They were...in fact, "Archie" flight had claimed a pair of Pfalzes earlier in the day! I hope to return soon, if only to get this damned war over with.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/18 06:32 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Monday, August 26th 1918

We're moving back to the Toul sector to support an all American show. We're no longer under the French VI Army but are now part of the 1st Pursuit Wing of our own 1st Army along with the 2nd and 3rd Groups.

No patrols or alerts. A number of us took our SPADs to the Touquin Aerial Target Range. I fired 385 rounds. Had a stoppage in my right gun, the extractor failed to withdraw an empty case from the chamber.

The Fokker was confirmed. So was Dewey’s. We can both call ourselves aces now, the first ones in this outfit. Seems very strange, I'v got 5 confirmed Huns and been at the front for close to 3 months. It feels like a lifetime ago when we came to Gengoult and at the same time it feels like we just got off the train yesterday. Big blow out for us tonight. Deuce and Love had confirmation on their Fokker too.


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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/18 06:45 PM

Vzfw Bruno Wolff
Jasta 64w

April 16, 1918

Crossed the lines to attack the Amerikaner again. This time we caught a gaggle of them landing. We made our attack swiftly, then got away from the area to avoid the intense ground fire. Ltn Hengst brought one of them down. I became involved in a circling fight with one of the Nieuports over their aerodrome and had some difficulty disengaging. Took a great deal of ground fire before I was able to get away to rejoin my comrades.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/18 08:08 PM

nice job, Jerbear
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/18 08:21 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.


Aug 26,1918.

2 Section had the Patrol today. As we approached the lines , I spotted 3 Fokkers down low. I waved to my wingmates but no one paid the slightest. I couldn't resist diving on the e/a so down I went. I broke up their flight and they chased me for 2 NM then 2 turned for home. I did a Chandell and attacked the lone Fokker. after a number of twists loops and turns I got some good hits. The e/a with a Red painted Nose started to smoke the his speed fell off. I circled and watched as he made a hard landing near our Balloon post. The Commandant called the Observation balloon and they confirmed the crash with the Hun pilot alive. The a/c had over 50 % damage. My rigger said that I had only 100 rds left in each gun.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/26/18 11:04 PM

Good backstory and intro for your Hun, Odenthal. Great reading Wulfe. I give it 2 Wolfs

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/27/18 09:12 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.

Aug 27, 1918.


2 Section had Escort today. 5 out of 6 a/c made the mission for a Photo Recon. Lots of cannon fire over the lines, but no e/a.
Our 1st Section had Patrol and found the Bosch ( Fokkers ) they lost 1 Spad + 2 damaced for 0 e/a.

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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/18 10:45 PM

...two whole Wolfs...excellent!


Fl. Anselm Odenthal,
J.G.1, Jasta 6.
Cappy Aerodrome,
0 Victories.


April 27th, 1918.

This morning I was wakened early by Hptm. Reinhard for a dawn patrol. Nothing of interest occured. In fact, it was an exceptionally boring experience, for we didn't so much as see another machine for the whole time we were in the air! No S.E.5s appeared during the 'Fricourt Climb'.

Our same group (consisting of Reinhard, Helmer, Kirschstein, Wenzel, Rosenzweig and myself) went up again at 2PM after Reinhard recieved orders via the telephone to support an Infantry push near Corbie. We assembled immediately and jumped into our aircraft. Only a few moments after taking off, Wenzel swung his Dr.I out of formation and headed straight back for Cappy. I guessed he had suffered some kind of engine malfunction, and slotted into his place in the formation beside Kirschstein. Apart from Wenzel's early departure, we made the 'Fricourt Climb' without incident, and soon we were heading West towards the front.

As we approached the lines, I spotted a lone aircraft far off to our Three O'Clock. I signalled to Reinhard, who then saw the aeroplane himself and turned the flight towards it. We caught it up very quickly, and I could see that it was a Sopwith, gliding with its propellor stopped. I came down very quickly at the enemy machine, but misjudged my speed and had to violently throw my plane under the Sopwith to avoid a collision! As I turned to circle back for another attack, I saw my flight locked in combat with several other English machines. One had split from the dogfight and was coming straight for me! We circled each other, and our machines seemed perfectly matched in the turn. I implemented a climb into my turn, and was soon above the Englander. I dropped down on him, and put a decent burst into his machine, at which point he went into an inverted turn the likes of which I've never seen, using down elevator to turn belly-in! I admit, the manoeuvre greatly impressed me. However, he straightened out again and I put my second burst into him. This time, his machine shuddered and his propellor groaned to a halt. Now, unable to turn with me, I was able to shoot him about at my own leisure, and so I drove him into the ground under my guns. I looked around for a wingman to corroborate my claim, but to my irritation the skies around me were empty. No, wait...there was a machine near me! A low-flying British two-seater!

I swung my nose around to face the new enemy, and fired at him from range. He immediately attempted to land, but I let my Spandaus sing once more, and a brilliant ball of flame shot out from the British machine. It landed soon after and the crew scrambled to safety, leaving their machine burning on the ground.

[Linked Image]


I flew back to Cappy, meeting Kirchenstein on the way. We landed, and I put in my two claims. I met with Wenzel, who had indeed suffered engine trouble. He had been slightly injured when he crashed his plane while trying to return, but apart from that seemed unfazed. That night, however, it was Rosenzweig's name that would not be uttered. Regretfully, he had been shot down and killed in our fight with the English. By the evening, both my claims had been denied. I couldn't believe it. The two seater had sat burning mere feet from German lines! The Camel had gone down only a mile East of him! I had been an Infantryman, and I knew that the men on the ground must have seen both aircraft go down. I begun to suspect that, perhaps, my victories were being rejected deliberately by our Hauptmann...








Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/18 11:28 PM

Wulfe : excellent pic.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/18 11:31 PM

NICE SKIN!!!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/18 11:39 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.
2 Victorys
Aug 28, 1918.

Second Section put up 4 a/c along with 1st Section's 4 a/c for defensive Patrol. In heavy clouds the fights ran into 4 bosche 2 seats + Escorts ( Fokkers ? ) I dropped on the Recon type a/c because it was a perfect bounce position. They were 2,000 ft lower and crossing aawy from their Escorts which turned into our top cover machines. Our flights claimed 3 a/c knocked down, but we lost 2 destroyed +1 forced down along with 1 damaged. I took 1 bullet hit did not report . Just a patch job.. T

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/28/18 11:49 PM

Vzfw Bruno Wolff
Jasta 64w

April 21st, 1918

Brought down two Frenchmen today. A SPAD VII and a Sopwith two-seater. My sixth and seventh Luftsieg, [Linked Image] [Linked Image]

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/29/18 02:18 AM

Carrick, how many has Limoges got by now? Wulfe, hope to see Mayes back soon, but I'm thoroughly enjoying Odenthal, and I love the skin! DC, that was a "near run thing", Glad Sitwell made it back in one piece. Jerbear, some good reports from Goode! Wolff seems to be tearing up the front.

Here is the next installment of Holger's story...

Part 3 - Vzfw Holger Barfuss, Jasta 7

“Can you read the next line?†asked the kindly medical officer.

“I can, but it’s still blurry,†said Holger Barfuss. “And ever since you removed the glass I get terrible headaches when I read. And the damned boss has me working in the office until I can fly. Reading all day. When I’m not writing, you see.â€

The doctor wrote something in his note pad and tore off the page. “Give this to your Staffelfuehrer and ask him to find you something else to do.â€

“Thank you, Herr Doktor!†said Barfuss and walked out of St. Nicholas Hospital to the waiting truck. He was whistling. "Are you up for a beer?" he asked the driver. "I'm buying and I'll cover for you. My examination was delayed."

Back at Marckebeeke aerodrome, Leutnant Jacobs read the note and eyed Barfuss warily. “What use are you, Vizefeldwebel Barfuss? You’re too sick to fly, you can’t do paper work, or so it seems. And you’re too senior to be a Putzer.â€[1]

“The gentlemen of the Jasta like their dinner, and I like to shop, sir. I could assist in provisioning the mess. I’d have to do a better job than they’re doing now.â€

Jacobs was sure that his sergeant pilot would be “buttering his own bread,†but he could think of nothing else. He told Barfuss to report to Feldwebel Braun. Braun was the QM sergeant, a fat and lazy fellow whom Barfuss quite liked. Barfuss informed Braun that the boss told him to do all Braun’s work for him, provision the mess, and generally make Braun’s life easy, so Braun went along without objection. Barfuss spent the afternoon taking stock of supplies and was delighted to learn that very little came through army sources. Most provisioning was local, and he set about securing an Ausweis to go into Courtrai.

In the morning he signed for a horse and cart, a dull corporal named Blaetter, an envelope of Belgian and German cash, and a register to record expenses. He carried a sidearm because of the cash. Their first stop was a dingy bar near the twin tower of the ancient Broeltorens bridge, not far from the centre of town. From there they acquired a passenger, a tough-looking fellow with one eye. Blaetter asked who the passenger was and Barfuss told him to forget he ever saw the man. The one-eyed man guided them to a house at the end of a side street near the river, where he unlocked a shed and loaded a string of flour, a string bag of onions, a box of sausages, and three cases of wine. From there they left town, crossing the river and heading north into the countryside. At a farm, Barfuss steered the wagon off the road into a lane. They emerged two hours later without one of the cases of wine, but with a pig, five chickens, and several dozen eggs.

“We come back tomorrow,†he told the corporal. “I’ve bought us a cow.â€

“How did you know where to go for all this food?†asked Blaetter.

“I first found out where to drink†was the reply. Filling out the register would take some thought.

On 1 May 1918, Holger Barfuss was cleared to fly, a move that disappointed many of his fellow pilots after several days of comparatively fine dining. He broke in easily, for the first day’s patrols were without incident. It seemed that the great offensive was losing energy. The sky, just days ago so full of activity, was a relaxing place void of threats. Or so it seemed.

They were assured that there would be another push, and on the morning of 2 May were tasked with shooting out the eyes of the British near Armentieres – downing balloons. Barfuss only experienced this form of entertainment once. He didn’t relish the thought. Ltn Huttenrauch led the patrol, which included Bohne and Jacobs, a new officer named Lerchenmueller, and Barfuss. Barfuss flew an Albatros as usual. Lerchenmueller flew a Pfalz. The others all had the little nimble triplanes. As they approached the enemy balloon lines, Barfuss opened the throttle and pulled ahead of the others. He saw no virtue in potting along behind the slower Fokkers waiting for the British Flak to find them. The balloon shone orange in the early morning sun and he approached it from the south, which because of the direction of the wind let him attack the gasbag from the side and above. He fired at least a hundred rounds without result, pulling up and left at the last moment and nearly colliding with his target. Bohne was next in and the balloon exploded into flame at his first burst. Such is fortune!

Barfuss circled and looked for the others, but for some reason they all seemed to have disappeared. He climbed out of machine gun range and searched the sky carefully. Then he saw them, about a mile off to the northeast, milling about curiously. It was several seconds before it dawned on him that they must be tangling with some enemy machines. The black Albatros climbed steadily towards the melee. Several little brown Camels were darting about. For a moment it seemed impossible that this stately minuet in the sky was really combat, but then there was a flash of orange light and a machine began nosing down, afire from nose to tail and trailing a column of black smoke. Barfuss saw the angled wingtips and realized with a surge of sickness in his stomach that this was the end of Lerchenmueller.

He dived, the morning sun at his back, on the Camel that had downed Lerchenmueller. He surprised the Englishman. The first burst must have hit the fellow, for the machine did not turn. The second burst sent the Sopwith tumbling to earth. Its pilot had lived less than a minute to celebrate his victory over Lerchenmueller. On returning to Marckebeeke, Jacobs himself confirmed this as Barfuss’s second victory.

[Linked Image]
" He dived, the morning sun at his back, on the Camel that had downed Lerchenmueller."

The next morning was clear, but high winds delayed the first patrol until nearly eleven. This was a barrier patrol, walking a beat like a policeman down the front and just inside friendly territory. This time there were four Fokkers and two Albatrosses. They followed the Lys to the front and turned south. Near Lille, Barfuss spotted movement below. He banked and made out an enemy machine, a Spad, heading west at low altitude. Barfuss opened the throttle and began a long dive at full power. None of the others followed. It did not take long to catch the Spad, who seemed unaware of his approach. He began firing from a hundred metres and closed to point-blank range before the Frenchman, for the machine carried French roundels, even moved. The fellow was done for. Barfuss turned and caught the Spad before its superior speed could carry it out of range. The next burst send the machine down.

He landed at Lomme and requisitioned a motorcycle to take him to the crash site, just in the reserve lines near Bois-Grenier. By the time he arrived the soldiers had nearly stripped the machine, but he was able to cut the serial number from the fuselage. He took a glance into the cockpit and for a moment thought the pilot was alive. He seemed unmarked, but then Barfuss noticed the blood on the man’s leg and thigh. He had likely suffered an arterial wound and bled to death.

The confirmation preceded him to Marckebeeke and they celebrated that night in the Kasino. The highlight of the evening was a call from Fourth Army HQ: Barfuss had been awarded the Eiserne Kreuz 2. Klasse.

Notes:

[1] Putzer = lit. “cleaner,†i.e. batman

[2] Ausweis = Pass


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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/29/18 10:40 PM

April 29th, 1918.

After a hard day's work, the pilots of Jasta 6 lounged around the large front room of the Chateau at Cappy aerodrome, deep in discussion about the tense events of a fight they had had with a group of Camels earlier in the day. In particular, they discussed one event they had seen.

"Did you see it?"

"No, I was busy with an Englander. Kirchstein saw it, though. Our friend had just cleared his tail..."

"Kirchstein...?"

One pilot sat, the glow of an expensive French cigarette flickering in his eyes, which seemed a shade duller than usual.

"Yes, that's what happened. He got an Englander off me and three surrounded him for his trouble."

The Staffel pilots leaned in, grimly awaiting Kirchstein's account of the event. The Leutnant sighed, washed down the French cigarette smoke down with a sip of red wine, and opened his mouth to speak.

"Well, you see, our friend had only just shot about the fellow behind me when two Sopwiths fell upon him. I could see already that he had been shot about, but still he turned to face these two English. As I turned to fight alongside him I could see him shooting up one of the Englanders! However, the second replied. Our friend tried to climb away, but the Englander had the speed on him. Anticipating shooting our friend down, the damned fool English pilot pulled straight up into our friend's belly. The Camel's upper wings came away immediately, and at first I thought our friend was okay. However, his machine went into a nose-dive and I saw his control surfaces break away from his now-crooked tail. He went all the way down in the dive, and his machine splintered into matchwood on the ground. He can't have survived."

Some pilots nodded, some stared blankly, some were indifferent. Kirchstein let out another sigh, and erased the face of the dead rookie flieger from his mind. He checked the time: 8 P.M. Five hours would pass before the pilot's name could be uttered again.


The next morning British troops amassed around the twisted wreckage of a Fokker Triplane that had fallen not far behind their trench yesterday, about mid-day. To the side of the soldiers, who had begun stripping down the wreckage for souvenirs, a smaller crowd laid down the broken body of a German Airman. Coldly, they searched the dead Airman's pockets for any items of value. To their annoyance, this pilot seemed to have nothing in his pockets except for a few maps of various sectors of the front. One inquisitive Tommy lifted an identity card out of the corpse's coat pocket. He scrutinised the name, attempting to sound it out one syllable at a time. Eventually, he gave up, and sought help.

"'Ey, Lieutenant, you know a bit of German don't you?" He called out, and a sharply-dressed young Lieutenant turned to face him. "Naturally," he replied, and came over to observe the card. "How do you say this feller's name?" the Private asked, and the Lieutenant leaned over the card, squinting.

"Odenthal. Anselm Odenthal".



It seems that Odenthal should have taken heed of his own emblem...as it turns out, it was an omen for the unfortunate airman's fate! As Kirchstein explained, Anse was killed moments after a collision with a Camel, which pulled up into his belly. The Tommies later buried him in a shell crater. It appears that I require a new Hun pilot! Shame, I was beginning to enjoy flying as Odenthal! But C'est la Guerre wink

The tenacious young rookie never did stick around long enough to see his first confirmed victory.

P.S, thanks for the comments about the skin - glad you liked it!



Posted By: Witt

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/18 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by Wulfe
"'Ey, Lieutenant, you know a bit of German don't you?" He called out, and a sharply-dressed young Lieutenant turned to face him. "Naturally," he replied, and came over to observe the card. "How do you say this feller's name?" the Private asked, and the Lieutenant leaned over the card, squinting.

"Odenthal. Anselm Odenthal".

Wow... nice writing. Sorry about Odenthal. I was just getting into his story. Apparently, flying a balsa and canvas airframe powered by a lawn mower engine is hard.

Look forward to your next pilot, man. Keep up the good work. smile

- Witt
Posted By: Witt

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/18 08:11 AM

[Linked Image]


31 October 1917
Aboard the RMS Adriatic
Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean


“Happy Halloween.â€

Second Lieutenant Andrew Dunn leaned on the port side railing near the bow of the RMS Adriatic and tried not to vomit. The seas had been rough since they'd left New York, but they seemed especially antagonistic at the moment. Or maybe it was the corned beef and biscuits he'd had an hour ago; they had seemed especially rancid this time around.

“Andy,†the voice called again, closer this time. A moment later 2nd Lieutenant Eugene Matthews – Dunn's shadow since Kelly Field – stepped up to Dunn's side and leaned on the same railing. “Didja hear me? It's Halloween!†He seemed overly enthusiastic, grinning broadly as he proclaimed the holiday.

“I heard ya,†Dunn muttered. He worked his jaw for a moment, then spit over the side of the ship into the opalescent gray water.

“C'mon, Andy, don't be a goop. Betcha if we tried hard enough we could trick-or-treat up some snacks. Settle that stomach of yours right down.â€

Matthews was always a little too happy for Dunn's taste, and at the moment he just wanted to lay down and die – alone. “I'm good,†he said. A moment later, the beef and biscuits decided the waters of the Atlantic Ocean were a better place than Dunn's stomach, and the young lieutenant vomited over the side with such force that Matthews let out an unidentifiable yelp and jumped back from the railing as if it were electrified.

Dunn wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand and spit once more into the roiling steel waters.

Matthews patted him on the shoulder but didn't step any closer. “Maybe I'll see if Alan wants to go trick-or-treating instead. You... you take care, now.†He stepped away without another word and disappeared into the ship.

Dunn stared down into the water and wiped at his mouth again. Sea sick. Wouldn't my daddy be proud! He wondered if flying an aeroplane would make him sick. That'd be great, he thought. Just great.

* * *

Six months later
Toul-Croix de Metz Airfield
Near Verdun, France


Dunn gripped the stick of the Nieuport N28C with both hands and tried to bring the nose up, but it didn't want to stay. The engine sputtered and the biplane started to fall toward the earth from several hundred feet up. Dunn uttered a single curse word and tried to keep the plane aloft.

The newly formed 94th Aero Squadron had spent weeks training on various planes. Dunn himself had flown Moranes, De Havilands, and a number of Nieuports. He'd heard the N28C was a good plane, but he'd also heard about the notorious fuel issues with the Gnome 9N engine. Bad mixes, clogs, even full-on fires were more common than Dunn preferred. Especially when his Nieuport was acting up like today. And on his first solo flight with the 94th. Great.

He fought the biplane for another 30 seconds or so, trying to decide if he should try to turn back to Toul Field. The 94th's commanding officer, Major Raoul Lufbery, had been very clear in his instructions: “Form up with B Flight and then circle the field to get a feel for your machine. Then land,†he'd said. “No tom-foolery and no combat.â€

Dunn was still trying to decided whether to abandon the flight or not when the rotary engine simply sputtered out and died. That makes the decision a lot easier, he thought, twisting his mouth as if he'd eaten more rancid beef and biscuits.

He leveled the plane as best he could and peered over the sides trying to find a place to put down. A treeline lay straight ahead, but beyond it he could see fields and pastures that looked promising. With a gentle hand he guided the now-silent aircraft over the trees, then dropped the plane gently toward the surface. Moments later, the wheels touched down as the plane bounced once then settled to the ground. Dunn let out a whoop and a dopey grin split his face. A second later, his grin faded as he spotted a fence line directly in the plane's path. He tried to swing the plane to the left using the rudder, but that only succeeded in tilting the plane until the right wing began digging a groove in the freshly tilled earth.

Dunn swore again as the plane slewed into the fence, the right wing taking the brunt of the impact and pulling up a dozen yards of fence in the process. Together, plane, pilot, and fenceline skidded another 100 feet before coming to a halt. The sudden silence came as a surprise and Dunn opened his eyes and loosened his death-grip on the stick. Dust and debris settled onto the plane's damaged surfaces as the engine and frame pinged and creaked in complaint.

He pulled off his goggles and hat and hurled them onto the broken wing. “Dammit.â€

[Linked Image]

April 1918: Dunn's Nieuport N28C-1 destroys an innocent farmer's fence line about a mile from Toul Field.



So I played out some training missions as best I could due to the lack of US two-seaters, etc., and then started an actual campaign to fly some training flights with the 94th. The above is the result of my first outing as a US pilot. It does not bode well.

- Witt


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/18 05:40 PM

careful of Fence lines, I ve lost many a good pilot and a few Aces thrown in.


Raine: 2 e/a 1 Scout type and 1 Two Seat. However , He almost got the Chop .
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/18 05:48 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.

Aug 29, 1918.


Our three a/c were put up against a German Balloon today. We never got to Zee gas bag. In the murky sky, we ran into 5 e/a Silver with Yellow and Green Tails so dove straight at em. Pulling out, it was head long into 4 Green Tailed Fokker type e/a. Twisting and turning we barley made it out and back after loosing 1 Spad. It was quick said my wing mate 2 e/a slipped in behind him and he burned. The fight was so Chaotic, My rigger said that I had only 24 rds in one gun and the other had jammed with 32 rds left in it.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/18 07:18 PM

Sorry about Anselm Wulfe, hard luck. Nice we can reincarnate. The hard part is to come up with a new backstory than generate a new pilot.

Welcome Witt - good to have another Yank on board, and from the same Pursuit Group. Great job with the story, stay alive and keep em coming.

Raine - Another good installment on Holger. Glad he got he got back in the air, he could have ended up where Richthofen was early in the war, "counting cheese and eggs," Sounds like he had a talent for it and he would have a better chance of living longer. As for Bruno Wolff, I don't expect him to live long, just having some fun.

Carrick - looks like you're having a lot of fun as a Frenchie. Never done a French campaign, maybe it's time, at least in the Lafayette Flying Corps.


2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron

Friday, August 30th 1918

Woke up Tuesday morning, after our little party, much the worse for wear. The room was spinning and I couldn't stand up. It was like being on a merry-go-round. Threw up all over the floor, which Pup (1) thought was just great, but Dewey got her away before she could tank up on a hot meal. Everyone except Meissner laughed about it, figuring I was still drunk. He keeps an eye on what everyone is doing and he was aware that all I had drunk was a couple of beers to be sociable. He had our pill roller come see me.

I had vertigo, probably from changes in air pressure while flying. I chew gum and seldom get dizzy but I guess that only works so long. The Doc. had me propped up in bed, told me to keep my head as still as possible and just rest, hopefully it would right itself after a few days. So, that's what I've been doing, laying here in the dark for almost 4 whole days. The Doc. gave me Ginger for the nausea but I wasn't able to hold anything down until Thursday. Much better by then, but still wobbly on my legs. Meissner's not going to let me fly for at least a week, then he's going to arrange for a Sal.(2) from 1st Aero to take me up and see how I do. I'm hopeful this doesn't end my pursuit career. Meissner and the Doc think I'll spring back just fine, the resilience of youth and all that. Pup sticks pretty close. I'm going to choose to believe it's because she knows there's something wrong and she's worried about me but she may just be hoping I'll throw up again. Nice to have her around. Haven't been dreaming about Dodd so much.

We'll be moving back to our old stomping grounds around Verdun soon, probably in the 1st week of September. Everything is hush, hush, don't want the Germans to know anything about where we're going. This'll be the first big American show. Guess somebody'll have to ferry my crate for .me.

We got a new guy in Thursday, 2nd Lt. Meredith Dowd, formerly of the Lafayette Flying Corps, haven't met him yet."

Big news, the Air Service is no longer under the Signal Corps, we're re-designated as the US Army Air Service. The chords on our c#nt caps will change from green and black, to orange and white and our collar insignia will be a silver prop between wings instead of the crossed signal flags.

When I was finally able to read, I devoured all the news I could. The Stars and Stripes says that 14 states have ratified the Prohibition Amendment, 22 more are needed yet. Momma must be jumping for joy and it'll give Daddy plenty of fodder for his Gas Barrages (3). Can't say I care one way or the other. I do like a beer now and then and liquor is good medicine sometimes but I can live without it. This'll put a lot of people out of work ant it'll be a lot of work to enforce, hope the big boys in Washington know what their doing.

Heard Ack Grant(4) over at the 27th made as ass out of himself. He was trying to boost morale by telling the mechanics that half of each medal awarded to the flyers belongs to them. They just laughed him off, one of them asked him how they’re gonna show that to their wives and girlfriends after earning this kind of credit. He's a good flyer and and a good leader in the air but seems to have a tin ear when it comes to leadership on the ground. He's riding that Luke guy pretty hard, but he probably deserves it. He just doesn't think any rules apply to him and you can't have that our here, we've all got to work together. The boys in the 27th want to get rid of him, hope they don't try to dump him on us. Probably they'll just make him a ferry pilot again.


(1) Pup - fictitious Squadron mascot. A stray John Goode picked up out of a muddy shell hole. Now officially named Mickey III, Mickey II having gone with his owner, Major Geoffrey H. Bonnell when he was transferred.
(2) Salmson 2A2 Observation Plane. 1st Aero was an American Squadron equipped with these aircraft and were frequently escorted by the 1st Pursuit Group's Squadrons.
(3) Gas Barrage - sermon or sermonizing.
(4) 1st Lt Alfred ‘Ack Grant, DSC, 4 aerial victories by war’s end. A member of the 27th Aero from its inception to Armistice.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/30/18 11:11 PM

Witt, despite the less-than-ideal start I'm already hooked on Dunn's story! He sounds like a real character...I'm looking forwards to his exploits wink

Sgt. Albert Mayes MC,
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F
2 Victories.


August 30th, 1918.

I was still stiff when I stepped off the truck at Valheureux, at 7 AM. Capt. Wallace came to greet me. "Welcome back, Mayes!" he boomed, a grin spread wide across his face. "I trust you're not still too sore?". "No," I lied, and hobbled towards the hangars. As I walked past the hangars, I noticed our Scotsman, Lt. Franklyn, in a hot debate with his mechanic about the efficiency of one of his Vickers, and I smiled. It was good to see the new ones surviving.

After I had settled and had my morning tea in the mess, Wallace looked at me seriously. "Can you fly?" he asked, and I nodded. "Of Course, Captain" was my reply, and Wallace's wide grin returned for a moment, before fading away. "Excellent...I need an experienced man to fly with the new chap". I sighed, doubting whether 11 sorties really qualified me as the experienced man. "I'll keep an eye on him. Who is he?" I asked, and Wallace pointed out a frail looking boy milling around the aerodrome, looking quite unsure of what to do with himself. "Over there. Sgt. Rast. A quiet fellow, bit of a misfit. He was born in Bombay, you know!". I looked over this delicate pilot, and felt my hopes for him drain the longer I looked. I wish the Captain hadn't told me anything other than his name...

At 11:50 AM we headed to the field, where I saw Maj. McClintock for the first time in weeks. He did not smile when he saw me, but his eyes seemed to glint with approval. "Sgt. Mayes. Glad you're back". He briefly said, and I nodded. "Thank you, Major". On the airfield I could see Maxted, Wallace and Franklyn sharing jokes as their machines were readied.

We climbed into our Camels and by 12 PM we were airborne. To my annoyance, the controls of my machine felt vague and unfamilliar. My new machine was an old Squadron spare that had been sitting under a tarp in a repairs hangar since my arrival. It was marked with an 'H' on the fuselage and upper left wing, denoting it as an unassigned machine. This worried me, as it made me stand out in the flight, and I imagined myself being mistaken for an ace by some ambitious hun. However, the new machine had its upsides; the right Vickers had been taken from an old Sopwith Pup, and according to the armorer it had gone beautifully ever since it arrived with its original machine in 1917, the most reliable Vickers he'd seen.

I joined up alongside Wallace's Camel, easily recognisable by a large 'C' on its fuselage, and behind and to my right sat the new chap, Rast. However, he quickly fell out of formation as we begun to climb. My own formative flying wasn't so good either, as my left leg still hurt when I applied pressure to the rudder pedals. Naturally, we climbed over Vert Galland, as per usual. We did like to put on a show for those S.E pilots - we'd often met them during the evenings on our escapades to Amiens and argued over whom had the better machine...we all knew that the S.E. was undoubtedly superior to the Camel, but we would never admit it to those damn showboaters that flew them!

Every so often as we climbed I checked over my shoulder for Rast, who had been meekly flying behind our flight, keeping out of the formation's way. We reached our altitude and headed for Mont St. Eloi, where we would commence our line patrol. Soon enough the front loomed up towards us like a great brown beast, and my instincts in a flash came back to me. My handling of my machine became automatic as I scanned for those hellish Fokkers, and I almost forgot to keep an eye on Rast. He was still ambling along behind us, looking as unsure of himself in the air as he had done this morning on the ground. I looked up through the cutout in my top wing, and saw the flash of two machines go past. I gave a start, and leaned back in my cockpit to get a better view of the high-up machines as they passed behind us. To my utmost relief, it was simply "Archie" flight; I had forgotten their tendency to suddenly appear.

We reached the lines, and 'Got our feet muddy', as I had heard Maxted describe it before Meaning our wheels were now above the mud of no-mans-land - (I rather liked this description!), before crossing into Hunland and turning on to our patrol route. The Archie came up at us soon after we'd crossed the border, and with every new burst I winced, an image of my shattered Camel appearing and fading in my head in sync with the artillery clouds. behind me, Rast wallowed around, clearly panicked, and I signalled to him; 'STAY CLOSE'. He straighened out and maintained his position behind us.

We crossed back onto our side briefly, and I settled into formation behind Rast. I was worried that he wasn't checking behind him for huns. I flew in this position for about four minutes before I saw Rast's Camel behaving curiously, twitching around, and to my amazement the rookie's head popped into his cockpit, and stayed there for a few seconds. He reappeared, to my bemusement, and a couple seconds later a great flash of sparks came out from my nose! I panicked, nearly throwing my Camel into the spin as I jerked the stick. I was on fire!

A few gut-wrenching seconds passed, and I realised with an exasperated sigh that, no, I wasn't on fire. Nor was there any problems with the engine. Could it have been the sunlight hitting my propellor? I was so sure I had seen sparks! Perhaps a friendly Archie shell had gone off under my nose - no, there's no way I wouldn't have noticed...I vowed to keep a very watchful eye on my engine, and continued on.

As we turned back Hunlandwards, I went ahead of Rast and got close to Wallace once more. I was still a bit shaken up by the 'sparks', and having an experienced airman nearby helped calm me slightly (although it would have made no difference had my engine decided to torch me after all!).

Having seen not a single miserable hun, we moodily turned for home. On the way back, we passed a flight of S.E's that were just heading out for their afternoon patrol. The leader cheekily waggled his wings at us as we passed. Showoff. Upon landing, we saw a Camel badly smashed up on the airfield, and we all nervously looked at each other as we de-planed. It turned out that Smuts had stalled while landing, but thankfully he was nowhere near as damaged as his machine, and got away with a few cuts and bruises on his face.

After, in the mess hall, the pilots were sharing various stories from past dogfights. I saw Rast sitting alone on the edge of the conversation, and joined him. I noticed his hand shaking slightly, creating zigzag patterns in his cigarette smoke. My mind briefly flashed over an image of the zigzag-fuselage Fokker I had shot down some weeks ago, but I quickly pushed the unsettling afterimage away. "How was your first flight?" I asked, and Rast turned to face me, his eyes wide. "It was okay, but I couldn't figure out how to have a smoke". I blinked in astonishment. "Come again...?" I asked, in disbelief. "Well, you see," Rast mumbled, "I figured out I could get my cigarette lit by ducking into the cockpit, but the second I came up again it was torn right out of my mouth!"

Realisation washed over me. Those sparks that I thought were my engine going up - it was Rast's bloody cigarette going through my Propellor blades! "Rast, you damn buffoon!" I spat, causing the young Sergeant to nearly jump out his skin. "I..I..." he stammered, but I cut him off. "That damned cigarette could have murdered me!" I shouted, causing the other pilots to immediately cease their conversations and turn round to discover the source of the commotion. I stared at Rast, who sat speechless, and then turned away, sighing. "Don't try to light up while we're flying again, for god's sake, man..." I said, in a softer tone, and Rast dumbly nodded.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/18 03:03 PM

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, good stories to go with my morning cup of coffee.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/18 03:13 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.

3 Victory's

My section of 3 a/c flew the offensive Patrol this morning. We encountered and bounced 5 Bosche a/c. One turned for home, my wingmates chased one. I got chased by 3. I would pull ahead then chandelled into them both guns blazing. On the second pass, One dove and one turned for home. I repeated the process and got a hit or a few because the e/a motor stopped forcing him to land in a field. The score 2 fokkers for 1 spad missing.

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Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/18 04:39 PM

Wahoo, back on Canada after spending the summer in the Baltics. Some great history there.

Maj Sitwell has mostly been stuck behind a desk for the past week, but he should get up into the air again soon.

He did manage to fly two patrols, but there was no enemy contact.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/18 07:34 PM

Great to have you home, DC! Enjoy your WOFF time.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 08/31/18 11:33 PM

Good story about the cigarette Wulfe

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Saturday, August 31st 1918

No duties, they'll give me something to do tomorrow. My job is to get better right now. Feel guilty with all the activity going on around me, doing nothing. We got a briefing today, the trucks that are being loaded now, will leave for our new home tonight. All transport and troop columns are traveling at night to keep the buildup as much of a secret as possible. We're going to Rembercourt (1), about a mile SW of the village of Erize-le-Petite, facing St Mihiel. This is OUR show, all American 1st Army on the ground. Billy Mitchel is in charge of the air show, American, French, British and even some Italian Squadrons. He expects we'll face as many as 2,000 German aircraft. The Army's going to pinch off the salient from the south and west. Billy plans to use us in large formations, striking alternately on both sides of the salient, just like a boxer gives a right hook and left hook successively to his opponent. We haven't been given the exact date yet but it'll be sometime in mid-September. We're all keyed up.

Packed up everything I won't need for the next few days. I'll be left behind with the clean up detail when everyone else pulls out.

Swedeholm from the 95th is back from convalescence in Caen. Been gone since the middle of July. Looks pretty thin and drawn, not as mouthy as he was. His boyfriend almost wagged his tail when he showed up, he’s been pretty quiet too, without Swedeholm to act as his brain..(2)


(1) Rembercourt is represented as Lesle-en-Barrios on the Verdun campaign map.
(2) These two men are my own invention, not real pilots. They are based on my last two supervisors in the company I worked for. Their names are slightly altered. I felt that after a 28 year relationship, working closely together, I wanted to include them as two characters who were and despicable and obnoxious as they themselves are.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 12:29 AM

Sgt. Albert Mayes MC,
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F
2 Victories.

August 31st, 1918 (Part 1):

'B' flight has the dawn patrol today. As per usual, Maj. McClintock is at the head of our flight. I have Rast on my wing again, I'm hoping the lad has woken up with more sense than he went to sleep with, but I doubt it. In a strange way, I've begun to feel like it's up to me to keep him alive...he seems helpless on his own.

I awakened to a dark, wet morning, but my spirits were unusually high. Lazily throwing on my uniform, I stepped out into the morning mist and took a long, deep breath of fresh French country air. After enjoying the coldness for a moment I decided to pay my mechanic, Erroll, a visit. He was excited to see me, having a story to tell me about working on an S.E that came in to Valheureux for an emergency landing in my absence. "Imagine!", he was blurting out, "200 Horsepower! No wonder those S.E's dart about the way they do!". I laughed. "It's just a shame about the numpties they have flying them! By any means, reckon you could chuck my old Clerget and get one of those Woseley jobs in my old crate?" I asked, and Erroll grinned. "Well, I bet I could but then you'd lose that snappy turn of yours...not to mention the entire nose would need to be re-done. Your best bet is to ask ol' McClintock for an S.E. for Christmas!" I chuckled, and shrugged. "God forbid, he's probably fed up with the amount of Camels I've murdered, I doubt he'd let me near the RAF's fanciest toy!" I replied, to the amusement of Erroll. I snapped my fingers; "Oh - by the way. Take-off's at 0530 today...reckon you could give the mixture lever a once-over before then? It was sticky yesterday, I couldn't move the damned thing at all when we got up there!". "Yeah, why not...you fussy bloody pilots..." Errol replied. I gave him a sharp-toothed grin, wished him good morning again, and headed to the mess to have my breakfast before we went up.

We took off at the scheduled time and headed out into the mud at surprisingly low altitude, only 4000 feet or so. Strange that McClintock would take us out so low. Once we were out squarely in the middle of the mud for every hun to see we begun to loiter, flying in a lazy circle and slowly climbing. After about 15 minutes the huns were yet to accept our invitation, and I begun to feel quite hopeful that we may just get a quiet flight in. Rast sat in his usual position behind our formation. He looked just as unsure of himself in the air as yesterday, and I reminded myself that I'd have to keep an eye on him if the huns did finally show.

I caught a glimpse of four machines a decent way off, and excitedly strained my eyes. Ah, it was just 'Archie' Flight. Those devils! With no huns in the air, I turned my attention to two insolent Sausage Balloons on the hun side. As we patrolled, I would just about muster up the courage to attack one, but then my nerve would go just as I was about to go for it. Fokkers seemed a damn sight less intimidating than Flak ever since my crash-landing ordeal. Another 15 minutes had passed. Where the bloody hell were the huns? There were more than enough to go around when I first arrived! At one point I looked over at Cpt. Wallace. He caught my gaze, and just shrugged as if to say "I haven't the foggiest where they've got to either!". I climbed above my flight and split off from them slightly, in order to get a better look around. Still the sky showed me nothing but clouds, and in between them blue gaps of empty space, wondering if they were pulling some kind of insidious trick, or stalking us like wolves and waiting...

Finally, McClintock signalled for us to head home, and we all eagerly obeyed, having not seen a single German (or Brit, now that I mention it!) other than our own. Had the war ended without anybody telling us...?

Well, we would find out later. At 1 PM we're off into Hunland to attack a railway station.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 02:31 AM

Sgt. Albert Mayes MC,
No. 3 Squadron R.A.F
2 Victories.

August 31st, 1918 (Part 2).

It was time to go up again. The usual 'B' flight mob took off at 13:16, a little behind schedule, and headed to our climb point. I must admit, this sortie had me nervous before we had even set off - I had ever-increasingly vivid flashbacks of our airfield attack the closer we got to the hour of departure.

Rast was looking slightly more comfortable in the air, now that he'd had a couple sorties to feel-out the Camel's quirks. He still hung behind us, but he was much more stable in the sky, and wasn't lagging behind quite so much. Also, good old Cpt. Wallace cheered me right up - as we flew over the S.E. airfield he'd spotted one redheaded pilot wandering around on the airfield, and so he'd gone right over the poor unsuspecting airman's head almost at ground level! The fellow threw himself to the ground in terror as Wallace tore overhead, and I burst out laughing - as I passed the S.E. pilot was back on his feet, and to add further hilarity to the situation I saw him pull his Webley from it's holster and throw it at my machine!

Tears in my eyes from laughter at the sheer nonsense of the situation, my machine wobbled all over the sky. I could see my wingmen also twitching about, and knew that they must be in a similar state. Eventually, we composed ourselves and tightened up our formation again. For that moment I felt like just a boy larking about again.

We climbed to about 3000 feet and headed towards Arras once more. The weather had cleared up a bit since the morning, although there were still a fair few clouds ahead. As we approached the front we had resumed our usual serious attitude, scanning around for high-flying Fokkers waiting hungrily to send us to our oblivion. Maxted and I drifted closer to Rast. We both knew he would be the most vulnerable out of the lot of us - he was yet to make the hun's acquaintance. We crossed into the mud.

The clouds covered our approach as we reached the border of Hunland, but that didn't make me feel an awful lot better as I was all-too-aware of how the crafty hun liked to use clouds to his advantage. I groaned as we sighted our target - a Sausage Balloon sat right beside it. The Archie would be relentless so close to that damned gasbag! Wallace was first to dive down, and the rest of us followed him in. I could see my flight tearing into the station, and so I set my sights on that damned ballon and switfly ignited it, at which point it expoded in a huge ball of fire. I turned hard and very nearly got caught up in the fireball - in fact, my left wingips were even slightly singed! A torrade of bullets from the ground went up at me as I flew back towards my flight.

For the next few minutes Hunland became a savage mess of tracer fire, Archy bursts and explosions on the ground. 'Archy' flight had arrived now as well, and we were really ripping up any ground target we could find. Oh, what havoc we were causing, and no hun machines to challenge us! Eventually McClintock fired off the 'Recall Signal', and we all at once turned to form up on his Camel. At this point the German Archy gunners must have snapped out of their haze, for it seemed that they fired the Western Front's entire supply of shells at us! Looking straight ahead and gripping my control stick with bone-white knuckles I fought my every instinct to keep in the formation., to not turn and flee the terrifying flak. A flight of 5 German scouts flew high overhead, but they must have been complete novices for they didn't even appear to see us, despite the torrent of Archie!

To my horror McClintock, caught up in the moment, decided it was the proper thing to do to circle the Archy positions and MG nests, to taunt the huns on the ground! It appears the rest of the squadron was enjoying rubbing it in as well, and Wallace was even looping and waggling his wings! I was becoming very consious of our situation, and was almost certain that the Archy batteries were (if they hadn't already) telephoning the nearby 'Staffels'. [i]Damn it, McClintock, just take us home![i] I shouted at the Major in my head, gritting my teeth.

At long last, McClintock turned us homewards. It turns out his showboating would cost him, as upon his landing his undercarriage ripped away, and he got fairly dinged up as his Camel jolted to a stop. Later examination showed that his underside was riddled with shrapnel - it's a wonder it all managed to miss him!

Extraordinarily, my Balloon claim was rejected. I must admit, I feel quite hard done-by! Surely the entire squadron must have seen that fireball! Oh well. I've been awarded 4 days' leave, so the day isn't a complete loss.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 03:41 AM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.

3 Victory's

Aug 31, 1918.

Morning Escort: No contact except for a lot of cannon fire no damage to our 4 a/c or the 2 Seat.

Afternoon Line Patrol: 2 Section 5 a/c attacked 5 e/a only to have 5 more e/a join in. I used a lot of pot shots till 3 e/a dropped on my tail. after a few chandell's while holding down the gun triggers , I think I damaged one e/a , I realized Id get the chop. Nose down and full speed , I ran. The e/a chased me back across the lines then gave up. The flight claimed 2 Fokkers for 1 pilot wnd his machine a write off. ( crash on landing short of AF )

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 08:56 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron

Sunday, September 1st, 1918

The first truck convoy left at sundown for our new airfield at Rembercourt. Whitey, Bedroll, Abe and Willard (1-4) are ferrying new SPADs to Rembercourt from the depot at Colombey-les-Belles. I don’t know who’s going to ferry my plane.

With all the baggage packed on the trucks and sent ahead, we’re living pretty primitive. Only us pilots and enough ground crew to get the SPADs in the air when it’s time to go. Pup went with Cpl. Herd in one of the cars, she was all excited about the commotion, wonder how she’ll do in the car.

Writing some long overdue letters.

(1) 1st Lt Wilbert Wallace (Whitey) White Jr., served as C Flight commander, credited with 8 aerial combat victories. Killed 10 Oct 1918 near Dun-sur-Meuse when he sacrificed his life, colliding with a Fokker that was attacking a new pilot in his flight. He left a wife and 2 children.
(2) 2nd Lt, Frank S. (Bedroll) Ennis - A Flight, 1 aerial victory, also known as "Muff"
(3) 1st Lt. Thomas J. (Abe) Abernathy - A Flight, 3 aerial victories
(4) 2nd Lt. George G. Willard, joined B Flight, 147th Aero Squadron 22 July 1918.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 09:27 PM

I've been thoroughly enjoying the USAS Boys' stories, and so seeing as Mayes is grounded until the 4th I thought I'd have a crack at kicking off my own American career! I don't think it'll be nearly as exciting as the others, but here goes!

The story of Benjamin A. Drummond.
Part 1: Arrival.

31st August 1918.


The truck slowed to a stop, for maybe the 10th time now, in a small encampment filled with mud-streaked, weary looking Doughboys. I took the much-needed chance to clamber out the back, leaving my kit-bag, and stretch my legs. The short overweight Corporal jumped down from the cab of the truck. "Sorry, sir, we'll be off in a moment - I'm just going to go collect the next recruit".

I held up a hand in acknowledgement, and leaned against the side of the truck, looking around the camp. Our boys sat around drinking, smoking and palling around, just like they would have done back home. I wondered where they've been to so far, if any of them had been through that 'Passchendale' scrap we'd heard about back home. Over by a large stack of ammunition crates the Corporal was speaking with an infantry Captain, before they both disappeared into a tent. I sighed...although I'd thoroughly enjoyed seeing the French countryside (so different from home!), after the long and trying trip overseas from the States, and the truck ride from Dunkerque (which was beginning to drag on in an irksome way) I felt myself becoming a bit stir-crazy, and just wanted to get to Vaucoulers, where my first assignment with the 103rd Aero Squadron awaited me. I had undertaken my pre-flight training at the University of Texas at age Seventeen, enamoured with stories of our famous heroes of the "Lafayette Flying Corps'. After that I made a long ride by car to Rockwell Field in San Diego to do my Primary and Pursuit training.

After all that, I was finally ready to be shipped off to the 'Great European War', and I embarked upon that long, gruelling months-long cruise to get here! Some of my older friends back in Killeen had already come over as Doughboys. The war had always seemed like some unobtainable far-away adventure, and I remember just how unprepared I was to find out that poor old Blake, one of the boys I'd gone to school with, had been killed in Passchendaele. I could have made it out here sooner if I'd joined the infantry, but seeing the exploits of our flyboys in the newspapers each week desperately made me want to fly! And so I waited and enlisted the 'proper way'.

I was snapped out of my reminiscing by the sight of the Corporal's head bobbing out of the tent, with a brand-new and shiny pilot in tow. I flicked the cigarette and groaned as I climbed back into the truck. "We movin' again?" one of the guys in the back asked me. "Yeah, we were just stopping off to pick up another new guy". A kit bag flew through the flap of the truck and was followed by a tall, spritely young pilot. The new guy had a seat, and we were off again. I tried to get some shut-eye.

I don't know how many hours had gone by, but I was abruptly woken up when we hit a particularly nasty bump in the road. I blearily looked around. Out the back of the truck I could see that it was early evening now. The truck slowed down once more, turned right sharply, and rolled to a stop. Overhead was an all-too-familliar droning sound...that was an Aeroplane engine! The Corporal appeared at the back of the truck. "We're here". He said, and we all excitedly scrambled over each-other to get the first glimpse of our new home.

In awe we stared at the rows of hangars and aeroplanes that now surrounded us. As we marveled, we heard the cry of "ATTEN-SHUN!" and we all instinctively snapped into the position. Before us stood a magnificently confident looking Major, his chest adorned with medal ribbons. He eyed us over for a moment, and spoke. "Gentlemen. Welcome, to the 3rd Pursuit Group! My name is Maj. Thaw, and I will be your Pursuit Group's commanding officer. We have four squadrons based on this Aerodrome. No doubt you have already learned your assigned units. You will report to your squadron commanders in 15 minutes time, and from there you shall be shown to your assigned machines and your living quarters. Over there" - he gestured to a row of forty-or-so barracks - "is where you will find your commanders, in the four leftmost barracks. Oh - and one more thing, Gents - you'll be going up tomorrow, so ready yourselves. I want each and every one of you to come back with a Hun to your name!" We let out a great cheer, and made our way over.



Part 2: Reunion.


1st September 1918.

Oh boy, what a start to the day!

As I hadn't had much of a chance to meet my fellow pilots yesterday, I woke up early and headed to the 103rd's mess. The moment I stepped in a voice called out "Frisky, that you?". I haven't heard that nickname since I'd left Killeen! I snapped round, looking for the culprit and spotted a sleek pilot in a long leather coat rushing up to me. "Casper Reynolds?!" I exclaimed in delight, and the pilot slapped me on the shoulder. "Hey, kiddo! What the hell are you doing out here? You finally got your wings?" Casper asked, and I grinned, pointing to the brass-coloured insignia at my chest.

Casper was one of the boys from my hometown, and one of my best friends growing up. He'd always refer to me as either 'kiddo' (he knew it annoyed me - I was 2 months his senior!) or 'Frisky', a name I'd earned after a particularly embarrasing attempt at woo-ing a gal I'd had a thing for a few years back. Funny how the name had stuck. Casper and I had got up to all kinds of mischief during the summers, before he had shipped out last year to join the Lafayette Flying Corps. I was immensely happy to see him again.

We sat down together and Casper slid me over a hip-flask of whiskey. I took a 'bite', and passed it back. "So what's France like?" I asked, and Casper grinned. "Well, firstly, the Madmoiselles are to die for!" he said, and then paused, before touching a palm to the wooden table and winking. "The food is great, the barracks are comfy - it's a bit different from home, but you'll come to love it soon enough". Smiling, I lit a cigarette. "Got any Germans yet?" I asked, but just then a Captain came sauntering over to us, and looked down at me. "This is the egg, huh?" he asked. "Yeah - hey, Pyne, you remember that story I told you about how we stole the Johnson's truck and ended up getting chased all over town by the police? Yeah, this is the kid!". Pyne looked at me and burst out laughing. "Used to thrills, then? Good - you'll fit right in!". I chuckled nervously. "Anyway. What I came to say was, we're going up in 15 minutes. Line patrol". He turned to me. "You're on my wing. Stick to me like glue. Reynolds will be behind you, keeping an eye on ya".

After some more idle catching-up with Casper we donned our flying gear and stepped out onto the field. There, four from the left, sat my new SPAD XIII, a large nubmer '12' painted on its wings and fuselage. I was giddy with excitement! We climbed into our machines and our flight lead, Cpt. Larner, gave us the signal. The mechanics swung our props, pulled the chocks away, and we were off!

As Pyne had suggested, I tried to stick to him 'like glue'. However, I must confess my formation flying was a little, should we say, ambiguous. More than once I drifted too close, earning me a stern look from Pyne each time. I felt myself go red as I saw Casper, on the other end of the formation, looking over at me with a big grin on his face. I knew he'd ride me for my poor flying when we got back!


[Linked Image]


We cruised along towards St. Mihel, and I caught my first glimpse of the front (apart from in the papers back home). It was terrifying. Infinite miles of trenches, shell craters, smashed up vehicles and buildings...I suddenly felt immense pity for the French. The face of their country had been scarred, maybe forever.

We paused to climb up in a wide circle. Soon we were above the clouds, and I soon forgot about the mud as I marveled at the clouds, now below us! We went higher than I'd ever managed during my training, I'd never felt so free! I looked back over at Casper, who was still grinning, but for a different reason. He must have been recognising the same emotions in me that he'd felt the first time he went up with the Lafayette Flying Corps.

Eventually we got to our altitude and turned West, following our trench lines. I stared out to the East, expecting to see the dreaded Bosche at any moment and picturing great dogfights in the sky in which Larner, Pyne, Casper and I sent down scores of Germans in flames. I smiled to myself, and turned my eyes forwards once more. Ahead of me, black spots appeared against a cloud, and slowly faded. Confused, I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Still there. What...was that? I looked harder, and noticed three machines above the strange cloud. Then, I realised...it was anti-aircraft fire! And those machines - they must be Germans!

At my control the engine of my SPAD roared into life and I pulled up, straining to get on the same level as the Bosche machines. This was it! Grinning from ear to ear, I cocked my twin vickers as we bore down on our prey. Just then, the artillery begun to burst around us. Surprised, I jolted off to the side, looking down. Damn - we were over Bosche lines! I looked at the three machines again, and with a twinge of disappointment realised that, no, they were SPADs. Deflated, I settled back into formation and tried to ignore the flak.

It was barely five minutes later that Larner suddenly waggled his wings and pointed his nose up, climbing hard. I did the same, frantically looking around for what he had seen, and - there! Four Germans high above us in formation, no doubt about it! I could see the crosses! We fanned out, and I saw the three SPADs ahead of us turn to also give chase. My heart raced once more, and I set my sights on the Bosche leader. He would be the first to fall to my guns. Getting closer, I could see that these were Biplace machines, the Observers in the back all pointing to each other, then our flight, before taking up their machine-guns.

I had drifted ahead of my flight, but I was still far too low to do anything about the Germans above us. Suddenly, the leader of the other SPAD flight flashed overhead, and I got a good look at his machine. It was Cpt. Soubiran - and he was gaining on the Bosche! Tracers flew back and forth as Soubiran peppered the rear machine. Exhilaraton flooded through me, and I doubled my efforts to climb up to the Hun machines. A second SPAD now arrived and went after his target, then another. Our boys weaved back and forth, shooting and then dodging the return fire. How expert they looked! I may have been frustrated at being stuck below the fight, but I was watching one hell of a show!

I whooped with delight as one Boshe machine lulled out of formation with a SPAD hot on its heels before going up in a brilliant ball of flames and breaking apart!


[Linked Image]


I was now ahead of the fight, and still climbing to reach it, but my flight had arrived now and the Bosche were taking a hell of a whipping! A second German had now broken off from the formation, and was being swarmed. Suddenly, as we crossed into the German side, the last two threw their machines into a spiral and started coming down! I immediately swung my SPAD around to face them and bore down on our prey. You're not getting away that easily! I thought to myself, as the panicked German two-seaters attempted to spiral down. One went into a steep dive and I followed, with another SPAD in tow. To my dismay, the German went all the way down into the dirt.

Determined to get a Hun for myself, I turned back and climbed towards the last German, who now had two SPADs chasing him. I watched his observer fire a burst at one machine, and suddenly my bloodlust left me as I watched, horrified, as the SPAD he had targeted nosed up, and then went into a spin, plummeting towards the earth. I tried to catch a glimpse of the number on the wings to see who it was going down, but they were too far off to tell.


[Linked Image]



The falling machine disappeared into a cloud, and I prayed that the pilot would be able to recover from his death-spin. Suddenly anger surged in me, and I charged the German machine responsible. He had been shot to pieces by my wingmen, both of his lower wings had been shot away, but still I opened up on him until my left Vickers jammed. I circled away to clear the jam, and when I turned back I could see the Bosche machine in a smouldering heap, having fallen next to a ruined cottage in the middle of the mud. Grimly satisfied, I flew home.

I was the first back at Vaucouleurs. I excitedly jumped out of my SPAD, eagerly anticipating discussing the morning's events with Casper. Soubiran arrived back first, then Pyne & Larner. The rest showed up over the next 30 minutes. Everybody except for Casper. I excitedly joined the pilots in the mess hall as we fervently blurted out our accomplishments for the day. Another 20 minutes went past before somebody pointed out Casper's absence. Suddenly, the image of the spinning SPAD dropping through the clouds flashed into my mind.

I sat out for hours at the edge of the airfield, waiting for my buddy to show up. He never did. At about 5 PM, Cpt. Larner appeared beside me. "Drummond..." he started, and I turned round, begging him in my head to give me some good news. "The Major's just been to see Soubiran. We've had a telephone call from the lines". My heart sunk, my breathing became erratic. "Around the time we had our fight, they saw a SPAD tumble out of a cloud and go in. They couldn't get out to recover the pilot, but they say it had an Indian Head on its fuselage. We think it's 2nd. Lt. Reynolds".

The ground fell out from beneath my feet. My head spun. I looked dumbly at Larner, who patted me on the shoulder consolingly. "I'm sorry, Drummond" was all he said, before turning back and heading for our Barracks. When he was out of eyeshot, I burst into tears. Images flashed through my head rapidly. Us making a tyre-swing back home. Casper in his uniform at the train station, the day before he left. That devilish grin he'd given me earlier today, as I'd struggled to keep formation. How could he be dead? How was it even possible?

Eventually I wiped my eyes, and my sorrow shifted into a burning rage. I vowed right then and there.

I was going to kill every filthy Bosche that I saw.






Posted By: Witt

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 11:02 PM

Really enjoying this thread. Kudos to all, and thanks for makin' me and Dunn feel welcome. smile

@Jerbear - Great storyline w/ Lt Goode. I especially liked the historical touches - Prohibition, moving from Signal Corps to USAAS, etc. Keep up the good work! By the way, is Goode from "deep down in Lou'siana close to New Orleans"? wink

@Wulfe - Nice touch with the cigarette story. smile Also, I kinda like Rast. Hope he sticks around. smile As for the US side of things, welcome to the Muricans. smile Great opening story and the loss of Reynolds was especially touching. Great job.

- Witt
Posted By: Witt

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 11:11 PM

Hey all,

What are some of the fields in the weekly report? Specifically, "Air Victories" and "Duration"?

Thanks in advance,
Witt
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 11:34 PM

Duration is if ur pilot is in the hospital
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 11:36 PM

nice stories guys.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 11:48 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.

3 Victory's


Sept 1, 1918.

Dawn Airfield attack. Hq want this AF hit hard,but we only have 4 a/c with Machine guns. As we attacked , I noticed that the Hun a/c didn't look right some had only one wing ? Being Repaired ? I heard latter in the mess that these e/a were the New Hun X planes Lightning fast tight turns and Speedy with twin Heavy guns. Added to this they were being assigned to all Ace Jasta's.

Line Patrol: 2 Section put up 3 a/c. We were able to chase and attack 3 Recon types. I fired to far out and had the guns jam. My flight leader Anton got the only kill a Flamer the others got away.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/01/18 11:51 PM

WELCOME TO THE AEF WULFE!!! NOW WE'LL GIVE KAISER BILL A HIDING!


WITT: Johnny is an East Texas boy.
Posted By: Witt

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/18 12:41 AM

22 April 1918
The French Countryside
Near Toul-Croix de Metz Airfield


The following day, Dunn managed to get airborne without incident. The flight had been a simple patrol, and despite Lufbery's strict orders about “no combat,†when the flight was jumped by a handful of Huns, Dunn couldn't resist taking a few shots at them before he turned and headed home. He was pretty sure he missed with every round, but the chatter of the twin Vickers was satisfying nonetheless. He took some ribbing from the ground crew about the bullet holes in his plane and the relative lack of spent ammunition in the Vickers, but he ignored them and reveled in the high brought on by his successful first contact with the enemy.

But now, the following morning, he stood at the edge of a copse of trees not far from Toul Field and tore off his flight gear, throwing it in a pile at his feet and letting out curse words with every piece he threw down. The Nieuport 28's Gnome 9N had – once again – sputtered on take-off and the plane began to drop to the earth no matter what Dunn did to try to control it. This time, however, there was no mere fence to get in the way. There was a thicket of trees that he simply hadn't had the power to clear, and he'd ended up smashing the plane into the oak and horse chestnuts, tearing off one wing and breaking apart most of the fuselage. Dunn himself had somehow escaped uninjured, something that brought him no pleasure as he stared at the unrecoverable wreck that had once been his Nieuport.

He hear the growing buzz of another plane in his flight and craned his head to find the source. He watched in disbelief as his wingman - 2nd Lieutenant Eugene Matthews – broke formation and brought his own Nieuport down in a rough landing near the edge of the trees. Dunn folded his arms across his chest and waited, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Andy!†Matthews shouted as he debarked the plane while it was still slowly rolling forward. The engine sputtered into silence as the round-faced pilot approached, taking off his hat and goggles. “Dear Lord above, Andy, I thought you were a goner!â€

Dunn looked pointedly at the remains of his Nieuport. “Something is wrong with these planes,†he said. “Two dead engines in three days. The things are gonna kill me before the Huns ever get around to it.†He sighed and walked closer to the wreckage.

“It's that rotary engine,†Matthews said, his voice lower and calmer than when he'd approached. “Hasn't worked right since they built it. They say it can even catch fire.†Matthews stood rooted in place, staring at the wreckage as if afraid to approach it. “Fire,†he repeated, the fear in his voice plain.

Dunn looked over his shoulder at his wingman and friend but said nothing. He turned his attention back to the wreck. “Well somebody's gotta do something,†he said quietly. He could hear the hot engine pinging as it cooled and he smelled burnt oil. “I'll talk to Rhodes about it,†he said. “See if he knows anything.†Roderick Rhodes was the squadron's head mechanic. A serious Brit with a serious moustache, he always seemed to be tinkering with the planes as he stormed from one side of the barn to the other, pushing his crew beyond their limit most of the time. It made for good turnaround repair times, but the morale in the ground crew could use some improvement.

“Yeah,†Matthews agreed. He still stared at the wrecked Nieuport as if mesmerized. Then without a word, he blinked and looked at Dunn, then back at his own plane. “I gotta get up,†he said as if in realization. “Lufbery will have my head if I don't catch up with the rest of the flight.†He turned and ran toward his plane, pulling on his flight cap and goggles as he want. “Sorry about your plane,†he yelled over his shoulder. “Glad you're okay.â€

With that Matthews clambered into his Nieuport and looked around in bewilderment. “Uh...†he began. “Andy? Can you give me a hand?â€

Dunn smiled and shook his head at his friend's antics, but obliged.

* * *

That afternoon
Toul-Croix de Metz Airfield
Near Verdun, France


Dunn and Matthews stood rigidly at attention just inside hangar four, as Major Raoul Lufbery paced back and forth in front of them, hands clasped behind his back. He hadn't said anything since he found them together talking about the lost Nieuport. He simply called them to attention and began to pace. Dunn wasn't sure if he was composing his thoughts or simply letting them stew for a moment.

“I don't know where to begin,†Lufbery finally said.

Dunn tilted his head upward a fraction of an inch. Ah, composing his thoughts it is. He said nothing.

Lufbery stopped paced directly in front of Dunn. “Lieutenant,†he began, giving the word an odd two-syllable pronunciation. Lufbery was born in France, but had an American father. He was fluent in both English and French, but sometimes his accent crept in without warning. “You have damaged or destroyed two aeroplanes in only two days.â€

[Linked Image]
Major Gervais Raoul Victor Lufbery

Dunn was quiet, but then nodded. “Yes, sir.â€

Lufbery stared at him, unblinking. “I'm surprised the Germans haven't given you a medal,†he said evenly.

Dunn didn't know what to say so he just clamped his mouth shut and waited.

The Major turned to Matthews. “And you, Lieutanant,†he said, “if you ever fail to form up with your squadron because you stopped to check on your friend, it will be the last time you fly for a long, long time.†He looked from one man to the next and shook his head slightly. “Merde. What am I going to do with you?†he asked.

Dunn had the good sense not to answer.

“Matthews, go police the landing field. If I find anything bigger than my fist out there come morning, you're grounded for a week.â€

“Yes, sir,†Matthews said.

“Dunn,†Lufbery continued. He sighed and shook his head. “Have the docteur check that bruise on your head,†he said. “I'm sure that thick skull of yours protected you, but let's be sure.†He looked from one man to the next. “Dismissed.â€

Dunn turned to go, but Matthews lingered a moment, and then cleared his throat.

Lufbery turned his attention to the young lieutenant. He paused for several seconds, then sighed. “What is it, Matthews.â€

“Sir,†Matthews began. “Would it be okay...†He stopped, then cleared his throat again. “I mean, I just thought maybe it would be okay if we painted up our planes a little.†He smiled hopefully, but seeing the nonplussed expression on Lufbery's face, Matthews' smile faded.

“I will make you a deal,†the Major said calmly, looking from Matthews to Dunn and back. “The day you can get your plane airborne and bring down a Hun connard, is the day I will personally hand you a paint brush!" By the time he reached the end of the sentence, he was nearly shouting. He paused and took a deep breath. "Is that clear?" he asked quietly.

Both men nodded. “Yes, sir,†they muttered, cowtowed.

“Now get out of here,†Lufbery tossed. He turned and walked away without another word.

Dunn and Matthews looked at one another then wandered off in opposite directions without saying anything.

* * *

The next morning, the engine in 2nd Lieutenant Eugene Matthews' Nieuport 28 caught fire shortly after takeoff.

Dunn watched helplessly as his friend and wingman fought the flames as the burning aircraft rolled over and plummeted toward the ground. Dunn knew it was impossible to hear the screams over the roar of his own engine, but in his mind he could hear the young pilot screaming all the way down as the plane fireballed into the ground less than a mile from Toul Field.

Dunn didn't sleep for two days.

[Linked Image] The death of 2nd Lt Eugene Matthews




Anybody else have such a hard time in Nieuport 28s? Dunn (and now poor Matthews) just can't seem to get a break!

- Witt





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Posted By: Witt

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/18 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by jerbear
WITT: Johnny is an East Texas boy.


Not according to Chuck Berry. wink
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/18 01:27 AM

Way different Johnny.

I flew an N28 for several months. It will spontaneously catch on fire due to gas pooling in the cowling and it will loose it's top wing fabric if you come out of s steep dive quickly.. Other than that, it's a very fast and maneuverable plane more than a match for the Pfalz and Albatross DVa. I enjoy flying them. Advice - if you get an alert that you have a system failure, even if you see nothing wrong, cut the engine off and get down immediately because your almost certain to catch on fire.
Posted By: Witt

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/18 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by jerbear
It will spontaneously catch on fire due to gas pooling in the cowling and it will loose it's top wing fabric if you come out of s steep dive quickly..


Yeah, why does the game have to model reality so well? smile Darn developers!
Posted By: Witt

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/18 02:03 AM

24 April 1918
8,000 Feet above No Man's Land
Near Verdun, France


The weather above the battle lines was clear and sunny. Clouds obscured most of the battlefield below, but Dunn wasn't focused on that. He had spotted a trio of German planes headed home and was trying to gain on them. They were above him and far away, and his Nieuport 28 struggled to gain altitude and keep up with the fleeing planes. The rest of his squadron was tangled in a dogfight behind him and a thousand feet lower, and his new wingman - 1st Lieutenant Gerald Andrews - was nowhere to be seen.

Andrews was a dark, brooding man with black hair and mustache, and a perpetual five o'clock shadow. Dunn hadn't spoken to him much; he didn't have it in him to make and lose another friend.

They'd buried Matthews' without much fanfare. The veterans in the 94th seemed to take it in stride, but Dunn was still shaken at the loss of his friend.

They can even catch fire. Matthews' words echoed in Dunn's head as he tried to concentrate on the task at hand.

He'd been up twice since Matthews' death; both flights had been uneventful. Rhodes had explained some of the problems with the Gnome 9N engine in the Nieuports, but Dunn hadn't really been listening. Something about monosoupape engines, fumes in the cowling, cracked fuel lines and other mechanic double speak. Dunn just wanted it fixed. It had dumped him on the ground twice and killed his only friend. He wasn't going to let it kill him as well.

With a physical shake of his head, he pulled himself back to the present. The German planes were probably DFWs from the look of them. He'd never seen one up close, but it matched what he remembered from looking at drawings. As he neared the formation, he could see the gunner in the back seat of his target pointing his way despite Dunn's approach from behind and beneath. The man tried to swing his machine gun toward Dunn's plane, but couldn't. Dunn smiled grimly and dipped the nose to gain some speed before moving in for the kill.

The Nieuport dropped slowly, the wind roaring in Dunn's ears as he pulled back on the stick and leaned his head to better look down the sights of the top Vickers mounted to his left. As the DFW came into view, he squeezed the trigger and the Vickers roared to life, hurling shells at the retreating German aircraft. Dunn couldn't tell if they impacted the plane or not, but he kept pouring bullets that direction as the two-seater started to evade.

His hand still gripping the trigger, his eyes fixed intently on the German plane, Dunn was both startled and confused when he felt burning pain in his right leg and ribs. He released the guns and looked down to see what had happened. The blood pouring from his wounds was syrupy and dark. As he stared in disbelief, more German bullets riddled his plane. He whipped his head to the right and spotted one of the other DFW gunners firing relentlessly in his direction. Dunn had been so focused on his target, he had completely ignored the other two-seaters.

He jerked the stick left and forward, spinning away from his attacker. As his Nieuport gained speed Dunn tried to control his panic. The air speed indicator climbed higher and higher and Dunn could hear the plane groaning in complaint. He pulled back on the stick abruptly, bringing the plane level and then sending it shooting skyward. He was thrown back in his seat and heard something crack and tear. A moment later, he came to his senses as a dull pain started to spread from his right leg and torso. He leveled the Nieuport and scanned the sky for any sign of the attacking DFW, but all three planes had continued on their home-bound course. The sky was clear of enemies at the moment.

[Linked Image]


It took all of Dunn's concentration to bring the plane back on a southwest course, aiming the nose roughly toward Toul Field. He wasn't sure he'd make it that far without passing out from blood loss, so he cut the engine speed and dropped the nose toward the ground, slowly bring him closer to some sort of safety. By the time he reached Toul and the wheels touched down on the landing field, Dunn realized too late that he'd nearly overshot the runway. His Nieuport was true to form and plowed through a fence line as it skidded off the field. Pieces of a shattered fence post shot through the Nieuport like so much shrapnel, tearing up the plane and impaling Dunn in his other leg. By the time it stopped moving, Dunn's vision had started to fade. He was vaguely aware of men running toward his wreck, but he lost consciousness before they arrived.

* * *
25 April 1918
L'Hospital Americain
Paris, France


Dunn opened his eyes.

Both legs hurt and there was a dull ache in his right side. He looked around the stark, nearly empty room and listened to the bustle of nurses caring for the wounded in the rooms around him. The air smelled of disinfectant and old urine, but he didn't care. He was still alive.

“Nurse,†he croaked. His throat was dry and hurt. “Nurse!†he tried again.

Seconds later, a stocky middle-aged woman in a stained uniform entered his room. “You're awake,†she said, no trace of accent in her voice.

Dunn nodded. “Water.â€

As she brought him water, she asked, “How are you feeling?â€

Dunn thought it was a stupid question. He'd been shot by a machine gun and crashed his plane. How did she think he would feel? He didn't answer. “Where am I?†he asked instead.

“The American Hospital in Paris,†she said. “You'll be here a while.†She smiled sympathetically and for a moment Dunn felt better. He'd heard about the beautiful French nurses and their bedside manners from some of the men – most of whom were talking through their hats – but Dunn found comfort in the maternal nature of this woman and wondered for a moment what his own mother would think of that if she were still alive.

He nodded and closed his eyes.

“Get some sleep, soldier,†the nurse said.

"Too noisy," he muttered. "And this bed is lumpy as the army's potatoes and gravy."

The nurse patted his shoulder. “Better get used to it,†she said. "You're gonna be here a while."





Attached picture dunnwound.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/18 05:53 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France.

4 Victory's


I put my 4th Victory in the bag today, but took ze bullet for the team. 2 section put up 3 a/c for offensive patrol and we spotted 3 Recon types on their side of the lines. I dove and came up under the e/a my 1st couple of bursts got the gunner so slowed and held down the triggers. Bang, Fire, and smoke the the e/a took a header for the earth. Spotting a wing-mate still attacking an e/a I went over to help. The rear gunner put 2 bullets in my ship and one in me. I sped back across the lines and landed at a friendly base. Its back to the rear and a Hospital for me.

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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/18 06:00 PM

Witt - 2nd. Lieut. Dunn's story is coming along really nicely, I hope he makes it through to the end! Here's hoping he has a speedy recovery.

Jerbear - the USAS has been a ton of fun so far! Plenty of action, plenty of chances to shoot up the ol' Kaiser's Biplaces wink


The story of Benjamin A. Drummond.
Part 3: Kicking the Grief.

2nd September, 1918.

I awoke early, drenched in sweat. I had seldom slept; every time I shut my eyes the awful image of Casper's SPAD going down flashed on repeat. In the dreams it was so much worse. I could see him close-up then, and each repeat bore a different reaction. In one version I saw him desperately wrestling with the controls, in another he was screaming and crying, terrified of his impending death. In a particularly nasty variation (one which caused me to bolt upright in the middle of the night with a gasp) he had been torn apart by German bullets, and merely swung lifeless with each rotation of his machine. The worst by far, and the one I had just awakened from, was the one where he was a mere boy again, in our old school uniform.

I lethargically washed my face, trying unsuccessfully to push thoughts of Casper to the side, before throwing on my uniform and heading to the 103rd's mess. As I walked along the grass leading up to the mess hall, I could see six SPADs of the 93rd Aero lifting off the field for the dawn patrol. I paused for a moment by the door of the mess to watch them turn off North and disappear into the horison.

Upon stepping into the mess I could see Tobin, Larner and Soubiran crowded round a table together, idly chatting away. Soubiran called me over as I passed, and I stood to attention before him. "No need for that, Drummond". I relaxed. "As of today you're assigned to 2nd Flight. You have the morning patrol at 0700". I nodded, saluted, and turned to grab myself a cup of joe. As I sat nursing my drink, Cpt. Pyne appeared in front of me. "May I?" he asked, pulling a chair out. "Of course, Captain," I replied, and he sat down across from me. "Sorry about Casper. He was a good kid" Pyne offered, his eyes turned downwards. I shrugged, managing a weak smile. "He was always a reckless fool back home..." I muttered, almost to myself.

At 6:30 I ambled out onto the airfield, idly watching the mechanics readying our SPADs. I hadn't yet spoken to my own mechanic, and was about to go over and say hello when a broad-shouldered Captain appeared from out of the Mess Hall. He came over to me and extended a hand. "You must be the 2nd flight egg, huh? We'll be flying together, then!". I shook his hand, and he grinned. "Capt. Hunter, folks here call me Monk". "Frisky. Frisky Drummond." I replied, and he raised an eyebrow. "Funny nickname," he said, his grin wideneing, I shrugged. "Blame Cas," I started, before a fresh stab of sadness cut me off. Monk's smile faded slightly. "Cas. Yeah, hard luck he went in. You knew him?" I nodded. "We grew up together". Monk nodded solemnly. "Must be tough for you. Sorry. Did you come out here to fly with him?".

I shook my head. "No, not exactly. I didn't even know he was at this aerodrome. It was reading about the Lafayettes in the papers each week that made me want to fly. In fact, I very nearly joined the R.F.C when I was 17, but Ma talked me out of it". Monk looked puzzled. "The R.F.C? How did you plan on that? The Tommies wouldn't just take a Yank on board.." "Well, technically I'm a citizen. Ma's from Scotland, she had me while out visiting family.". I explained. Monk nodded, his grin returning. "A Scottish Texan? That's a scary thought...". I begun to chuckle, as did Monk, and soon we had broken into raucous laughter like a pair of complete idiots. Although I was still reeling from the loss of Cas, I was glad that the guys here had welcomed me so readily. It softened the blow, if only a little. That was the first genuine laugh I'd had since Cas had died.

0700 rolled around, and we climbed into our SPADs. Pyne was flight leader; behind him was Irving, Dolan, Monk and myself. 1st flight, led by Cpt. Tobin, were to cover us when we got to the lines. As we sat waiting for 1st flight to board their machines, I saw the darndest thing...Cpt. Larner, quite deliberately, lit three cigarettes off of the same match, passing two to Furlow and Cauffman and smoking the third himself. Everybody knew it was bad luck to light 3 cigarettes off of the same match...and as if that wasn't bad enough, his SPAD bore the number 13l! He caught my eye as he took a drag of his cigarette and winked at me, a fox-like smirk appearing on his face. From my left Monk shouted from his cockpit "He does it purely for the devilment - Larner's just crazy like that!" I looked over at him, then back at Larner, who was now climbing into his cockpit. I have to say, this squadron's certainly full of unique characters.

We took off by about 10 past 7 and headed out along the same route we'd taken yesterday. I formed up on Dolan's wing. We climbed in circles over the top of a French balloon, and I watched the observer lazily regarding us, leaning on the side of his basket. I guess he never really saw much going on this far back. On the side of the balloon, the words "Je Vois Tout" were painted in large red letters, circling over the top of the French roundel. I wonder what that meant. I diverted my gaze to my wingmen, and saw Hunter sitting on the end of the formation. With a pang I thought back to Cas sitting in the same spot yesterday. I tried to push the thought out, rationalising that a good soldier shouldn't be so affected by the death of a comrade. It didn't work. I then thought about how Cas would have probably teased me for being such a sap. What's with the mopey face, Kiddo? Toughen up, will ya?. That only made it worse.

I was snapped out my haze as we flew into a cloud. I hadn't yet flown through one, and I admit I felt slightly panicked as my vision was instantly torn away from me. However, my training kicked in and I glued my eyes to my instrument panel, and soon enough I was out the other side. Amazingly, I had kept my position in the formation. Dolan, who was looking back to make sure I wouldn't fall behind, briefly gave me a thumbs-up before facing forwards again.

Having reached our altitude, we turned West and bid farewell to "Je Vois Tout". We cruised in-and-out of another cloud formation, and before long I was fairly comfortable with going through them, which is just as well because the weather only seemed to get worse the further West we went. I caught a glimpse of 1st flight through the clouds, and watched them for a moment. Why are they flying so strangely?. I looked ahead of them, and suddenly realised they were chasing a pair of Bosche two-seaters! The rest of my flight saw the Germans at the same time as me, and our formation turned to give chase. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw one machine go up in a brilliant ball of flames. I leaned out of the side of my canopy to get a better look. The plane twisted in the air, showing its upper surfaces to me. "NO!" I cried, as I spotted the 'S' on the wings. It was Cpt. Soubiran! I watched as his SPAD fell towards oblivion before setting my sights back on the Germans.



[Linked Image]



Tears of rage welled behind my flying goggles as I came head-on at one of the German machines. I pressed down on the trigger hard, and my Vickers roared out in hatred. The German machine looped away with a trail of smoke behind it, and I tore my SPAD around to follow. In the blink of an eye I was behind the Biplace machine again, and I begun pouring lead into him. His lower left wing tore off, and then his right. Bloodlust surged through me as I continued to fire bullet after bullet into the crippled German machine as it wallowed into a steep dive. Clearly the squadron shared my sentiment as four of us shot the hell out of the Bosche all the way to the ground, fully exacting our revenge for our fallen comrade. I put another savage burst of white-hot tracers into the German, and his nose dipped straight for the earth. I watched as the German fell. That's for Cas. And for Soubiran! I shouted in my head.


[Linked Image]



In surprise I noticed that one other SPAD continued to chase the falling German, and I watched in shock as they screamed towards the ground together. "Pull up, you idiot!" I screamed in helpess desperation as they got sickeningly low to the earth. The other SPAD pilot realised his mistake, and I saw the wings of his machine warp as he pulled the stick back full-force. The damned idiot barely managed to stop himself from crashing straight into the ground! The German machine had fallen in between a chevron-shaped group of trees, right in the corner where they met. I watched the plume of smoke slowly rise into the air, before being blown North, as if whatever remained of the German was still trying to fly home. I found the sight unnervingly enjoyable.


[Linked Image]



We arrived back, two machines short. Pyne was nowhere to be seen...hopefully he'd just got lost, or landed with engine trouble somewhere. In silence we de-planed and headed towards the mess hall. In there we barely uttered a word. Across the table from me Larner poured himself a shot of whiskey, downed it in one, and poured another. "God damn you, Rob..." he muttered, and knocked back the next shot. No wonder Larner was so torn up - he and Soubiran were thick as thieves. After 15 minutes the telephone in Soubiran's office begun to ring. We all winced at the absence of our C.O's voice. No utterance of his usual blunt "Soubiran here". Eventually, Cauffman couldn't take it, and rushed in to answer the phone. "Yes? Uh-huh. Ah, you're okay? Good. What...hold on, what?!" We all peered over in curiosity, and were shocked to see a huge grin on Cauffman's face. "No, I'll send a car right now!". He hung up, and came sprinting into the middle of the mess hall. "That was Pyne. He landed with a dead engine. He's with Soubiran!". Our jaws dropped. "But...but I saw him go down in flames!" I stammered, and Cauffman's grin widened. "The sly devil managed to put the flames out in the dive and land his crate! His arms are a bit burned up, but he's okay!". A few stunned seconds passed, and we burst out into raucous cheers.

Soubiran and Pyne were back with us by 1 PM. To my surprise, our C.O seemed completely unaffected by his ordeal, despite the fact that it was a miracle he was alive. He called me into his office at around 2 PM to talk about my victory claim over the German machine, a 'Rumpler', according to Larner. It appeared that three or four of us had all claimed to have shot it down, and so Soubiran wanted everybody's account of the victory before awarding confirmation. I couldn't help but notice the bandages wrapping his hands as he penned down the details of my account. By the end of the day, he still hadn't reached a verdict.

In the evening I asked Soubiran what "Je Vois Tout" meant. He chuckled. "Oh so you've seen that balloon then? It means 'I See Everything'. They've written it on the side ironically, being placed so far back from the lines and all..." I smiled slightly. At least the war had some underlying humor here and there.








Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/02/18 07:02 PM

GET WELL SOON DUNN, WE NEED YOU AT THE FRONT.


2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Monday, September 2nd, 1918

No flying, everyone just waiting around for the word to ferry the planes. Mostly played cards, wrote letters, napped.

Meissner (1) had the Sal. from 1st Aero (2)come over to take me up. Stuffed my ears as full of wax as I could get them. The pilot put the plane through its paces to see I’d get sick, both of us had a great time. Even though I’m obviously fine now, Meissner still wants me to give it a few more days before I fly.

Very uncomfortable couple of nights. Everything went with the trucks, even our cots. Finding out how the other half lives. I’m sure the boys in the trenches would love to hear us whining about having to rough it a little.

Posted 12 letters. Caught up for once.

(1) 1st Lt. James A. Meissner, presently commander of the 147th Aero Squadron, previously of the 94th Aero Squadron, 8 aerial victories, 4 of which were during his service with the 147th Aero.

(2) Salmson 2A2 Observation Plane. 1st Aero was an American Squadron equipped with these aircraft and were frequently escorted by the 1st Pursuit Group's Squadrons.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/03/18 02:52 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Tuesday, September 3rd, 1918

The boys flew out of Saints in 3 groups, spaced out to conceal their movement as much as possible.The last group left at 14:30.

I've been left behind with the Adjutant and a small detail to make sure the camp is properly policed.

Everything seems quiet and lonely after the trucks with the last of the mechanics pulled out. The stray dogs that didn’t get taken along are wondering around wondering where their meal ticket has gone, they’re out of luck I’m afraid. We’ll leave as soon as its dark.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/03/18 10:53 PM

Wow, all these Yanks at the front! Some great reading. Witt, best of luck with Dunn, and I hope he gets that paintbrush soon. Wulfe, Drummond seems to be doing very well. That shot of the Spad diving on the two-seater is a crackerjack. Jerbear, hope to see Johnny in the thick of things after a few quiet days. And Carrick, congrats on the fourth kill for Limoges.

Holger Barfuss is doing well and looking forward to getting a triplane one day soon.

Part 4
Vzfw Holger Barfuss, Jasta 7


With three recognized kills, Holger Barfuss felt he was accepted within the Staffel. The officers followed the lead of the Stafffuehrer, Josef Jacobs, who showed a fondness for the cheeky Heidelberger. Along with Josef Bohne, who went by the nickname “Jupp,†Barfuss was often the butt of Jacob’s affectionate teasing.

The NCOs had a comfortable mess in a large house near the Château de Béthune, the site of the officers’ Kasino. But in practice, Leutnant Jacobs often declared “all pilots’†nights and the NCO pilots joined their higher-ranked comrades for the evening.

His talent for scrounging didn’t hurt either. Since he’d found a source of fresh pork and milk, he’d branched out, volunteering his time to ensure the mess was well provisioned. His latest coup was a large box of oysters and a case of champagne, which led to a memorable evening. No fewer than three local farmers now supplied the Jasta with sausage, cheeses, and chickens. Further, Barfuss had contracted with one of the farmer’s wives to head the kitchen for the officers. Some bruised egos among the corporal cooks were involved, but the effect of a woman at the helm was immediate. The crystal sparkled, the linen was clean, and the meats were perfectly prepared and accompanied by delicious soups and sauces. While the same sharpness did not prevail in the NCOs’ mess, it was noticed that on the evenings the officers enjoyed Schweinleber mit Spaetzl at table, the NCOs were quietly scoffing pork tenderloin.

In the air, all was not so joyful. The English were putting up more and more aircraft, many of which flew at altitudes his Albatros could not reach. Barfuss overheard conversations in which some of the pilots, even the more successful ones, candidly thought that the war had finally turned against Germany, and questioned if the situation could be recovered. There was a stalemate on the Arras front, and the speculations was that attention would now turn to the French. Perhaps, just perhaps.
..
On 4 May, after an “all pilots’†celebration of Barfuss’s third victory, Ltn Uhle led a strong patrol to escort a Rumpler assigned to spot artillery near Armentieres. They patrolled for more than an hour at more than 4000 metres, freezing on a damp and cool morning. Finally, the double-seater signalled a return home and the Staffel took station above and behind the Rumpler. Approaching the Lys, which flowed northward here on the friendly side of the lines, a formation of Camels took a stab at downing their ward. Barfuss selected one of the little brown scouts, but soon found himself at the mercy of a very talented pilot in a superior machine. Time and again, the Englishman peppered the black Albatros. Barfuss threw his machine into a spiral, praying it would hold together. The Camel spiralled behind him, emerging only 100 metres above and behind, still firing. Barfuss threw his machine one way and then the other, but the Camel was determined. At length, Barfuss saw the field at Ste-Marguerite a few kilometres off and made a zigzag course for the protection of its machine gun positions. The Englishman fired a parting burst which rattled through the upper wing of the Albatros and then, with a wave, turned westward. Barfuss hedge-hopped home and landed at Marckebeeke in a cold sweat. That day Ltn Uhle did not return.

5 May dawned sunny. Headquarters phoned a few minutes before nine with orders to take off at once for the line of friendly captive balloons near Lille. A British formation was reported in the area. It took about fifteen minutes to reach the area. The Staffel’s formation, under the command of Leutnant Degelow, circled about for twenty to thirty minutes, seeing nothing. As fuel ran low (for the machines were only partly fueled), Degelow signalled a return to base. Shortly after, however, Barfuss noticed a large group approaching from the east. It looked odd and he tried to catch the attention of the others, but the Fokkers pilots did not notice. His was the only Albatros. Barfuss climbed and soon made out the shape of the speedy De Havilland two-seat machines.

It took too long to reach them and the English saw the lone Albatros approaching. There were at least eight De Havillands and they all banked and dived at him like true fighters. For several minutes, Barfuss had his hands full as first one then another English machine charged him with its front-firing gun blazing. Holes appeared all about him. At length, he caught one two-seater in a turn and hit it with a short burst. The De Havilland did a half-roll and turned under him. The poor observer, Barfuss thought – he must be thrown about! Barfuss fired again, this time from behind but from at least 250 metres’ distance. The machine turned under him once more. This pattern repeated until they were down to only 500 metres and well behind German lines. He had this Englishman all to himself. He fired a long burst just as the two-seater attempted another downward half-loop. This time the De Havilland remained inverted and dived downwards, crashing in a field seven kilometres southwest of Lille. Barfuss landed next to the crash site, determined to save the occupants of the machine – if they were lucky enough to survive – from the crowd of grey-clad infantrymen that were charging towards them. He need not have bothered. Both the pilot and observer had been fatally shot and were terribly smashed about. He cut away the roundel from the side of the fuselage as evidence of his fourth victory.

[Linked Image]
"his time the De Havilland remained inverted and dived downwards, crashing in a field seven kilometres southwest of Lille."

6 May was a busy day. Orders arrived after midnight for a move to the forward field at Ste-Marguerite. The Staffel would be the only unit of Jastagruppe 6 to move there. All vehicles and wagons save two were gone by dawn and the aircraft were in the air at 09h00. It was a short and uneventful fight. The new field needed much work, and there was nothing to replace the luxury of the officers’ château. The nearby village was badly damaged, but the NCO pilots secured a good-sized house with shutters but no windows, and set about making it home. By nightfall, they had acquired beds and some furniture, and had got the kitchen into working order. Until they were ordered otherwise, they would have their own NCO pilots’ mess.


Attached picture Kill 4.png
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/03/18 10:54 PM

Raine - exciting story, enjoying Barfuss's abilities as a scrounger, a good touch to the character.


2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Wednesday, September 4th 1918

Got to Rembercourt early this morning. Dewey had my cot all set up when I got in, hell of a guy. Pup got so excited when she saw me she peed on herself, guess she figured I’d gone West.

1st patrol, went out for familiarization and denying observation, 10 planes between St Mihiel and Watronville.

All day long, small patrols at 5,000 meters fly over the aerodrome to keep high flying Rumpler photo planes from coming over. They ran off a couple of them today. Mr. Hun is mighty nosy.

Everything’s camouflaged here at Rembercourt, no fires, we’re under continuous observation by a line of enemy balloons.

Don’t care for the landing field, tiny thing, 30 acres they say, surrounded by small hills on 3 sides. We’ll have to really be on the ball to keep from cracking up on landings.

The 147th will mess with the 94th on one side of the field, the 27th will mess with the 95th on the other end ¼ mile away. Hartney (1) wants to break up the rivalry between the French and British Squadrons.(2) Good idea and about time.

We’re in some leaky old barracks now but we’ll move into tents in the woods beyond the airdrome. The enlisted men, who are in pup tents, will get these beauties, lucky them

We’re fairly close to the lines, 12 miles from St. Mihiel, can get there in a few minutes. We can hear the guns and the small arms day and night. In the evening we stood outside, looking off towards the lines at the intermittent flashes of light, then listen for the low boom following shortly. Occasionally we see a searchlight roaming around the sky like its lost something. At intervals, parachute flares go up, giving out a brilliant flood of light before they sink slowly to the ground.

Meissner wouldn’t let me take my SPAD up, wants me to rest up some more and give it a try tomorrow.

1 Major Harold Evans Hartney; born in Canada; enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914; shipped out with the 28th Bn. CEF, May 1915; transferred to the RFC 21 Oct 1915; flew and FE2d with 20 Squadron, scoring 5 aerial victories; shot down in late 1916, sources differ as to who brought him down, some sources cite Paul Strahle of Jasta 18, while others indicated he fell victim to Manfred von Richthofen; became a US citizen in Oct. 1917 while recuperating and joined the US Air Service; commanded the 27th Aero Squadron; took command of the 1st Pursuit Group, 21 Aug. 1918.

2 French and British Squadrons - the 94th and 95th Aero referred to the other two squadrons of the 1st Pursuit Group, who trained in Canada, as the British Squadrons as well as Canuks and the Canadian Flying Circus. The 27th and 147th referred to the 94th and 95th Aero, who had been trained mostly in France, by French instructors, as the French Squadrons.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/18 02:31 AM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
La Palais, Hospital
5th Floor east wing Room 4
Nice, France.

Sep 4, 1918,

I was introduced to the staff after they started working on me. should be out in 5 days.

Attached picture MV5BZmMyYmRmNTUtMTE2YS00MTU0LTlkYTItMWFhYjBkYjYxODFhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDYxMzUwNzM@._V1_  Can Can  Staff.jpg
Attached picture 011395cb08c009b736b5a2dba98028cb--cosplay-maid-maid-outfit  make smaller 3.jpg
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/18 07:25 PM

Major Collin Sitwell
22 Sqn RAF

The Hun is on the run. There is no doubt about that, although our boys are still paying dearly for each meter they advance. We are tasked to support them any way we can and therefore spend moat of our time dropping bombs and straffing Hun infrastructure and troops.

This is a costly endevour in both men and machines. My own observer was killed this week by groundfire and I was lightly wounded. I spent three days stuck behind the desk unable to fly.

I get up with the lads as often as possible which is grand. They are a good lot and overall keep me from pulling my hair out. It is strange to be the "old man" of the group when I am scarcely older than most of them.

With the push forward we are falling further and further behind the front. It means long hours en route to each missiob, but the Hum rarely strays in our direction and most of the flight is relatively stress free.

I suspect this will be over before too long. The Kaiser has to see reason. There is no way his people will last another winter with the blockade in effect. What would they call the winter that happens after the "Turnip Winter?" I hope none of us has to find out.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/18 11:31 PM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond
Part 4: Official Bosche-Killer


3rd September, 1918.
I woke up early, fresh from another batch of encounters with Casper. After going about my typical morning routine I walked blearily into the mess. I met with Larner there, who was sitting by himself looking thoroughly fed-up. "Morning, Drummond". He said in a monotone voice. I looked over him with a raised eyebrow. "What's eatin' you, DeFreest?" I asked, and he shrugged. "No flights today. Nothing to do but sit around". "Stuff that!" a voice called out from the entrance, and we both looked round. It was Monk, with the usual grin on his face. "Toul is an hour's drive away! We should head into town, talk to some Madmoiselles".

And so, that's what we did! Conscripting an unfortunately-placed Corporal as our driver, Larner, Monk, Irving (who we'd caught on the way out) and I piled into a car and away we went. Our first stop in town was a beautiful little Coffee house. I went in and asked for a cup. The owner reeled back when I spoke, and eyed me with an offended stare. "L'Anglais?!" He demanded. "Uhh..." I started, but luckily Irving was there to save my skin. "Non, Monsieur. L'Americane". The owner immediately broke into an ear-splitting smile, and held his arms outstreched as if he was going to embrace us! "Ah! L'Americanes! Asseyez-vous s'il vous plait!". And that, apparently, was that!

We had a seat near the window, and I busied myself staring at the intricate oil paintings that hung off the wood-beamed walls. One in particular, a beautiful painting of an old Nieuport 11, captivated me. Behind the Nieuport, one of the old Fokker Eindeckers was depicted, burning. It was strangely haunting, seeing the German frozen in his demise within the confines of the decorative oak frame. I was distracted from my thoughts by Monk, calling over to me; "Hey, Frisk! I think this one likes you!". I looked over to see him sitting in between two young, attractive French girls who sat giggling and fanning themselves down. I laughed him away and finished my Coffee.

At around 3 PM we had failed to find much else of interest, and Larner suggested we head over to visit the Doughboys to the North. We hastily refused. That's Larner for ya - he can't help but tempt fate at every turn! As we had run out of ideas, we all piled back into the car and headed back for Valcouleurs. On the road back we saw some of the boys from the 213th who were just heading into town.

We reached the aerodrome in time to see an all-too-familliar truck parked to the side of the aerodrome. "Ooh, new eggs!" Monk exclaimed, rubbing his hands together. A single pilot clumsily dropped out of the truck, before proceeding to aimlessly wander around the airfield. We pulled up next to him. I got a kick out of it when he immediately stood to attention before us. "2nd. Lieutenant Jeremy Wilson, reporting!" He hollered, and we all snickered among ourselves. "What unit you supposed to be with?" Irving asked. "103rd USAS" replied Wilson. It dawned on me then - this must be Cas' replacement. The familiar sadness flickered, but was dispelled when - after Larner had pointed out Soubiran's office to the newcomer - he marched off in perfect military fashion only to go tumbling head-first after catching his boots on a stray ammo crate. Despite our attempts to contain ourselves, we all howled with laughter.

As we later learned, Wilson (from Concord, CA) was no egg after all. In fact, he'd scored 2 victories with the Lafayette Corps in late 1917 - one of which was an Albatros scout. It turns out my hunch about him replacing Cas was spot on - he had been assigned as my new wingman. I couldn't help but think that our assignments should probably be the other way around.

That evening I was called into Soubiran's office. "Ah, Drummond. Good news for you". Good news for me? "I've looked over the reports. That Rumpler's yours. Congratulations, Drummond...you're officially a Bosche-Killer". Dumbstruck, I shook Soubiran's hand before hazily wandering outside. Eventually my stupor wore off, and I shocked half the aerodrome by whooping aloud and throwing my fist high into the air. My first confirmed victory!

Part 5: Nothing New in the West.

4th September 1918.

2nd Flight had the mid-day patrol today. Six of us, led by Larner, took off and followed the usual climbing route. I noticed my pal "Je Vois Tout" indifferently watching us sail past again today, and decided to give him a wave. In his wicker basket, he nonchalantly held a palm up in response.

We turned towards St. Mihel. As we crossed over our trenchlines, I couldn't help but notice the sheer amount of Doughboys, horses and vehicles, artillery pieces and tanks that had amassed in the area. In addition, there seemed to be a large amount of French soldiers, in their questionably visible blue uniforms, moving around below us. Looks like something big was coming up. I looked back up, and was pleasantly surprised to see that 1st. Flight had merged into our formation! It was a glorious sight, all 12 of us all flying in one huge swarm. I desperately hoped that we'd run into some Germans. Alas, our patrol was dead as they come, and so we flew home without seeing a single bit of action.

Sorry - no pics this time around!
Posted By: Witt

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/04/18 11:36 PM

Congrats, Wulfe and Drummond!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/05/18 10:23 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Thursday September 5th 1918

Got up late, went to get my SPAD out, took some time before I was able to get off the ground, very impatient to do so, maybe a little snappish

Found a leakage in my gas main where a rubber jacket attaches to the carburetor Engine was missing, bad carburetor too. Stuffed my ears full of wax again. Had 35 minutes flying, the machine acting splendidly now. Tried verages, reinversements and one loop, but stalled and got a bath of oil from the breather. No dizziness, reported this to Meissner and he gave me the go ahead to join a10 man patrol between St. Mihiel and Watronville, stayed inside friendly lines. Spotted enemy formations twice but didn’t engage because they were over their own lines.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/05/18 10:44 PM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 6: War's End.


5th September 1918.

What a morning. The pilots of 1st and 2nd flight were abruptly roused by Soubiran, who had come into our Barracks with the express purpose of shaking us all out of our dreams. Woozily we staggered next-door into the Mess, where Soubiran gave us our briefing. Given the circumstances, we were all allowed to eat our breakfast as we received our orders. However, we wouldn't have much of an appetite after hearing what the day had in store.

2nd. Flight was tasked with shooting up a Bosche aerodrome at Carignan, about 30 miles behind the German lines. 1st. Flight would be present in order to deter any fighter threats. Naturally, Soubiran was eager to lead by example and opted to take command of 2nd. Flight. We appreciated the sentiment, but many of the more experienced men were appalled at the mere notion of flying at low level so far into German territory. I must admit, I was excited. The folly of inexperience!

Nothing much was said that morning, apart from Soubiran's orders. Instead, we quietly made our way to our machines,which awaited us on the airfield. As I boarded my SPAD I saw Larner partaking in his usual routine of lighting three cigarettes off the same match. We ascended and headed towards the climbing point. No sign of "Je Vois Tout" today - I guess he'd seen enough to earn himself a rest.

We reached our altitude and turned towards St. Mihiel with the intention of making a dash straight through the German 'pocket' in the lines towards Verdun. Luckily for us, no Germans decided to impede our progress, and we made it across fairly easily. From Verdun we headed further North-West, before settling onto our final course at the French front-lines. We followed the Meuse river on its flowing path towards our target, the whole time scanning for Bosche machines. Whereas the more well-versed men were seaching for scouts, I, the inexperienced man, was hoping to spot a lone Biplace.

About 10 miles into Bosche lines the flak started up at us, bursting in foreboding clouds around our formation. 1st. Flight, sitting above us, looked down on us with concern. To our discomfort, the flak was more accurate than we were used to, and I saw Monk wallowing left and right slightly to throw their aim. I copied this trick, although in hindsight I doubt it did much for us. At one point the artillery got especially bad, and I looked down to see that we were crossing over a Hun airfield. Not our target. I must admit, the flak put the fear in me something fierce and before long I had climbed above my flight. I felt utterly ashamed as I peered over at them taking the brunt of the artillery, and once it had died down sufficiently I promptly dropped my SPAD back down into the formation. Although I got a glance from Monk, none of the pilots seemed to chastise me. I guess they must all have felt the fear of flak early on in their flying days.

Very soon we were over another Bosche airfield. This time I steeled myself and resolved not to leave my flight's side. The flak went off all around me in terrifying bursts, but I 'stuck to my guns', as they say, and flew on. Suddenly I saw Soubiran's machine rattling violently, and a second later he had split off and was headed straight back the way we came. Had he been hit? Engine trouble? We all nervously glanced at each other as we flew on towards our target without our C.O.


[Linked Image]




Despite Soubiran's absence, we reached the target and proceeded to drop altitude. By this point the artillery had whipped itself up into a frenzy. One flak burst went off intimidatingly close to my machine, causing it to rock upwards in the air. Muttering curses under my breath, I focused on the task at hand. Once I had recovered from the initial shock, my attention drifted towards an unsettling whistling sound coming from my machine, and a dull ache worked its way into my mind. I looked down to see lines of blood trickling down my left forearm and thigh...several fine cuts had appeared, no doubt due to some overenthusiastic shrapnel from the close flak burst! A warmth underneath my flying scarf informed me that I'd been gotten in the face by the shards as well. I leaned out the left side of my machine to see how it had fared, and my stomach turned at the sight of a greeny-white trail of fuel, steadily evacuating my newly-holed petrol tank. God, not here! What do I do? I thought. My two options were to press the attack with my formation and pray that I would have the fuel left to get home, or break off now and face 30 miles of hostile skies alone. I racked my brain as I flew, before finally deciding that, despite hating the thought of leaving my flight, I had to turn back.

I snapped my SPAD Southwards and begun to climb away, reluctantly watching my flight as they continued onwards towards the Bosche aerodrome. Cursing the flak gunners, I continued to ascend in order to avoid taking a second hit on my way home. My plane felt unresponsive - I feared the damage was much worse than was evident to me at the moment. The damn flak gunners, seeing that I had split from the formation, turned their full attention to me. Another close burst went off near me, then another.

Suddenly, my revolutions started to drop at a horrifying rate. Oh no, please, not now! I begged, looking on helplessly as my RPM dropped from 2000 to 1600, then down to 1000. The Germans on the ground really had my number now, and one burst sent shards flying through my windscreen. I flinched as one glanced off the side of my flying cap. I knew I couldn't stay in the air any longer or they'd get me for sure, and so I said a prayer and dipped my nose, looking for a suitable field. Everything felt dreamlike as I descended, 30 miles inside enemy territory.

In one nauseating instant my propeller began to windmill, and then stopped dead. My head spinning, I aimed for a relatively flat patch of field in front of me. To my amazement, the flak still went up at me as if I were flying perfectly normally! Those twisted b*stards on the ground must have been so desperate for a victory that merely forcing me down wasn't enough to satiate their bloodlust. The ground rushed up to greet me and so, with no other choice, I obliged.



[Linked Image]



I sat in my cockpit, numb with fear. What was going to happen to me...? Would I be excecuted? Tortured? I've heard what they say about Germans in the papers. It seemed like nonsense - but what if it was true?

Calm down, Frisk! What are you supposed to do?. I climbed out of the plane, scanning my surroundings. . The machine. Burn the machine.. I lit a cigarette, and tossed the match into the cockpit of my SPAD. Immediately, flames begun licking out from underneath the dashboard. Just then, a single shot cracked past my head, and I dropped down in terror before looking behind me, the cigarette dropping out of my mouth. On the road several feet away stood a group of grey-clad figures, all pointing rifles my way. I turned to make a break for a treeline nearby, but a second shot impacted the earth in front of me, followed by a distant voice; "Halt, Amerikaner!". I needed no more encouragement after that, and my hands promptly found themselves above my head.

The Bosche infantrymen walked over to me, rifles implying death at every step of the way. When they reached me one German, apparently their commanding officer, stepped forwards and spoke to me in accented, yet perfectly clear, English:

"So, American, you are now a prisoner of war. Come with us or we will shoot you". As I said, perfectly clear. They led me to an infantry truck which I was promptly bundled into the back of. Two Germans sat close on either side of me, while the Bosche officer sat across the way, regarding me with tired eyes. To my amazement, he offered to replace my lost cigarette with one of his own. I hesitated a moment before accepting his offer and nodding my thanks. He lit my cigarette, and sighed. "Don't look so sorry - your war is over. You survived" he muttered.

After that we drove in silence for another fifteen minutes before a great commotion came from the drivers' cab. The German in the passenger seat turned round and excitedly shouted something at the officer. A sharp, barked reply warranted us to veer off the road with alarming speed and roll to a stop. Again the Germans, save for my two guards, piled out the back of the truck. Moments later I was hit with Deja Vu as a single gunshot rung out followed by the command of "Amerikaner, Halt! Jetzt!" A few moments passed before an Aviator was thrown through the flap of the truck, swearing under his breath. The unfortunate pilot rose to his feet before being pushed down onto the bench and boxed-in by two Germans like I was.

We looked across at each other, and I blinked in surprise. "Wilson?" I asked, and the pilot squinted in the darkness. "Is that you, Drummond? What are you doing here?". "Same as you, dummy!" I shouted, earning a sharp command from one German soldier, followed by a pistol barrel in my face. I reckon it translated roughly to "Stop Talking, Please".

We drove for roughly an hour before stopping and abruptly being ordered from the truck. We were met with the sight of some kind of temporary camp, surrounded by barbed wire and crudely-build guard towers. I guessed that it was only going to be our temporary accomodation while the Germans decided what to do with us. As we were escorted towards the entrance, a bullet-holed wooden sign had the words "HOTEL BAYERISCHER" painted in red, It looked uncomfortably similar to blood as it swung above the checkpointed entryway.

After being stripped of our personal effects and our flying coats, we were marched into a Barracks full of filthy P.O.Ws, who scarecely bothered looking up at our arrival. We were shown to our 'bunks', if you can call them that - the mattresses were badly holed and rock-hard, and there were no covers - and before we had even sat down the Germans had quick-stepped out and slammed the door shut. No sooner had they left than the barracks burst into life - some Americans came over and patted us on the back and one inquisitive British pilot rushed over to Wilson and begun pestering him with questions about life in the U.S.A.S.

Suddenly the finality dawned on me, and I fell backwards on to my bed. I had lost. My war was done. I would be here until it ended. I held my head in my hands, despairing privately. When I again looked up, a ragged British pilot was staring at me intently. Warily, I stared back. After a while, he leaned closer to me, shot a glance towards the door, and spoke to me in a raspy Scottish accent;

"...kin ye keep a secrit...?"





















Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/18 01:20 AM

Sgt. Albert Mayes MC
No. 3 Sqn. RAF.
3 Victories.

September 4th 1918:


'B' flight were up earlier than the sun today! We were to set off at half past four in the morning, headed by Cpt. Wallace, having been tasked with meeting a French Breguet 14. Apparently the Frenchie was after some important photographs, for he had 5 of us coming up to watch his tail for him!

Take-off was a shambles. In the cloudy pitch-black early morning we could barely see each-other's machines as we begun to formate. Somewhere behind me was Rast and, although it's rather unfair on the poor lad for me to say, I was concerned the whole time that he was going to run into the back of me! How in blazes we were meant to find the Frenchman I had no idea.

In a state of extreme caution we begun to climb. Just as we did, I noticed a beam of light shooting up several miles away. A spotlight! That could mean only one thing - there was a hun machine over there! Knowing there was no hope of signalling my wingmen in the dark (Although they must have seen the beam!) I broke away from the formation and headed for the eerie column of light. As I got closer I could see that the beam was moving slowly, with purpose. It had definitely found its man!

In hindsight, I had undertaken a fool's errand. Flying towards an unseen number of foes in pitch-darkness to me now seems completely barmy! But, I admit, I was thrilled at the concept of my first 'night fight' and keen to take the chance to score my next victory! Possibly the lesson of my 20 days in hospital was wasted on me.

However, I was not to learn if I had seriously erred or not, for by the time I reached the light it had begun to search erratically again and whoever it had found was long gone. And so I turned West towards the lines, in hopes of finding my flight again. Far away I saw a black silhouette snaking its way across the face of a cloud, and so I turned for him. We came towards each other, and as he sailed past I saw that it was, astoundingly, the Frenchman in his Breguet!

Swinging around into formation with the Breguet I saw the observer ready on his gun - however, spotting my roundels pacified him, much to my relief! I joined up with the Frenchmen, and awaited the appearance of my squadron. By now the sky had lightened to a slightly more reasonable visibility, and so I begun scanning the skies for aeroplanes.


[Linked Image]
Mayes escorts the Frenchman.


I assume the Frenchman thought his five-man escort had been relegated to just me, as he decided to turn out towards the mud. As we flew along next to each other, we spotted a second spotlight coming up from Arras. I elected not to abandon the Breguet, but that is not to say I didn't keep one eye firmly fixed to the spotlight's trajectory.

Seeing nothing below, I resumed scanning around us for my wingmen. Finally, I spotted five machines in formation a few miles down the lines. I was just about to fly over to join them, when I realised that...I was the 5th wingman in our formation. So...who were these five? Warily, I kept my eyes on the anonymous machines. The sky was growing ever-lighter, but it was still too dark to make out any defining features. However, it seemed to me that the five machines were coming our way. I gritted my teeth. Oh, how I hoped they were our boys...

They turned towards us, and a chill ran down my spine. Fokkers. In an instant I was forced to make my resolve. Scarcely believing my own courage (or, indeed, stupidity!) I stuck by the Breguet. I had bloody well been ordered to see the Frenchman to his destination, and no Hun was going to make me turn tail!

Keeping my eyes on the Huns, I climbed up so as to be on the same level as them. If they were to pounce us, I wanted to be in with a fighting chance! Cautiously the Huns edged closer, and closer still. Then, it happened. In one unified movement all five Fokkers pointed their noses straight at us. This would be a fight to the bitter death.


[Linked Image]
Incoming Fokkers!


I clawed for a few more feet in height, then begun to turn inwards to the attack. Suddenly, a half-mile off my right wing, I saw a second flight also headed towards the Huns. My heart leapt - it was my flight!

Grinning from ear-to-ear, I cocked my twin Vickers. Now we had a fight on our hands! I peered over my shoulder to see the Frenchman turning for home - god speed, friend! Shortly after our two flights merged, and a savage furball broke out.

These Huns looked the part. Their tailplanes were painted in a striking half black, half white design, and their manoeuvring was excellent. I had one man ahead of me, but couldn't get so much as a single burst off at him! Eventually, he gave me the slip and disappeared. I turned back towards the fight just in time to see poor old Rast's Sopwith burst into flames and drop away into oblivion. The poor lad never stood a chance.


[Linked Image]
The Last Moments of Sgt. Chris Rast.



Cursing myself bitterly for allowing Rast to be killed, I saw another of my wingmen chasing one black and white tail, and I flew in to give the Hun a good hiding with him. Together we shot-up the machine as it tried to dive straight down, and we watched with glee as the Hun went in! That was our wingman avenged, at least. We joined up together and cruised along the German lines. After a while, we spotted tracers above our heads and realised that 'Archie' flight must have found a scrap of their own. It looked like a rather fierce one! As I circled below, a second 'flamer' dropped out of the melee. As I got closer I realised with a start that our boys were horrendously outnumbered by the Huns!

I pleaded with my Camel to climb faster as I attempted to rush up and assist 'Archie' flight, and watched in sheer frustration as two Camels tore home with at least five Fokkers in tow. Just then I looked over my shoulder to see one of the devils behind me! I rose to the Hun's insolent challenge, throwing my machine into a right-hand turn. I thought I had evaded, but bullets tore through my planes! Infuriated, I tightened my turn and within two rotations I was behind him, close. I threw a vicious burst into him and he winged over on his side trailing black smoke.


[Linked Image]
Mayes takes on a Fokker D.VII.


Just when I had my Hun where I wanted him, more bullets went through my fuselage. One of the Hun's wingmen was interfering! I turned to face my new opponent, and our waltz began. This new fellow had the most curious decoration to his machine I have seen yet - his fokker was tan with zebra stripes running down the entire fuselage - except for his black and white tail, of course!*

I soon had this upstart in front of me as well, and he suffered a similar fate to his compatriot. After I had placed many rounds into his machine, he finally begun to wallow back and forth, before trying to put in. The poor devil was clearly as shot about as his machine was, for at the last moment, as his propellor ceased spinning, his nose tipped upwards and he stalled for a moment before crashing down to earth.


[Linked Image]
Alfred Lindenberger's final moments.

My celebrating was interrupted by a flak burst that tore shreds of fabric away from my plane and punctured my fuel tank. Taking this as a sign that I had overstayed my welcome, I turned for home. In the distance I saw an aeroplane in a spin collide with the earth. I did not know whose side he was flying on. Unfortunately, my tank ran dry over the mud and I was forced to make a landing right there and then. To add insult to injury, our friends in the S.E.5s flew overhead just as I was landing! The fellow that went over me waggled his wings, and I sighed in annoyance as I watched them sail off Hunlandwards.

It took me until the next morning to scramble my way out of no-mans-land and barter passage to Valheureux. Upon my arrival early on the men were astounded. For the second time I had falsely been reported as killed by a Fokker! Needless to say, the men were very glad to have me back safe and sound. I was saddened to know that in addition to Rast, Haynsworth and McBride, both of 'Archie' Flight, had been shot down and killed in our fight with the skilled black-and-white-tailed pilots. However, Franklyn and Maxted had gotten one each in retaliation. Maxted had also apparently seen one of my Fokkers go in (I assumed that he was the pilot I had gotten my first of the morning with), so that made three of theirs for our three. It seemed to be a day of threes, as that Hun also became my 3rd confirmed victory.

An eye for an eye, as they say.







* Alfred Lindenberger, Jasta 'Boelcke', 9 victories at time of death. Historically Lindenberger scored 12 victories with Jasta Boelcke before going on to shoot down a B17, two B24s and a P-51 with II./JG. 300 in WW2! .



Being involved in the DiD challenge has honestly been so much fun - I only wish I hadn't joined in so close to the Armistice wink what a great community WOFF has!















Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/18 02:42 AM

Wow another good story.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/06/18 11:19 PM

Great Mix up Wulfe


2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Friday, September 6th 1918On alert this morning, did another stint over the aerodrome in the afternoon, engine overheating, have a leak somewhere. Had to change the water connections and finally found the leak in the top water tank.
Rick ‘s back, appears to be right as rain. Removed some infection in one of those mysterious bones in your ear that cause so much trouble.

Stars and Stripes says that since July 15th, Allied forces have captured 140,000 Germans in 7 weeks. That makes about 20,000 a week. We’ve got almost 13 million men elligable for the draft now. You do the math.

Raining the evening.
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/18 12:47 AM

Great stories all around, Gentlemen. Sorry for a bit of a delay on the News of the World. With all that WOTR beta-testing and all that...
Anyways, back to the regularly scheduled program:

News of the World for April - Intrepid Fliers:

April 1
The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were amalgamated to form the Royal Air Force - the first independent air force in the world.
April 2
Martial Law was declared in Canada following the anti-conscription Easter Riots that had occurred in Quebec City between 28 March and 1 April.
April 4
The Battle of the Avre constituted the final German attack towards Amiens which was fought between advancing German troops and defending Australian and British troops.
April 5
Operation Michael was halted when an attempt by the Germans to renew the offensive towards Amiens failed after British troops forced them out of the town.
April 9
Following the failure of Operation Michael, The Battle of the Lys began. The second of the series of attacks making up the German Spring Offensive, Operation Georgette was planned by General Erich Ludendorff with the objective of capturing Ypres and forcing the British troops back to the Channel ports.
April 10
The Battle of Messines 1918 began as German forces attacked north of Armentieres and captured the town.
The British Government passed an extension to the Military Service Act of 1916 raising the upper age of conscription to 50. The law was also extended to Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
April 11
The American steamer SS Lakemoor was sunk by German submarine U-64 whilst en route from Newport to Glasgow.
April 12
During the German Operation Georgette offensive, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig issued his famous order that his men must carry on fighting, "With our backs to the wall", appealing to his forces to stand fast and fight to the last man.
April 13
The Battle of Bailleul began with British troops under the command of General Herbert Plumer.
April 14
General Ferdinand Foch was appointed Commander-in-Chief of Allied forces on the Western Front.
April 15
The Battle of Bailleul ended when the town of Bailleul was captured by German forces.
April 16
German forces progressed on the Lys River and reoccupied Passchendaele.
April 17
Frenchman Bolo Pasha, originally named Paul Bolo, was executed by firing squad after his conviction as a traitor and a German spy.
April 18
The Third Military Service Act came into force in Britain.
April 19
German forces entered the Crimea region.
April 20
British Secretary of State for War, Lord Derby resigned and was replaced by Lord Alfred Milner.
April 21
German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen (more commonly known as the Red Baron) was shot down and fatally wounded while flying over Morlancourt Ridge on the Somme front.
April 22
The British Royal Navy attempted to blockade, and thus neutralise, the key Belgian port of Zeebrugge by sinking obsolete British ships in the entrance to the harbour. The port was used by the German Navy as a base for their U-boats which posed a serious threat to Allied shipping.
April 23
Guatemala declared war on Germany.
April 24
The Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux was launched against British lines in front of Amiens during the Battle of the Lys. It was the first tank-versus-tank battle in history.
April 25
At the Second Battle of the Kemmelberg the German Army attacked and captured the Kemmel Hill (Mont Kemmel).
April 27
Sir William Weir was announced as the Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force.
April 29
A final German attack captured the Scherpenberg, a hill to the northwest of the Kemmelberg and ended the Battle of the Lys.
April 30
British troops advanced east of Jordan at the Second Action of Es Salt in Palestine.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/18 12:48 AM

News of the World for August - Warbirds Rising:

August 1
The Allied Expeditionary Force captured the port of Archangel in northern Russia.
August 2
The Japanese Government decided to land troops at Vladivostok.
August 3
The hospital ship SS Warilda was sunk by the German submarine UC -49 whilst carrying wounded from Le Havre to Southampton, despite being clearly marked by red crosses.
August 4
British forces arrived at the city of Baku on the Caspian Sea.
August 5
German airships launched an unsuccessful attack on East Anglia in England; the raid resulted in the loss of Zeppelin L70.
August 6
General Ferdinand Foch was declared Marshal of France.
August 7
The French armed cruiser Dupetit-Thouars was sunk by the German submarine U-62 400 miles west of Brest.
August 8
The Battle of Amiens, also known as the Third Battle of Picardy, began. The battle was the opening phase of the Hundred Days Offensive - the final period of the War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front. Allied forces made one of the greatest advances of the war on the first day.
August 10
French forces attacked and recaptured Montdidier, Picardy.
August 11
The Allied offensive at Amiens continued to advance, though not with the same spectacular results as were achieved on 8 August.
August 12
The Battle of Amiens ended in a decisive Allied victory. Amiens was one of the first major battles involving armoured warfare, marking the end of trench warfare on the Western Front.
August 13
The British Government formally recognised the Czecho-Slovaks as an Allied nation.
August 15
Part of the Hundred Days Offensive, the Battle of Montdidier ended.
August 16
Japanese General K Otani, commanding the Allied expedition, arrived at Vladivostok.
August 17
The Second Battle of Noyon began as French forces renewed their offensive on the Somme.
August 18
British forces in Flanders began a successful offensive operation in the Action of Outtersteene Ridge.
August 19
Merville was recaptured by British troops on the Lys Front.
August 21
The Battle of Albert was the first phase of a fresh offensive launched by British forces during the Second Battles of the Somme.
August 22
The town of Albert was recaptured by British troops.
August 24
The British merchant ship SS Flavia was torpedoed without warning and sunk by the German submarine U-107 near County Donegal, Ireland whilst travelling from Montreal to Avonmouth.
August 26
The British launched a fresh offensive as the Battle of the Scarpe began during the Second Battle of Arras.
August 27
Stiff resistance from the Germans and their heavily defended positions, coupled with very bad weather limited Allied gains during the Battle of the Scarpe.
August 28
Canadian Divisions seized part of the German Fresnes-Rouvroy defence system after three days of intense fighting.
August 29
The town of Bapaume was recaptured during the Battle of Albert as the British advanced on the Somme.
August 30
Russian political revolutionary Fanya (Dora) Kaplan attempted to assassinate Vladimir Lenin as he left a meeting in Moscow, seriously wounding him.
August 31
Australian troops crossed the Somme River during the night and breached the German lines at Mont Saint-Quentin and Peronne at the beginning of the Battle of Mont St Quentin on the Western Front.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/18 12:50 AM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 7: Prisoner.


August 5th, 1917. 10 PM.

The Scottish Aviator's name was Cpt. Ross Muldoon. After we had made sure no undesirables were listening, he quietly explained to Wilson and I that the Germans were all amassing on their side of the lines in response to a build-up of French and American forces. According to Muldoon, he had seen this kind of build-up many times during his years in the RFC (now known as the RAF), and each time without fail it forewarned the same event. Unfortunately for Wilson, who had yet to encounter a Scotsman before Ross, the explanation was utterly lost on him. He probably better understood the Bosches that carted us in.


"An offensife, an' it's comin' suin!" he said, with a lopsided smile. I shrugged. "Alright, but what good does that do us? You think we'll be liberated?". Ross shook his head. "Nae, but it means thaur willnae be many Huns atween their lines an' this camp...ye ken?". Slowly, I nodded, then leaned in closer. "An escape, you mean?" A fire lit in Ross' eyes. "Two weeks ago," he started in a hushed, yet impassioned voice, "a sheel landed jist oan th' fence in th' coortyard. th' huns quickly pit up a new fence, but ne'er filled in th' crater properly. it's only a wee gap, but big enaw fur one man at a time". I pictured the courtyard we had been marched through in my head. There were a few sentries scattered around, easy to see any movement in the day. However, at night..."Tha'morra nicht, ma observer an' I are gauin' fur it. we could use some extra hands". Ross left it at that.

We turned in for the night, my thoughts racing. An escape plan...but how would we cross the lines?. Ross' unyielding confidence made me believe, or at least want to believe, he would see us through. I glanced over at Wilson, who nodded with a stern look on his face. So, it was settled, then.

We would make a bid for freedom.




Part 8: Fugitive.

August 6th, 1917.

We awoke in the morning, stiff as all hell from sleeping on that sorry excuse for a bunk. No way of washing our faces, and I was already in uniform (The Bosche, of course, hadn't given us any form of nightwear). I sidled over to Ross, who looked up expectantly. "We're in". The Scotsman nodded, the slightest hint of that lopsided smile forming under his smoking-pipe. At 9 AM we were moved in groups of five - there were maybe 20 prisoners overall - into the mess. Here we were served small bowls of cold, lumpy porridge that had clearly been prepared the night before. Under watchful eyes we ate. I took the time to find out about my new colleague, and sat over by Ross and his observer, one 2nd. Lieutenant Georgie Densmore. "So, Muldoon, you've flown for long?" I asked, and he smiled knowingly. "Ah, yank, Imagine...I've bin up since 1916! Georgie-boy haur has bin ma observer since bluidy April". Damn, bloody April...I remember that from the papers. That was when the R.F.C took a savage beating in 1917. He must be some pilot to have survived that. "Aye, bluidy April..." Ross continued, now reminiscing privately, "we hud Fees back then...".

"Fees?" I inquired, and Georgie laughed. "F.E.2s, dear boy! The old pusher types, you must have seen one by now, no? A perfectly sound machine for 1916, but a bloody good way to get yourself shot about by '17!" he chirped happily. I think I know the machine he meant from the aeroplane profiles we'd studied in my Pursuit training. They were strange tail-less machines, designed before we knew how to fire through a spinner. God, the British still used those old things?

After eating we were allowed to roam the courtyard, and I scanned the surrounding fence discretely for our 'door'. Eventually I spotted it. That's a tight fit... I thought, grimacing. God help me if I got stuck in it.

The rest of the day was eventless, and we were eventually escorted back into our prisoners' barracks. Pretending to turn in, we lay wide-awake waiting for the lights to shut off (they had done so last night at around 10:30). Finally, we were plunged into darkness and, without a word, the four of us arose and moved to the rearmost window, carefully pushing it open. The window had a stopper so that it could only be opened a certain amount - coincidentally the space we had left was about the same as the 'door' under the fence. Good. I'd rather find out here that I don't fit I thought, as Ross hoisted himself up. I was amazed at how catlike the Scot was as he effortlessly slid through the opening. Next was Densmore, who with his small frame got through just as easily. I motioned for Wilson to go next, and my heart sank as he came to a halt half-out the window. He was stuck!

A great hairy hand reached out from the dark, and with a pull Wilson was through. On the other side, Ross released him with a stern glance. Now it was my turn. I went through head-first and, to my immense happiness, got through without much of a problem. The night air was bitterly cold, and visibility was poor with the moon being obscured by clouds. This was exactly what we wanted, however, as it obscured us perfectly from what guard remained awake (the Germans weren't particularly bothered with maintaining a strict watch - the majority of prisoners in the camp seemed all but done with the war). Eventually we found our way to the hole and, one by one, we crawled through on our bellies. I had to stop myself from yelping out as the fence scraped a long gash down my back. Feeling a wet warmth running down the back of my tunic, I straightened myself up and helped Wilson through. He got a similar gash on his arm, and part of his uniform tore away on the fence. Carefully, Ross took this scrap and pocketed it.

We walked for what felt like an eternity. Every so often we would bustle into a hedgerow or a treeline and Ross would light a match to check a small ornate compass he'd been hiding in his boot. After what must have been hours, we started to notice more shell-holes, and the greenery of the land begun to meld into a muddy mess. We were nearing the front-lines...I hadn't realised how close our camp was!

It seemed like all the world's Germans were assembled in their lines - if I hadn't believed Ross' warnings about the oncoming offensive, it would be indisputable now. Holding our breath we made our way across the first catwalk - right over a German trench. I could see one or two soldiers down there, propped up against posts or sprawled out on benches. I guess the only thing that saved us is that they wouldn't dream four P.O.Ws would so boldly cross over their heads - they probably mistook us for a patrol!

We repeated this pattern over the next two trenches, and finally, to mine and Wilson's amazement, we reached the front-line German positions! By this point, the sun was threatening to peek over the horizon. We would have to act quickly. My heart stopped as, behind us, a German sentry called out a question to us. Without missing a beat, Georgie swung around and fired back a response in perfect German. A short reply came back, and he nodded to us. However, the brief exchange had roused one or two of the Germans, who had begun to turn their attention on us.

Ross took one look over them, and turn to us. "RUN!" He barked, and, wide-eyed with fear, I obliged. We all did. Suddenly there was a great commotion of Germans shouting orders to each other, men snapping out of sleep and running to positions. We had cleared a fair distance when the gunfire started, and it seemed that the earth all around us was being chewed up by Bosche bullets! Ross called out for us to follow him and, staying as single-file as possible to make ourselves a smaller target, we headed for a particularly deep shell crater. We were moments away when I felt one bullet graze my arm. I stumbled, and Wilson grabbed me and hoisted me to my feet. Eventually we slid into the crater. It had all happened in seconds. After a few minutes had passed the gunfire ceased, and we could hear the Germans settling down. I guess they weren't particularly bothered by our escape - we were only four men after all...we would hardly improve the war effort for our boys by getting home.

"We move a hole at a time. We'll haf' te move fast. If we gang steadily, an' keep the heid, we should be haem by tha'morra". Ross uttered, after catching his breath. Tomorrow? But we'd covered so much ground, and fast! Surely one last home stretch would do it? No...I trusted Ross, he'd gotten us this far already. Wilson begun shakily laughing, and Georgie hushed him. "Dear boy, it's best the Germans don't find out we're still close". He whispered, and Wilson nodded, clasping his hands over his mouth like a kid.

Over the course of the day we made mad sprints from shell-crater to shell-crater, within 15-20 minute intervals. During most of these runs the Bosche chucked some lead our way. Fortunately, it got increasingly less accurate the further away from them we got. By the time the sun was dropping, we had gotten a good third of the way across. I tried my best to ignore the horrifically churned-up men and horses that scattered the battlefields. As the sun begun to set, we exhaustedly slumped into the next hole, and Ross suggested we get some shut-eye and wait until complete darkness, where we could move more safely. I opted to take the first 'lookout' shift, and the other three tried to get comfortable in our current dwelling. The dead German hanging over the lip of our crater didn't help, I'm sure. I don't know how I would manage to sleep through the smell.

As the other three slept, I peeked over the top of the crater and took in the surroundings. About a mile away from where we hid I saw the wreckage of a French SPAD tangled up in a tree. Or was it American? Suddenly, I recalled Soubiran dropping out of formation the day I'd been captured. I hoped the Captain was alright.

After twenty-or-so minutes Ross softly called my name under his breath. I turned, nodded, and lay down to get some rest. Across from me the dead German grinned, observing me lazily with two empty eye sockets.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/07/18 10:35 PM

Good stuff Wulfe and good luck to Benjamin and his cohorts in their escape.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron

Saturday, September 7th 1918

Alk.(1) led a 7 plane patrol at 12:30, covered about 24 miles of Front between St. Mihiel and Watronville. No EA sighted.

A patrol was scheduled for 5 pm but it was called of when it started to rain.

Moved into the tents this evening. Damp pine woods, not very appealing quarters this time of year. Eight men to a tent. Some heavy smokers in ours, pretty close in here sometimes.

(1) Lt. Arthur Hast (Alkali Ike, often shortened to Alk.) Jones, B Flight commander, credited with 4 victories.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/18 01:48 AM

Thank you kindly, Jerbear! Hopefully Benny-boy makes it wink


Sgt. Albert Mayes MC,
No. 3 Sqn. RAF.
4 Victories.

September 5th, 1918:


We held a service for poor old Rast this morning. It was a fleeting affair, as they usually are, but I felt particularly moved. Despite his flying inability, Rast had a certain bumbling charm about him. I shall sorely miss having him wobbling along behind our formation.

As there was no breakdown crew alive skilled enough to fetch my downed Camel from within No-Mans-Land I have taken another Squadron spare as my own. This time, I had it painted up as a proper B flight machine, and I now wear the number 5 on my wings and fuselage. In addition, Erroll managed to fish out an old bucket of red paint and attempted to talk me into painting my cowling and wheel caps red. "It looks like blood - fitting for the squadron's current top scorer!" he crooned, and eventually his charms took effect. McClintock was furious when he saw what we'd done - "What are you doing painting your machine like a bloody squadron leader, Mayes?" He roared, as Erroll snickered in the background. A real devil, my mechanic is!

Despite McClintock's irritations, there was no time to strip the paint from my cowling, and so the red stayed put for our morning patrol over Mont St. Eloi. Our gang merged with 'Archie' flight to form an impressive 10-machine formation. More than once as we climbed I saw McClintock look back at my red-nosed Camel and shake his head in disgust. However, I think some of the other boys found it rather striking! Once or twice I caught a flash of a grin from a wingman.


[Linked Image]
D. 7677, Mayes' 3rd Camel.



As per usual, we reached the mud without any trouble (the enemy didn't like to venture out of Hunland so readily as we would leave the comforts of our own side!). We had to break through a cloud at the edge of the lines, and upon emerging on the other side I noticed that my balloon from the Train Station Raid had been replaced. This annoyed me, I must confess. Why were we sent out to shoot the bloody things down if the Huns just put new ones up right away?

We patrolled nice and low, challenging the Huns to come and get us! As we circled, I did see one formation of 7 or 8 machines far above us, cruising down the Hun lines. I wondered if they'd seen us, and if we would meet later in the morning. By any means, for now they stayed firmly put on their side. Moments later I saw an R.E.8 with 6 Camels in tow cross over our heads. My, it certainly was a crowded morning!

I decided to climb up above our formation in order to better keep an eye out for marauding huns. From my perch I could see a great many machines up and down the lines, all going about their work in relative peace. Then, over on the edge of Hunland, something caught my eye. The group of Huns I had seen earlier had spotted the flight that had passed us, and they were now falling upon them en masse! I immediately broke away from my formation and turned my machine to assist my countrymen.

Very soon I spotted the R.E.8 tearing away from the furball at full speed, with a Fokker hot on his heels. Oh, no you don't! I thought and set my sights on the Fokker. This hun, flying a Black and Yellow machine (1), carried on obliviously as I got behind him and fired a crippling burst through him! He immediately turned for the nearest cloud, attempting to lose me. I checked over my shoulder and, sure enough, one of his wingmen had spotted his plight. I evaded the oncoming attack and the two Fokkers dove through the cloud layer...straight into the middle of 'Archie' flight! My wingmen reacted, and soon the brute that had interrupted my work had four Camels to contend with. Good!

I turned after my Hun, the poor devil was clearly wounded as his attempts to evade me were feeble at best, and I shot him about as I pleased until eventually, trailing a great plume of smoke, his engine gave up the ghost and he spiralled down into oblivion (2).


[Linked Image]
Frommherz' end.


As I turned back to find my flight I saw Franklyn engaged with one fellow and so I spiralled below the battle, attempting to climb up. My appearance must have put the wind up the Hun, for he immediately turned towards his own lines. Franklyn got after him, and so I followed the headstrong Scotsman. It appeared to me that the rest of our squadron had already headed off home.

Although I did enjoy a good scrap, having only two of us in Hunland put a bit of a scare into me! We were now over past the mud, and still Franklyn insisted on running down his Hun. The pair disappeared into a cloud, and I grimaced...how bloody reckless he was being! By now Archie was being chucked up at us in fearful quantity. Come on, Franklyn, bloody well leave him and let's go home! I silently urged.

We were now well clear of the mud, with Vimy visible to the North. Gritting my teeth hard, I swore to Franklyn in my head that I would only pursue for a moment more, before leaving him to his fate. The Fokker's aerodrome was still in sight, and I could a second Fokker circling high above us inquisitively. This is Madness. Franklyn's lost the plot! I thought, and reluctantly turned and left the Scotsman to his fate.

I got back and put in my Fokker claim, before explaining to McClintock what had happened with Franklyn. Frowning and stroking his chin, he patiently listened. "Bloody fool" he muttered. I am glad to say that Franklyn did return about an hour later! However, he had eventually lost his hun and his machine was badly knocked around by archie.

The rest of the day was mostly eventless - 'B' flight had no scheduled missions past our patrol, and 'Archie' flight only went up for the one patrol in the evening. Sadly, poor old Nathaniel Hurst didn't come back - the victim of a Fokker. According to my fellow pilots, it was that damned Black-And-White-Tailed 'Staffel' that got him in the end. We'll be starting tomorrow off with another memorial service, then. At around 9 PM McClintock got a telephone call from our front-lines - my Fokker had landed inside a British trench! I was very pleased to have 'Blooded' my new machine on its first flight.


(1) Jasta 27.

(2)
[Linked Image]

Woah!!







Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/18 02:05 AM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France

Sept 7 1918.


Arrive tonight after hearing reports of Stealth Observation machines roaming over French Roads and factories. The docs rushed my release.

https://giphy.com/gifs/great-race-5vUJGSw1m8kivXXYrd/fullscreen
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/18 02:38 AM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 9: The Mud.


September 7th, 1918. 1:30 AM.

"Barbed wire aheid" Ross warned us as we crawled through the murk. As if in response, we heard the rattling of the wire as Densmore got his trouser leg caught up in the wire. One quick tear later and he was free. We had been going for the last three hours, and were getting close to the American lines! "Wallace - look!" I whispered, and he strained his eyes. "What...?". I pointed, and he followed my indication. In the darkness I saw the white of his teeth flash as he broke into a grin. In the distance, only a couple miles away, we could see the silhouette against the horizon of a Doughboy standing on the papapets of the front-line trenches! We were there! I was about to stand up when Ross grabbed me. "Nae. bide until it's light. They'll shoot anythin' movin' at nicht". I nodded in quiet fear and ducked back down.

After more crawling we reached a sizeable shell-hole. Ross slid down into it, closely followed by Densmore. I followed and turned back round to see Wallace sitting on the edge of the crater. "Why are we still sneaking around?" he asked, at a volume that made us all flinch. "Get down" Ross snarled, and Wallace regarded him in surprise. "What for? Those are our boys out there!" He said, again far too loud. And then he did something that made all of us freeze in terror. He lit a cigarette.

"Pit 'at bluidy thing out!" Ross roared, causing Wallace's face to turn sour. "What the hell's your problem, buddy?" He yelled back, and took a pull of the cigarette. The Orange glow illuminated his face, and Ross grabbed at his ankles, trying to pull him down. Enraged, Wilson kicked Ross hard in the chest, sending him rolling back into the crater. "You've gone mad!" He shouted, and took another pull. Just then, a sharp crack split through our quarrelling, and Wallace swayed, leaned to the side and fell, rolling limply down the side of our shell-hole. His cigarette fell from his mouth and rolled alongside him, coming to rest on his hand. He didn't react to the burn.

Clutching his chest, Ross grimaced. "Bloody fool!" He spat. I just stared down at the thick dark blood flowing from the hole underneath Wallace's left eye. He had been instantly killed by a single bullet. "What the hell were you thinking?" I whispered, before turning away from Wallace's body and throwing up. Densmore sat with his head in his hands. After a while, Ross put a hand on my back. "Sorry, pal" was all he said, and numbly I nodded. "No, no need. I can't believe he..." I trailed off, feeling more bile rise in my throat.

We dared not move after that, all fearing the American marksman that had killed Wallace. I didn't sleep a wink. Instead, I listened to the now-fervent American trenches, all scrambling around and preparing for the 'German Raid' that they were no doubt now expecting.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/18 04:11 PM

Sgt. Albert Mayes MC.
No. 3 Sqn RAF.
5 Victories.


September 6th, 1918:


At 4 AM we got Hurst's memorial service out of the way in time for the Dawn Patrol. Fortunately for us, it would be an easy one, as our patrol area was deep within our own lines. Command had caught wind that Hun two-seaters had started appearing in larger numbers on our stretch of the lines, and so Scout squadrons were being consigned to rear-area patrols at a higher rate, in order to deter the Hun Reconnaissance machines. As we expected, no two-seaters appeared, although it wasn't all bad as we were treated to an exquisite sunrise! Finally, we'd had enough of the cold and decided to head back.

Homeward bound, we rounded a cloud just shy of Valheureux and were astounded to see bursts of Archie a matter of feet away. Perhaps a two-seater had come across this morning after all! McClintock waggled his wings and we lazily listed towards the commotion. It wasn't long before I made out the shape of four machines in amongst the archie bursts...but they weren't two-seaters. They were Fokkers.

In disbelief I watched as the four Huns turned straight for us - and from a lower altitude, too! We all knew that a Fokker wouldn't so much as dream of chasing one of us past our trench-lines, but here were these fellows, bold as you like, so many miles into our lines and picking fights! These artists must be very sure of themselves, I thought.

I crossed over the top of the Fokkers, peering down at them - Ah, of course! It was none other than those devious Black-and-White-Tailed brutes! Who else would be so bold? I thought to myself. As I regarded them, I saw that the man at the head of their flight had painted his fuselage in striking red. Their C.O, perhaps? A top German Ace? I decided that this should be my man.

I turned back to get the signal from McClintock, and was horrified to see that he was leading the flight away, towards our aerodrome! However, 'Archie' flight was still close, and, praying I could count on them to join me, I dove right through the Fokkers and put a burst of vickers fire into the Red Fokker. Their gang broke up, scattering every which-way, and I quickly turned away to attempt to re-climb. Before long one fellow with a large white 'V' painted on his upper wing had taken exception to my attack, and was now busying himself by trying to get onto my tail. I admit that 'V' did manage to hole my machine quite a bit, but he had made the classic mistake of trying to stay with me in the turn, and soon I was behind him. I fired a short burst into him and he immediately dove straight down, as if killed. Unfortunately for 'V', I knew this trick well by now, and I followed him in the dive. At low altitude he realised his ploy had failed, and reluctantly pulled out of the dive before pointing his nose straight for home. By this point there was no sign of any other machines nearby; it was just 'V' and I. I got up behind him again and fired more rounds through him. He tried to break out of my gunsights, but I stuck to him like glue. The poor fellow must have known he was for it then and there!



[Linked Image]
Mayes and 'V' locked in combat.


His engine slightly trailing smoke, 'V' led me into a spiralling dive. Just as I had gotten down to his level he shot back up, using that great climb that the Fokker possesses. I followed, straining everything out of my Camel, but eventually my nose dropped, with 'V' still a ways above me. Clever fellow! Regrettably, his smarts were not enough to save him, as soon after this trick his propellor abruptly ground to a halt, and he fell back down into my gun sights.

Despite having the Hun squarely in my sights with no hope of escape, I hesitated to press down on the trigger. The fellow was clearly going nowhere - his propellor was stopped at low altitude miles behind the lines! I resolved that I was no butcher. I broke away, and flew off to the side of 'V' as he coasted in to land. I am glad to say that the fellow landed safely, and not too far at all from our aerodrome!

I landed alongside the downed German, who was slowly de-planing. It turned out he'd taken a slight knock to the left leg in the rough landing. I rushed over, helping him out of his machine, and he begun to laugh. "Tommie, you had me nervous just now!" He exclaimed. As he stepped down from his Fokker, I noticed the Iron Cross hanging at his neck. "The feeling is mutual! You put some holes through my wing!" I replied, and the German winked, and extended a hand. "Leutnant Hermann Vallendor". I shook his hand. "Sgt. Albert Mayes".

We strolled back to Valheureux, where McClintock invited Vallendor to join the squadron for lunch. Unfortunately for the German, the sentiment was rather soured as one of his wingmen had shot down and killed poor Francis Wilkins. Franklyn was particularly hostile; he and Wilkins were good friends, being the squadron's only two Scots. A breakdown crew was sent out for Vallendor's Fokker, and I tagged along in order to retrieve my camel. I instructed one of the crew to remove a Spandau from the German machine, and to bring it back to Erroll as a present. I claimed the other for myself.


We went up again at 2 PM, just after Vallendor had been taken away, having been charged with escorting an R.E.8 to his reconnaissance target. Again McClintock led us. I was on Franklyn's wing - I must admit, this made me nervous. He was stillvery much fired-up from Wilkins' passing, and I suspected his flying would be erratic if we ran into the enemy. We had only just reached the rendez-vous point in time to see four sleek Hun two-seaters flying along, quite the thing! My, the Huns certainly had guts today - this was the second time a formation had crossed into our side! Was it a full moon tonight? I turned after the formation of Huns. To my irritation, McClintock again kept our flight out of it. He must be losing his nerve. One Two-Seater immediately started for home at my arrival, but the other three stayed together. I circled above them much like a hawk, waiting to pick out the right target. Eventually the Archie broke up their flight, and I dove down on one isolated Hun. What a curious machine this was - it had a Biplane tail! The observer and I traded shots, each of us scoring hits on the other. Eventually I employed the technique of staying under the machine's belly, only surfacing for a quick burst.


On one such attack, I got too close and bullets rattled through my engine cowling. Cursing as oil splattered my face, I held down the trigger and let forth a torrent of bullets, tearing the left upper wing away from the strange machine. It plummeted towards the ground and came to rest near a small farmhouse.


[Linked Image]
Number 6.


I turned for home, but immediately saw a second enemy machine and so decided to try my luck a second time. I got behind the second biplane-tailed machine in a much less favourable position. Feeling very pleased with myself after bringing down his wingman, I recklessly sat right behind this new Hun and jovially fired away at him. However, his Observer was not to be trifled with, and he hit me with a very good burst. I jolted back in my seat, feeling a forceful thud in my shoulder. Alarmed at the precision of this observer, I dove away and left the two-seater alone.

Heading back to Valheureux, I suddenly became aware of a dull ache in my shoulder, that, upon my noticing it, grew into a nauseatingly agonising burn. Groaning and gritting my teeth, I looked down to see blood welling out of a hole in my flying coat, and felt it soaking through the side of my tunic & trouser leg. The agony now was almost unbearable! Fighting not to fall unconscious, I desperately looked for someplace to land. I spotted La Bellvue Aerodrome, thank goodness, and begun to shakily descend, finally touching down. When I was going slowly enough on the ground, I let what little strength I had left escape me and released the controls. My Camel 'ground-looped' to a stop. As I looked around weakly, I could see some of the hangars had been damaged. This aerodrome must have been the two-seaters' bombing target. One pilot rushed out to greet me with a grin on his face. "Bloody good show knocking one of those blasted huns down!" He shouted as he ran over, "That's the right stuff to -" he trailed off as he saw my now-bloodsoaked tunic. "Medics! Here!" He turned and bellowed, before helping me out of my machine.

I believe I must have lost consciousness after that, for I next remember being in the less-than-pleasant setting of a Casualty Clearing Station. I felt rather silly sitting quietly with my arm in a sling as all througout the Station men's screams of agony filled the stagnant air. The sound was horrifying - but I was becoming used to horror by now. Later in the day McClintock sent Erroll over to let me know that my Two-Seater, a 'Hannover', apparently, had been confirmed and that, to my outrage, my 'Boelcke' Fokker hadn't! What reason could they possibly have to deny me that victory...was it because I didn't butcher the poor helpless fellow? Some nerve from McClintock, who dared not even go near the Boelcke Staffel!

Seething, I thanked Erroll and sent him on his way.



Unfortunately 'Calamity Mayes' is out of action for the next 13 days. Never take a two-seater lightly!

On a side note - will WOFF reject a Fokker D.VIIF or a D.VII OAW claimed as a Fokker D.VII? Despite citing no witness, I was really quite suprised when a victory scored well inside allied lines was thrown out!



Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/18 05:47 PM

yeap

and I guess Bruno will have to start potting a few Camels
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/18 07:05 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France
4 Xictorys.


15 missions
10.7 hrs

Sep 8 1918.

Post to a fight of 4 Spads for Escort of 1 Recon type, Nearly got Chopped up there. Ran into 2 Flights of Huns, One flight chase and forced me down ( our side of Lines ) and the other chased and shot down 1 of three Spads. The Recon fled for home after taking hits. No score and mission failure for us.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/08/18 09:01 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Sunday, September 8th 1918

Five SPAD patrol with Alk. 06:15, usual route, nothing to report. Oil pump quit, made it over the lines before the engine quit altogether, dead stick landing at French airdrome

Rain shut flying down for the rest of the day. [Linked Image]

Saw the new model Marlin tried out on the range. Seemed to work very well, fires much faster than the Vickers. Supposed to be able to carry 700 rounds for it, as opposed to the 400 for a Vickers. I’m in no hurry to give up my Vickers. It takes a while to get to know a machine gun, learn its peculiarities and work out its flaws. That’s why they don’t allow the doughs to swap MGs when one outfit relieves another in the trenches. I’ve got mine just the way I want them now and you don’t need 1,400 rounds in an air fight. I’ve never used more than 400 rounds in a fight, but for ground strafing it’d be handy.

We sit around in the tent after lights out and chew the fat. Some amazingly dirty stories, some of them actually believable, truly filthy jokes. How disappointed Daddy would be at the morals of our boys. Some useful discussion as well.

I performed one of my mock sermons, well received by some, but others were so frightened by it they asked me to stop, afraid lightening would strike me and burn them too. Very superstitious for educated men, but then, we all have our superstitious side, especially in war.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/18 03:09 AM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France
4 Victorys.

Sep 9, 1918.

Well , I finally got back,but my a/c is being towed in by Horse Cart. It will take at least a day to Repair when it gets here. C' est La Vie. as the saying goes.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/18 03:51 PM

And so, after waiting sooooo long, Stachel gets his beloved DVII....... infact the whole squad did.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/09/18 10:48 PM

2nd Lt.John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Monday, September 9th 1918

Swedeholm is a prisoner. Wally led a patrol out yesterday morning, went a little way into Germany. Swedholm dropped out for an unknown reason and didn’t report in. Balloon observers saw him land and say he didn’t set the SPAD on fire. There’ll be no doubt in the German’s minds that we’re here now with that kicking mule on the side of his plane.

Wally’s probably going to get reprimanded for going over the lines. We were ordered not to but nobody was taking it that seriously as long as you just put one toe over and scooted off if you saw EA. Group HQ issued strict orders now that under no circumstances are we to cross over. If you do you’re subject to a Court Martial.

Hartneys having a decoy airdrome built about 4 miles away. Since the Germans will be looking for us now, he’s going to light it up at nights to give them something to bomb

Intermittent rain, no regular patrols. Went up for a scarecrow patrol to keep the Rumplers away in the afternoon. Got to 4,000 meters and the keyway of my prop gave way, caused terrific vibrations
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/18 06:17 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France
4 Victorys.


Sep 10, 1918.


The Riggers are working on my kite, reassemble, fix landing struts, broken Spar , and a lot of holes. It will be ready by late day or tonight. The Esc flew in the light rain doing 2 patrols No e/a but one a/c is Missing.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/18 06:20 PM

Lederhosen: Never trust Stachel as some said " There's something like a Corbra about him "
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/10/18 10:08 PM

That's a mean-looking Fokker Herr Stachel has himself wink


The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 10: Fokkers.


September 9th, 1918.

"Come on - tell me!" Monk urged, a wide grin on his face. I shook my head again, exhausted from his onslaught. "How the hell did you make it back, Frisk? You gotta tell me!". I sighed. In my head I played it on repeat; the moment Wilson had leapt out of the shell-hole and called out to the Doughboys in the forward trench. He had barely managed a "Hello" before every gun on the line shot him all to hell. "Monk, I don't want to talk about it, okay?" I said, for the third time.


After I had parted ways with Ross and his observer I called Soubiran's office from the front. Just like him, he showed no surprise at hearing my voice, and sent a car over to get me. I had scarcely entered the mess when I was bombarded by cheers, questions, pats on the back, all of which failed to register with me. Eventually Larner dispersed the crowds of astounded pilots. "Can't you see he's shaken up?" He bellowed in frustration. Huh. Shaken up - yeah, tell me about it...

I was grounded on the 8th, despite a feeble attempt to protest on my behalf. Soubiran was adamant that I should stay down, and his will quickly decimated my own. I spent the day in something of a haze, watching SPADs take-off and return for most of the afternoon. As early evening rolled around I diverted my attention to a great storm in the distance. It looked as if it was coming this way.

Today I was awakened by the sound of our barracks door thundering against the outer wall - it had been torn open by the ferocious storm that had worked its way over to us in the night, and now swung free. It seemed to be enjoying its freedom, and caused enough commotion to have the whole of the 103rd out of bed by 6 AM. Cursing the damned hunk of wood, we congregated in the mess to go through our usual routine of eating breakfast before indulging in our various comforts - reading, writing, games of cards and the like. I noticed a few new faces in amongst the usual crowd. New recruits, or pilots I'd just failed to notice before?

Breakfast today tasted incredible. It was the usual meal, ham and eggs bartered off the local farmers, but something seemed different about it. In hindsight, perhaps something was different about me. By any means, the morning had come and went in the time it took me to blink and before I had gained my senses I was in my machine, about to embark on an escort mission. A D.H.4 from the 50th was heading far into Bosche lines to drop some presents on an airfield.

We were soaked before we had even left the ground, and a cold and miserable 2nd. Flight headed to meet up with the DeHav. After forming up above our Biplace friend, we scooted over into Bosche territory and, amazingly, got all the way to our target unmolested. At one point a lone Fokker appeared from behind a cloud but, seeing 7 SPADs bearing down upon him, he decided he wished to live a little longer and promptly circled straight back into his cloud. I was pretty amused by the sight of it - it reminded me of a gopher popping in and out of its hole.

On the way back we flew through a cloud, and by the time I was through the other side my formation had just...vanished. Beginning to feel nervous, I turned for home. Just then, a lone Fokker appeared below me, clearly in a similar predicament. I cocked my Vickers and dove upon him, getting a good burst into the unsuspecting Bosche. He must have been new as they come, for he barely tried to evade me as he flew - instead, he just carried on straight, hoping I would leave him alone. I continued to pepper him before spotting a second Fokker diving in from my right side. I dodged the attack and soon was behind him as well - I think he lost sight of me after attacking. He got a good burst as well, and I think he must have been wounded, for he fell into a spin momentarily before, like his Kamarade, flying straight and allowing me to shoot him up as much as I liked.

I'm quite embarrassed to admit it, but I ran out of bullets before the Fokker went down. I flew right up to him to inspect his machine, and it seemed that every inch of his plane was holed-up. However, he flew on.

Cursing myself for failing to down either 'sitter', I turned again for home, giving it full throttle. As I was crossing the lines, I was alarmed to spot four Fokkers that had been chasing me for god knows how long! Fortunately, our A.A soon saw them off. I was grateful when I finally got home.

Whoops, getting a bit reckless! I put poor Frisky through the ringer...again...

I've really been enjoying reading the old stories of pilots gone by, and decided to have my own humble attempt at 'commemorating' this awesome challenge by trying to come up with some profiles of old pilots' crates! If you feel like checking it out have a look here: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.p...-the-centenary-did-challenge#Post4438199 wink














Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/18 12:27 AM

Sgt. Albert Mayes MC
No. 42 Stationary Hospital,
5 Victories.


10th September, 1918:

Ugh. Back in this place again. Seeing as my wounded shoulder was only 'minor' (compared to the horrific injuries suffered by our boys in the trenches, that is) I 've been rather crudely ferried back to good old No. 42. in the back of an ambulance. I'm keen to get back up in the air, but the nurses insist I need to rest my arm. At least the company is interesting again - no German pilots this time, but the chap in the bed next to me is an old dog from the RFC days - Cpt. Edgar Hurst, his name is. Hurst has been regaling me with various outrageous stories of his war so far. The old boy has been in it since 1915!

Hurst is a bear of a man, covered in various nicks and scars collected here and there, but his eyes shine with a kindness I've seldom seen in the nurses here, never mind the fighting men! He's been stomach-shot this time, but he is in perfectly high spirits about the whole thing. This afternoon he told me another story - this one has to be my favourite to date! As he tells it, he had just earned himself a well-deserved rest period of one month after being downed back in the third day of 'Bloody' April 1917. He decided to visit his family in Liverpool for the first two weeks, and spend the second two partaking in the decadence of London.

He stayed at a place named the 'Cavendish Hotel' (I know it well, being a Londoner. Unfortunately, it is not for the likes of a commoner such as myself!), a grand old victorian building and home to the many elite socialites of London town. The place was run by the notorious Matron, Rosa Lewis, known to some as the 'Grand old Lady'. Naturally, Hurst ran his pockets dry long before he stayed for the intended two weeks, but during one night he had been invited to a soirée hosted by Mrs. Lewis herself, in her own sitting room no less! Many of the guests that night were famed pilots and other officers of note. He partook in the merriment of the evening (which, according to Hurst, became quite rowdy indeed!) after bolstering his courage with several flutes of Champagne. As he traversed the sitting room, the piano complimenting his increasingly drunken state, he saw a most peculiar sight indeed!

I howled with laughter as he told me about one RNAS Aviator he had encountered, who was single-handedly setting about the task of exhausting the room's supply of caviar! Hurst briefly spoke to the "Caviar Fiend", as he amusingly referred to him as, who by this point had filled himself to near bursting point. Having something of the devil about him (how deceptive those kind eyes are!), Hurst took it upon himself to inform Lady Lewis of the poor pilot's weakness for Caviar. To his evil delight, the Matron had yet another dish, with champagne, sent to the poor chap's room! The fellow must have taken one look at the dish and immediately fallen ill!

Ah, I have enjoyed Hurst's stories very much. They make the war seem much more like a silly parade of lads mucking around, rather than the hell it is. Tomorrow I may repay Hurst's story of the "Caviar Fiend" with the tale of Chris Rast's cigarette.

For now, though, I shall indulge myself in some of the rest the nurses say I so desperately need.

Just a sly nod to one of Raine's expertly crafted stories!

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/18 04:33 PM

Adjutant, Darcel Limoges
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France
4 Victorys.


Sep 11, 1918.


Dawn Patrol in the rain. What a mess. Lost the flight going through clouds and the muck. The Haze in the rain was so bad I never found them so had to guess . No luck . Finally found an AF and landed ( Toul AF ).

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/18 09:11 PM

Wulfe,

I've finally had a chance to catch up on your excellent tales, as I'm travelling and away from my PC for about ten days.

Had a laugh when I read of your man's encounter with the redoubtable Rosa Lewis. Hope he kept his virtue with all those young ladies.
Posted By: Robert_Wiggins

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/18 10:30 PM

Good stories all around folks!

Having finished beta testing WOTR and issuing a few mods for it, I have decided to catch up on all the good stories that have been going around.
I hope to get Godfrey back in the air and issue a few stories of my own soon.

Best Regards;
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/11/18 11:58 PM

Welcome back! And glad you enjoyed it wink

The story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 11: Two German Funerals.

September 10th, 1918:

Oh boy. We were in for it today.

There's a Bosche Kite Balloon over near Verdun that had been making a nuisance of itself recently and, of course, it fell to 2nd flight to go shoot the gasbag down. Larner led the patrol, much to his disdain - he wants absolutely nothing to do with balloons. Dolan, Pyne and Cauffman formed the rest of our flight. As I have no wingman at the moment, Soubiran himself decided to, as he put it "Keep a watchful eye" on me. He wasn't impressed in the least at my solo stunt yesterday;

"You hop the lines, by some miracle, and the first thing you do when I let you back in the air is to charge around on the German side chasing Fokkers, and alone, no less! Shall I just torch your machine myself, and save the trouble of re-fuelling and re-arming it, Drummond?"

"I'm very sorry, Sir. I had got separated, and-"

"You get separated, you fly home. Don't pretend we haven't told you that".

"but-"

"Damn it, Drummond! You know how many fool pilots I've lost?! Don't get it into your head that you're some kind of hero, or I'll have you out of this squadron quicker than you can snap your fingers! Clear?"

"Yes, sir. It won't happen again."


Yeah, the boss wasn't pleased in the least, and so up he came to babysit me. How embarrasing.

The damned rain had carried on through the night, and it was still coming down strong as we took off at first light and climbed up over the top of our old pal, "Je Vois Tout". Miserable and half-drowned, I watched my upper planes slice the raindrops in two as we flew along the lines between St. Mihiel and Verdun. At one point I caught Soubiran's gaze, and he held his two fingers up to his eyes. Watch for the Bosche!. I acknowledged, and begun scanning vast swathes of grey, wet, and totally empty sky. I lazily watched as a lone scout appeared from within the clouds above us. Staring, I could see that it was a Fokker. No, Two Fokkers. Three, no, Five. Seven? Oh, god. Here we go.


[Linked Image]
Jasta 65 Arrives...



Larner had seen them almost at the same time I had, and swung our formation around to face them. They accepted our invitation, and I watched in anticipation as they all put their machines into steep dives. I picked my target out and got the scare of my life when a different Bosche dove straight down at me, his Black-Fuselage'd Fokker screaming past within inches of my tail - he must have pulled up hard underneath me, as in the same second he nearly caught my nose on his way back up!

I had scarcely regained my composure when bullets started impacting my machine. Somehow that damned hun was behind me already, peppering the hell out of my machine! I tried to spin away but the German was having none of it. Gritting my teeth I weaved, climbed, circled, and did everything else in my power to get the tenacious German off my back. Behind him I could see Soubiran and another one of ours trying to get him off me, but having little success. After what seemed like hours, one of my wingmen finally got a strike and the German turned off. Now out of harm's way, I allowed my fear to convert itself into fury, and turned back to dive after my pursuer. I got one good burst into him right away, at which point he went into a steep nose-dive. Not happening, pal. I followed him in the dive, looking for vengeance. He pulled up sharply about 200 meters from the deck, but I was ready for him. He seemed surprised as a second volley of bullets went through his machine, and tried to turn. However, this just gave me a bigger target and one carefully-aimed burst later I had his wing off! I watched as he twirled down hellwards and a triumphant laugh escaped me. Caufmann appeared on my left wing with a wide grin on his face and gave me a thumbs-up.


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Got one


We circled back, and not a moment too soon for out in front of us one of our boys had got himself caught alone with a second Fokker! We turned to aid our comrade - to my amazement, it was Soubiran, and the German was all over him! I intervened, firing a burst at the Bosche to deter him, and as he turned I saw in bold white the inscription "U.10" on his wings. I don't know what made me remember that detail, but remember it I do.

Needless to say, "U.10" had no problem getting out of the way of my gunfire. however, he failed to spot Percy Pyne, one of the eggs that had arrived during my stay with the Germans, dive in from above with both his Vickers going beautifully, and before the German knew what was coming his Fokker burst into a great ball of fire. Luckily for him he didn't have too far to fall. Good for you, Pyne! I thought to myself as I watched the twisted wreck of "U.10" land in a flooded shell hole, kicking up a wonderful shower of sparks and hissing clouds of steam.


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The Death of Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay.


Both Pyne and I had the simultaneous idea to head back - the fun was just about over and we only had each other for company. I tried to ignore it, but I was worried by Soubiran's absence. Surely no Bosche was alive that could knock the boss down that easy. He must have turned back already. On our way back we saw a couple of our boys putting in at the twin airfields of Lemmes and Vadelaincourt and so I led Pyne in to join our colleagues. As it turned out our friends were Caufmann and, to my relief, Soubiran. As I de-planed, Caufmann ran up to us with the widest grin I've ever seen on his face. "Here they are, our two killers!" I flashed him a sharp-toothed grin of my own. "See his wing come off - it nearly took me with it! But how about Pyne's flamer?!". We excitedly chattered about the fight before Soubiran appeared beside us in his typical looming way. "Drummond". Tensely I turned to face the boss, expecting to be chewed-out again for getting my SPAD shot up. "That's the stuff. Keep it up".

Six words were all I got off Soubiran for my morning's work. I felt immensely proud. My victory was confirmed, as was Pyne's, later in the day.


One more victory and I'll have equalled Casper's score.



Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/18 12:08 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Tuesday, September 10th 1918

Heavy rain all night and today, everything damp. Read, wrote letters, played cards. Went to get Pup and let her splash around in the mud awhile, looked like a drowned rat.

Lots of singing tonight, much drinking.



Wednesday, September 11th 1918


Dud for flying, still raining constantly. Dewey and I took the Indian with a buddy seat over to Bar-le-Duc this morning. Bought a few things for the mess, cheese, butter etc. Dewey got some more liquor for the mess.

The liquor is sold by the drink. Each member of the Bar Association pays 75 francs. This entitles him to drink at the bar. I don’t drink that much but I pay the 75, I’m not short on money and it keeps everybody friendly when you join in and pay up.

Got a little wet but we’ll live. Saw 2 big batteries of 155mm Trench Howitzers and a US Engineer train.

General Orders from HQ say that every effort must be made to cut out drinking in the Air Service. We’re specifically noticed as boozers. How unjust, and how true of many of us. Maybe General HQ should go up in one of these crates to get shot at and see how welcome a drink can be to calm the nerves and settle a stomach cramped by Castor Oil.

Not many of us sober tonight, several falling down drunk. Hope they don’t live to regret it, latrine news says the Big Show starts at 5 am tomorrow. General HQ won’t be too happy if half the Group have their heads too far under liquor to fly.
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/18 08:01 AM

Stachel out till the 28th Sep.

One of those "RL" moments that cost Richthofen his life.
Jasta 16b ordered to babysit a balloon. As they arrive at 1400m, a group of Bregets are over head. Sure enough two of em fall out and dive on us.
A wild melee starts with 4 D7's on the tail of one Franzmann. Too much traffic and a collision will probably happen, so I move off to the side to watch.
No signs of the 2'nd enemy any where, so I'm sitting back and waiting for the others to collide with each other.

And then "WACK"...blood all over the place and the prop blast of a Breget as it flys past my screen. Feeling so sucure, I'd forgotten that the other
Franzmann changed his mind and came back to help his doomed friend.
I eventualy got him but Stachel is out till the 28th.....but still alive.

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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/18 12:48 PM

Sgt. Albert Mayes.
No. 42 Stationary Hospital.
5 Victories.


12th September 1918:

Big news today...

It had just gone 10 AM and, feeling quite stiff and irritable, I decided to climb out of bed and go join the “Boiler Gangâ€. Before I get to the news of today, I shall have to explain who these fellows are.

Unlike my last stint at No. 42, my bed is on the third, and top, floor of the hospital. On the attic floor the grand old building’s roof slopes to a point, supported by thick oak crossbars that hang just about average head height (I soon discovered this means that any man past a certain height spends a lot of time crouching as he walks, leading to plenty complaints of sore backs to the nurses!). Despite the charming decor, the roof is in disrepair and so all the chill of the French September is able to get at us, should it please it to do so.

A thick pipe runs vertically through a cutout in the floorboards at about the middle point of the ward, and exits through the roof. Attached to this pipe is a boiler, fuelled by hot coals typically, that offers some warmth to the immediate area. The far corners of the ward don’t benefit at all from this, however. In fact, the room’s edges seem to constantly remain at an unnatural coldness; last night a nurse had to pour hot water on a young cavalry officer’s hand to un-freeze it from an icy bedpost.

The “Boiler Gang†are a bunch of enlisted infantry types that, day in and day out, crowd as close to the boiler as possible without burning themselves on the scolding metal. There they share stories and cigarettes, and take it in turns to sneak mouthfuls of whisky while the others keep an eye out for the nurses.

Today was particularly wet and stormy, so I decided to introduce myself to the Gang with the hopeful return of a share in the heat. I tried to coax Hurdt over as well, but he simply smiled and explained “I’m far too tired to bother, lad. Besides, I can always nick the sheet off the bed next to me if it gets too coldâ€.

I had just sauntered over and opened my mouth to speak when a Lieutenant tore into the ward, riding some poorly-maintained wooden crutches, and twice yelled out “The yanks are advancing on St. Mihiel!†before rocketing back out the way he came.

The men all fervently murmured among themselves. Was this the start of a push that could end the war? Was it the next senseless mass slaughter? Every man had his own answer.

All I knew was that the offensive was far away from our hunting grounds. I doubt we’ll see much change in the Huns on our side of things. If anything, and my fingers are crossed for this, there will be less of them in the sky.

I wonder if things are ‘hotting up’ for our American friends in the Verdun region?

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/18 05:19 PM

Nice, luv the stories with the morning coffee.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/18 05:27 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Raray AF
Marne, France
4 Victorys.


Promoted to Sous Lt. then Area Patrol in the rain. Bont'e Divine !

Attached picture CFS3 2018-09-12 10-11-51-84.jpg
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/18 11:03 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Thursday, September 12th 1918

Opening day of the Big Push, started just as predicted, 5 am. Americans advanced on both sides of the salient 1,000 meters with no resistance at all. 8,000 prisoners, Thiaucourt, Montsec and St. Mihiel , the strongest positions in the sector, all in our hands. At one place a whole Austrian Regiment surrendered, 2,200 men, gave up without a shot. Horrible weather but we had to fly anyway. Rain, low overhanging clouds sometimes down as low as 300 meters, gusty wind all day.

No one seemed to dissipated to fly, despite the night bombing.(1)

Snake, Alk and Muther went up first, couldn’t go above 1,000 meters but valuable info on operations seen from low altitude.

Dewey and I went up with Alk a little later. Couldn’t fly above 500 meters, very dangerous, worried the whole time my engine would conk at this low altitude. This thing doesn’t glide like a Nieuport, drops like a rock.

Towns and woods all burning, terrific shelling all along the line. Roads all clogged with damaged wagons and trucks, roads themselves almost obliterated by the shells. Lots of aircraft sighted, none identified as Hostiles. Fired at anything that looked Hunnish.

Hartney’s boyfriend, Luke from the 27th roasted a sausage today. They say he was acting pretty crazy, made 3 passes at the thing before it blew. His SPAD was too badly damaged to fly back so it was written off, he came back on a motorcycle.

Joined a voluntary trench strafing party with the 94th about 17:00. Visibility cleared a little and we were able to fly at 1,500 meters. We attacked machine gun nests, artillery positions, anything we could find. A number of hits on my SPAD. My engine conked and I had to make an emergency landing just behind our lines, among the craters. The engine caught fire as I was landing, I had to bail out of the machine as soon as it slowed down enough. Got some minor burns and scrapes but nothing to keep me out of action. Ammo went off like 4th of July, had to bury myself in the mud to keep from getting hit. Lost my nice mirror, Vickers and Nanette and Rintintin, all burned up.

Putnam of the 139th Aero was killed today. (2) That makes Rick our highest scoring man now. He told me that, rather than feeling honored, he feels like he’s been jinxed since every man who’s held the honor so far is dead.

(1) Night bombing – sleeping all day and going to clubs, chasing women, drinking, etc all night.


(2 )David E Putnam 1st LT 139th Aero died 12 Sep, 13 confirmed kills, possibly as many as 30 including unconfirmed.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/12/18 11:15 PM


Sorry, this one may be a tad on the long side - I've been trying to add a little personality to some of the characters to make my stories a little more...er...story-ish....!




The story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 12: Thunder.


September 11th, 1918:


All sorties have been scrubbed for the better part of the day. The weather has gotten dreadful overnight and, even if we could traverse the soaked-through muddy airfield, our SPADs would get blown around the sky like so many fallen leaves if we were to even attempt going up. Shooting up Bosches is out of the question - nobody, no matter how good, could get their guns on target in this kind of storm! We'll simply have to sit indoors and wait it out.

In the morning, around maybe 5 AM, we were suddenly wakened to the cry of "Aw, Hell!". Shooting up out of bed in alarm, we turned round to see Pyne sitting up in his drenched bunk, helplessly looking around at us. The poor guy was soaked to the skin! Almost immediately we noticed the section of roof above his head that had split, letting a flood of rainwater drop mercilessly onto Pyne as he slept. We all howled with laughter, as Pyne furiously threw off his bed sheets and grabbed his uniform, storming off to change. Our sides aching, we stared up at the hole in the roof.

Throwing our flying coats over our heads, we made a mad dash for the 103rd's mess hall and got about halfway before the torrential rain beat us into submission. We all dove into the 213th's mess to escape the weather, only to see a gathering of inquisitive pilots staring at us. Of course, Monk was the first to speak. "Heyo, we got caught up in the weather - you boys mind if we dry off for a bit?". One Captain smirked, looking over our dripping-wet clothes in amusement. "Yeah, why not. Have a seat".

Having secured our salvation from the rain, some of us decided to snoop around (myself included). On the wall, above a roaring and delightfully warm fireplace, hung a large oil painting of the 213th's squadron insignia, a fearsome-looking Indian head depicted as letting out a terrifying war cry. The brush-work was exquisite - I could almost hear the Indian Warrior's call. All four of the squadrons based at Vaucouleurs wore a variation of the "Indian Head" - but only the 103rd sported the "Sioux Head" made famous by the legendary Lafayette Escadrille. On either side of the fireplace, which sat central at the back wall of the Mess, various salvaged parts of German aircraft littered the wall. The rudder of a Fokker, the wingtip of an Albatros, so on.

On the right hand side a small counter-top stretched out from the wall, and behind it we saw shelves stocked with all kinds of liquor imaginable. Ah, so that's why the 93rd's pilots would come over every night. Of course, we had a bar of our own in the 103rd's mess, but if you didn't like wine you were out of luck. A scrawny 2nd. Lieutenant sidled up to me and nodded towards the bar. "Anything for you?" he asked with a hint of an accent, and I nodded. "I havent had any good Bourbon since I left the States!" He smiled. "Bourbon it is". He expertly poured out a glass in one fluid motion and slid it across the countertop, where I caught it mid-slide. My god, it even had ice in it! Immediately raised it to my lips. Oh, I had missed the taste of good Bourbon! Drawing a long gulp out of the glass, I took a seat by one of the nearby tables. The airman picked out a bottle of champagne for himself and joined me. "Oh - where are my manners? Bastien Côté, pleased to meet you".

I looked at him inquisitively. "Bastien Côté? Sounds mighty French...how did you end up in the USAS?" I inquired. "Ah, well, my father left France for America a number of years ago. There he met my mother. Naturally, he wanted his first son to have a proper French name. When the war broke out, I tried to join the French Army, but they wouldn't have me despite my lineage". In feigned disgust he cried out "Non, vous êtes Américain!", and I snickered. "Well, eventually I was able to talk my way into the Lafayette Corps".

I grinned. "Similar to me, then! Mom had me in Scotland, but I couldn't join the RFC. Had to wait until we came over to sort this war out". Bastien broke out into a cheshire grin. "Scotland! Ah, you know, the French and the Scottish have been good friends before. I think that perhaps we shall be the same!". I raised my glass to him and took another sip. Just then I saw Monk, grumbling to himself and throwing his flying coat over his head by the door. I looked over at Larner and Cauffmann, who were both giggling like a pair of schoolboys. Caufmann caught my eye, and shouted over; "We needed someone to go get the day's orders - Monk drew the short straw!". Chuckling, I turned back as Monk wrenched the door open. Unluckily for him, the wind had changed direction and he immediately got a face-full of rain, much to the amusement of Larner and Cauffmann.

Turning back to Bastien, I resumed our chat. "Yeah, I think we'll be pals, too. I'm Frisk, by the way, Frisk Drummond". He raised an eyebrow. "A nickname, no?" he inquired, and I nodded. "Yup. I think you need one, too. How about 'Paris'?". He seemed to swell with pride. "Paris will do just fine!".

I pointed to the painting on the wall. "Who did that? It's very good...". Without looking round, Paris replied.

"Oh, no, it's my own work, but it's not much".

"Not much? It's brilliant! You're a painter then?"

"No, I'm a pilot! Before the war I dreamed of painting".

Suddenly my mind flashed to the SPAD I had received after losing ol' no.12 on the Bosche side, and an idea crept into my head. Apart from my new number, 23 (One of the new arrivals had received the number 12 after I was reported missing), it remained factory-new. "Say, do you think you could paint my crate for me?". Paris cocked his head to the side. "Oh, of course! Why, what did you have in mind?". I mulled the question over. "Ah, well, not much yet to be honest, just one small thing". Just then Monk burst through the door, rain dripping off his nose and eyebrows. He was beyond soaked, and had lost his flying coat somewhere along the way. From beside the fireplace Larner roared with laughter. "Everything's been scrubbed!" Monk irritably shouted, before throwing himself down into a nearby armchair.

"Well, let's go then!". "Now? To the hangars through all of that?" I asked, astounded. Paris shrugged. "It's only rain!". I stared at him for a moment, nodded, and knocked back the remainder of my Bourbon.


As we leaned into the storm, edging our way over the aerodrome, I head Paris shout to me over the wind "So, have you met any Bosche yet?" he yelled, and I nodded. "Got one yesterday! A Fokker!". Paris looked at me in surprise. "A Fokker? Don't get me wrong, Frisk, but I didn't see a killer in you! So, you're a wolf in disguise-" he abruptly stopped, a strange look coming over his face. Slowly, he broke out into a grin. "Aha! That's it!" he shouted. "That's what?". "You'll see - let's keep going!".

We reached the hangar my SPAD was sheltered in, and scrambled inside. I pointed out my machine to Paris, and he put a hand on my shoulder.

"Okay. I'll get to work".

"But I haven't-"

"Just be patient. I won't be long".

That evening Soubiran gathered us in the 103rd's mess. "Gents. You may have noticed the build-up of troops in the lines recently. Tomorrow, our boys are making a push with the French. A real push". We all stared at each other, excitement visibly welling within us. "If the Germans have any fight left in them, the skies are likely to get more crowded over the next few days. There's also a chance we'll be getting sent on more strafing runs. In addition, H.Q says we go up no matter what the weather is like. What I mean to say is, you boys better get your act together".

A gleam in his eye, Soubiran looked over his pilots not unlike a proud father regarding his sons.

"Get some rest, boys. Tomorrow we're going after Metz".


Part 13: Balloon-Buster



September 12th, 1918:


Monk, Ponder, Furlow and I stood alongside my SPAD on the 'ready line'. "I like the wheels," Monk said, earning him an exhausted look from Furlow. "The wheels? You dullard, Monk! No, the inscription is the good part...that blue's a bit overdone, though". Now Monk looked annoyed. "The Inscription? What does it even say...? Loop Dege...Loop Degezz...?". Suddenly Soubiran performed his magical appearing act behind us, "Loup Déguisé" he explained, and a slight smile appeared on his face. "Wolf in Disguise". The Boss turned to me. Uh oh, here it comes...

"A bold statement, Drummond. You'd better not get yourself shot down while wearing that. That would give the Bosche a good laugh...". He turned to leave, but paused and turned back. "That blue's a bit overdone. I'd re-paint it". and with that he strolled on past us, boarding his SPAD. "Ever the optimist..." Ponder muttered, lighting a cigarette which he smoked leaning against his own machine. I checked my watch. "We're supposed to be up already. Where is he?" I asked irritably. Without answering, Furlow gestured behind me to Dolan, who had emerged from the Mess tangled in his flying coat. He rushed over to us, and Ponder flicked his cigarette.

"Glad you could join us, Charlie...I hear there's a war over there. Should we go have a look?".

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. Let's go".


Monk turned to us. "Alright, boys. Best of luck! Do us all a favour and knock down that balloon so we don't have to go over a third time, eh?". I climbed into my SPAD and turned to face him. "We? You coming too, Monk?". He grinned. "Nope. I'm off to write my sweetheart. Enjoy!". And with that he and Furlow sauntered back off to the Mess hall.

Led by Ponder, we took off in two pairs of two and climbed towards St. Mihiel. Dolan sat on Ponder's wing, and I stuck behind Soubiran. Our target was the balloon we'd set out to get on the 10th...although we had put on a brave face, we were all (apart from Soubiran) nervous of running into those black Fokkers again. Dolan especially - his machine had been shot up pretty bad in that last fight. Perhaps that's why he had been late - from what I've heard, it's not too uncommon for some pilots to lose their nerve and refuse to go up...maybe Dolan was getting close to that point. I hope not.

The wind was atrocious as we reached the mid-point between St. Mihiel and Verdun, far worse than was acceptable for flying. However, just as Soubiran had promised we were going up regardless of the weather. I had to imagine our big offensive down below, it was happening behind a thick sheet of cloud. At Verdun we all tensed up at the sight of three machines that had appeared high above us, but as they slowly came down we realised it was 1st flight on patrol. Larner, at the head of the three-ship, waggled his wings and came over to join us. I think that put us all at ease, slightly, having a 'top cover'.

We all breathed a collective sigh of relief when the Balloon came into sight - no black Fokkers today. We all dove down and had a crack, and I saw flames licking out of bullet holes as I tore past. I looked over my shoulder in time to see it go up in a brilliant flash. Hah, that's number 3!. I tailed Soubiran as we joined back up with Ponder and Dolan, and together we started to climb back up. Breaking through the bottom of a particularly black cloud, I quickly lost the other three and found myself alone. Damn! Okay, you know what Soubiran would say. Fly home - no, wait! There's 1st Flight!. Eagerly I climbed towards Larner's flight, knowing all-too-well now how dangerous flying alone could be.

[Linked Image]
Frank Luke, eat your heart out!

I had almost climbed to 1st Flight's altitude when I caught sight of five Fokkers coming my way. Cursing, I doubled my efforts, but it was no use. With baited breath I watched as their leader turned my way, quickly followed by the other four. Feeling dread creep over me, Soubiran's words sung in my head again: "You'd better not get yourself shot down while wearing that...". I checked my compass to see which way home was, and my heart sunk when the red arrow pointed straight at the Fokkers that were heading my way.

All of a sudden the four trailing Fokkers threw their machines into a hard left turn and started away! 1st. Flight must be somewhere above them, I hoped to myself. However, I still had the leader to contend with. He had gotten it in his head that I was going down to his guns no matter what. I lifted my nose to meet him - and a great gust of wind flipped me straight on to my back! In a panic I pointed the nose straight down and tried to out-dive my adversary. He stayed right on me the whole time, and so I threw my machine into a climbing spiral. Again, the Fokker followed but this time he must have lost sight of me, for he straightened out and begun gently weaving back and forth. I wouldn't get another chance...


I pressed down the trigger hard, and my Vickers burst into life. Shredded wood and fabric tore away from the Fokker's wingtip...I had him! The German tried to bank his damaged machine away, but he couldn't get clear of me. I lined up the kill-shot...and both guns jammed. I shouted aloud, letting go of the throttle and wrestling with the left gun's charging handle. The round wouldn't budge! I tried the other, and - yes! One gun was back in action. Just then tracers flashed past my head, and I broke away in alarm. While I had been wrestling with my Vickers the Hun had got back on my tail! It was a brave attempt on his part, but he couldn't stay with me owing to his crippled wing. Soon I had turned the tables, and tore the remainder of his wing off, watching as he fought to regain control all the way down. If only he had used that opening to get some distance from me he might have gotten away alive.


[Linked Image]
An unseen kill


But, he didn't. That's one more dead Hun. Shame nobody was around to see it. The moment the Fokker fell out the fight Flak opened up at me, and so I made a quick dash for home. Well, I say quick...that low in German lines it fell a hell of a lot longer. Upon landing, Soubiran strode right over to me. "Drummond. Are these bullet holes? Where the hell did you get to?". Lord, Soubiran made me more nervous than any Fokker pilot could. Nervously I cleared my throat to answer him.

"Sorry, sir. I lost you in a cloud and was jumped by a Fokker..."

He paused, staring expectantly. "....Well?"

"I got him in the end. Took his wing off".

"Did you. I take it nobody saw this?"

"No, sir."

He stood for a moment, his thoughts working over.

"Once more, Drummond. Once more and I'm having you transferred".

"Understood. Thank you, sir..." I breathed, slumping back in my seat. Soubiran snorted, waved a dismissive hand at me, and marched back into the Mess. Shakily I de-planed, as Paris walked over. "What was all tha - are those bullet holes?! Damn it, Frisk, after I spent all that time painting your crate up!". I let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, about that..." I muttered. Paris bristled.


"Er, well, I think the blue might be a bit overdone."



I made up 2nd. Lt. Bastien 'Paris' Côté for storytelling purposes wink

















Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/18 04:49 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
4 Victorys.


I put zee bosche in the bag this morning. It was my 1st outing from our new AF. II Flights 4 machines had Escort and got tagged by a flight of e/a's with Blue Tails. I had a few close calls as zee bosche fired at me ,but was able to outpace then chandelled into one . He turned and I was on him. My guns chatted and his upper wing gave out then the e/a fell. It crashed east of Manoncourt AF by Nancy. I landed to talk to the recon boys Sqn put in 3 claims for 1 loss.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/13/18 10:17 PM

WOLFE - WE LOVE STORY-ISH, KEEP EM COMIN' Loop Degezz! Good story.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Friday, September 13th 1918

New machine from reserve, Kellner SPAD (1) with a Clermand Walker motor, excellent combination, ready to go. Took it on a half hour hop, no problems, very satisfied with it. But it has Marlins.

Worked over my Marlins, tried them out at range still jam but keeping bursts very short helps, stuck with them, have to make the best of it.

Rain, low clouds and poor visibility, flew patrol with Ralph and Muther between Chatillon-sous-les-Cotes and St Mihiel 15:45. Couldn’t fly above 100 meters.

Could clearly distinguish the French and American troops all along the roads and in the fields. No activity on the roads behind enemy lines. Found some German trenches and attacked in turn, shooting into them, but couldn’t observe the effects of our fire. Rifle and machine gun fire from the ground wasn’t intense but rather accurate. Flew at 10 to 15 meters the whole time, expended all my ammunition except 100 rounds, I just don’t like to be out of ammo. [Linked Image]

Some of the boys had fights with HA but no claims made.

Reportd say that Americans took 25,000 prisoners, mostly Austrians, all roads leading to the front jammed with our troops.

Ellmer caught fire while making a landing. Burned, looks pretty bad. I was lucky yesterday.

Hartney’s dummy airdrome worked. Germans bombed it last night.

(1)Kellner et ses Fils piano works outside Paris produced some of the best SPAD VIIs and XIIIs.

(2) 2nd, later 1st Lt. Ralph A. O'Neill, B Flight, 5 aerial victories.
(3) 2nd Lt. Walter P. Muther, B Flight, joined the 147th Aero 24 July 1918


Attached picture John et.jpg
Attached picture John ds.jpg
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/18 10:02 PM

Great detail about the Kellner SPAD!

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond.

Part 14: Friday the 13th.


13th September, 1918:

We got up around 4:30 AM today, having been assigned a Morning Patrol of the lines. All our pilots have been in a mood all morning...our feet are absolutely soaked through to the bone. Turns out the Corporal that was charged with repairing the hole in the Barracks roof hadn't done a very good job, and the water was up to our ankles as we readied ourselves for the patrol. I had to find my flying boots, which had floated off to one of the corners of the barracks! Ironically, it was Pyne who got to laugh at all of us today - seeing as his bunk was still directly underneath the hole, he had opted to gather his bed-sheets and sleep over in the hangars, under the wing of his SPAD. He was the only one of us that managed to get through the morning bone-dry.

In our irritated state we hadn't noticed that only four of us were actually in the barracks upon our wakening - Dolan, Furlow, Irving and myself. Assuming we had slept-in, we rushed over to the mess but found nothing save for the operations blackboard. We looked over it briefly; 1ST FLIGHT - DAWN PATROL OVER TOUL. LEAD - LARNER, 0400. 2ND FLIGHT - MORNING PATROL OVER NANCY. LEAD - DOLAN, 0530. I guess the others were already out over the front somewhere.

It was the 3rd day of what we now knew as the Mihiel-Argonne offensive. As our SPADs were moved onto the 'ready line' by the Corporals, we pretended not to notice the thick black plumes of smoke rolling lazily across the horizon. One by one we rolled, and took off into the overcast sky. For the third day now we were tossed about by ferocious winds and stabbed by needle-sharp raindrops. I tired to decide what was worse, my escape from the Bosche lines or this. Fortunately, the clouds were quite low and we were able to climb up out of the rain fairly quickly. We reached Toul, and Larner's flight came down to join us again. I guess they'd had no luck so far and had decided to head over to the front with us. Not long after, my SPAD begun to lose power at an alarming rate. Looking down in alarm, I searched for the problem - ah, what an idiot! Having lost feeling in my hands due to the cold, I'd let go of the throttle lever and accidentally pushed the Mixture lever forwards instead. I quickly reset my mixture and gunned the throttle but, to my annoyance, I had dropped a considerable distance below my flight.

Trying to climb back up was hard work. The wind pushed down on my upper planes hard, and I had to yank the stick with a considerable amount of force to keep my nose raised. It's scary, being in a sky that doesn't want you there. I prevailed in the end, and now I was met with the view of our full formation - 10 SPADs, including myself. No doubt any Bosche flight that saw us would be terrified! Just before reaching Nancy we spotted a flight of six French SPADs and flew over to say hello on our way past. The leader of their flight waggled their wings in response, and we parted ways.

Suddenly, very far in the distance, I saw 8 specks silhouetted against the clouds, patrolling over Nancy. Cautiously I waggled my wings and pointed towards them. I saw Dolan strain his eyes, turn back to me and shrug. He hadn't seen them. Again, I signalled to him: MACHINES. MULTIPLE. FAR. he shook his head again, but now I could see he was taking me seriously. I slid back into formation and we continued along our route, keeping an eye on the distant formation. It looked like they were flying the opposite direction to us, and by the time we had reached Nancy they had crossed back over to the German side. No doubt then, they were Fokkers. Dolan saw them now, but ordered no attack. Instead, we warily eyed each-other from across the lines. It almost felt like we'd formed some kind of temporary truce, a 'live and let live' type deal.

We made two long circles around Nancy, during which nothing of interest really happened. However, after about 15 minutes we caught a glimpse of the Fokkers - they'd broken our truce and crossed the lines! We eagerly turned to Dolan who, to our excitement, gave the signal. As one we turned straight at the Germans. After a few seconds they realised what was happening and their formation lazily banked in our direction. This was going to be a big one!

Our two formations merged, and everything seemed to happen in a flash, as 8 bright red Fokkers flashed past us at alarming speed. I had to duck to avoid a head-on. As I pulled up I watched as Furlow got behind one and ran straight into the back of it, diving out with a smashed prop. Three then appeared behind me, and three of ours appeared behind them. In panicked confusion I dove out of the fight, looking over my shoulder to try and make some sense of the chaos. Suddenly, a Fokker flashed in front of my guns! I opened up, watching bullets smash through his machine!


[Linked Image]


Just when I thought I had him, there was a sickening tearing sound as a stream of tracers tore through my own machine, and I went into a spin. Panicking, I fought with my controls as I fell through the clouds and back into the rain. I managed to right myself, but something was seriously wrong with my SPAD, which now listed very heavily to the right. Wrenching the stick over to the left and kicking the rudder against the list, I was able to barely keep level. Just then I saw a SPAD drop out of the clouds with a Fokker on its tail...it was Cauffman! Damn, I have to do something!.

Somehow I was able to force my SPAD to cooperate against its will, and I got behind the Fokker, still chasing a now straight-and-level Cauffman. I fired a long burst into the Fokker and it peeled away in surprise. Cauffman gratefully pointed his nose down and dove for home, as did my Fokker. I swooped down on the now-wounded Fokker and, to my amazement, the wing broke off almost instantly under my second burst! Already having chanced my luck way too much, I turned after Caufmann and ran for home.


[Linked Image]




My SPAD was becoming increasingly unresponsive, and the ferocious winds were busying themselves trying to finish me off. I had to get down, now. Ahead of me, to my complete joy, I spotted a French aerodrome! I cut the throttle, but with the loss of airflow under the wings I could no longer control my machine...praying to any god willing to listen, I closed my eyes as I approached the ground, my SPAD slipping further and further to the right. Suddenly there was a horrendous thud, followed by a tearing sound. I opened my eyes again, and discovered that I was skidding along the airfield, propped up on one wing and one wheel! I held my breath and gripped the stick so hard my knuckles must have been bone-white inside my gloves as the SPAD rolled along the ground, before finally rumbling to a stop and falling heavily back onto its wheels a fair ways past the aerodrome. Inside the machine I sat frozen to the spot, not daring to move a muscle.



[Linked Image]



After a short while I was coaxed out of my machine by a French pilot,who led me to their Squadron's Chateau. As we walked the length of the airfield, I could see a long shallow scar running its length where my wing had dug itself into the ground. The French pilot asked me a series of questions, none of which I understood. I then realised why he was asking me questions in French...although my machine was smashed up, the French inscription was still clearly visible on the side! Embarrassed, I explained that I didn't speak French, and that a friend had written the inscription for me. Luckily, the pilot spoke good English. Once I had calmed down, the Frenchmen led me to a telephone and, in a shaky voice I called Soubiran's office (thankfully he was already back) and arranged to be picked up. As I waited, a French mechanic looked over my poor old smashed up crate. After a minute's inspection he turned to me and held his hands up: "Monsieur, Elle est complètement morte!". I'm not sure what he said, but I know it can't have been good.

I passed the remainder of the time by counting the bullet holes on my machine. I found 35 in total, most of which had gone through the wings.

Upon returning to my own aerodrome, I found out from Soubiran that everybody else was O.K, thank god, but my SPAD was pretty badly smashed-up, at least 3 days work to repair. Uh-oh, how was I going to break the news to Paris that his artwork had all gone to waste? Well, turns out I didn't need to...word had gotten out to all the squadron's pilots of our intense dogfight, thanks to that blabber-mouth Monk. Paris found me later in the afternoon in the 103rd's mess. I looked up at him, shrugging. "Sorry". I said, and he grinned. "Eh, it's only a machine, easy to replace. You, on the other hand...". I chuckled nervously.

Unluckily, Caufmann never saw my Fokker go in.




Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/14/18 11:40 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Saturday, September 14th 1918

Attacked a gas bag with Meissner, Ken, Love, and Dewey between Chatillon-sous-les-cotes and 3 fingers pond, (1) We stood our SPADs on their noses, diving on the thing from 2,000 meters above. You couldn’t have done that in a Nieuport! When I recovered from the dive I almost passed out. It exploded in a great red fireball. Terrific amount of shrapnel and MG fire but not a hit on my machine. We all put in claims. [Linked Image]

Five plane protection patrol for a Sal at 13:55, Ralph dropped out with engine problems about 10 minutes in. We received heavy Archie fire but were otherwise not interfered with. Four Fokkers passed about 500 meters overhead as we turned south again toward 3 fingers. but left us alone

Whitey got a Fokker today on a protection patrol then took down a gas bag for good measure. Hartney’s going to recommend him for a DSC.

Rick came by with his mechanics and spent a long time going over my new Kellner SPAD with Sgt. Black, rather lasciviously, I thought. Started her up and listened to her like it was music. The engine does have a very nice, dependable rhythm, no coughing or sputtering or missing a beat. Rick told me I had a real gem and threatened me if I didn’t take good care of it. “Pilots are a dime a dozen in this outfit right now, but serviceable SPADs are at a premium.†Offered to swap me for it and throw in his Vickers too boot but I knew he was only half serious. He’s done a lot of work on his crate and has it just the way he wants it now and his guns are his life, he wouldn’t give those up for anything.

He took down a Fokker this morning, 1st Hun he’s gotten since he’s been back from the hospital.

Terrific artillery preparation tonight.

Frank Luke took down 2 more Drachen. Apparently, he’s not yellow like we all assumed, he’s insane, a real Balloonatic

(1) Three Fingers Pond – the Americans called Etang-de-Lachausse’e Three Fingers Lake or Pond referring to its general shape.


Attached picture John ef.jpg
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/18 02:50 AM

Again, fabulous attention to detail...I always look forward to John B.'s exploits, I seem to learn something new with every read!



The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 15: Deathtrap


14th September 1918:

Monk and Larner were rolling - actually on the ground, rolling - with laughter as the mechanics wheeled my replacement SPAD out on to the aerodrome this morning. I could swear that the mechanics themselves were trying to mask their snickering as well. Even the stone-faced Soubiran, standing beside his SPAD on the ready-line, was biting back a smile.

The machine was all beat-up to hell, and was clearly only still sitting around for spare parts. The linen of the original wings had been completely stripped and replaced at some point, and rather than being painted in camouflage they had been lazily once-overed with some dull brown paint. The Radiator Cap and the Mixture lever were both slightly bent. Bizarelly, the rightmost machine gun was a Marlin (a particularly badly-maintained one, the cover was slightly rusted and the charging handle felt stiff as I tested it), whereas the left M.G was a Vickers - thankfully it seemed in decent condition. The machine's office wasn't faring any better either - The altimeter had a crack running through the centre of its face and the wicker seat was badly frayed. If that wasn't enough, the right-hand wheel had a visible wobble to it, giving the impression that this old beat-up SPAD was actually limping its way onto the ready-line.

"Well, Frisky," Monk started in between his laughter, "If you get a Bosche in that thing I'll buy all your drinks for a month!". With a hopeless look on my face (that sent Larner, Monk and now Caufmann into another bout of hysterics) I looked over my machine. It reminded me of that old book Cas and I had been forced to read in school, "Frankenstein; or, the Modern Promethius". How the hell was I supposed to bust a balloon in this thing? I doubt it could even get off the ground without falling apart! Even if I did, I was doubtful the Marlin would go, and you need both guns to cook a sausage. I finished my cigarette and stubbed it out in a dent on the cowling, cursing the machine under my breath before climbing in.

Our target for the morning was a German Sausage Balloon that was tethered south-west of Metz. Since the Offensive had kicked off, Balloons had become prime targets for the Aero squadrons and, from what I'd heard off of Paris, we were far from being the only Pursuit Squadron being sent up at them.

Eventually, the rest of the pilots arrived for our morning balloon-busting sortie and, after they had inspected the comical 'FrankenSPAD' sitting on the line, they readied themselves for our flight. Of course, it took the corporal at my nose six tries to swing my propellor, leading to more ridicule, but eventually we were all good to go, and up we went.

Much to our immense relief, the rain was finally off! However, the wind was terrible, but in truth we had all but gotten used to it by this point and kept our formation fairly tight until we reached the Bosche lines East of St. Mihiel. Through breaks in the cloud we could see, miles away, horrendous billowing plumes of smoke rolling across the city. It was a chilling sight. While we observed that distant hell, we were suddenly side-swiped by a gust of wind that very nearly sent Cauffman crashing into Furlow, and after that we loosened our formation up slightly. I listened to the irregular staccato of my engine as we flew. This damn SPAD.

Of course, the flak came up at us not long after, and it all seemed to be going for me! I weaved left to right, dodging thick black bursts of shrapnel. Oh, what a miserable morning I was having! We got on top of the balloon and went into one hell of a steep dive down at it. I cocked my mismatched guns (the Marlin took some effort to charge), but the balloon went up long before I got anywhere near it. I didn't see who got it. We quickly re-formed and circled back to head home, dodging the now reinvigorated flak as we did so. Suddenly Ponder started waggling his wings like crazy and pointing up to our right. We all looked, and were met with a sight that stopped all our hearts. 13 Fokkers, looming high above us. I bet they'd seen the gasbag go up and had come over to find the culprits. With baited breath we flew underneath the terrifying German formation, praying that we wouldn't be seen. To our intense relief, the Fokkers continued overhead, silently melting back into the clouds.

We didn't hang around for long after that! Fortunately our return flight was uneventful. I later found out it was Tobin that had burned the balloon.


At 1400 hours we all gathered for another balloon busting job. Somehow the damned Germans had already replaced Tobin's sausage! I had Cpl. Adam give my SPAD a once-over, and I was grateful to discover he had un-stuck the mixture lever. Caufmann was handed lead of 2nd. Flight, with Tobin taking over 1st. Flight. For the second time I hopped into my rickety old SPAD (which the guys had rather distastefully nicknamed "Deathtrap") and went up. As we crossed the lines I absent-mindedly watched a formation of SPADs escorting one of our two-seaters in the distance. Looked like they were headed over to the Bosche side as well. Go get 'em, boys.

Dodging the flak was like Deja-vu. It came up at us at exactly the same spots as it had done in the morning. This time 1st. Flight decided to stay high - presumably they were still reeling from the appearance of those Fokkers. However, 2nd Flight had direct orders to go after the balloon, and so we unwillingly dropped further down into the flak.


I peered up at 1st Flight, and with horror I saw that same group of Fokkers from this morning dropping down on us! I fired a quick burst, at which point my wingmen all snapped their heads towards me inquisitively, and I pointed straight up. Our formation instantly broke away in all directions. Fokkers seemed to be coming at us from all angles, and I soon found myself isolated with two of the brutes. Looping and rolling in my ragtag spare SPAD, I looked around desperately for my wingmen - where the hell were they? where the hell was 1st flight?!


[Linked Image]
In between two Fokkers and a hard place...


I looped round into a cloud and dove down. The wind rushing at an incredible speed, I prayed to god that this SPAD would hold together. In all honesty, I didn't expect her to pull out of the dive as smoothly as she did, and I certainly didn't expect to come out of it with all my control surfaces attached. When I was out the other side of the cloud layer, the two Fokkers had disappeared. Off to the side I spotted one Bosche chasing down a wingman who looked in a bad way. I dove on him and, of course, my Marlin jammed on the first shot. However, the Vickers went beautifully and I watched in glee as the enemy pilot slumped forwards on his stick, before his white-tailed Fokker screamed down hellwards.


[Linked Image]
"Deathtrap" dives on a Fokker



Turning back I now saw Furlow trying to hold his own against three Germans above me. I tried desperately to climb up to get to him, but I was still a ways below the fight and before I could reach him I was interrupted by yet another German. I fired a burst at him and he dove away, so I let him go and turned back, but Furlow had disappeared into the cloud along with his tormentors. I diverted my attention back to my Fokker, who had started climbing back up below me, and fell upon him. I suspect he was a rookie, my attack caught him completely off guard and, as I tore past him, I saw that his propeller had stopped spinning. Feeling particularly bloodthirsty, I chased him all the way down and shot him into the dirt over Beaumont. I knew the claim wouldn't be confirmed, but I was only concerned with knocking the damn hun out the sky.


[Linked Image]
Easy prey


After he had spun to his death, I turned back to search for Furlow. I had flown for five minutes and was beginning to lose hope, when suddenly out in front of me a SPAD dropped out of a cloud, spiralling downward with a lone Fokker. There he was! I gunned the engine and took "Deathtrap" to her limit, roaring into the melee. The Fokker saw me coming and darted into a cloud. Gratefully Furlow turned back towards me and we headed for home. Plenty of Bourbon in the 213th's mess tonight, held with trembling hands. Larner bought mines. Fervently we discussed the combat earlier in the day.

"Those guys nearly had us!"

"Nah, they weren't nothin'."

"Are you kidding, Caufman?! You turned for home a minute in!"

"You watch your mouth, Furlow!"

"Hey. Cool off. We're all tense."

"Yeah, I bet you're especially tense in that deathtrap of yours!"

Furlow, Irving and Caufmann all burst into laughter. Happy just to have survived another day, I joined in with them.

"Don't be too harsh on ol' Deathtrap. I got two Fokkers flying her! 'Sides, your SPAD is shot to hell, so we might be sharing her!"

Irving put on an expression of mock-horror, earning a couple snickers from us all.


Soubiran sent a corporal to come and find me later in the evening, wanted me to come through to his office. I stepped in, and the boss gestured for me to have a seat. "These claims you've put in". I went cold, knowing full-well I'd put in for three Fokkers that nobody had seen. Damn. Soubiran must think those claims are bull! "The two Fokkers from today I can't give, as I'm sure you know. However, this balloon claim," he indicated to one of my combat reports that he'd laid out on his desk, "and this Fokker. I've had reports citing you as destroying both of these enemies".

Pride swelled in my chest...that made four confirmed!!

"Despite the odd lone excursion," Soubiran started, shooting me a questioning look, "you're a fine pilot, and the men like you. For that reason, I had a word with Thaw after our morning sortie".

My eyes widened and I gripped the sides of my seat like an excited schoolboy...spoke to Thaw? about what?!



"We were in agreement on the subject of our conversation. Congratulations on your promotion, 1st. Lieutenant Drummond".




























Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/18 02:57 AM

Wow, Tear em up Wulfe !
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/18 03:01 AM


Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
4 Victory s.



Sep 14, 1918.

Lifted off to do a AF attack only to have engine trouble ( Oil Lines ? ). Put the a/c back down quickly . When my flight came back , it was missing 2 machines. With the day going badly, It got worst . My Fokker claim was REJECTED ! Was ist das problem ?

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/18 07:59 PM

Appreciate the SPAD profile Wolfe, nice job on all of them.


2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Sunday, September 15th 1918

Early morning protection patrol, Whitey leading. Salmson from 99th AS photographed about 3 miles of German held rear area between Lachasusse’e and Jonville-en-Woevre. This SPAD working very well so far. Great satisfaction to get a plane that will carry you over and back.

Five Fokkers appeared above us on return trip and tried to run through us to get to the Sal.. One got through, Dewey and I cut him off before he was able to engage the photo plane. We had a fine little scrap with him until I made a close pass, spraying him stem to stern as I passed by. His prop stopped. Dewey made a similar pass and half his top wing parted company as he tumbled end over end into nobody’s land, Filed a claim together. [Linked Image]

150 square miles have been retaken, casualties said to be light. A group of us went to St. Mihiel which wasn’t shelled very hard. French flags flying everywhere, the men took off their hats and bowed when they saw we were Americans. These French have been living under German occupation for the last 4 years. Up in Chaillon we found a wonderful German officer’s club where we found boucoup loot. Got beer steins, liquor, wine, beer, chairs, tables, china, cupboard, boots, rugs, stoves, a bar mirror, helments, clothes. Loaded it all on a truck. Dewey and I cherched a picture of the Kaiser to hang in our room. I found another couple spiked helmet, very fancy dress type. Very nice piano, going to really fix up our mess.

Back in time for a 7 SPAD patrol, Chatillon-sous- les-Cotes to Three Fingers Lake, (1) Alk leading, 17:00. Chased 4 Hannovarians (2)across their lines. When we caught up I fired into the one in front of me from about 100 yards, then dove below to avoid the attentions the fellow in the back pew. Dewey latched on to one while I stayed above to watch out for him, occasionally putting in a few pot shots when I got an opportunity. We were joined by Bedroll (3). After taking a tremendous amount of machine gunning, half the Hun’s top wing broke off, but the pilot kept enough control of his machine to continue fighting for a few minutes before Dewey delivered the coup de grass and the biplace went into a spin, crashing not far into Germany. Filing a claim, hopefully the balloon line saw it.

Ernest Love is missing. (4) He took off after his patrol several minutes late because of problems with his engine. None of the patrol ever saw him, no word yet.

Ken Porter is back. Was in a hospital on the French Riviera. Claimed his recovery from dysentery came as much from a bottle of 150 year old Brandy given him by an old French gentleman as from laying on the beach.


(1) Lake Lachausse’e
(2) Hannovarian – Hannover CLIII
(3) 2nd Lt, Frank S. (Bedroll) Ennis - A Flight, 1 aerial victory, also known as "Muff"
(4) Lt. Ernest A Love’s grave was found after the war in the area of Tronville. While looking for his patrrol, he had been shot down by Ltn. Franz Buchner, Commander of Jasta 13 over Lake Lachausse'e. This was Buchner’s 2nd victory for the day and his 28th total. Love’s burning SPAD crashed at Tronville. A French priest took him to his church, which was being used as a German Field Hospital. He succumbed to his wounds next day.


Attached picture John dw.jpg
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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/15/18 10:37 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
4 Victorys.


I flew in a Vee formation along with Marcel and Jean. We chased 4 e/a 2 Seat types. I caught mine as he spun out of a stall in the St Micheil area. Good many hits then went uncontrolled spining into the ground. Looking around I saw a flamer going down. Then RTB. Our three a/c claimed 3 destroyed including my Rumpler.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/18 03:38 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
5 Victory s.


Sep 16, 1918.

My 2 Seat is confirmed. Our morning 3 a/c Patrol took us up to the lines and into a Beehive of a/c. We chased 3 e/a in a climb only to see Mon Dieu ! 7 e/a diving to the right on 3 a/c who was in a cork screw above 4 a/c. Off to zee left was 5 more diving towards us. I fired when I could at passing e/a ,but mainly looking for a way out of the Melee. At one time, I had Nuee de Huns above and on my tail. Our 3 a/c were damaged,but we made it back. Claims 0. As I reported to the Intell Officer, I saw 3 Flamers dont know who or Type of a/c.

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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/18 08:18 PM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond.

Part 16: Shot Down.

15th September, 1918.


Busy morning today. Furlow, Monk and Ponder ferried 3 Blériot SPADs over from 3rd Air Park at first light. Not long after the replacement SPADs had landed a fourth machine touched down on our field - it was another egg, Christien or something-or-other. Monk sent him Soubiran's way, as he went we idly discussed his chances in the air. "Not a week, I think..." Ponder said, in his usual cold fashion. "Nah, he'll be okay" Monk replied. I wondered if they'd done the same thing with me when I'd first got here. He ended up being assigned to 2nd Flight with me.

The Mechanics spent the early morning giving the new machines a once-over as we went for our morning briefing. Our first job of the day was escorting a D.H.4 from 168th along the lines to Forêt de Puvenelle. No cover from 1st. flight today - they were off on a morning line patrol.

I took up one of the new replacement machines. She still felt unfamilliar to my own machine (who sat in a very sorry-looking state in the 'repairs' hangar, with no wings on her), but I was just grateful that I didn't have to go up in "Deathtrap" again.

We met up with the D.H just over the top of Forêt du Hasoy, almost directly on top of ol' "Je Vois Tout", who was lazily hanging in the sky at around 500 meters. Must be alright being a balloon crewman - no war on the ground, and most fighters were too yellow to bother you. We climbed above our Biplace colleague and settled into formation. Not long after, Dolan waggled his wings and pointed out to the West - we turned and saw a formation of machines a long way off, weaving and dodging around a cloud of AA fire that had singled them out. Two Seaters I thought, but chasing Bosche recon machines wasn't our job. We stuck with the D.H.

Christiani (that egg's proper name) stuck with us pretty well in formation, I was pleased to see. He seemed sturdy enough in the heavy weather as well - I think Ponder was being a bit harsh with his prediction of less than a week. That being said, he hadn't met a Fokker in the air yet. We reached the mud with no throuble (apart from the damned wind) and headed over. On our way across the mud we bumped into 1st. Flight, and greeted each other with cheery wing-waggles on our way past.

We had scarcely crossed into German lines when Furlow spotted a group of Fokkers climbing up from underneath us. Soubiran immediately gave the signal to attack, and we fell almost vertically down on the Bosches. The D.H. clocked on to what was happening and turned right back around for home. We all watched in awe as Soubiran dove into the mess of Fokkers at a seemingly impossible speed, and before we could even react he was in amongst them fighting tooth-and-nail. We now pushed our noses down, trying to catch up to the boss, who was now alone against 5 of the brutes. I had just gotten squarely behind one of them when the damned wind knocked me onto my side, and I watched in frustration as the German turned around with a start and looped away. Next thing I knew my machine was being absolutely peppered from somewhere behind me. I turned round to see a Fokker point-blank range on my tail, and I thought that was it for me. Just as he lined up the killing shot, Monk appeared behind him and sent a burst through him. I watched as my would-be killer listed to the side and went into a spin.

I flew off to the side and checked over my wings. Holed-up, but good. Immediately I was being hammered by tracer rounds again - a second Fokker had snuck up on me! Man, I was having a terrible morning. I barrel-rolled over him and he shot out in front of me, allowing me to get a burst into his back as he went. he immediately dove and turned for home. My machine full of holes by this point, I was inclined to let him go. Good thing I did, because a second later my engine begun to splutter and then fell silent. My fuel line had been hit.

As I drifted down I saw Furlow shooting up a Hun real good. Then I was below them, with no-mans-land rising up rapidly at me. Grimacing, I realised we were still on the German side. Come on, SPAD, just see me across...

No good. This crate was dropping out the sky like it was made of lead. As I approached the ground I saw with horror that the ground raised up in front of me into a hill, and there was nothing I could do to avoid it. Trying to pitch up to put the wheels between me and the hill, I impacted hard, the SPAD jolting onto its side before listing onto one wingtip. The thick mud on the hill gave way and I slid, still propped up on my side, down the side of the hill before finally slowing to a stop. To my amazement, the undercarriage had stayed intact, but the left-hand wings were utterly destroyed, torn apart. The splintered edges of the lower spars had dug into the mud and so I came to a stop still propped-up on my side.

Stunned, but amazingly unhurt, I half-jumped half-fell out of my SPAD and landed with a great thud belly-first on the floor. Drowsily picking myself up, I staggered away from my machine before turning back to look at it. It was a twisted mess. I stood with my hands on my hips, bleakly looking around no-mans-land, when the growl of an engine snapped me out of my stupor. Looking up, I saw Furlow flying overhead. I wonder if he'd got his hun in the end.

As I watched him fly, I heard distant shouting echoing through the ambience. It was in German. Snapping my head around, I saw two grey-clad figures cresting a hill in the distance.
























Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/16/18 10:29 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Monday, September 16th 1918

Rained all night, but cleared in the morning. Luke got 2 more balloons today, putting him neck and neck with Rick at 8 confirmed.

11:45, Eight SPAD escort for the 99th to Souilly. Art (1) leading. Red Simon (2) left the formation with engine trouble about 12:30

Red shot down a Halberstadt over Etain after he left our formation, Balloon line observed it so he’ll get hit credit.

The photo ships covered 3 miles in Germany between Lachauss’ee and Jonville-en-Wovre. Saw two enemy formations, not engaged. The Huns appear to be avoiding us these days.

Returned at 13:50

1700, went on a 7 Spad patrol with Art along the Chatillon-sous-les-Cotes to three Fingers lake. [Linked Image]


Saw 6 Fokkers, they attempted to avoid engagement but we caught them. General melee, I fired on several. Black and white stripes on their fins. (3) . Saw one in my new mirror but too late, he got a good burst into me before I could side slip away, I could smell the tracers going past. Damaged my controls and one bullet grazed my left arm as it passed through my teddy bear suit, burned like a branding iron.

1st time I’ve been hit in all the months I’ve been at the front. Went down in a spin but finally recovered at 1,000 meters, The others got him off me and I limped home, great difficulty maintaining direction.

Simmy filed claim and Abe and Ken Porter filed for one together.(4, 5, 6)

Black was peeved at me over what, I, had done to, HIS SPAD, almost dismissing MY damage as a thing of little concern.

Got word that Mike Ellmer died at the hospital yesterday, was in very much in pain from the burns, out of his head. Despised the man, but I still hate to see pointless death, all because of a poorly designed machine.

Two new boys, Oscar Myers Ed Peake (7, 8) both 1st Loots, they make them 1st Loots when they come out of Issoudun now.

Amused ourselves today mugging and playing with our captured equipment and took photos. Rick had a good time running around with a spiked helmet on his head, pow, powing with a Mauser pistol at everyone. A group of German prisoners, working around the airdrome seemed to enjoy our games more than we did.

Our sausage not observed, no credit

No news on what happened to Love.

(1) Lt. Arthur Hast (Alkali Ike, often shortened to Alk.) Jones, will be B Flight commander, credited with 4 victories. The nickname, usually shortened to Alk, was given to him by 2Lt. Emile (Frenchy) Vadnais, who took it upon himself to assign nicknames to his fellow pilot cadets during flight training in Canada. This nickname was probably derived from the 1911 comedy "Alkali Ike's Auto" staring Augustus Carney.
(2) 1st Lt. Louis S. (Red) Simon Jr. - C Flight, 2 aerial Victories
(3) Jasta 62s
(4) Lt. Francis M.(Simmy) Simonds - B Flight, 4 aerial victories
(5)1st Lt. Thomas J. (Abe) Abernathy - A Flight, 3 aerial victories
(6) Lt Kenneth Lee Porter, replaced WIlbert White as C Flight commander, officially credited with 5 aerial victories.
(7)1st Lt. Oscar B Myers – from Brooklyn, NY, graduate of University of Texas School of Military Aeronautics, 2 aerial victories
(8)1st Lt. Edward F. Peake from Churchland, VA, graduate of the Univeristy of Texas School of Mil Aeronotics.







Attached picture John dz.jpg
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/18 12:12 AM

With Frisky out until tomorrow and Calamity Mayes still being fussed over by pretty French nurses, I decided to get a different perspective on the battle of St. Mihiel wink

the last couple days have been tricky for the USAS! Jerbear, hopefully the mechanics can patch up your Kellner! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Goode's connection with 'Babygirl' and was hoping he'd develop a similar fondness for his new crate!!


The Story of Bertram von Haas.

Part 1: Trial by Fire.

17 September 1918.


Bertram von Haas stood by the steps of the Chateau, just one field over from Tichemon aerodrome, battling against the heavy wind to light a cigarette. Ducking his head inside his tailor-made fur flying coat he was able to get a match to stay alive just long enough to accomplish this task.

As he inhaled deeply, an immaculately-dressed Leutnant bounced down the steps towards him, wearing an expression of mild contempt. Bertram turned, smoke rolling from his nose and blending with the early mist. "Flieger von Haas. We take off in thirty minutes. Stick to Liebich like glue and don't leave the formation for anything. Clear?". Bertram regarded the Leutnant with a look of boredom. "Ja. As crystal, Herr Buchner". He clicked his heels as he said it. He may just be another poorly-trained replacement plucked from the Front-Line regiments, but he was smart enough to show every respect to the flight leader of his first sortie.

He made his way down a well-worn dirt path towards the airfield through the mist, sunight peeking through the trees and flashing in his eyes. With an irritated grunt he produced a typical Prussian Gray cap from his pocket, pulling it low over his brow to block the intrusive sunlight.

As he rounded the row of trees that separated the two fields, he saw several machines of J.G.II being prepared for the morning sorties - each machine had a blue fuselage, but their noses distinguished the individual Jastas. Three yellow-nosed machines of Jasta 19 poked out from a hangar. On the field, the white-nosed Jasta 12 machines were sitting ready to be taken up. Lined up a short distance away from them were the green-nosed Jasta 13 machines. In this row Bertram saw his own machine, and felt a stab of pride. Finally, Jasta 15's red-nosed Fokkers sat neatly inside the hangar closest to Bertram. One particular machine bore a crude skull on its fuselage - Bertram seemed drawn to this machine. He decided he would rather like to meet its pilot.

Bertram's own machine, which he had embellished with the image of a prowling wolf the evening before, was having its final adjustments made to it by a nervous-looking runt of a mechanic. "Herr Odie!" Bertram barked from across the field, and the mechanic spun round in a fright. "Have you loaded each round as I asked?". The mechanic mutely nodded. As he had explained to his mechanic, Bertram was very particular about each and every round passing through his machine-gun, and hand-picked only the straighest and best quality rounds for his belts - a trick he had picked up from his days as a gunner during the height of the fighting at Verdun. Even now that city haunted him - the plumes of thin wispy smoke seeming to reach out across France in his direction, straining to finally get him, the one that survived.

"Good, Odie". He smiled and winked at the young mechanic - the only man (or, more accurately, boy) that he had felt any real connection to since his arrival two days ago. 'Odie', or Karl Odenthal, was a commoner like himself, although Odie didn't know it (Bertram had received the 'von' in his name after slaying 4 Frenchmen in hand-to-hand combat before having his kneecap almost completely shattered by a trench club in July of last year. The injury had never really healed, nor had his conscience) . The poor lad had never seen any fighting in the war - he was far too young and frail - but he had sought out any position in the Luftstreitkrafte that would make itself available, eventually being sent to Jasta 13 as an aeroplane mechanic. According to Odie he wished to be like his older brother, an air fighter who had been killed in a collision some months prior.

After meticulously inspecting Odie's handiwork for some time, checking the taughtness of every cable and the responsiveness of every control survace, the pilots of his patrol begun to show up. First came Ltn. Buchner, his flight lead and the squadron Kanone, responsible for the destruction of 29 enemy machines to date, then Niethammer, Hummel and Landvogt appeared, briskly climbing into their machines with an effortlessness that implied their experience in the air. Finaly, Fw. Konrad Liebich, assigned to watch over the new pilot, appeared. Liebich was a short, slightly overweight man with a chirpiness that Bertram found vexing. It seemed apparent that Liebich, the son of a wealthy banker, had never seen the front from outside of his Aeroplane.

By any means, Liebich's cheery disposition was of no import to Bertram now, not today on his first sortie! As he sat at the controls of his factory-new Fokker biplane, the newest German machine to the front, he bit back a smile as he pulled his ragged scarf over his face. Ah, here he was! About to partake in the heroism and luxury of being an air fighter for the first time!

Suddenly a bright white flare split the dull grey, and Bertram fired up the ignition of his machine. The cutting-edge electric starter kicked his propellor into life, and the Mercedes engine roared awake. Buchner's Fokker begun to creep forwards before tearing down the airfield and soaring up into the sky, and the rest followed. Soon it was Bertam's turn; with no hesitation he opened up the throttle and felt the powerful machine jolt forwards underneath him. Within seconds he had left the ground, and he looked over with a grin at the green fields flashing past beneath him, as they steadily lessened in distance.

After a while of climbing which reminded Bertram of the dull exercises he had been put through in the Jastaschule, Buchner led the flight towards Verdun. The French and Americans had been steadily advancing on the city for the past few days, in the war's most recent offensive. Curiously Bertram regarded the front from above, the long scar of dull grey-brown mud that had been his home for the last year. It was almost certainly better to be above it, but much more cold. As he flew, he ran over the details of the morning's briefing: "Our enemies have been sending their two-seaters over en masse" Buchner echoed in his head, This morning we shall patrol the front and attack any such machine we see. As he gazed over the 9 Fokkers surrounding him, he almost felt a stab of pity for any two-seater unfortunate enough to cross their path.


[Linked Image]
A New Career.

Suddenly, as the formation was passing over the top of le Queue du Grand Etang, three of Bertram's wingmen violently veered out of formation. Surprised, he watched them go and, as he traced their motions, he caught sight of a second formation, equal in size, shadowing his own. More pilots of his flight now turned to face this formation. It dawned on him immediately that their pursuers were enemy machines!

Bertram turned to his Spandaus, cocking them with his left hand, before swinging his machine around. What luck that he should have the chance for a kill on his first flight! Six machines with long, flat wings lazily turned towards their Fokkers with an air of confidence about their motions. Straining his eyes, Bertram recognised the shape of these machines from the countless illustrations he had looked over in the Jastaschule. They were SPAD XIIIs, France's most modern scout machine. So, this would be a proper fight then! He would have to be careful.

In an instant the structure of both sides was shattered, as 16 machines converged to form a chaotic furball above the lake far below. As they merged, there was a terrific flash of light as two machine collided head-on at a sickeningly fast pace, both of which burst into large plumes of fire and fell broken towards the ground. As Bertram manoeuvred his machine past the fireball a section of wing with a German Cross flashed over his head. Stunned from witnessing the collision, Bertram tried to retain his composure, but the nature of the situation overcame him and soon he was simply looping and rolling through the tangled mess of aeroplanes, firing occasional short staccato bursts at machines that flashed past him. Just as soon as the furball had commenced, it seemed to break apart again, with scattered machines running for home. As Bertram scanned frantically around him, he saw one or two melees between some more bold individuals. Ahead of him, a blue Fokker dove down with a SPAD in tow. Seeing his chance, Bertram pushed his nose down and followed the pair.

The SPAD in front of him looped and twisted, trying to stay on the tail of the Fokker which desperately skirted around his bullets. Patiently, Bertram focused simply on staying behind his man. Eventually his patience was rewarded - the SPAD pulled up into a climb and Bertram let his Spandaus speak freely, their bullet-words tearing holes through the SPAD's wings before Bertram's eyes. He broke into a grin as his guns flashed - the Frenchman was his! The startled enemy pilot rolled over before losing control of his machine in a spiralling dive. Bertram peered over the side of his Fokker as the Frenchman spun to oblivion, shouting out in joy as he watched the machine disappear into the trees far below. Above him he saw his colleague circling, peering over at him from his own machine. Gratefully, he waved to Bertram, who tossed up an arm in response, before turning for home. Apart from the fellow above him, there seemed to be no trace of the mess of machines that only a few seconds ago had filled the skies.


[Linked Image]
von Haas' first victim.


After a lonesome flight, Bertram brought his Fokker back down to earth, the exhilaration still coursing through his veins. He climbed down from his machine and turned to watch another Fokker landing. The second Fokker taxiid over to his machine, and shut its engine off. Over the side, Ltn. Hummel peered over the side. "Ah, Haas! You're alive! I saw a Fokker have a fearsome crash, and feared it might be you!" he called, to which Bertram merely shrugged. "No. It happened just in front of me, though. I don't know who it was". As they talked, more Fokkers appeared over the airfield.

The pilots of Jasta 13 congregated in a pleasant little cottage at the edge of the aerodrome for lunch. In the dining room, Bertram looked around his surroundings while sitting at the long ornate dining table. It would have been perfectly homely, if not for the various parts of destroyed French, British and American aircraft that were mounted on the walls. The pilots were served a simple stew of chicken and various vegetables. Bertram didn't find the meal very appealing, but the chance for hot food had seldom presented itself to him in the war so far, and so he gratefully ate. To his surprise, he was also handed a glass of Cognac. Infinitely better than the Schnapps he had become accustomed to.

Predictably, the topic of conversation around the table was the furball. Each pilot talked almost over each other, recounting their own versions of the scrap.

"Ach, I barely had a chance to shoot before my damn guns jammed!"

"My dear Hummel, you say that every time!"

Laughter erupted around the table, as Edmund Hummel shrunk into his seat, embarrased. Buchner held his hands up as if to say "It's only a joke, don't take it to heart!". Now Viktor Landvogt begun his account.

"I saw a nasty crash with a Fokker and a SPAD. It must have been poor Liebich, I haven't seen him since we got down".

The pilots went silent, sullen faces replacing the laughter. Bertram thought for a moment, and then spoke.

"Yes, it was Herr Liebich. I was right behind him when he had the smash. Terrible luck". The pilots all sullenly nodded, before Landvogt tried to lighten the mood. "I was almost for it too, a Frenchman was right behind me. Although, he was suddenly gone, no sign of him!".

Bertram swelled. "Yes, I sent that Frenchman down!" he exclaimed, pridefully. To his surprise and outrage, the pilots all burst into laughter again. "Ah, Herr von Haas, I appreciate your enthusiasm but nobody ever scores on their first sortie!" Niethammer boomed. Bertram made to reply, but bit his tongue and forced a smile.

After lunch, Bertram returned to the Chateau, turning up the grand old staircase and heading to Adjutant Bauer's office to file his claim. In there he found Vfw. Albert Haussman, also filling out a report. He looked up as Bertram walked in. "Did you see my SPAD go in, by any chance, von Haas?" he asked, and Bertram shook his head. "Sorry". Haussman threw his arms up. "Ach! How was it seen by nobody?!" he grumbled, turning back to his paperwork.

In the evening, the Adjutant's Clerk, a stocky little Korporal by the name of Stein, visited Bertram's quarters to inform him that his SPAD claim had been turned down. Sourly, Bertram thanked Stein before retiring to bed, pondering over how the wingman he'd saved hadn't seen the SPAD go down. Despite his disappointment, he eagerly awaited the next day. What sport today had been!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/18 02:21 AM

nicely done Wulfe.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/18 06:00 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
5 Victory s.

Sep 17, 1918.

Defensive Patrol: Chased and caught 2 Recon types our side of the lines My flight mates ( Marcel and Jean knocked down both. I was tail end a/c co never got close to Zee Bosche.

Attached picture CFS3 2018-09-17 10-45-55-91.jpg
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/18 10:51 PM

WOLFE: Good beginning with Bertram and a good Jasta. Thirteen is one of my favorites. Nice skin too, fits in well with the overall Jasta 13 Fokker look.

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Tuesday, September 17th 1918

No flying, operations officer again while Sgt Black and his boys try to get my SPAD back in order.

Pup wants to be up under my feet all day in the operations office.

Sgt Black appears to be taking the engine apart and rebuilding it, while the rigger, Evans, went over every nut, bolt and turnbuckle.

Fokker claim from Sunday for Dewey and me rejected. The claim with Dewey and Brotherton confirmed.

I put 6th rat in my string over Mickey and put another one at his feet for the unconfirmed Fokker. I had an old cartoon of the Kaiser as a wiener with a helmet on his head being chased by the British bull dog so I cut out the wiener and put it at Mickey’s feet for the unconfirmed sausage. I glued it on and painted fire coming out of his a$$, then went over it with clear lacquer, looks pretty nice.

Wally (1) shot down. Mitchell said they got into a fight with 7 Fokkers. Seven SPADs against 7 Fokkers. He saw Wally go down out of control over Germany. Davy got really drunk tonight. He’s out for revenge, says he’s, “going to make those #%&*$# B@$+@rd$ pay for killing Walley.â€
[Linked Image]
I tried to talk sense to him, made him promise not to get reckless, reminded him about his folks and his girl Dora back home. “Besides,†I told him, “you’re might get a Boche but it’s unlikely you’ll get the one that got Wally. You’ll just make some poor Square Head pay for something he didn’t do. We don’t even know that he’s not alive! At least wait to see if we get some word about him!†I think I got him calmed down. Put him to bed, his bunkies promised to make sure he didn’t roll over on his back and drown himself on his own puke.

Another new pilot, 1st Lt Hayward Cutting.



(1 )1st Lt. Waldo H. Heinrichs, an actual pilot in the 95th Aero Squadron, depicted as an acquaintance of 2nd Lt. John B. Goode and a friend of his fictitious cousin in the 95th Aero, David ‘Davy’ Crockett. His SPAD was credited to Ltn Georg van Hantelmann, Jasta 15. Hantelmann was also credited with shooting down David Putnam of the 139th Aero Squadron, at that time, America’s Ace of Aces with 13 victories and Frank Luke’s wing man Joseph Wehner. Heinrichs was badly wounded in the crash and his injuries indifferently treated by the Germans. He survived the war. Served in WW II as an Intelligence Officer with the 8th Fighter Command.


(2)1st Lt Hayward E. Cutting- a member of the noted family of pharmaceuticals, had attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Military Aeronautics. After the war he made notable explorations in the Gobi Desert.


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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/17/18 11:30 PM

The Story of Bertram von Haas.

Part 2: Der Weiße Wolf.

18 September 1918.



Bertram's eyes flicked over again at the five Spads below him. Unbeknown to his commander, Ltn. Buchner, he had taken his Fokker up early in the morning, alone. Streaming through the rain, he shadowed the five enemy machines as they crossed into the mud from their side. He was determined to bring down his first confirmed!

Finally steeling his nerves, he dove down into the five machines. As he descended he saw the French roundels on their wings. Rather similar to targets, he thought. His first burst alerted the Frenchmen to his presence as it smashed through the wingtip of one machine. Whipping his Fokker around, he found himself behind two more, who were uncertainly turning in a left bank away from him. He picked the closer of the two, and let his Spandaus explode into life once more. His bullets found their mark, and the Frenchman spiralled down to his demise. Upon seeing this, the four remaining Frenchmen turned tail. Knowing their machines had the superior speed, Bertram sighed as he watched them go.


Just then, Bertram saw another French scout, this time alone, flying low along the lines. He turned towards the Frenchman who, to Bertram's delight, turned to meet him. Immediately he noted that this Frenchman's manoeuvres were far more confident than the five he had just attacked. They flashed past each other and then with a startling agility this new French pilot looped up and over Bertram. As he rolled overhead, Bertram saw a large red number 1 painted on the Frenchman's right wing. The Spad dove down below Bertram again, and he followed. As his nose dipped, the French machine again shot past him, looping up and over. Bertram was impressed, but recognised the pattern. The third time the Frenchman tried the trick, Bertram stayed high and the Spad hung in front of him, before falling back down towards the earth. Now, Bertram was squarely behind him.

[Linked Image]

Realising his error, the Spad dove low down to the trees, attempting to escape, but Bertram had gotten the taste for blood by this point. He dove hard after the enemy machine, and fired a long burst into its back as it tried to climb away. Just as before, the Spad rolled lazily over on its side and went into a spin.

Proud of his achievements, Bertram flew home to report two Spads destroyed To his immense surprise, Buchner was furious with him.

"Who do you think you are, taking my machine on an unauthorised flight over enemy lines?!"

"My..my apologies, sir! I downed two -"

"Downed two what? Ghosts? Who was there to confirm these claims, von Haas?"

"Only me"

"Only you! And you thought you had a hope in hell of having these claims confirmed?"

Suddenly impassioned, Bertram's voice raised to meet that of Buchner's.

"Five Spads in formation, they never saw me alone! I knocked one down and the rest fled! The second had a red number 1 on his wings, and two red, white and blue bands! Both fell over Foret du Hasoy, both are still burning!"

The Leutnant blinked. "What did you say?" Suddenly, Bertram checked himself. "...my humblest apologies, sir. It was not my place to - " he was cut off. "No, that second Spad. Describe it again. In detail!"

Bertram was taken aback. "It...it had two diagonal bands on its wings, in the colours of France. On its right wing it had a red number 1. The fuselage had a similar band". Buchner seemed to sway, as if stunned, before quickly turning to the telephone on his desk. To an unknown recipient he barked the words "Get me any news you can of the French air fighters today!" before promptly hanging up.

Slowly, he turned to Bertram. "If your claim is accurate, you are either incredibly talented, or incredibly lucky. Either way, I'm not having you taking my machines up to be shot about by Spads. I'm assigning you two day's duties as the Adjutant's Clerk. You are not permitted to fly until I give the word. Are we clear?"

"But -"

"von Haas, are we clear?"

"...yes, Herr Staffelfuhrer".

Late in the evening, Buchner's telephone rang. Eagerly he answered, listening intently to the voice on the other side. If one were to listen in, they would be able to make out the odd word in a phrase: "uncontrolled...by French infantry...that night in hospital....a white wolf". A grin begun to spread over his face. "Yes. Yes, thank you. Very good". He leaned back in his chair, producing a bottle of Brandy and a glass from within a drawer and pouring himself out a generous drink. "That damned rookie wasn't lying...he really did get Deullin!".

And so von Haas claims his first two confirmed victories, one of which was none other than Albert Louis Deullin, the 20-victory French ace! Pretty lucky, I think...;)









Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/18 02:09 AM

Just back in action and trying to catch up on everyone's stories. I'm enjoying Von Haas, Wulfe. I don't know how you keep so many narratives straight! Jerbear, continuing great job bringing the feel and colour of the USAS to life. Carrick, your Frenchman is doing well!

Here is a quick catch-up narrative for Holger Barfuss.

Part 5

Vzfw Holger Barfuss, Jasta 7


The next week was uneventful, except for two attacks on the English balloon line, the first on 8 May and the second on 10 May. On both occasions, Holger Barfuss raced his Albatros to get the first run at the Luftwuerste, but neither flamed for him. On the return from the 10 May attack, the Staffel was attacked while still low over the enemy lines by a large group of Camels. Barfuss twisted and turned with two Camels on his tail, escaping at less than 200 metres amid heavy ground fire. He returned to Ste-Marguerite with petrol sloshing about his feet and more than 40 holes in his machine.

The house in the village had become a favourite spot, and even some of the officers made hints that they would like an invitation. Every night one of the NCO pilots undertook to make the evening meal. OStv Breishorn did nothing but soup, but the few soups he made were very good. OStv Hornberger had a Swiss mother, and did a very good Swiss Gebackenerkaese, even though he swore it was missing the right cheese.

Our bad luck continued. On 14 May 1918, Leutnant Stauffer returned badly shot about after an encounter with a DH4 and died of wounds that evening. The Staffel flew many sorties on 15 May. Barfuss was up three times that day, twice getting tangled in inconclusive long battles with French Spads, which had made an appearance in the skies north of Lille.

On 16 May, Barfuss joined a flight of six machines led by Staffelfueher Jacobs. They flew well north until they were able to see the silvery line of the English Channel in the distance, beyond the flooded lands leading up to Nieuport. After patrolling for nearly half an hour over the front, a shimmering cluster of black flak puffs signalled the approach of enemy aircraft from the east. As they closed, Jacobs signalled the attack and it soon became clear that these were Bristols – the first that Barfuss had encountered.

Like so many fights, this one evolved quickly from a messy hornet’s nest of machines into a series of individual fights spreading across the sky. Barfuss was amazed by how his opponent handled the large two-seater. He pushed his Albatros to the limit trying to out-turn the Englander, but the Bristol was being twisted about more capably than most of the Sopwiths he had seen. The English observer, though, was merely a passenger. Barfuss grinned to see the man’s Lewis guns swinging about wildly as the fellow held grimly to the sides of his compartment. But the amusement was cut short when the Bristol levelled out momentarily and the observer fired a short burst directly into the black Albatros. Instantly the engine began to vibrate and scalding water sprayed just past Barfuss’s face.

He was low now, and past friendly lines. Oil pressure fell away and Barfuss switched off. The Albatross glided eastward while the din of battle below rose to meet it. He would not make the lines. Stumps of broken trees and tangles of barbed wire flashed past. Barfuss held the nose up as long as possible until, with a heavy thud, the machine struck the mud, slewed to the left, and slowly, almost gracefully, nosed over.

Barfuss quickly unbuckled and dropped into the mud. Shell fell close by. He thought for a moment about burning the machine, but the approach of another salvo of shells sent him head-first into a crater, where he waited until nightfall. Every few minutes more shells dropped. The arrival in his shell-hole of a large section of the Albatros’s rudder told him that setting fire to the thing was no longer a duty. Around two in the morning, Barfuss set out to crawl home.

The scene was surreal. Fragments of brick walls loomed grey in the darkness – a farm long pounded to powder. Beyond it lay an area of stubby grass and waterlogged depressions. In one such hole he crawled into a decaying body. The corpse wore a coarse woolen kilt, a Scottish soldier. Nearby, a skeletal German sat doubled over, his rifle cradled in his arms.

At length, Barfuss heard a challenge. He did not know the correct reply so he shouted “German airman!â€

“Quatsch!†came the reply. “Who are you? Speak up or I’ll shoot.â€

“You will need to get in line. I’ve been shot at all day and by better men than you,†replied Barfuss. “Vizefeldwebel Holger Barfuss, Jasta 7. I demand to be taken to your officer.â€

“He’s dead,†came the reply.

“Then invite me for a drink, Arschloch. I’ll trade for cigarettes.†Barfuss heard laughter.

“Come in, but keep your hands when I can see them.â€

His newfound friend was a somewhat elderly private of a Westphalian reserve battalion. He led Barfuss to a deep dugout where a sergeant asked him questions until Barfuss again lost his temper and demanded to be either shot or poured a Schnapps. The Schnapps won out.
It took most of the following days to be passed back to a village from which Barfuss could call the Staffel. The duty officer put Leutnant Jacobs on the line.

“Sergeant Barfuss, it’s good to hear from you,†said the Staffelfuehrer. Barfuss began to explain his whereabouts.

“Take a day and get yourself and your kit clean and fed. I don’t want you tracking mud all over our nice aerodrome,†said Jacobs. “I’ll send a vehicle after dark.â€

Barfuss found a unit under canvas just outside the village, close by a stream. He washed himself and his uniform as well as he could and spent much of the afternoon lying in a field. At six in the evening, he managed to coax a few pieces of sausage and bread from the infantry and headed to the town’s church, his rendezvous point. A little after seven, a motorcycle with a sidecar pulled up. He recognized the driver. It was close to eleven when he finally reported back to the Staffel.

Leutnant Degelow was gone, having left on the 17th for Jasta 40. There were several new faces among the pilots.

On 20 May, the first patrol tangled with some Camels, and Barfuss chased one a long way west, finally downing it. Without a witness, the victory could not be made official. That afternoon he was with a small group of machines that responded to a call from headquarters to intercept some enemy machines north of Menen. Ten minutes after takeoff they were at 2000 metres over Menen when they were attacked by a very large formation of Camels. For the first few seconds, Barfuss flew defensively, avoiding first one then another enemy machine. Then an Albatros flashed past with an English machine on its tail. Barfuss dived after them, firing from long range to distract the Camel. The Camel turned, and Barfuss fired ahead of it and let the enemy pilot fly into the stream of lead. The Englishman spun away and Barfuss followed. The pair headed west. Every few seconds, Barfuss fired a short burst. He was gaining slowly. This Camel was faster than most he had met to date.

They were approaching the enemy lines when the Englishman suddenly rolled and dived under him. Barfuss quickly got on its tail and fired again. Ammunition was getting low. Finally the Camel rolled once more, but this time it dived vertically into the earth near the British lines.

[Linked Image]
"Finally the Camel rolled once more, but this time it dived vertically into the earth near the British lines."

Barfuss recovered and headed east, following the silver line of the Lys back home. He had downed two Camels in a day, but neither could be confirmed. It was good enough. But the day had not gone well. Three of the new pilots – Ltn Gerlach, Ltn Baermann, and OStv Leister had been lost in the afternoon fight with the Camels.

Letters had arrived from his sisters. Barfuss sniffed in disgust as they complained of rationing and petty hardships. Both questioned the wisdom of continuing the war. “What is happening to my country?†he shouted across the table at OStv Jansen. Jansen shrugged, put his finger to his head like a pistol and pulled the imaginary trigger.


Attached picture Falling Camel.png
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/18 08:01 AM

Welcome back, Raine! I see Barfuss is wasting no time in jumping right back into it wink

2nd. Lt. Albert Mayes MC
No. 42 Stationary Hospital,
5 Victories.


September 18th, 1918.

I sat by the boiler,slowly smoking a cigarette and watching the nurses indifferently hoist the stretcher-bound body up, before quickly shimmying out the room. Under the scratchy wool sheet lay Hurst. The poor fellow had finally succumbed to the wound in his stomach during the night. Hurst was well-liked by most of the ward, and the news came as a terrible surprise to us all...poor Hurst never even as much as winced in pain during the last several days, and always wore a smile underneath those kind, witty eyes of his. He must have been awfully brave.

I watched right up until the door swung closed behind the silhouette of the bear-like Liverpudlian, sighing deeply and leaning closer to find some comfort in the boiler's warmth. What a truly grotesque thing war could be. Feeling well-and-truly miserable, I mulled over the rehearsed recounting of the story about Rast's cigarette that I had prepared in my head. I never did tell it to Hurst, but I bet he would have enjoyed it.

I was handed a telegram from one of the nurses today - a telegram from McClintock, congratulating me on my 5th victory and my promotion to 2nd. Lieutenant. He claimed there would be a 'raucous celebration' upon my return. Other than that, there was the odd bit of news about life at Valheureux. Franklyn had claimed a two-seater while flying my Camel, and had become convinced that its red nose could bring luck to any pilot that flew her.A replacement arrived for Rast, but he'd landed himself in a casualty-clearing station on his third sortie, suffering a shard of bullet shrapnel to the eye.

At least when I am in the air there are distractions. From here, in this stuffy hospital that smelled of iron and infection, it all seemed rather pointless to me.

The nurses returned to strip Hurst's bedsheets from the frame.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/18 10:19 PM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 17: Houdini.

September 17th, 1918.

The infantry truck slowly ground to a halt at the Vauconleurs crossroads, and I thanked the Corporal driver before jumping down, and landing on my bad leg. Wincing, I briefly looked around, took in a deep breath of fresh air, and limped towards my aerodrome as I heard the motor behind me grumble back into life and pull the truck off towards Houdelaincourt. It was only a short walk, less than a mile, thank god. In my head I could still hear the bullets zipping past me as I'd run from the German patrol that had been sent out to get me.

Blindly charging through no-mans-land, a bullet fired from one of the Boche infantrymen had grazed my calf, putting a hole in the side of my boot as I'd dove into a shell-hole. The Germans weren't overly bothered by my escape, and promptly shrugged and turned back for their trench. From there I'd faced an all-too-familliar task of crawling from hole to hole through the muck and death of no-mans-land. This time, however, there were many more bodies visible on the front, most of them recently killed and only beginning to rot. It was a horrific sight. Eventually I made it to our side, nearly being bayonetted by a French patrol in the process. Luckily, they recognised me as 'Brit' as they'd surrounded me, and I was taken back to their forward trench. No phone-line in this one - it had been blown to bits during an artillery barrage, and so I managed with my broken French to hop from town to town across the course of the day, before finally running into a group that were headed past my aerodrome.

Anyway. As I turned off the road through a farmer's field I saw three SPADs of the 29th coming in to land - one was trailing oil pretty bad. Looks like they'd had a rough time of it. Crossing onto the airfield itself I was delighted to see my own machine sitting back in the 2nd. Flight hangar, looking brand-new. I saw the fin rocking back and forth, then the ailerons, and could make out the shape of a mechanic in my office, testing out the new surfaces. The right aileron had been totally replaced, and was yet to be re-painted. Admittedly, I liked the look of it - seemed like my SPAD had earned herself a battle scar! A closer look revealed that Paris had re-painted my tail fin and wheel-struts in that overdone blue design in my absence. We would be having words about that later!

Into the 103rd's mess I went, and saw Furlow standing, mouth agape. just staring at me. Next to him was Monk in a similar state. "I...I saw you crash...?" Furlow started, unsure of his own words. I shrugged. "Yup. Tough trip back. Soubiran in at the moment?". Monk nodded quietly, and pointed to his office. I knocked on the door, and heard Soubiran yell "Come in!".

Standing in front of the boss, I could see the surprise on his face. "You're back, Drummond! I thought you'd gone west! Furlow said he saw your machine crashed in the mud". I nodded. "Yeah, I did go in, but didn't get too bad of a knock". Soubiran nodded slowly, then smiled slightly. "Ok, good. We'll need you in the air tomorrow". And with that, I was dismissed.

Monk was waiting for me as I stepped out, the expression of disbelief now replaced with that troublemaker's grin of his. "Damn, Ben...two times you go down on the Bosche side and two times you pop right back up at our door! Forget Frisky - I'm calling you Houdini!".

That night the 103rd's pilots had a grand old do to celebrate my return - although I didn't partake much in the celebrations. I was exhausted from my second stint and so turned in early. As I left, I could see one or two pilots already falling-down drunk. I expect plenty hangovers in the morning. Sadly, Christiani wasn't present during the celebrations - he'd been forced down wounded yesterday.

Part 18: The Second Death.

September 18th, 1918:


Sitting in the office of my SPAD - my SPAD - felt glorious. Everything was exactly as it should be. The ever-so-slight bend in the mixture lever, the immediate responsiveness of the flight stick, it was all there. To my left I watched Dolan give the signal, and our engines roared into life. Irving rolled first, then Caufmann, then me.

Despite being glad to be back in the air, and my machine, our mission for the morning unsettled me. We were being sent up to escort the same D.H from the 168th that we'd ferried across the day I got myself shot down. Different route this time though - the D.H had been ordered to take some photographs over Three Fingers* Pond, just east of Verdun. To make matters worse, the weather was especially rough this morning, drenching us to the skin again, and the sky was a murky dark grey colour. Our flight of four found the D.H. over the top of Commercy, and it's crew looked just as miserable as we did.

We crossed over the lines, keeping a sharp eye out for Bosche machines, although how we'd ever spot them in this mess I had no idea. Suddenly there was a brilliant blue flash that lit up the murky sky clear as day for an instant, and I turned cold as I realised we were flying through a damned thunderstorm! I shakily shot a look over at Caufmann, and he glanced back at me with a look of terror on his face. Fighting every instinct, we persisted on with our flight. Below us I saw the D.H. observer ducked down in his office, trying to hide from the rain and the lightning. The clouds seemed to swallow us and soon we couldn't see the ground below us. Another bright flash. Now the fear had found me, and again I peered down at the D.H. To my disbelief, the madmen were flying straight and true right through the storm! Surely they had no idea where we were headed by this point...C'mon, guys, just turn back!

We climbed to get above the storm, but quickly realising that we'd lose sight of the D.H, we reluctantly dropped again. I could see Dolan ahead of us looking over his shoulder every so often to make sure we were all still okay. We weren't, but we were still flying at least. There was a third flash, and this time we saw a great fork of lightning whip across the clouds off to our left. God, this was insanity! Just then, we suddenly flashed through a cloud wall and were out the other side of the storm. I looked up into blue skies and burst out laughing. What the hell had we just done?! 1st. Flight would never believe us! Looking down, I saw that we were still out over the mud, but near the Bosche side. The storm had obviously blown us off course, as the D.H. begun to list to the left. We followed, then looked out front. To our dismay, a second storm cloud lay ahead of us.

Just before going headlong into the next thunder cloud we straightened out on a parallel with the Meuse. If we could keep an eye on the river, it would lead us to our target. Dolan tried to lead us in a weaving path through the clouds, but this only resulted in us losing sight of the D.H. Kicking ourselves, we looked over the side of our machines trying to re-acquire the two-seater. In a slight break in the clouds I spotted two U.S roundels - it turns out the D.H. had kept with us, rather than the other way round. How embarrassing. We tightened up our escort now, for fear of losing the Biplace machine again. Together we navigated into a less cloudy slice of sky, and almost immediately the flak came up at us. Those Germans on the ground sure have good eyes to spot us on such a dark and stormy morning! That being said, the sun had come up a bit more now and the visibility wasn't nearly as bad as before. In fact, not long after the flak came up we were taken by complete surprise as we saw a formation of machines flying parallel to us! We gave a start, but it was nothing to worry about - just some Frenchie SPADs escorting a British D.H. Just as soon as we'd seen them they were again swallowed up by the clouds.

Over Lac de Medine the weather eased off a bit more, and the rain stopped! Now a lot more at ease, we spread our formation out a bit and I pulled ahead, flying S-patterns as I scanned for Germans, all the while remaining conscious of Soubiran's warning to me...one more solo excursion and I was out. Finally we reached the Three Fingers, where, to our surprise, we found 1st. Flight. They're still out patrolling? I thought to myself as they waggled their wings and came over to greet us, before turning off home. As they flashed past I saw Soubiran give a wave.

The D.H. lined up its targets, and I saw the Observer readying his camera. I looked up, and shouted an expletive that was luckily drowned out by the wind. Slightly above us and not too far off at all I saw five Fokkers, flying parallel to us. No doubt they had seen us and were planning their attack. I waggled my wings, but there was no need. My flight was already manoeuvring into position to face the oncoming threat. Five of them to our four - tough odds. Suddenly their formation snapped round to face ours, and we readily responded in turn. Our SPADs raced towards the Fokkers head-on, and I charged my twin Vickers. Our two formations merged and exploded out in all sides, a mess of machines all chasing each others tails.

I struggled to pick out a good target, and soon I had a red-nosed Fokker tailing me. To my amazement, the other three joined him. What the hell are you all chasing me for...there's four of us! I angrily blurted out in my head, as I saw my equally surprised wingmen turn to chase my pursuers. Irving and Dolan quickly had two off of me, but the other two stuck fast, Caufmann still hot on their heels. It was no good, though. They were gaining on me. Bracing myself, I pulled into a Split-S and went under the two Fokkers. This allowed Caufmann to catch up and remove another Fokker from my tail. That only left one. Looping around, my last pursuer and I locked horns, passing scarily close to each other as we did so. As the Fokker flashed past I saw a striped red-and-white tail on his machine.


[Linked Image]



Now, this hun was good. Before I knew what was happening I had bullets passing through my machine. We looped and rolled across the sky, fighting ferociously, but I couldn't for the life of me get rid of him! Much to my delight, Irving flashed past us with his guns blazing at which point the wily Fokker broke off and ran for home. Determined to have my revenge, I got after him and soon had him in my sights. I don't think he expected it - he'd straightened out and was sitting nice and still for me. I shot him up pretty good, then a second stream of bullets hit him, fired from Irving's SPAD.

Together we drove the German lower and lower until eventually he fell into a spin, trailing smoke behind him. Leaning over the side, I saw him smash into a tree and become lodged in its branches. Satisfied, I turned for Verdun and the safety of our own lines. As I flew I saw one of my wingmen in front of me. I was surprised at how fast I was coming up on him....as I flashed past him I saw it was Caufmann. His propeller had stopped. For a split second I saw him look up at me with a panicked expression on his face.

Cursing and circling back, I watched as Caufmann glided down towards the lines. Closer and closer to the ground he came. I helplessly watched as German bullets started to fly up at him from the trenches. Bastards! Can't you see he's out the fight?! I thought, gritting my teeth. Come on, Caufmann, land the thing! Get her down!

All my thoughts stopped dead in their tracks, and the world seemed to fall away, as far below me a bright orange glow begun to lick around the cowling of Caufmann's SPAD. I watched in muted horror as, only mere feet off the ground, Caufmann's machine suddenly burst into a brilliant ball of flame, banked and dropped its nose steeply, and smashed into the ground just a few feet from the banks of the Meuse. My stomach turned as it dawned on me that, in his last desperate moments, he must have been aiming to crash in the river to douse the flames.

[Linked Image]

Numbly, I flew home, staring blankly at the column of smoke rising from the wreckage of Caufmann's machine.

When we landed, Irving rushed up to me. "Did you get that Fokker? Sorry, Frisk, I never saw it go in...". That would mean an unconfirmed. I didn't care. I wasn't even listening to him. Without so much as turning to face him, I staggered into the Mess and grabbed a report sheet and a bottle of wine. As I wrote, emotions came flooding back to me.Suddenly I shot up out of my seat and tossed the bottle across the mess. "Damn it!" I roared, kicking my chair and sending it flying, before storming towards the door. "What the hell are you doing, Frisk?" Dolan called after me.

I spun around on my heel to face him."He was down! He was right there, and they killed him! Just shot him up, didn't even care that he couldn't defend himself, those bastards! Those god-damn bastards!" I screamed, before falling backwards into a chair, my head spinning. Stunned, Irving and Dolan just stared at me. It hadn't yet dawned on them that I was referring to Caufmann.

Later, Soubiran called me into his office. "Drummond. I heard what happened, I'm sorry. But, you need a rest. Flying's clearly gotten to you". I met his gaze, my eyes burning with rage. "I don't need no rest," I spat. Soubiran sighed, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigarette. "Well, I'm limiting your flying time. I've been up there longer than you, and I know when a guy needs a break. That will be all". Seething, I stood up.

"But, sir - "

"Drummond, that will be all, I said. Good evening".

As Irving had warned, my Fokker wasn't confirmed. Oh well, at least I knew I'd killed him. Still dazed, I realised with a pang that I hadn't felt this torn-up since Casper had been killed, on my very first day. I drank myself into a stupor before retiring to my bunk.



*The Americans' nickname for Etang-de-Lachausse, as pointed out by Jerbear, the expert on all things USAS!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/18/18 11:42 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Wednesday, September 18th, 1918

Davy didn’t listen after all. Went out with Sewall after balloons but ran into 3 Fokkers. They started back toward our lines when suddenly Davy dove through a cloud. Sewall followed and saw him in a fight with 5 Fokkers. Sewall was maneuvering to get into a position to attack when Davy went down on fire.(1) Such a damn hot head! I suppose there’s some possibility that he survived somehow, but I can’t imagine how. Don’t know what I’m going to do without him. He was like a big brother to me. What am I going to tell his folks now. This is 3 boys lost from the family. Charlie, Blanchard and now Davy.

Crazy Luke brought down 2 balloons. 2 Fokkers and a biplace today. That puts him way ahead of Rick. Rick’s going to make a big deal out of it, throw a party. You’d think Luke would be running off at the mouth, like usual, but he’s keeping to himself. His buddy, his only buddy, I guess, Wehner, got his ticket West in the same fight.

Doc looked at my wound, nice scab, no signs of infection.

Dope is that the next push will be on the Argonne. Thousands of camions (2) going up the Verdun road. Something going on up there for sure.

(1) This was based on Waldo Heinrichs best friend Billy Tayor who set out to avenge Heinrichs. He was credited to Ltn Buchner of Jasta 13. So, WOLFE, we'll say your Jastafuhrer got Davey, I guess.
(2) Camions – le trucks
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/18 01:45 AM

Welcome back, Raine.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/18 01:53 AM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
6 Victory s.

Sep 18, 1918.


I took out a Hun gas bag today, Nothing to it except the ground put 12 new holes in my machine.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/18 11:19 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Thursday, September 19th 1918

Had Luke’s banquette tonight. Heavy drinking, ragtime on our liberated piano. Held it at our mess, lots of birds from the 95th came over but not many from the 27th, Ack Grant conspicuously absent, rather disgraceful and petty of a Squadron Commander in my opinion.

Rick, Whitey, Harney and Peterson gave speeches. Luke was put on a table but couldn’t say anything, surprising from the biggest mouth in USAS. Just mumbled thanks and something about not letting the Germans take him alive. Rousing cheers all around.

Rick proclaimed him the new Ace of Aces and “more power to him, long may he reign.†Rick seemed almost glad to be rid of the title. One of the things Rick said in his speech was that “There never had been an aviator who possessed the confidence, ability and courage that Frank Luke has shown during these last couple of weeks.â€

Luke’s being sent on leave to Orly and Paris. Hartney thinks that’ll give him time to settle down, maybe keep him from getting himself killed like poor Davy. I say Luke’s still crazy as a bedbug and the balloonatic of all balloonatics. My diagnoses for his condition is that “he is not expected to live.â€

Wound declared healed enough to fly. Going up tomorrow, weather permitting.

Lost plenty friends over here, it’s hard, but this one’s different, this is family. I feel like I’m carrying around a big weight in my chest. Drank more than I should have at the banquette, didn’t help. Sewall says the birds who got Davy were blue with green noses. I’ll keep an eye out for them.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/18 06:41 PM

The Story of Bertram von Haas.

Part 3: Paperwork.

19 September 1918.


Letting out a deep sigh, Bertram tried to ignore the pressure headache that had been steadily building up behind his left temple. From behind his small, rickety desk in the sparse unfurnished room outside the Adjutant's office he stared at the towering piles of paperwork that seemed to be walling him in. It was his second day as the Adjutant's assistant, and he groaned as he tried to find a place for the bureaucratic mess in front of him. This job would kill him faster than any Spad could.


He turned over a coffee-stained sheet of paper and glanced over it. It was a list of the aircraft on store with the Jasta, and an empty box for marks on their current condition.From a drawer Bertram produced a pencil with the end badly chewed - an insufferable habit of Ltn. Giselher's. Giselher was the current Offizier zur besonderen Verwendung*, well-known among the pilots of Jasta 13 for being, as Haussman had put it yesterday, a 'Lazy Arschlosch". Apparently, he was constantly shirking his duties, forgetting or outright neglecting to file claims, not keeping records of machine and parts inventory, etc. This only meant more work for the unfortunate Bertram; the moment Giselher caught wind of the fact that Bertram had been punished with clerk duty he'd simply moved all the contents of his own desk onto the one outside.

Bertram looked over the sheet a second time, before slowly beginning to write his remarks on each aircraft, occasionally referring to the stack of mechanics' reports to the right of his desk. 22 machines later, in exactly the same condition they were in yesterday's report, he placed the sheet to the side with a great sigh and thumbed through the other reports. Ah, now what was this? Bertram leaned forwards over the sheet in front of him...it was Buchner's combat report from yesterday. He flicked through the Staffelfuhrer's account, skipping the more mundane details such as the route and altitude flown.

Eventually he came to the victory claims list, and he had to bite back a laugh. The wily Kanone had reported four enemy machines destroyed in the same day! With glee, Bertram read through the first of the claims. "Spad XIII - Shot Down in Flames over Dampvitoux - American Markings". Bertram lifted the telephone on his desk from its hook, and punched in a number. A scratchy voice quickly answered:

"Hallo?"

"Ja. Is this the Balloon abteilung at Foret de la Reine?"

"Speaking."

"Sehr Gut. Tell me, did you happen to see a Spad go down in flames yesterday, around mid-day?"

There was a pause on the other line, followed by a dull boom as the man on the other end threw a palm over the telephone. As Bertram patiently waited, he could hear the muffled shouts of two men on the other side of the line.

"Karl, did you see any machines burn yesterday, mid-day?"

"Uhm...Oh, yes, there was one fight we saw! A machine fell in flames. Is that one of the Staffels?"

"Yeah - trying to confirm a Spad".

"Here - let me talk to the fellow!"

There was an unpleasant knocking sound as the phone switched hands. Twirling the chewed pencil around with his free hand, Bertram awaited the new voice on the other end. A young-sounding fellow then began to speak.

"Hallo? You wanted to know about a Spad?"

"Yes, as much detail as you can manage, if you please".

"Yes, well, it was around mid-day when I saw some Fokkers patrolling the lines. Not an uncommon sight, you understand, so we didn't pay much attention. However, when I next looked they were rolling around with two other machines - I think there were five aeroplanes in total. One of ours got behind one of theirs and I saw him catch fire and fall down, just a couple miles away. The other fellow ran for home, and the Fokkers continued on their route. I can't say it was a Spad, but there you go!"

Bertram smiled, and wrote a large "C" next to the claim on Buchner's report sheet. "Thank you. Sounds like that was our man. Goodbye". For good measure, Bertram called a few artillery positions in the area. Two came up empty-handed, but one unit claimed they had found the remains of a Spad in the area Buchner had reported the kill. True to the Kanone's story, the wreck they found bore "Odd markings - like an English machine except the red and white had swapped places". American roundels. The Artillerymen had managed to wrench the body from the wreckage, horrifically burned as it was, and after looting the aeroplane for any souvenirs they turned out the dead airman's pockets. At first this irked Bertram, but then he felt rather like a hypocrite as he thought back to the French Tachometer he had looted from a Nieuport XII that had come down on his trench in 1917. In fact, the Tach was still neatly packed in the trunk at the foot of his bed.

One more day until he could fly again. Bertram took a swig from the bottle of Schnapps he kept hidden under his desk, and smiled. "I will be the next Kanone," he said, and rather seemed pleased with himself. He looked back down over the report.

"Spad XIII, forced down over Chambley - pilot captured - French markings". Bertram reached for the telephone once more.




Offizier zur besonderen Verwendung, or OzbV, was the title given to a Jasta's Adjutant. I believe the translation would be "Officer for Special Duties".


Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/18 10:03 PM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond.

Part 19: Relocating.

September 20th, 1918.


With a pounding headache I stood beside my fellow pilots as we surrounded a small wooden podium in a semicircle. On the podium, Soubiran was giving a brief speech about Caufmann. 'He was a great flyer, a good friend', and so on. All the pilots kept their composure, and, although it took some willpower, I did the same. I think by morning the initial shock of Caufmann's death had just about worn off. I was still pretty torn-up, but it was a lot more manageable than last night.

After the ceremony had concluded a cross was erected in Caufmann's honour, and we drifted off moodily to watch as all 11 of our machines were rolled out onto the aerodrome. Today we would be saying goodbye to Vaucouleurs and heading out towards a new home field at Lisle-en-Barrois with the rest of the 3rd P.G. Until yesterday, the aerodrome had been occupied by none other than 'Les Cigognes', the famous French unit Group de Combat 12. Coincidentally, one of their squadrons was Esc. 103, or as Monk called them, "Our Frenchie cousins".


After rolling off the ground, I took one last look at Vaucouleurs. Only now did I realise how significant the place was to me - it was here that I'd won my first victories and felt my first stabs of loss. There I'd had three machines shot-out from under me, and had learned how to survive, fight and kill in the air. I'd miss the place. We climbed up in the usual spot, allowing us to give 'Je Vois Tout' a farewell flight, before turning west. Just before we crossed the lines over St. Mihiel (which now seemed a lot closer to the city) Tobin dropped out with engine problems and circled back towards Vaucouleurs. Pyne sidled over into his spot, and we pressed on. To our surprise, over St. Mihiel we saw a mass of trucks headed for Verdun. We'd heard rumours about another big push on Argonne...must be true!


After roughly a 20-minute flight we arrived at our new home, Lisle-en-Barrois, and to our delight we found it to be a lovely little 'drome. 12 Hangars meant plenty of space for the P.G's machines, and the new accommodations were very homely. On the western side of the field, dotting the end of a curved dirt path that sat behind the hangars, stood a pair of lovely old two-storey houses; One for the pilots of the 28th and 93rd, the other for the 103rd and 213th. The interior of our new nest was a far-cry from the old barracks over at Vaucouleurs - upon entering you were met with a grand old staircase that led up to the various rooms (we had our own rooms now!) that we would be staying in. To the right of the staircase were two offices, for our two Adjutants. The most exciting room, however, was on the left. It was a sitting room with a towering ceiling, complete with luxurious leather armchairs, ornate wooden tables, and, best of all, a well-stocked bar, complete with stools and a counter-top!

A short walk up the dirt path would take you to a large out-house in which the mechanics had set up something of a parts-shop. On a large workbench I saw a stripped-down Marlin, and to the left of the bench were some wings, no fabric on them, propped up against the wall. To either side of this a few tents were erected, presumably for the mechanics. The floors were a mess of engine parts. Excitedly, we all continued up the path, exploring our new home, As we did so, we could see the SPADs of the 213th coming in to land.

Now on the eastern side of the aerodrome, we found another pair of buildings, two barracks, with large signs over the doors that read "NCO & ENLISTED". Finally, at the far end of the path, we stepped into a beautiful white U-shaped cottage. The inside was filled with tables, and one door to the right led into a decent-sized kitchen. We figured that this was the new mess - it was quite a walk from our new lodgings, being all the way on the other side of the aerodrome, but it was a small price to pay for our comfy new set-up.

At around 11 AM Tobin showed up with the 93rd, and we all had a good laugh at his child-like excitement at the new digs.

Soubiran, Dolan, and Gray from the 213th decided to take a quick walk over to drop in on the new neighbours - the 1st Pursuit group (Consisting of the 24th, 94th, 95th, and 147th Aero Squadrons) over at Rembercourt Aerodrome - only a stone's throw away - mentioning that they had an "Old pal from the Lafayette" over there. Tobin went, too - he had spent some time in the 94th, and was eager to see his old buddies. I would have gone with them, but in all honesty I was a little nervous. The 1st had some crack pilots over there, in particular I was, embarrassingly, a little star-struck by Rickenbacker and Luke.

Instead, I hunted Paris down and demanded that he paint over the blue on my machine - again. Took her up after Paris had finished to dry the paint and get a feel for the local landmarks.

[Linked Image]




Operations resume at 1500 hours.








Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/19/18 10:37 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
6 Victory s.


Sep 19,1918.

A little punch out with some Huns today on Escort duty. Our 6 a/c were covering 1 Recon type and had 5 e/a curve into us from above I banked after mine as he made a firing pass at the 2 seat. I waved at him to stay to the port side as I chased after the Bosche. I caught him as he slanted down for more speed and got off about 200 rds pergun. The ea rolled into a right hand haft roll and went straight into the ground West of Toul AF just before the Forest. We ended up claiming 2 a/c and having 3 damaged With 1 pilot wnd + the damaged 2 seat ,but he landed ok.

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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/18 09:02 PM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 20:

20th September 1918.

We were tasked with an escort sortie for our first mission out of Lisle-en-Barrois. We were all pretty disturbed to see a SPAD marked with the number 5 - Caufmann's old number - sitting on the ready line. The machine belonged to another egg, Lt. John Downey, who had arrived in the afternoon. Today was his first sortie, and he would be flying with Ponder, Pyne, Larner and I.

Taking off from the new aerodrome for the first time (the second for me), we headed to the RV point over Souilly on the southeastern tip of the Argonne, where we collected the Biplace (A French Breguet). Of course, the rain was back on. Poor Downey looked shaky as hell in the air. We headed towards Fresne-e-Woevre. The Breg, as far as we knew, was supposed to be photographing a section of the lines that was proving particularly tough to get through - the Frenchies wanted to know what made the Bosche in that stretch so tough.

As we flew, we broke through the clouds we met with the beautiful sight of the sun-drenched top of the cloud layer. The rain turned to drizzle and then ceased. The wind above the clouds knocked us around like so many scraps of paper, but we were glad to be out of the rain. As we crossed into the mud we passed very close to a flight of French SPADs ferrying a second Breg back home. We waved to each other, and our Bregs waggled their wings at one another in passing. We pushed on, with the winds increasing steadily as we went. At one point I throttled down so as to not overtake Ponder, and an almighty gust of wind suddenly knocked my machine sideways towards him! I dropped my nose in an instant and as I was tossed to the side I saw four undercarriages flash past dangerously close to my top wing. As I popped up on the far side of the formation, I saw Larner gesture to me, as if to say "What was that?". I shrugged, and tried to find a way of signalling back "The Wind!".

We eventually reached our target. Mercifully, there was no sign of any Huns, but we still stayed sharp. We were in their backyard now, and we all knew they sat and waited all day for us to show. Aha, there they are. Below us flew a formation of five Fokkers - they had either not seen us, or had chosen to ignore us. Still hotheaded from Caufmann's murder, I couldn't resist and I waggled my wings, before diving down. Two of them immediately broke off to the left - so they had been ignoring us. Cowards.

Now the flak picked me out, which drew the attention of two more Fokkers. Low down, they circled and lifted their noses, as if they were snapping at my heels. Not wanting to be a bad guest, I obliged and dove further down, picking out my man. I checked my tail, and realised that I had dove past two of them, who now sat level with me. Idiot, Frisk! Pay attention!. Reluctantly I used my speed to out-distance the Bosche machines. Two seemed to halfheartedly follow, and one disappeared, but one guy in particular was dead-set on getting me. He followed, full throttle, as I flew for the French lines.

Smiling to myself, I begun to weave slightly, so as not to outrun him. I led him along for a good few minutes, but the moment we crossed into French lines I swung my SPAD around and went at him head-on. The shocked German tried to pull away, but all he succeeded in doing was letting me get on his tail. He immediately turned for home and I set about my work of tearing his machine to bits with bullets. Just then, tracers flashed past me and I immediately broke...the Fokker that had disappeared had climbed up and was lurking above us!

After getting clear of the second Fokker's guns, I decided to try the same trick on this guy. To my amusement, it worked - the sucker followed me further into our own lines! His shot-up wingman beat a hasty retreat, leaving just the one. However, my plan was spoiled by the damned idiot French troops, who started shooting up at the pair of us. One soldier, presumably with great aim but poor eyesight, put a shot right through me, nearly hitting me in the process!

My friend behind me had turned off just as the bullets came up, and now I turned back on him. Whoops. Turns out the rest of the Fokker flight had come across to find out where their two missing guys went. And these three couldn't care less about the French ground fire. I turned tail again, staring at the three behind me. What the hell was I supposed to do about them? Time for something desperate.

I whipped my SPAD around again, going for another head-on pass with the machine closest to me. This time, the German wasn't fazed, and we swapped bullets before I tore through the middle of their formation. I pulled up high, dropping down and having a go at another one, but he snaked away from my guns. Okay, time to cut my losses. I dove away again before the Germans got their bearings, and simply focused on getting the hell away from them .

After I had opened the gap a fair distance, I begun to climb slightly in the direction of our home field. The Fokkers couldn't match me for speed or climbing ability at this low altitude, and so I figured that this would be my escape route. Get above them and refuse to come down, like a cat chased up a tree. The thought sickened me, but it was better than dying. After I'd gotten a fair distance above them, the rear two turned off. The guy out in front, the second one that had chased me over, pressed on.

I couldn't believe the hun would be so stupid to follow me alone this far into our own lines! Obligingly I winged over and fell upon him. Realising his mistake, he tried to turn back towards the front. I laughed out loud when I saw him do this - so bold a moment ago, eh, Fritz? I shot him up and down the line as he desperately tried to get away. As we passed each other in a loop, I saw his propeller had stopped. For a second, the image of Caufmann's horrified face behind his own stopped propeller flashed in my mind, and a deep hatred surged in me. I opened up on him as he was landing, but to my outrage both my guns jammed. I circled above the helpless Fokker, watching as he wrestled with his straps, before tugging at the cocking handles and clearing both jams. I came down at him again, firing another burst. One of my Vickers jammed again, but the other kept going, now sharing in my enthusiasm. I circled around a third time.


Upon my return, Larner was furious with me.


"Frisk, are you stupid? You know Soubiran'll give you the boot once he finds out you went off alone again!"

"Yeah, I know. I don't know what came over me. I just saw them, and-"

"You wanna be the next dead pilot?"

I stayed quiet, and Larner spoke again, in a slightly softer tone.

"I know Caufmann's death has got you feeling a bit low, but do you think you're the only one? I knew him a lot longer than you did, buddy. This is what War is like. You'll have to get used to it eventually..." he sighed deeply as the energy seemed to just, leave him. "Look. I won't tell Soubiran, neither will the boys. But you'd better get your act together before you wind up dead".

"Will you tell Soubiran y'all saw me shoot down a Fokker?"

Despite his anger, Larner smirked. "Did you?"

"Yeah, you know I did!"

He let out an exasperated laugh.









Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/20/18 09:26 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.


Sep 20 1918.


Hq confirmed my Fokker Kill Now I have 7 + 3 unconfirmed. The Esc 6 a/c took off to due a Rail Yard attack. I didnt last long with a Sputtering motor then a steady power loss. Landed at Toul and lunched with the 22nd Pursuit Sqn. The motor will have to be replaced, I motorcycled back to the AF to fine my flight had 3 missing a/c all behind Enemy lines the pilots are all KIA or POW's.

Attached picture CFS3 2018-09-20 14-16-01-45.jpg
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/18 10:28 AM

Welcome back Raine.

Maj Sitwell has only been up a couple times recently and no huns have come out to play, which is fine by me. I will say, having headtracking completely changes this game. What a difference in SA.

Keep the stories coming gents. You are all amazing storytellers and I am thrilled with how many amazing careers there are.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/21/18 04:40 PM

2nd. Lt. Albert Mayes MC,
No. 3. Sqn RAF
5 Victories.


21st September 1918.

I got back to Valcouleurs about 8 PM last night and, as promised, the Squadron threw a do in honour of my 5th victory. It was a jovial affair, the drinks flowed and they had even managed to get hold of some real roast beef for our supper. Lt. Olson spent the night tinkling away, going through all the old numbers; 'Pack Up Your Troubles' was met with a particularly boisterous response, we all drunkenly sung along with our arms around each other's shoulders, and by the time we were done there was not a man who had managed to avoid having drinks spilled over his tunic!

Plenty of new faces in the mess, most of them very young. One aloof fellow by the name of Chris Barton briefly introduced himself to me, Chris was an odd sort, and very well-bred - would refer to you as "Old Boy", "Darling" and the like. He hadn't yet flown over France, but he was very keen to "Go up and give those bally huns a proper good English thrashing, eh? For the King and all that, wouldn't you say?".

After a night of decadence I returned to my old familiar bunk, feeling slightly worse-for-wear. The morning came, and I blearily sat up nursing a headache and a queasy feeling in my stomach. No time to feel sorry for myself - I was back on the active roster, and we had a patrol of the lines in an hour! On the ready line I ran a hand across my old familiar Camel, before climbing aboard. Cpt. Wallace was to lead our flight, consisting of five Camels. Franklyn, Maxted and Christenson were the other three in our little outfit.

'Archie' Flight was being led by Maj. McClintock. None of the new fellows were coming up today - I assumed McClintock would go up with them later on, on a less risky sortie. As I had been before them, they would need to get themselves acclimatised to flying over France before they could have a crack at the hun. The 10 of us went up and headed out towards Loos. I must admit, the Camel's controls felt slightly vague and un-familliar, thanks to my extended absence. However, it wasn't all so bad. It was a beautiful day for it - the sun sent its warmth to us as we flew along, observing the occasional great white crowd that lazily crawled its way towards Hunland. By the time we reached the mud, we were all in very high spirits indeed - the fact betrayed by the way our Camels bounced up and down jovially as we flew!

We had barely gotten into the mud when Wallace and Maxted broke hard out of formation. Startled, Franklyn, Christenson and I followed suit, our head whipping around and trying to see the threat. There - above us! One incredibly ambitious Fokker was circling above us like a hawk, picking out his first victim. We all circled below him, bidding him to come down and expecting an easy fight. Down he came, on a Camel right in front of me. Hah! That made things easier! In the blink of an eye I was behind him, and shooting him about. As he broke, I saw a large white 'K' on the side of his fuselage and a bright blue tail that I supposed would look very nice on the squadron wall.

I had just closed in for the kill when that damn fool Maxted flashed past within a hair's breadth of my machine, putting himself between my guns and my prey! Very much annoyed, I watched as he now took over my job of peppering the Fokker. Now Franklyn came barrelling in, forcing Maxted to break hard to avoid a collision. My, how reckless and bloodthirsty the two were being! In the confusion, the Fokker gave them the slip and had just put himself behind Maxted when I got on his tail again, and put a very nice burst into him, for which I was rewarded by seeing a black trail of smoke escape his machine. Again Maxted and Franklyn impeded my work, and the Fokker disappeared as we tried to dodge each other. "What are you doing, you pair of idiots?!" I cried out, searching around for our lost prey.

When I next saw the Fokker, he was attempting to climb towards his lines. I turned after him (of course, with my overzealous wingmen in tow) and lined up my shot. The German was either wounded, desperate, or plain hadn't seen us as he flew perfectly straight in front of me, allowing me to take as much time as I wanted to get my burst away. As I drew closer I could see just how badly shot up his Fokker was, for it seemed there was no part of it that had remained un-perforated by our guns. Once I had the sight picture I wanted, I pressed down on the trigger and watched my tracers tearing through the length of the machine. I must admit - it made me quite ill to see the phosphor of my tracer bullets slowly burning out, embedded in the hun's back. Our foolhardy foe slumped forwards in his seat before his Fokker vanished beneath my nose. When I saw him next he was still in his death-dive about 2000 feet below us. I watched the Fokker drop all the way to the ground and come to rest just behind one of our trench-lines, kicking up a great cloud of dust as he impacted the ground.


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Upon arriving back at Valheureux, I was still in quite a mood. Jumping down from my Camel, I marched over to Maxted and Franklyn, pulling them both to the side.

"You pair of bloody idiots nearly caused a crash up there!"

"No, we saw each-"

"I don't want to hear it, Franklyn! Next time, pay attention!" I paused, letting myself cool off a bit. "Tell you what. Seeing as you were both so keen, you two flip a coin for the claim. I'm not putting it in". And with that I stormed off towards the mess. Maxted won the toss.

We went up again at mid-day for another patrol of the lines. This time, Smuts at the head of 'Archie' flight took two of our new pilots - Lieutenants Tepes and Riley - up with him, to give them a bit of experience over the front. They were both under explicit orders not to get involved in any fights we may get into. McClintock headed 'B' Flight - a sizable number, 8 of us, and we were to do the 'heavy lifting' when the Fokkers did show up.

We first caught sight of a pair of Rumplers over Arras, but they were too high for us to do anything about and so we didn't bother chasing after them. As we crossed the lines, I found myself interested in a strange shape within a cloud - it looked rather like a face, and a familiar one at that! I stared at the cloud-face for a while, becoming lost in thought. Soon enough we were over Monchy and, just as before, we had scarcely crossed into the mud when I spotted 7 Fokkers looming ominously above us in the distance. I waggled my wings to warn my flight, who acknowledged - we put our camels into a gentle bank away from the Fokkers, conscious of our new pilots' well-being. The Fokkers seemed to share the sentiment, and disappeared down the lines to the South. Not long after that we saw a flight of S.E.5s flash below us, headed out into Hunland.

After making a large circuit around Monchy, I again saw the Fokkers, who had come back up north - however, three of their number had disappeared, and they were now a considerable amount lower than us. They must have gotten into a scrap down south! To my surprise, they showed some interest in us this time, and begun to edge closer. I dropped down on one fellow that had edged too close to us, and once I was at his altitude the circling began.

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As we circled, I looked over his machine. Black and yellow, with an anchor insignia on the fuselage and tailplane. Of course, my Camel soon caught up to the tail of his Fokker, but then I realised that this fellow must be very good - for he executed some evasive manoeuvres that left me baffled. As I watched, astonished, the Hun rolled on to his back, and using forward-stick he climbed, still on his back, out of my guns! It was a very impressive trick, and I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the Hun's mastery of his machine, however, we were enemies and it was my duty to bring him down.

Trying to keep with my opponent's weird manoeuvres, I fired the occasional burst at him with no real joy. Eventually we found ourselves in a cloud, and here we got into a dizzying battle where I was never sure which way my Camel was facing! Not knowing if I was climbing or diving, inverted or right-side-up, I edged closer to my target, my shots creeping nearer to his machine with each burst. Eventually he flashed clearly into my gunsights, and I fired. I flashed underneath him, having gotten a bit too close with my attack and - Yes! The acrobatic Hun now had a thin trail of smoke snaking out of his machine!

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Knowing my prey was wounded, I closed in to finish him off. Another burst and he fell straight vertically downward. Maybe I'd killed him, but this Hun was quite the artist and he may be having me on...Aha! About 800 feet off the ground he pulled sharply up and attempted to run for home. I dove back down, seeing through his deception, and gave him one last burst of Vickers fire. At that point his plane wallowed, went in for a shaky landing, and flipped over practically on top of a British trench. As I circled I watched as the pilot was ordered out from under his machine and marched off by a band of enthusiastic Tommies.

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Being rather low now, I looked for my flight and, not seeing them, made for home. As I reached the lines I was completely gobsmacked to see two Fokkers running riot in amongst the rest of No. 3! My wingmen didn't even appear to be fighting back as these two Fokkers merrily jumped from Camel to Camel, putting shots into their machines! As I arrived I spotted Hughes being hunted down by one of the brutes, and crept up behind the German. He must have got the shock of his life when one of the toothless Camels that he was attacking suddenly opened fire on him! He tried to spiral away but I was right behind him through the move, and my tracers were crashing into his plane En Masse. In a blink his wing was off, and I had to throw my Camel into a stomach-churning dive to avoid his wreckage. To my complete and utter disbelief the Fokker wobbled for a moment, before stabilising and continuing towards home with only 3 wings left! I pulled behind him again and pressed down on the trigger...but I was out of bullets! God, this Hun has the luck of the devil! I pulled alongside the Hun, observing him as he fought to control his three-winged machine. He shot me a quick glance, and I was taken aback to see the look of terror on his face, for I was suddenly reminded again that real, flesh-and-blood men occupy the machines we fight. I suddenly found myself hoping the fellow would land safely, and so I flew along with him for a while to observe his plight. As we reached the lines I was forced to climb up on top of him, as those bloody Archie gunners were firing at the poor German. Finally I decided to leave him to his fate, and turned away.

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For as long as I live, I shall never forget that bizarre moment, seeing the three-winged hun limping home.



Again, the bloody game crashed before I could file my first claim (blue-tail)...I had 3 perfectly-positioned witnesses and saw it hit the ground!! Also, how did that 3rd Fokker escape?!?! Grrr.....



Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/18 01:05 AM

The Story of Bertram von Haas.

Part 3: Songbird.

20 September 1918.


Stretching out joyously, Bertram strolled at a leisurely pace on to the airfield, running his hand along the fuselage of his Fokker as he moved towards its cockpit. Ah, how good it felt to be free of that damned desk! Around him, pilots scrambled to their machine, the piercing alarm shattering the relative peace of the morning. Ltn. Dittmann almost leapt clear into his own machine, immediately firing up the engine and firing Bertram an infuriated look as he slowly lifted himself into his own machine. Over the noise of the engine, Dittmann screamed out "Hurry up, damn you, or we'll miss them!!".

The alarm only ever sounded for two reasons; either the airfield was under attack, or enemy machines had been sighted nearby. This morning it was the latter, and so the pilots of Jasta 13 were ordered to scramble. Bertram fired up his engine - not knowing where they were headed. That knowledge belonged solely to Ltn. Buchner, who was just now taking off. His 10 subordinates, Bertram included, soon followed and together they climbed southwards towards Saint-Mihiel.

Not feeling the urgency of the situation in the least, Bertram grinned as he lifted into the air, as that insufferable desk in the cottage behind him got smaller and further away. Above his head, the deep grey clouds loomed over him and warned him back, the wind swirling in fury and urging him to return to the ground, where he belonged! Staring up into the brutal sky, his grin widened. Oh, no...no, I'm supposed to be up here! he challenged the elements in his head.

Almost in approving response, the sun flashed through the clouds, illuminating the formation of 11 Fokkers. Bertram turned to face it, and as his head turned he caught sight of four of his colleagues splitting away from the formation, scattering to every side. In an instant he knew the enemy was close - but where were they?

Silhouettes flashed across the clouds like black lightning above the heads of his colleagues. Bertram strained his eyes, and tracked one such shape. Under his scrutiny it revealed itself to be a Spad. Ah, there's another! And two more! Bertram grinned, cocking his twin Spandaus. To be given the chance to make a kill so soon after his return to the sky, ah, it was a gift! The deep green nose of his Fokker lazily came around to point at the French machines, and the challenge was set. Immediately, two French pilots reacted, and down they came in dizzying spirals, down to kill him. Bertram weaved his Fokker in between the two machines. In doing so, one flashed past his head, almost close enough for him to reach out and touch! As it passed him by, he took note of the insignia on the side. A swallow against a yellow square. It would make for a pretty trophy.


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Flak begun to burst around him, aiming for his pursuers, but this only added to Bertram's mood. What a good fight this would be! Tracers flashed past his machine, and he quickly looked over his shoulder to see one of his opponents behind him. Pulling the stick into his stomach, he looped away from the Spad and begun to circle left. As he gazed over, he saw the two Spads, almost in formation, circling with him. Savouring the thrill of the fight, Bertram begun to sing. Despite the furious wind drowning out his words, he jovially belted out 'Argonnerwald', an old favourite of his. As he danced with the two Frenchmen, he sung of their home country. It almost looked as if they were goaded by his words, as he watched their elevators twitching, straining, to tighten their turns and get behind him to send him hellwards. He responded, tightening his own turn, knowing all the while that his machine was the superior one in this kind of fight. "Argonnerwald, um Mitternacht, Ein Pionier steht auf der Wacht!" The nose of Bertram's Fokker slowly reared around to face the tails of the two Spads.


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Finally getting behind his oppoents, he pressed down on the trigger and white-hot tracers flashed towards the rearmost Spad, cutting thin, wispy lines of smoke through the air. The French machines split apart. Ein Sternlein hoch am Himmel stand, Bringt ihm 'nen Gruß aus fernem Heimatland! Tearing through the sky after his prey, Bertram started to close in. Just then he looked over his shoulder, seeing the second Spad now chasing him. He laughed out loud, these two were tricky! Two more machines flashed over his head, but these two were Fokkers. Ach! The fight was spoiled. But the hunt was still on! Und mit dem Spaten in der Hand, Er vorne in der Sappe stand! Bertram jubilantly raised his nose into the sky, avoiding the tracers of another Spad that had now entered the mix. Soon he found himself behind this opponent.


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The Spad in front of him dove down towards the earth, Bertram in tow. At the last second, both machines pulled sharply up. Thinking he had escaped, the French pilot straightened out, just long enough for Bertram to take aim, but at the last second he saw the danger and snaked away to the right. Mit Sehnsucht denkt er an sein Lieb: Ob er sie wohl noch einmal wiedersieht? It was too late. Bertram's fire found the Spad, and it begun to shudder and tremble, as if the machine itself knew that it was done for, before falling towards the earth. Bertram's eyes gleamed as it came closer to the trees below, before shattering in a mess of splintered wood and torn fabric. Und donnernd dröhnt die Artill'rie. Wir stehen vor der Infantrie...the words were whisked away by the wind and fell around the now burning wreckage of the Spad. As Bertram turned back towards his airfield, he saw a second Spad, fighting tooth-and-nail against a Fokker in amongst a cloud of flak. His smile flashing white above his flying scarf, he turned his machine towards the combat. He drew nearer, and smiled as he recognised Niethammer going about his work. he was behind the Spad now, but below; he had no shot. In that case...


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Granaten schlagen bei uns ein, Der Franzmann will in unsere Stellung 'rein! Tracers flashed into the Spad. In a panic the French pilot attempted to climb away from the two hungry Fokkers below him, however, Bertram was scoring hits. Eventually, the Spad got on top of the two Fokkers, although he had been shot about in doing so. Bertram defiantly lifted his nose and shot another burst into the Spad, causing the pilot to react and turn too hard in the climb. His machine stalled and fell back down into the clutches of the two Germans once more. In a flash Bertram was upon him, his Spandaus roaring into life. Pieces of canvas were cut away from the Frenchman's wings as he desperately twisted every which-way to escape his pursuer. Circling above, Niethammer watched with a curious eye, keen to observe the new upstart pilot's ability in the air. He smiled, pleasantly surprised, as Bertram's tracers found their way into the French pilot's back, and the Spad rolled over with its belly to the sky before falling upside-down into oblivion. Er frug nicht warum und nicht wie,Tat seine Pflicht wie alle sie! Bertram laughed the words to his song as he and Niethammer turned for home.



The two Germans landed together, and Ltn. Niethammer bounded over to Bertram as he lazily climbed down from his Fokker. "von Haas, that was some display! The poor Frenchman hardly stood a chance!". Bertram smiled slyly, and shrugged. "Herr Niethammer, I think I owe you an apology. That Spad was rightfully yours!". The Leutnant laughed, and slapped Bertram on the back. "Ah, but you're right, von Haas...perhaps we must toss a coin for it! Come, let us lunch now, and celebrate your victory!".

As Bertram walked alongside Niethammer, he hummed to the tune of 'Argonnerwald'.


Sorry about your wingmen, Carrick - It's a hell of a war!













Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/18 01:22 AM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.


Still waiting on my replacement motor. Although not confirmed by Hq. Rumor has it that my wingmates were lost to Green/Blue painted Fokkers One had a Wolfe painted on its side.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/18 02:34 PM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 21: Dying in France.

September 21st, 1918.


Today's going to be a toughie. Soubiran's having us patrol over the top of a Bosche aerodrome halfway between Spincourt and Hussiguy. Larner (or DeFreest as he now permitted me to call him), Dolan and I crowded around Johnnie Downey, each of us offering our advice to the egg. It would be his first time going over to the Bosche side, and he was quite nervous. Smart Kid.

"Okay, Johnnie. Firstly, if any Fokkers show up try to stay out of the fight and watch if you can. Better to know what you're getting into beforehand" Dolan explained, as Johnnie meekly nodded along. "Also, if you do get into a fight, and you get a Bosche on your tail, dive away! Our machines are faster than theirs". DeFreest added.

I ran a thumb across my lip. "Most importantly, if you take a hit - any hit - get home. Believe me - you don't want your engine to quit on the Bosche side". DeFreest nodded. "And stay with the formation". As he said it, I caught him giving me a warning glance.


We took off around 8 AM, into a thankfully un-stormy sky. It seemed the worst of the weather was behind us. I stuck close to Johnnie as we approached Verdun - below, the whole earth seemed alive with movement - troops, trucks, tanks, artillery...all getting ready for that big Argonne push. I scrutinised the ground for a moment, but caught movement ahead of me out of the corner of my eye. My head snapped up, and I saw my wingmen breaking off every which-way...in a panic I looked up - five Fokkers were sitting directly on top of us, in a near-perfect 'V' formation, regarding us from above with annoyance. I broke, too, waiting for the Fokkers to come down.

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And, down they came. I caught sight of Soubiran chase after one and moved to help him. Just then I turned around, to see another Fokker diving in on me, just about to open fire! I looped to the side, and when I looked back two SPADs had him on the ropes. The German came back at me and I almost blacked-out throwing the SPAD into a dive to avoid colliding head-on. Disoriented, I looked back up at the fight, and quickly spotted DeFreest, alone with a pair of Fokkers. I climbed up and stood my machine on its nose, firing a burst at one of the Fokkers. Angered, he came down to get me now, and so we looped around each other. During a stall-climb, I noticed that DeFreest now had another SPAD with him, and both of them were behind their hun.

I wasn't doing so well with my Hun. He'd quickly got behind me, and was staying with every manoeuvre I pulled to shake him. The bullets started hitting my machine, and I resorted to pulling the nose up into a stalling climb. The German didn't follow, and so I kicked the rudder over and rolled over, diving back down onto the German's six and firing a long burst into his back. Undoubtedly wounded, the Bosche pilot made a feeble attempt to evade me, but I soon had his wing clean off.


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Flying back towards the fray, I soon saw DeFreest above me, still pursuing his Fokker. I also got a good look at the second SPAD with him - it was Johnnie. I grimaced. Just you be careful, kid... I thought as I watched him. Just then, DeFreest put a burst right through the Bosche machine, and a great cloud of steam erupted from it before it went into a strange wallowing half-spin half-dive down through the clouds, totally out of control. Good shooting, DeFreest! I linked up with my two wingmen, and we quickly saw our compatriots busying themselves with another pair of Fokkers about a mile north of us. We flew to help, but to our glee we saw both Fokkers fall to earth before we'd even gotten close!

Having knocked down four huns, we turned for home, all with cheshire grins slapped across our faces. Soubiran claimed one of the other Fokkers, but nobody had seen what happened to the fourth. Back on the field, I saw DeFreest ruffling Johnnie's hair. "Good flying, kiddo!" he shouted, and Johnnie nervously laughed. When I asked DeFreest later, I found out that Johnnie had flown like a man with twice his experience - not shooting past DeFreest in hopes of a victory, making sure his wingman was well-covered, keeping out the way but also close enough to be of use. Seems like he'll do well here!

We were in high spirits as we prepared to go up again in the early evening - 4 PM - on a patrol over the Puvenelle Forest. Monk was at the head of our formation, with Soubiran and I hanging back and watching over Johnnie. As before, he had the same orders; avoid combat if possible, observe and learn. By this time the sky had reverted to its favourite gloomy grey, but thankfully there was no sign of the rain. Monk was feeling particularly bold, and led us through the pocket in the lines at St. Mihiel, issuing a challenge to any Bosche in the area. I looked over concerned at Johnnie...Come on Monk, we've got the kid with us!. The flak started to come up at us and I saw Johnnie react, but he stayed with us. We crossed back over into our side at Puneville Forest, having thankfully encountered no Fokkers. However, I did see a big formation of 7 of them about 1500 meters below us as we got to the lines. I pointed them out, but frustratingly Monk simply shook his head. Fighting the urge to drop down on them, I flew along in the formation, telling myself I needed to keep an eye on Johnnie.

We flew back-and-forth between the Puneville Forest and Lac de Madine and, apart from the low Fokkers, we didn't see a single other aeroplane, let alone a Hun! I found myself quite bored, but after considering this I decided that any Fokker-less sortie was a good one. Oops - spoke to soon! Monk suddenly waggled his wings and rolled his SPAD over, going into a steep dive. Surprised, I looked below us and saw that same pack of Fokkers. They'd been shadowing us from below, climbing up to fight us, and Monk had finally had enough of their insolence. I cocked my Vickers and followed my wingmen down. However, the Fokkers had flown through a wispy layer of cloud, and we struggled to keep our eyes on them. uh-oh, these guys were clever. I picked out a pair of Fokkers flying close to each other and dove down on them from the front, spraying bullets wildly at the pair of them before zooming past and extending away. Looking around, panicked, I realised that I'd lost sight of Fokker and SPAD alike. Just then I felt a sickening jolt, as my SPAD whipped severely upwards. What the hell was that?! I turned round and saw a Fokker falling in flames, breaking apart as it fell.

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I turned back, and in horror realised that I'd collided with the enemy machine. I dove out of the fight, checking over my machine. Nothing...seemed wrong...turning around I saw that two Fokkers had followed me down. I tried desperately to escape my two pursuers, but they were hot on my heels. Just then, Tobin came screaming out of nowhere and put a savage burst into one Fokker, which immediately broke off. Okay, now I just needed to get the other guy away from me. We twisted at low altitude, scissoring left and right. With every reversal another stream of tracers passed my machine. This was bad. I took note of Tobin nearby, his Fokker was in a bad way, smoking and wobbling like a foal. Sensing he'd put the guy out of his misery soon, I tried to get closer to him, but the Fokker behind me wouldn't let me straighten out for a second.

[Linked Image]

I pitched up to escape the Fokker, and bullets smashed through my machine. I jolted in my seat, and immediately knew that something was very wrong. Tobin, having shot down the other guy, again came back to bail me out. I turned to see Soubiran about a mile up the line, struggling to hang with another Fokker. Now clear, I flew to help the boss and put a burst through the Fokker. Just then, a thin red line seemed to snake its way downwards across my goggles. Confused, but thinking nothing of it, I turned to attack the Fokker once more, but my first shots must have been good because when I next saw him he was a burning mess on the ground. The red streak thickened, and then another formed, and suddenly I became aware of a sting on my forehead, then a dull throb in my side. I suddenly begun to feel incredibly dizzy, my vision starting to blacken. My head dropped, and then snapped back up.


My SPAD quivering through the sky, I pointed towards our lines. I needed to get down, now. Fighting consciousness and the ever-increasing pain in my head, and my side, I brought my SPAD down in a field just behind the lines. My head jolted downwards again as I hit the ground, and I just let it roll to a stop of its own accord. It ground-looped as it did so. The pain was now screaming at me, and I groaned loudly, blearily looking down. I went cold as I saw that my uniform was soaked through with blood. Reaching a trembling hand to my head, I ran my fingers across it and pulled them away to see them red with blood. A fresh wave of panic surged across me. That #%&*$# hun had killed me! I was going to die!

Another SPAD landed alongside mines and Soubiran jumped out of it, sprinting over to my machine. "Drummond! Aw, hell, look at you!" He shouted, panic now flashing in his face. Now I was certain I was done for - I'd never seen anything faze the boss before. I cried out in pain as Soubiran dragged me from my cockpit, leaving a dark red streak down the side of my machine. Throwing me over his shoulder, he ran towards the lines. "He needs help, now!" I heard him cry as he ran.

I heard several voices calling out in response, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Just then I gave in to the dizzying tiredness, and my eyes closed, sending me into blackness.







Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/22/18 08:58 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Friday, September 20th 1918

Davy’s body found in his SPAD near Dampvioux. His body’s being buried at Issoudun. Going to have to write his folks, guess I’d better get to it, Dora too, don’t know what I’m going to tell her, certainly not the truth.

Peterson let me pack up his affects. Found all his letters, put them in a parcel that I’ll mail to his folks.

Escorted photo bus today, no EA. SPAD working great, purrs like a kitten.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/18 03:14 AM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.


Sep 22, 1918.

Up in the rail for a Rail yard attack. As we crossed over NML the Visability headed dom to 0/0 so fired the washout flare and landed at the 1st friendly field.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/18 03:55 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.


Sep 23, 1918.

Local area Patrol in the rain. Chased 3 Recon Types Near Toul, but no luck.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/23/18 07:59 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Saturday September 21st 1918

Got word Walley is a prisoner. Would have saved Davy to have heard that earlier. Not much on crying, didn’t do it when packing up Davy’s things but broke down after lights out, spent most of the night rubbing Pup.

Two routine patrols, saw EA but they ran. I can see how Davy felt, I want to chase every one I see and set him on fire. Not going to let that get the better of me, use my head, stay alive, go home.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/18 07:12 AM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 22: Still Kicking.

September 24th, 1918.


When I'd finally come to, I was in some kind of field hospital. No sign of Soubiran - I guessed he'd already made his way back to the Squadron. The nurses weren't quite as pretty as the boys had told me. I knew they were all full of it. Even if they were - I doubt I would have been in the mood for chasing after them. The Hospital tent was a scene of chaos...Infantry soldiers, mostly French, but some Americans and even one or two Germans, lay in amongst scratchy bloodstained sheets, groaning, coughing, mumbling incoherently to themselves. Many had been separated from their body parts - across from me lay a young French Caporal who had lost both his legs. The 'whole' guys merely balled themselves up, tucking their arms and legs in to their bodies as if they would be stolen away unless they kept them close.

As I was repeatedly informed by the nurses in their broken English, I had been very, very lucky. One Bosche bullet had grazed past my head, leaving a line of torn leather in my flying cap and twisting up one of the clasps on my goggles, but only leaving a thin gash running above my right eye. One inch to the left and the same bullet would have splattered my brains all over the altimeter. A second bullet had caught the end of my hip, chipping away a couple fragments of bone but again not passing close enough to do any severe damage.

Admittedly, I felt like the archetypal war hero as I sat with my cigarette, head all wrapped in a mess of bandages, as the nurse had checked up on me this morning. After she had re-dressed my wounds, she had left me with a couple letters from the aerodrome. The first was from Monk, who had also had a lucky escape in the fight (A bullet had grazed his forearm at some point). It read:

"Dear Frisk:

Was glad to hear you're okay. We were worried when we returned without you and Soubiran - Dolan thought you'd had it after you disappeared on him. The Breakdown crew's got your SPAD home safe and sound. Get well soon.

- Frank
.

The next letter down was from Soubiran, and came attached to a small black rectangular box. As I had expected, Soubiran's words were short and to the point:

"Drummond. Here's hoping you recover swiftly from your wounds. I am pleased to inform you that three of your claims can now be confirmed. Congratulations. The British sought fit to reward you for your exploits. Please have a look inside the box this letter should be arriving with.

-S.


Three confirmed? That made seven in total...Curiously I lifted the lid of the box. Inside, to my surprise, was a medal. More specifically, a British Military Cross.



Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/18 04:31 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.

Sep 24 1918.

Our 3 a/c was up in Zee rain covering AF's . We did spot and chased 2 Recon types,but they were so high that our machines stalled and fell out. RTB

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/18 04:37 PM

Hey Guys, U always find something new in this game. Spotted high above my pilot ( had to use the labels ) 2 Rumplers dog fighting a 2 engine G-4 Unbelievable !
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/18 10:51 PM

That's a new one on me Carrick, any winner?

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Sunday, September 22nd 1918

Routine patrol and Alert.

Got everything mailed off to Davy’s folks, letters to his people.


Monday, September 23rd

Raining, no patrols left the ground.


Tuesday, September 24th

Marr is being reassigned. Rick will command the 94th now. Being promoted over the heads of officers senior to him, but nobody’s complaining, They all know there’s not a better man for the job in the Air Service.

I led a gang of 5 SPADs on a routine patrol this morning, didn’t find any trouble to get into. Escort in the afternoon.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/24/18 11:55 PM

2nd. Lt. Albert Mayes MC,
No. 84 Sqn. RAF.
5 Victories.


22nd-24th September, 1918.

My, what a busy few days it's been!

Early on the 22nd I was informed, to my disbelief, that I was to be transferred to No. 48 Squadron, and that this would be my last day with the chaps from No. 3. We flew two patrols that day, and on the second the Boelcke Staffel appeared to throw me a farewell party. We had a terrific fight in which I forced one fellow down inside his own lines (unfortunately nobody witnessed this feat). Sadly, Maxted was killed in the affair. That night we all got terribly drunk, and I said my fond farewells to the chaps. I shall sorely miss them.

The infantry truck appeared to pick me up the next morning, and I practically had to be carried from my bed by two Corporals, as I was very ill from the previous night's decadence! After a long drive we arrived at Assevillers, where I was introduced to my new Squadron. They were all top fellows, and one chap by the name of Beauchamp-Proctor had scored 45 victories! After meeting my colleagues, I was shown to my new machine. By god, it was an S.E.5! I was not scheduled for any flights that day, but I took my new crate up all the same to put her through her paces. She is simply wonderful - light handling, far less temperamental than the Camel, great climb and blistering speed. And the visibility is second to none!

The following morning I was sent up with 'B' flight (like No. 3, this was my assigned flight) on a balloon-busting sortie. The weather was still glum, but I flew the entire time with a grin slapped across my face, thoroughly enchanted with my powerful new machine. I'd all but forgotten about my 'Lucky Red Camel' which I'd donated to Franklyn as a parting gift!

Cpt. Peter Southey, 'B' flight's leader, got the sausage. Afterwards, to my great surprise, the Major permitted Tobias to take me on a hunting trip over the lines! We didn't dream of such things in No. 3 - much less with only two machines! We soon found trouble, attacking a flight of four Fokkers. Of these four, we managed to shoot one down in flames and shoot-up two more. I didn't have a single bullet left when I landed. Tobias was awarded the victory - his eighth! The next morning he was awarded a D.F.C. Although I am terribly fond of the chaps at No. 3, I must admit, this new gang felt a lot more like killers, rather than survivors. Perhaps I had misjudged S.E.5 pilots!

[Linked Image]

We were back at it again on the 24th - In the morning we escorted a D.H.4 from No. 205 all the way to Amenieres. We saw quite the sizeable amount of Hun activity on the way, but the Bosche kept their distance. Later, on a lone excursion I downed one of those twin-tail two seaters over its own airfield. Naturally, the victory couldn't be confirmed.

7 Claims thrown out in the last week. Frustrating, but at least I'm developing a knack for air fighting!


[Linked Image]
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/18 08:32 PM

2nd. Lt. Albert Mayes MC,
No. 84 Sqn. RAF.
5 Victories.

25 September, 1918:

11 of us went up today - what a formidable sight! We decided to go hunting over Bapaume, and before long we had spotted a large group of Fokkers crossing the lines. Naturally we fell upon these artists, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they were old friends of mine - the Green-Tailed Staffel from which I'd claimed my first victim! A second staffel appeared and we got into a grim furball. I knocked two down in the fight, but again my claims were thrown out. I must admit - I am becoming slightly annoyed with the infrequency of which my claims are awarded. My official score currently stands at 5 - however, I believe the true number to be closer to 12!

It's not all bad, though. I've been awarded a 48-hour pass, which I intend to spend in Paris.

Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/25/18 10:04 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.


Sep 25, 1918.

Zee Bosche are fighting hard. All the papers say that Zee Hun is loosing, But here in Zee air its Hammer and Thong. Mon Dieu ! Late in the day a Patrol of the lines, our section of 5 a/c run into a full Jasta at least 10 Fokker Scouts with Black and white stripes on Zee tails. Its was our best flying getting away from them. No claims, but 4 of ours were shot up. Mine was hit real hard as 3 of them took turns making diving firing runs. We are lucky to get back.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/18 12:04 AM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Wednesday, September 25th 1918

The 1st Pursuits mission for the show is direct support of ground troops, combating any low flying Huns and balloon strafing. 2nd and 3rd Pursuit will do the ceiling work for us. Not looking forward to more low level work, It'll be the death of us all.

Hartney sent our flight, under Alk. up to an advanced field, an abandoned German airdrome outside the village of Brabant-en-Argonne, NE of Clermont, almost right up on the Line, to launch attacks on the gas bags.

He sent 8 SPADs from the 27th under Jerry Vasconcells and a flight from the 95th under McLanahan to two other advanced fields.

Luke came back early. Crazy fool couldn’t stay away, didn't even visit Foutain Blow, (1) said he was bored and didn’t want to miss the show, all he thought about while he gone was trying out a new technique for busting balloons.

(1) Fountain Blow - cryptic reference for the houses of prostitution in Paris.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/18 07:55 AM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 23: Healing.

September 26th, 1918.

My head is feeling a lot better. My hip - not so much. I took a walk around the field outside the hospital tent today and found that I now have quite the debilitating limp. Nurses say it'll never leave me.

From my bedside I've been trying to stay informed on how our Air War is going. As it happened, just a couple days ago Eddie Rickenbacker was put in charge of the 94th. Lucky them! Rickenbacker was on 11 now; In the hospital we'd heard over the radio that he'd knocked down a Fokker over Damvillers earlier this morning.

We are all eagerly awaiting the upcoming Meuse-Argonne Offensive, set to kick off in October. We got the job done in spectacular fashion at St. Mihiel. The 3rd P.G. is going to be up high when it all kicks off - Fokker-hunting. Sounds like risky business, but at least we aren't doing the low-level jobs.

Nurses say I should be cleared to return to duty within the next 7 days.


Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/18 11:31 PM

Ur Head ? Ur Hip ? What about a Nurse Report ! Honestly, we do have an order for things.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/26/18 11:36 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.


Sep 26, 1918.

Defensive Patrol. Our 3 a/c ran into 2 Recon types. Wild flying and firing passes Long and short range. I thought I got one but my claim was rejected. My fellow pilots were busy with the other e/a and I did not see the crash.

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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/18 04:41 PM

Wulfe, I’m amazed at your ability to produce three high-quality accounts concurrently. I’m enjoying them a great deal. I like the way you’ve developed von Haas. Do you speak German? Jerbear, glad to see Johnny doing so well. And Carrick, it’s starting to look like Limoges may just make it to the end.

I met up with Robert Wiggins in Toronto last week, where I was working with a client. We drove down to Dayton on Friday for the “Dawn Patrol Rendezvousâ€, a wonderful WW1 air show and festival on the grounds of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the USAF Museum. Great time! Stache had brought his complete rig and that of a friend, and hosted a display of WOFF for attendees all weekend. It was really a magnificent bit of support for the community and OBD, not to mention a flight sim setup that one can only dream of. Hats off to him!
Anyway, I’m back home and finally playing catch-up again...

Part 6

Vzfw Holger Barfuss, Jasta 7


The next week was a blur of flying several times a day, but success eluded Barfuss. On 21 May 1918, the Staffel escorted a lone Hannover on a reconnaissance of the lines to the south of the aerodrome at Ste-Marguerite. Leutnant Jacobs, as he often did, allowed another pilot to lead and Martens took the forward position. As the Hannover was completing its final run over the objective, a formation of SE5As passed overhead and, one by one, dived on the mixed formation of black Fokkers and Barfuss’s Albatros. For a minute or two it was a wild scrap, but the Jasta 7 pilots were all experienced men and, when none of the British planes scored an easy kill, they broke away, using their superior speed to end the fight. Barfuss managed a short burst at one SE that passed close in front of him, but the machine looped below him and disappeared.

Day faded into day. The little house in the village beckoned at dusk, and Barfuss longed for the time each evening when the squadron’s car picked up the NCO pilots and dropped them across a small square from the village Mairie, where a former inn served as the mess. After a quick meal, now commonly soup and bread, Barfuss walked home with Vzfw Naujak and Winslowe and a new boy, Vzfw Imelmann. Naujak teased the new fellow that he was “one M short of greatness.â€

After several days of uneventful patrols up to the salient around Ypres or south to the Loos sector, the morning of 25 May brought action. Led by Ltn Bohme, a flight from the Staffel was tasked with a ground support patrol over the front near Passchendaele. Naujak and Imelmann were assigned, and they were joined by a new NCO, Offizierstellvertreter Jansen.

It was the first day that really felt like summer. Even at ten minutes before six in the morning, the sun’s warmth made them sweat in their heavy gear. Barfuss chatted with the mechanics who were running up the Albatrosses and Naujak’s Pfalz. Leutnants Bohne and Mertens were already in their little triplanes.
The first excitement of the morning did not hesitate to make its appearance. Barfuss was throttled back, waiting for the Fokkers to taxi away from the hangars. Just as he began to roll he saw a flash out of the corner of his eye. Naujak’s Pfalz was on fire! Barfuss took to the air and glanced back to see a dark column of smoke rising from the field.

There was no time to worry, as the leading Fokkers were already turning north and climbing away. Barfuss caught up with the formation over Menen, where they circled to gain height. Below, Zonnenbeke was shrouded in reddish brick dust. The English artillery was hard at work. Only a few miles to north lay the section of front they were to patrol and attack. Barfuss scanned the sky before the leader began his dive. As one of the more experienced in the flight, it was his job to watch their tail. There was nothing behind, but just as he was about to end his scan, several flea-like dots appeared to the northeast. He watched carefully until he could make out the bottom wing dihedral of the approaching biplanes and recognized them as Camels. He opened up to overtake Bohme.

Bohme glanced over to see Barfuss waving and pointing at the Camels and led the Staffel to the attack. Well-handled, a Camel could plant itself on one’s tail all day. Two of the English aircraft picked out Barfuss’s Albatros. He turned one way and then the other, unable to straighten long enough to regain speed. Gradually the Camels were forcing him to lose height. One of the enemy machines hit him with a spray of bullets, tearing away some of his right aileron. Barfuss felt the lack of response and teetered on the edge of a stall in turn after turn. Then, without apparent reason, one of the Camels broke off. The other machine was not as well flown. Barfuss pulled his sluggish machine to the left, playing to the Camel’s weakness in left turns. After several more minutes he got the enemy in his sights and fired. The first burst must have wounded the English pilot, for the Camel nosed down and headed west. Now the Albatros was in its element and Barfuss closed for the kill. He fired again from close range and saw the Camel tumble out of control.

[Linked Image]
"He fired again from close range and saw the Camel tumble out of control."

There was no time to watch it fall. Another English machine flashed past a little to his right and below. Barfuss turned and closed on the enemy, who miraculously had not seen him. He fired 20 rounds. The Camel nosed down and Barfuss followed, now taking ground fire as they passed over the British lines at 500 metres. He fired a long burst and saw the Camel crash into a field just past the enemy gun lines.

[Linked Image]
"He fired a long burst and saw the Camel crash into a field just past the enemy gun lines."

Neither fight was witnessed, and it took until evening before confirmation of the first Camel was received from the balloon section at Moorslede. The first Camel had been see to fall in front of our positions near Hooge. The second, unfortunately, remained unconfirmed.

26 May brought mixed news. Leutnant Fromm, newly arrived from Jastaschule, was killed in a scrap with some very aggressive DeHavilland two seaters. But that evening all the NCO pilots were invited to the officers’ Kasino for dinner, and Leutnant Jacobs announced that Holger Barfuss was now to hold the rank of Offizierstellvertreter, which brought with it membership in the officers’ mess, which Jacobs described as “having all the expense but none of the glory.†More significantly, Jacobs announced a parade to be held on the first rainy day – Barfuss was receiving the Iron Cross, First Class.


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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/18 10:42 PM

Wow, Great pics Raine.

I hope Darcel makes it,But C' est La Vie.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/18 10:47 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.


Sep 27, 1918.

Escorted a Recon of an Infantry Troop Camp on Zee other side of the lines from Toul. I became very nervous as we had to fly under 2 Bosche Patrols of 5 and 7 aero machines. Luck was with us as no attacks were made on our 6 a/c.

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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/18 11:17 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.


Sep 28, 1918.

The Esc hit a Boshe AF at Mar-la- Tours. A deep and dangerous mission due to Patrols and Ground fire. I made 2 passes about 150-200 rds fired then Home. We lost 3 machines out of 10 attacking. 1 to Gnd Fire the other 2 are Missing. Not a Good day.

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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/18 11:36 PM

Raine -Unfortunately no, I don't speak German! And I admit, 3 narratives may have been a bit ambitious wink

The Story of Bertram von Haas

Part 4: der Metzger.


The cold rain washed over Bertram's face, which was currently pointed to the sky as the airman lay back in his cockpit. A thin smile appeared on his lips, as he slowly tilted his head down and regarded the altimeter in front of him. An American bullet had smashed through it's centre, shattering the glass and rendering the instrument useless. Luckily, he had no use for it. With some effort, Bertram pulled himself up so that he was standing on the seat of his Fokker. He clumsily stepped over the side of the cockpit and fell, landing in the wheat and mud below with a cry of pain. Lethargically, he climbed to his feet, his right arm clasped tightly around the bullet hole in his left. He begun to laugh, as a man possessed or sick, scanning the skies hungrily for any remaining trace of the six American Spads he had just attacked. His eyes came to rest on the thin trail of smoke rising several miles to the North. His laughter grew upon this sight and, wiping the joy from his eyes, he turned to look over his machine, just in time to see the final drops of petrol escaping the holed tank. Ah, what a fight that had been - six against him alone! He knew that Buchner would have his head for this, but he didn't care.

His smile faded as the loss of blood begun to take his toll, and he dizzily staggered towards the lights of a nearby cottage on the edge of the field he had crash-landed in. A young boy watched him from the entryway, a confused mix of both terror and excitement on his face. Look! An Aviateur! But, a German! it said. Bertram took a few more steps towards the light, before slowly keeling over and falling to the side.

He awoke in the late evening, his arm bandaged and in a sling. A rugged old man sat across from the bed he had been laid down in - a look of hatred on his face. Bertram regarded this man with a curious look, and decided him to be pure soul. Filled with hatred for what had been done to his country, but not inhumane enough to let a wounded man bleed to death on his doorstep. Standing up, Bertram muttered a thank-you to the man and lit a cigarette, offering one up. The old farmer turned his head to the side. "Get out", he quietly mumbled, a hint of deep sadness failing to hide itself within the venom.

When Bertram arrived at his airfield a day later, the men all crowded round in shock, asking him a barrage of questions. "What happened?" "We thought you were dead - where did you get to?" on and on it went. He irritably brushed these questions aside as he made for the mess - right now, all he wanted was something hot to eat, a bottle of Schnapps, and a new machine. In the mess he met Niethammer, who broke into a broad grin when he walked in. "Ah, and here he is! You know, I knew you weren't dead, despite what the men told me. Although - flying off alone like that? You won't last very long, von Haas!"

Bertram's eyes lit up, as he returned the smile. "Ah, but aren't we here to die in the Kaiser's name?" he responded, and Niethammer burst out into hearty laughter. "Indeed we are, although you seem far more interested in killing for him! Tell me, von Haas, what is it that compels you to go off and attack entire squadrons of enemy machines alone? Is it the glory? The thrill?". Bertram's face suddenly turned pensive, contemplative. He slowly ran a thumb across his lip, deep in thought.

"Well, you see, it's quite simple. I could tell you that it's for vengeance - the long years in the trenches having to cower like a rat in amongst the French and British hellfire, but that's not quite it". His eyes lit up, and flashed upwards to meet Niethammer's. "No, the simple truth is that, after these long years, I've developed something of an appetite for murder". Niethammer's smile faded slightly, as Bertram calmly stood up, still smiling, and turned for the door. Niethammer felt a twisting sensation in his mind as, just before the door swung shut, he caught the first hummed notes of "Argonnerwald" .

Six days back on the Adjutant's desk was the price Bertram paid for his recklessness. On the second day he came across the reports from the Jasta's fight on the 21st. No report from Viktor Landvogt. Well, of course not, Bertram thought back fondly on the sight of the French Spad turning with Landvogt and Mueller, masterfully flicking his machine through the sky before shooting down both Germans. Beneath the fight, the burning wreckage of Landvogt's machine had barely missed Bertram. Ah, here was his own report! He grinned as he read over his three claims for the day. Amongst them was the Spad pilot that had killed his two comrades - one of three claims. Oh, what was this? Two had been confirmed!

No wonder he'd heard mutterings from his fellow Staffel pilots behind his back, hushed whispers of the name they had picked for him. "der Metzger", they called him, 'The Butcher'. How fitting.

Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/28/18 11:42 PM

The Story of Benjamin A. Drummond

Part 24: The Wolf of Verdun


29 September, 1918.

Nothing but bad news from the 'drome. The 28th had reported running into a lone Fokker twice in the past few days, a blue machine with a white wolf painted on its side. The same bosche had shot down and killed one of them on the 22nd - apparently he'd dove, alone, into all six of them! One of the guys said he put a burst into the Fokker's back and had seen it drop through the clouds, but he didn't even seem to have convinced himself.

But 'The Wolf', as the boys from the 28th called him, wasn't the real bad news. Earlier today we heard something terrible over the radio - Frank Luke was missing. He'd gone out on one of his usual excursions, even dropped a note to one of the balloon crews telling them to "Watch for Burning Balloons" - nothing unusual there - but he never came back. We all fear the worst. Monk says he's planning on going over to ask the 1st P.G. guys if they've heard anything more.

I've been given a date to return to duty - October 1st. I wonder if, when I get back, I'll run into this 'Wolf' character. I'd very much like to kill the cocky hun.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/29/18 11:50 PM

2nd Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS


Sunday, September 29th 1918

Back in Rembercourt. Operations Officer again. Got hit pretty hard by ground fire and the Kellner is in for repairs.

Dark and rainy Friday. Before sunrise 5 of us in air split up looking for balloons, Ty, Whitey, Dewey, Cutting and me. We saw 5 US balloons go up SE of Verdun, guess the Huns are early risers as well. We couldn’t find any German balloons, so shot up ground troops. Dewey and I stuck together.

Found 2 truck columns, shot them up, caused a lot of confusion but I don’t know how much real damage we did, made 4 passes while Dewey looked on. Got down to 80 rounds per gun, don’t like to have empty guns so I broke off to let Dewey have a turn.

[Linked Image]

As I was zooming up after my last pass my SPAD was hit by heavy ground fire, seemed like a whole MG company was using me for target practice. Took quite a few hits, hit my gas tank, fuel vapor trail. Felt several thumps in on the seat of my pants when bullets hit the plate in the seat. One round came up and smashed into the edge of the windshield and shattered it. I think it was an explosive bullet. It threw glass splinters into my face, scalp, hands, chest and arms. I clawed for as much sky as I could get. After the gas in the main tank gave out I started pumping the nourrice(1). Made it just over what I believed to be our lines before the engine stopped. then I had to try to make my brick glide. Was lucky, landed in a field that only had a few shell holes in it. Vaseline landing(2) considering the situation.

Didn’t know if I was behind our lines or not, pulled my 45 out after I dismounted, don’t know what I thought I was going to do with it. Doughs showed up from an MG company. The area had been taken only a few hours ago. Treated me like a celebrity, knew who I was, at least by name, read about all of us in the 1st Pursuit in the papers and had seen us flying over and strafing.

Got back to Rembercourt this morning. I was afraid Black was going to kill me for his balling up SPAD, but he just slapped me on the back and said he was glad to see me in one piece. Maybe the blood all over my clothes softened him up a little. He went out with a salvage crew and he thinks he can fix it up so we loaded it on a trailer and brought it back here.

Not in bad shape, they got all the glass out of me, quite a few stitches in my hide. Face looks a little like a road map.

Hate to be here while everyone else is up there but then again, secretly a little pleased not to have to fly those low missions for a while. Very nerve wracking to be down that low over Germany. Dewey got his SPAD shot up on a balloon bust Saturday. Made it back to Brabant-en-Argonne but his bus is going to have to be overhauled. Coming back here tomorrow.

Pup glad to see me, wants to lick my cuts. I let her, dog saliva is supposed to be good for a wound but I have to make her stop after a while because she’ll make them bleed again, doesn’t know when to quit.

Hartney put 1st Lieutenant bars on me this morning.

The BIG PUSH started on Thursday. They told us the preparatory bombardment would start at 05:30 but at 10 o’clock the night before there was a gradual increase in our artillery activity. After awhile it reached a point where there was practically no interruption in the roar. This went on all night. Sleep was out of the question to we sat around watching the fireworks and had a few drinks.

I finally laid down to at least rest, even if I couldn’t sleep. Put wax in my ears and got a little shut eye. At 4 am we were rousted out for a quick breakfast before we rushed out to the hangars. The flashes of the guns looked like a living stream of fire and the roar was unbelievable.

At dawn, we saw that the lines were covered by a thick fog all the way down to the ground but we had to fly and so did the Germans. The weather was just as bad for them as it was for us.

Alk.’s SPAD was down so I led a four man patrol at 05:00, Whitey led another patrol right after we took off. The Front was really something to see from directly above and in the dark. We had to fly at 1,000 meters, right on top of the barrage. The concussion of the explosions and the air stream from the incoming shells tossed us around. I was a little nervous that a shell might actually hit me. The noise was amazing, earplugs or no earplugs. The gun flashes were continuous and both sides sent up a stream of star shells and flares, quite beautiful. Now and then, Archie burst around us or a machine gun would take a pot shot.

We found our sausage, floating at the same altitude we were forced to fly near Bois de Brieulles. All 4 of us flew right at it, firing our incendiaries right into the bag. Burst right in front of us, so bright in the dim light it looked like an ammo dump going up. Got confirmation Friday, me, Dewey, Peak and Myers.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

We were constantly in the air all day. I don’t know how many missions our Flight made. I went up 4 times, attacking the balloon, truck and wagon columns, gun positions, machine gun nests, trenches, would have gone up a 5th time but my SPAD was too shot up.

Push still going on, 4th day, fog and low flying clouds, Huns are still active. The Group is still strafing.

Whitey got 2 Fokkers,one shared with Herron and Scroggie from the 94th
Ennis and Pip got a Rumpler together.

Ken, Myers and Simmy flamed a Rumpler N. of Clerges

The rest of the Group had 8 combats, took down 3 balloons.

Reports say 25,000 Hun prisoners, roads very congested so that no ambulances can get through to the front. Lines advanced 9 km. Our casualties said to be very heavy. Boche had thousands of machine guns ready and knew where we were attacking 5 days ago.

Luke took down a sausage and a bi place on Saturday, they say he’s taking crazy chances. At first, nobody wanted him in the 27th because they thought he was a four-flusher, now nobody wants to fly with him because he’s crazy. He thinks he’s invincible, even says “nothing can touch me,†anybody that flys with him is liable to get themselves killed, like Wehner and Roberts.


(1) Nourrice – reserve fuel tank
(2) Vaseline landing – good landing made under difficult circumstances


I know the picture of the bursting balloon isn't from the same mission, it was something I did with another character but it was so bright I decided to plug it in for color


Attached picture John em.jpg
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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/18 06:26 PM

good stories.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/18 06:39 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.

Sep 30, 1918.

The Esc put up 4 a/c for Area Patrol. Chased and attacked 3 Rumpler types over Toul and NML. The flight shot down 1 Two Seat the from out where a flight of Fokker's dropped on us. Twist ,turn bank and zoom. After a while, without getting shot down, I spotted one Scout lower then me and Alone. A classic Bounce. I fired off 150-160 shells from each gun. The e/a swung hard right and started doing lazy " S " 's going down. Getting closer I spotted that I had smash the tip of the lower right wing forcing him down. He crash landed outsid of the Bend in the River near Toul. Score: 2 e/a Destroyed. for 1 Wnd Pilot and 2 damaged Spads. Upon landing I put in for a 2 day pass to Paris.

Attached picture CFS3 2018-09-30 11-13-11-59.jpg
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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 09/30/18 08:28 PM

1st Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAAS

Monday, September 30th 1918

Luke is missing. He went off with his SPAD on his own yesterday, unauthorized and AWOL as far as Grant was concerned. Dropped a note over the balloon company at Soilly telling them to watch the 3 Hun balloons along the Meuse. He flamed all three but hasn’t been heard from since. One crazy stunt too many, must have had a death wish.

Dewey came in this morning. Was going to make him salute me as a gag but he looked so worn out I didn’t have the heart to go through with it. He paid me back for my forbearance by making fun of my face. He got his silver bars this afternoon.

Face hurts like hell but everything is healing fine.

Two new pilots, Cox (1 )and Waters(2)..


(1) 1st Lt. Charles E. Cox, C Flight, from Indianapolis, Indiana

(2) 1st Lt. John C. Waters, A Flight, from St. Louis, MO, will achieve 1 aerial victory, transferred to 185th Aero Squadron 18 Oct. 1918

Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/18 02:04 AM

I'm sorry to report that I lost Holger Barfuss today. After scoring his sixth victory over a Spad 13 on the morning of 28 May 1918, he downed a Camel in the afternoon and was following a second Camel down to ensure it didn't get away when his Albatros broke up in mid-air.

I may take a break from the DiD to fly some other personal campaigns.

What is the interest in a new community DiD campaign after 11 November? I've been thinking about a "deep immersion" campaign that focuses on really good and entertaining historical accounts, exchange of information and research, etc. Any ideas or suggestions?
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/18 07:47 AM

Awful news about Barfuss - I was very fond of him. As for another community DiD...count me in!!
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/18 10:20 PM

Raine, sorry to hear about your Flieger's demise. The Centenary Campaign should continue even after 11 November. Don't forget, there is still Intrepid Fliers group, which enlisted 4 months earlier, so their Armistice will not come until … (counts fingers on his left hand) 11 March, 2019. This, of course, doesn't mean another campaign cannot be started in November. I miss the pilot stats ...
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/18 10:22 PM

News of the World for May - Intrepid Fliers:

May 1
German forces occupied Sevastopol in the Crimea and established a military dictatorship in the Ukraine under Field Marshal Hermann von Eichhorn.
May 2
The Netherlands concluded an agreement with Germany regarding the export of sand and gravel.
May 4
The Second action of Es Salt ended. The battle had been fought by General Sir Edmund Allenby's Egyptian Expeditionary Force east of the Jordan River following the failure of the First Transjordan attack on Amman during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
May 5
Field Marshal Sir John French was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
May 6
German and Turkish delegates arrived at Batum to negotiate peace with the Georgians and Armenians.
May 7
The Treaty of Bucharest was signed at Buftea between Romania and the Central Powers and Turkey. Under the terms of the agreement Romania ceded Dobrudja and the Carpathian passes and leased its oil fields to Germany for 99 years.
May 8
German forces captured Rostov in south Russia.
May 9
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George overwhelmingly won a censure motion brought by his predecessor, Herbert Asquith.
May 10
The British launched a second raid on Ostend. The Royal Navy warship HMS Vindictive was successfully scuttled in the harbour entrance to prevent German cruisers using the port.
May 11
Finland and Turkey signed a peace agreement in Berlin.
May 12
The flag of the Republic of Finland, with a crest in red and yellow depicting a lion, was raised for the first time, on Viapori.
May 13
The creation of the Independent Air Force was announced. The IAF was a strategic bombing force, part of the Royal Air Force, used to strike against German railways, aerodromes and industrial centres.
May 15
The Entente powers signed an agreement with Japan and China at Peking regarding German penetration in the Far East.
May 16
Three months after Montana had passed a similar law, The Sedition Act was passed by the United States Congress. The legislation extended the Espionage Act of 1917 to cover a broader range of offenses, notably speech and the expression of opinion that cast the government or the war effort in a negative light or interfered with the sale of government bonds.
May 17
A number of Sinn Fein leaders, including Eamon de Valera, were arrested and interned due to their campaign against conscription in Ireland.
May 18
Turkish forces occupied Alexandropol in Georgia.
May 19
The German Air Force launched an intense air raid on London inflicting a high number of casualties.
May 21
A naval engagement was fought between the American armed yacht USS Christabel and the German submarine UC-56 in the Atlantic Ocean off Spain.
May 23
Costa Rica declared war on Germany.
The British armed mercantile cruiser SS Moldavia was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel by the German submarine UB-57 while carrying American troops from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to London.
May 24
General F C Poole landed at Murmansk, to organise the North Russian Expeditionary Force.
May 25
Following the arrests of the Sinn Fein leaders the British Government published accounts of the alleged Irish-German plot to start an armed insurrection in Ireland.
May 26
The Transcaucasian Federal Republic was dissolved. The Democratic Republic of Georgia proclaimed a National Government under the Menshevik politician, Noe Zhordania.
May 27
German forces attacked the French along the front between Soissons and Rheims in the Third Battle of the Aisne, crossing the river and splitting the French and British forces.
May 28
The first American offensive of the war, the Battle of Cantigny was fought and won near the village of Cantigny between American and French troops and the German army.
May 29
The Aisne offensive continued as the Germans captured Soissons and pushed the Allies back to the River Vesle.
May 30
The towns of Fere-en-Tardenois and Vezilly were taken by German forces as their advance continued on the Western Front.
May 31
Having fought King Albert I over the neutrality of their country, Gerard Cooreman resigned as Belgian Prime Minister after he had lost the support of his party. He was succeeded by Charles de Broqueville.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/18 10:23 PM

News of the World for September - Warbirds Rising:

September 1
Australian forces recaptured Peronne from the Germans on the Western Front.
September 2
The defensive line constructed by Germany between the French towns of Drocourt and Queant, was taken by the Canadian Corps during the Hundred Days Offensive as the two day long Battle of the Drocourt-Queant Line began.
September 3
The Second Battles of the Somme and Arras officially ended.
Fanya Kaplan was executed with a bullet to the back of her head in Moscow for the attempted murder of Lenin.
September 4
The Battle of Mont St. Quentin ended in a victory when Australian troops forced the Germans to withdraw.
September 5
North of Vladivostok, Japanese forces captured the strategically important port of Khabarovsk.
September 7
British and French troops pursued German forces as they retreated towards the Hindenburg Line.
September 8
A State Conference of anti-Bolshevik forces was convened in the city of Ufa in an attempt to form a unified anti-Bolshevik authority.
September 9
Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck was appointed as Prime Minister of the Netherlands replacing Pieter Cort van der Linden.
September 10
The Red Army's offensive against the Czechoslovak Legion came to an end when Trotsky's troops recaptured the city of Kazan.
September 11
Allied forces seized Ukhtinskaya on the Murmansk Front in North Russia.
September 1
Australian forces recaptured Peronne from the Germans on the Western Front.
September 2
The defensive line constructed by Germany between the French towns of Drocourt and Queant, was taken by the Canadian Corps during the Hundred Days Offensive as the two day long Battle of the Drocourt-Queant Line began.
September 3
The Second Battles of the Somme and Arras officially ended.
Fanya Kaplan was executed with a bullet to the back of her head in Moscow for the attempted murder of Lenin.
September 4
The Battle of Mont St. Quentin ended in a victory when Australian troops forced the Germans to withdraw.
September 5
North of Vladivostok, Japanese forces captured the strategically important port of Khabarovsk.
September 7
British and French troops pursued German forces as they retreated towards the Hindenburg Line.
September 8
A State Conference of anti-Bolshevik forces was convened in the city of Ufa in an attempt to form a unified anti-Bolshevik authority.
September 9
Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck was appointed as Prime Minister of the Netherlands replacing Pieter Cort van der Linden.
September 10
The Red Army's offensive against the Czechoslovak Legion came to an end when Trotsky's troops recaptured the city of Kazan.
September 11
Allied forces seized Ukhtinskaya on the Murmansk Front in North Russia.
September 12
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel began between the American Expeditionary Force and French troops against German defensive positions.
The Battle of the Hindenburg line began with a series of Allied offensives. The Battle of Havrincourt between British and German troops was the first of these, ending with a British victory the same day.
September 14
British troops began to evacuate Baku on the Caspian Sea after Turkish forces launched an assault on the city.
September 15
Allied offensive operations began in Macedonia with the Battle of Dobro Pole which ended with a decisive victory over Bulgarian forces.
September 16
Built as a coastal defence ship for the Royal Norwegian Navy, HMS Glatton had to be torpedoed after a fire broke out in one of her magazines in order to prevent an explosion that would have devastated the port of Dover on the Kent coast.
September 18
The Battle of Epehy was fought by British troops under the command of General Henry Rawlinson against German outpost positions in front of the Hindenburg Line.
September 19
The Battle of Megiddo began on the Plain of Sharon between the Allied Egyptian Expeditionary Force and forces from the Ottoman Empire. The assault was the final Allied offensive of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
September 20
Allied troops advanced and captured Nazareth and Beisan in Palestine.
September 22
The Ottoman Army was attacked and began to retreat from the River Jordan and Amman.
September 23
Allied forces advanced across the Jordan to capture Es Salt in Palestine.
September 26
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive began early in the morning. After a six-hour-long bombardment on German defences during the previous night, American and French forces advanced against German positions in the Argonne Forest and along the River Meuse.
September 27
The Battle of Canal du Nord began as part of a number of closely sequenced Allied attacks at separate points along the Western Front during the Hundred Days Offensive. The battle took place in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, along an incomplete portion of the Canal du Nord.
September 28
The Fifth Battle of Ypres, also known as the Advance of Flanders and the Battle of the Peaks of Flanders, began a series of battles in northern France and southern Belgium from late September to October 1918.
September 29
The continuing Battle of the Hindenburg line moved into its next phase as the Battle of the St Quentin Canal began. The offensive involved British, Australian and American forces in a spearhead attack against German troops.
September 30
The Bulgarian Army surrendered and signed an Armistice with the Allied Powers: hostilities ceased at noon.

(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/01/18 10:58 PM

1st Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Tuesday, October 1st 1918

Clear day. Black got the Kellner up and running. Took it up in the afternoon, running like a top. Got the Marlins lined up, will fly out to Brabant-en-Argonne in the morning. Dewey will probably fly out day after tomorrow.

Push going badly. 28 km short of objective. Pershing said to have pulled the 25th Division out yesterday. Putting the 1st, 4th, 26th, & 49th Some Generals said to have been busted.

I hear Rick cooked himself up a hotdog.

No news on Luke. [Linked Image]



Attached picture shot 20.jpg
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/18 01:21 AM

Raine,
I think it is a fantastic idea, though some of us are not near as eloquent as yourself. I would be glad to give it a go as there are some fantastic story tellers in this group.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/18 02:43 AM

Are there any fliers still doing the Intrepid Fliers schedule? As Fullofit said, we should wait until everyone who posts is done.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/18 02:59 PM

Raine: Sorry about ur pilot. I was just getting to look forward to what happens next.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/18 08:34 PM

Drummond's out again, this time for 14 days. Ran into a pack of Fokkers and his 6 wingmen decided to chase after 1 Fokker, leaving Drummond alone against the other 5. Narrowly escaped alive...
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/02/18 11:45 PM

1st Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Wednesday, October 2nd 1918

Rick invited me to a pink tea when I got out here this morning, that’s his term for a voluntary patrol into Germany, looking for trouble.

Flew at 5,000 meters, spotted 7 Fokkers about 1,000 meters below us, maneuver into the sun for attack but they saw us. Didn’t run, came right at us, climbing. General fight, stalled out, lost altitude, found a Fokker going home and attacked then saw one in rear mirror and reversed, fought him and took left upper wing off, he went into a tumble and crashed.


ME AND RICK
[Linked Image] [Linked Image]



Attached picture John es.jpg
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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/18 12:04 AM

Rain: Haven't had a lot of time to read the other stories for a bit. Sorry about Holger, he was a good read.

As for the new DiD Campaign, I was doing an Intrepid Flyer but I just didn't have time for two pilots so I had to drop him. As to the deep immersion, I'm game but if it entails what I imagine it to be it will be difficult to maintain. I guess that's what I've been trying to do with John Goode if we're on the same track. I read everything I could get my hands on about the 1st Pursuit and the Americans during that period well prior to joining in with DiD. It took me about 6 months to do the research and, of course, I had no guarantee John was even going to survive his first mission. He's the longest running campaign I've ever had, but then again he hasn't flown a huge amount and had no combat at all from March to June.

What I'm saying is, that it will be a big commitment and I don't know how if I can keep up with it over a long period of time. I assume you're talking about beginning in 1914 again. I will probably be in and out, sporadic.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/18 06:14 PM

Ah, good reading with my morning coffee.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/18 06:35 PM

Darcel Limoges
Sous Lt.
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
7 Victory s.

Oct 3 1918.
Leaving Paris to return to Zee Front. Ah, what memories

https://youtu.be/lK0gYi1YEZ8
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/03/18 09:16 PM

1st Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Thursday, October 3rd, 1918

We’re on continual alert here. The Germans are playing it close to home, went up once, no contact, I think the alert was false. Went up twice on strafing runs.

Avery of the 95th gone west. Killed by 7 Boche after he burnt a balloon.

Art and Simmy got a Hannoverian along with Garnsey and Coolidge of the 94th.
[Linked Image]

Attached picture John ek.jpg
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/18 02:34 AM

Darcel Limoge
Lieutenant
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
9 Victor's

Oct 4, 1918.
My last kill was confirmed and Bagged a Yellow Nose Fokker on todays outing. We spotted and engaged 8 scouts at the line and spent most of the time twisting zooming, looping and running over on the enemy's side. I had one chasing a fellow pilot and was able to swoop on him.
Hit and tore up his wing ( I saw it as I passed ) Then swung back and held down the triggers. Smoke then the e/a dove into the gound between the lines and Toul on our side. The Esc's 4 a/c had 2 damaged + 1 pilot wnd. I was the only one to score. On the Board with 9 kills I am ranking Ace and was promoted to Lieutenant

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/18 10:57 AM

1st Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Friday, October 4th 1918

Off at 0600 to help the doughboys who went over the top at 05:45. Romagne and other points reported captured. British took Lens.

Strafing party, 5 of us. We were at about 1,000 meters when six Fokkers jumped us. Real rat fight close to the ground. I pulled one off Snake(1) and flamed him at about 2 or 300 meters. There was another one above me but he bugged out. Deuce (2) sent another one down. [Linked Image]


Did 3 more low levels throughout the day, between patching jobs. Number 16 is starting to look like one of Grandma’s patchwork quilts.

(1)1st Lt. Ralph A. ‘Snake’ O'Neill, B Flight, 5 aerial victories.

(2)Lt Cleveland W. (Deuce) McDermott - served with A Flight. KIA 28 October 1918. Credited with 3 victories.


Attached picture John ez.jpg
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/18 06:47 PM

hmmmm.. time to put some stick time in
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/18 07:25 PM

Darcel Limoge
Lieutenant
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
9 Victor's


Oct 5, 1918.

A lot of work for nothing: A wet and rainy dawn attack on a enemy Rail Jct. The Esc 5 a/c joined up and headed for the Target behind the lines. I got as far as the forrest at Toul then the propeller stopped. Barely made a road 2 or 3 NM from the Toul Aerodrome. I wore more shoe leather out than a/c parts.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/05/18 10:54 PM

1st Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

October 5th 1918


Can’t sleep. Dewey’s gone. He and Abe set a DFW on fire. Dewey burned too. I warned him to quit going straight in behind a biplace.

I don’t feel the kind of grief I felt when I found out Davy went West, I’m angry, mad at Dewey, mad at the German who killed him before he died himself, mad at the Kaiser, mad at the world. Too bad there’s not a God so I could be mad at him too. I just want to tear things up, hit something, someone, kill every German in the sky.

I didn’t go to dinner tonight, didn’t want to see that empty chair. I’ll go through his stuff tomorrow, I’d do it now but it’s lights out and besides, everyone would kill me for making a racket, their all beat, me too. Maybe I’ll go walk around. Can't stop thinking about Dewey burning. I didn’t see him jump, maybe he was dead before his machine caught. Anyway, he's gone now. I'll have to get myself under control or I'll end up like Davy.


Dwight G. (Dewey) Rothchild - a fictitious wingman assigned by WOFF

1st Lt. Thomas J. (Abe) Abernathy - A Flight, 3 aerial victories

Lt. Daniel W. ‘Dodd’ Cassard, member of B Flight, KIA 16 July 1918
[Linked Image]

Attached picture John ey.jpg
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/18 09:58 AM

4 October

Had to babysit a DFW.....and we knew we would be out numbered.
Lucky for us only Spads showed up.
First 4, then another 5,
then another 5 .....

Got 1 but had to run for it. Seems to me that the enemy know's that the war is coming to an end, and these "fire eaters" almost fight each other just to got a shot
off at us. They seem to be in a rush to "bag" one before it's all over.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/18 08:25 PM

1st Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Sunday, October 6th 1918

Squadron did six alert patrols today. One was a balloon strafing run, Bedroll set it on fire.

In the afternoon I led an alert. Poor visibility, but we found them over Montfoucon, 4 Hannovers. There was no sun to put at out backs so we went straight into them. Two were flamed in the first pass, Willard and Herron.

They broke up after that, one running for home and two others turning to fight. I chased the runner. Kept down below him about 200 yards. In the poor visibility he didn’t get wind of me. When I was almost directly under the Hun I pulled the stick back to come up close, standing almost on my tail. Blasted away, couldn’t miss. I came up so close I could almost touch the beast, the observer was slumped over in the back pew.

Knowing now that I had a clear field I banked back in for the kill. Threw curses at him along with the bullets. I fired until the crate lit up, burning like Dewey had burned. I was shaking with anger all over as I watched it fall.

Saw 3 Fokkers above me on my way home, looking for a chance to bite. I had to fight the temptation to let them try but I’m glad to say I’m not that eaten up…yet. I dove for home and left them in the dust.



2nd Lt. William E. ‘Bedroll’ Brotherton – C Flight, 3 aerial victories, KIA 10 Oct 1918

2nd Lt. George G. Willard -B Fight

1st Lt. James P. Herron – B Flight, 1 aerial victory credited [Linked Image] [Linked Image] [Linked Image]







Attached picture John eta.jpg
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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/18 11:31 PM

Wow Jerbear u and lederhosen are real Hunters.,
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/06/18 11:44 PM

Darcel Limoge
Lieutenant
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
10 Victor's

Oct 6, 1918.

Escort enemy side over St. Mehiel flew under 2 flights crossing over. On the way back spotted a flight above and to port , they were diving and started to curve towards us. It turned out to be only 2 a/c against our 5 fighters and lower down the Recon. I waited then dove on the rear machine. It must have been flown by an Expert Pilot even after hitting him Numerous times The e/a still dodged me and got in a few hits. Finally, His motor stopped and I came around to give the final Hammering. Smoke then his wing broke off and he fell. The enemy pilot was just too good to give him a chance to force land. The score 1 e/a mine for 2 damaged Spads.


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Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/18 11:25 AM

And so, the end has come


Bruno Stachel, film star, Jasta 16b


[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/07/18 11:59 PM

Oh man, what a way to go. RIP Film Star Bruno.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/08/18 12:37 AM

Darcel Limoge
Lieutenant
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
10 Victor's


Oct 7, 1918

Spent the day relaxing after the Awards Parade , I was given the Croix de Gurre then off to a Theater Party.

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancers-chorus-line-1929-girls-3oqrtzI0d3nh8oSWAh/fullscreen
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/09/18 02:16 AM

Darcel Limoge
Lieutenant
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
11 Victor's

Oct 8, 1918.

Our three a/c was on AF Patrol orbiting our base near Toul. Spotted nd attacked a Flight of 5 Hannover Types. Chased and engaged from toul to Nancy then I got the only Score on Zee flight. A Flamer, it just lit up the sky and burned all the way down. All our a/c had some holes.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/10/18 11:56 PM

1st Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

October 8th

Rain, no flying yesterday and today. We're back at Rembercourt. Heavy drinking last night. I participated this time. Made a fool of myself. Doesn’t take much to drink myself under the table. Rick says I’m lucky to be such a cheap drunk. Very sick this morning until I took the hair of the dog. Going to stay out of the mess tonight.

New outfit joined the Group. 185th Aero Squadron, a special nightfighter outfit equipped with Boulton and Paul built Humps (1). Young bunch.

(1) Sopwith Camel, in this case Sopwith F 1 Camels.


October 9th

Squadron got 2 missions in the air, between rain. Went out on the 2nd patrol, about 2 pm. No EA sighted so we vented our wrath on ground targets. [Linked Image]



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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/11/18 11:22 PM

1st Lt. John B. Goode
\147th Aero squadron, USAS

Whitey (1) and Bedroll (2) gone. Killed on the balloon attack at Dun (3) this afternoon.


(1) – 1st Lt Wilbert Wallace (Whitey) White Jr., served as C Flight commander, credited with 8 aerial combat victories. Killed 10 Oct 1918 near Dun-sur-Meuse During the same balloon attack which claimed 2nd Lt. Brotherton’s life, he sacrificed himself, colliding with a Fokker that was attacking a new pilot in his flight. He left a wife and 2 children.

(2) 2nd Lt. William E. ‘Bedroll’ Brotherton – C Flight, 3 aerial victories, KIA 10 Oct 1918. According to Cpt. Eddie Rickenbacker he was “diving upon a nested balloon through a hurricane of flaming projectiles. A flaming onion had pierced his wings and they were now ablaze. To add to his predicament, a Hun machine was behind his tail, firlng as he dived.â€

(3) Dun-sur-Meuse

Whitey with his Nieuport and Brotherton on beer keg.


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Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/12/18 11:39 PM

1st Lt. John B. Goode
147th Aero Squadron, USAS

Friday, October 11th, 1918

Dud weather, spent most of the day with Pup out in the woods. She's not as playful was she was, getting older, like all of us. Ran with me along the game trails until we were both exhausted and drenched. Good for us both. She sleeps in Meissner's tent now. She never knows when I'm going to be around these days and it's quieter. There are 8 of us in this tent. Meissner made Captain.

They brought in a newbie, Sonny Hammonds, 1st Loot, transferred from a 2 seater squadron. Don't know which one, don't care. He's in our Flight, so he's in our tent. Took Dewey's cot, next to mine. There's no other place for him to bunk, of course, but I wanted to kill him. He tried to be friendly, I cut him off and walked away. Saw the others talking to him, he stays out of my way now. Maybe I can stand to look at him after awhile, but not now.

The papers are full of news about the peace talks but the war is still going on just the same. The doughs are going ahead in the Argonne but the Huns are digging in their heels hard. They're all but finished but don't have enough sense to know it.

Going back up to Brabant tomorrow. More low levels and sausage hunting, unless I miss my guess. I'm supposed to be getting a DSC for something, haven't seen the citation, don't really care right now.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/13/18 02:24 AM

Darcel Limoge
Lieutenant
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
11 Victor's


Oct 11, 1918.

Rain. No flights.
Went into town to see the Flying Cossack's at the local Pub. https://giphy.com/gifs/dancers-lucky-girls-cossacks-dancing-xlp55VKObUGLyFHGaY/fullscreen
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/13/18 05:53 PM

Friday, October 12th 1918
[img]http://simhq.com/forum/tmp/11872.png[/img [img]http://simhq.com/forum/tmp/11873.png[/img] ]



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Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/13/18 11:58 PM

Darcel Limoge
Lieutenant
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
11 Victor's


Oct 12 1918.

Stayed down today weather still spottie plus Hq wants some Rail head hit thats at maximum range with Mimi loads of MG's. Zee Brass hats are silly. Send Bombers.
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/14/18 06:16 PM

Oh no...not Goode...! Hope he turns up okay, he's been one of my faves so far!
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/15/18 11:13 PM

Nope, Johnny's gone. Lasted way...way longer than I expected but 9 lives only last so long.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/15/18 11:22 PM

Well that wasn't Goode at all.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/15/18 11:55 PM

Darcel Limoge
Lieutenant
Esc 95 Spads
Ochy, AF
Verdun , France
12 Victor's

Oct 15,1918.

!st time in days I got to fly and Crash Deceased. Darcels 10 Spads got to mixing it up with 2-4 High flying Rumplers then a flight of Fokkers join in I picked up 2 on my tail then One crashed into my Spad. Fire borken wings smoke Pilot Dead no controls. Darcel Limoge , My Pilot turned into TOAST as the flaiming Spad burned untill it crashed 10000ft down. Score The Spads knocked down 2 Rumplers and 2 Fokker. 3 Spads destroyed + 2 Wnd and all damaged. What and ending !

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Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/18 10:44 PM

...aces falling indeed...sad to see Darcel go...
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/18 11:37 PM

Quite a blaze of glory Au revoir Darcel. Longue vie ea' la France!
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Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/16/18 11:48 PM

Been tied up with work recently and just came back to catch up. Absolutely gutted to see Goode disappear. Limoges too.

I'm still musing about a new DiD after November 11. Do you think it's necessary to fly to a fixed calendar, or could we let each pilot start the war when the player wanted and proceed as quickly or slowly as life permits?
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/18 12:08 AM

The latter option is more accommodating, but I have loved the uncertainty of the day-by-day format....is everyone going to make it back today...? Has somebody's number come up? It makes for an added sense of immersion for me personally wink
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/18 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by Wulfe
The latter option is more accommodating, but I have loved the uncertainty of the day-by-day format....is everyone going to make it back today...? Has somebody's number come up? It makes for an added sense of immersion for me personally wink


Good point.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/18 01:55 AM

JerBear: Talk about Blase of glory Damnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/18 01:57 AM

I guess thats it for the challenge the War ends kinda quick dont it ?
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/18 03:42 PM

Mayes and Drummond are still kicking but I haven't had the time to continue their stories recently...perhaps it's best if they were quietly posted home wink
Posted By: lederhosen

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/18 07:25 PM

Wow...

looking back, I've been flying these daily mission Campaigns for close to 5yrs straight now.
And this war is due to end soon too.
So whats next???? I ask myself. Another 4yrs.......hmmm nope.
Should I move on to wings over the Reich ????......hmmmm maybe.

5yrs.... maybe visit a shrink is in order
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/17/18 10:48 PM

I agree with Wulfe - If everyone isn't no the same time line it's just doing reports on air battles done randomly, like quick combats. The continuity of everyone going through time together is the most important thing DID has going for it.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/18/18 04:30 PM

Hear, Hear, Maybe we should just re start in 1915 ?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/18 06:02 AM

How about Nov 1915?
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/18 01:57 PM

Gents, though I have been absent for a few months but I am all in for a new DID. It really makes WOFF come alive. November 1915 is good for me. Or any other dates for that matter. I would humbly submit the following.

With the holidays coming up in the USA maybe wait until after the new year.
Stats. I see no need in any kind of score keeping. Never payed them any never mind myself. If everyone headed their stories with squad, number of missions and victories it would tell all we need to know.

Just a few suggestions from a missing airman.
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/18 11:28 PM

Goode suggestions MFair. I second the motion.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/18 11:36 PM

So how about we start in Jan 1916 doing early Jan 2019?
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/19/18 11:37 PM

If you agree I'll lay out some tentative rules in the next couple of weeks. DiD campaigns are the best WOFF experience!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/18 02:25 AM

Sounds good to me. Nov 1915 But start in Jan 2019 or Jan 1916 in 2019.
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/18 04:58 AM

Did anyone survive all this time? Who is our current record holder?
Posted By: Wulfe

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/20/18 05:20 PM

Not sure - I know Arthur Ethelstan (I believe one of Banjoman's pilots) scored in excess of 100...I think they retired after getting to 116 or so...

P.S, seeing as the war is now all but over, I thought I'd share a little something I did to keep myself entertained while my pilots were wounded! It's a 'Norman Franks Style' record of the goings on in Bloody April. Have a look!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EQUyUKjq3x5owxzC5oWm3VNYCqpsmK8lrVQsR_nA1lM/edit?usp=sharing
Posted By: MFair

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/22/18 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by Raine
If you agree I'll lay out some tentative rules in the next couple of weeks. DiD campaigns are the best WOFF experience!


We will be waiting with engines warming my friend!
Posted By: carrick58

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/18 01:42 AM

I think we should keep our own scores and time. ( The Honor system )
Posted By: jerbear

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/23/18 11:47 PM

Rain has started a new thread on this "Deep Imersion DID campaign"
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/26/18 12:38 AM

Sorry I haven't been around much. Real life and all that jazz..

Maj Collin Sitwell
CO 43 Sqn

Life as CO 22 Sqn was, to be blunt, horrifically dull. I spent so much time behind a desk I hardly flew at all and when I did it seemed to be dull affairs where the only thing trying to kill me was my own aircraft.

I spent three fruitless months at Maisoncelles without so much as seeing a hun. I was getting restless and tires of the constant airfield and railway attacks. I needed a change.

My wish was finally granted in mid-October after a chance meeting with General Trenchard himself. He saw to it that I was posted to a unit that was seeing a ton of action.

And so it was that I found myself in 43 Sqn, once commanded by the great Maj Cordroy. They had just received the newest kite around: the Snipe.

I was curious to see how it would fly compared to the Camel and F2B I had flown before. After two rather short familiarization flights, I led the Sqn far to the North, near Ypres for a bit of artillery spotting. How we would acconplish this task in our crates was beyond me, but off we went anyway.

About 30 minutes in we ran headlong into a flight of DVIIs heading the other way. A great fray emerged and the sky was full of wizzing aircraft. A-Flight soon joined in along with a second flight of DVIIs. It was a true dogfight.

My word the Snipe could dance. It stalled easily, but this could be used to the pilots advantage, quickly dropping speed to stay inside the enemy's turn. It recovered quickly and packed a whallop when you made contact with the twin vicks. I was immediately in love as I sent a hun earthward sans wing.

I had lost contact with the rest of B Flight, although I am sure I saw one of them bag a DVII of their own. I continued to the waypoint, circled around for a bit and then headed home.

On the way back I took a very short detour over a hun airfield just beside the target. To my surprise, about 8 or 9 Huns were circling about in a landing pattern. I was feeling bold and, like a complete moron, dove in guns blazing.

They couldnt touch me. It was almost too easy. I sent two down, one of them in flames, and then my luck ran out. As I made a pass on a third, we clipped. Immediately the engine started to sound rough and I turned for the British side of the lines. I had just made it across and found a small stretch of road to put down on. I ended up having to dig the starboard wing into the earth to stop before I hit a row of trees.

The rain was coming down in buckets and I was already soaked. Fortunately there was a relatively undamaged house about 50 yards away. I rapidly crossed the field and was pleased to find a working telephone and a spot of lunch from the very helpful resident.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 10/26/18 02:18 AM

DC,
Very jealous. I really wanted to last long enough to get a Snipe. Still haven't flown one!
Posted By: Dark_Canuck

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/18 02:05 AM

Maj Collin Sitwell
43 Sqn RAF
28 Victories
11 Nov 1918

I sat at the desk. The sun had already come up, but I made no move to the door and the morning Pilots Briefing. I could see the lads heading over to the briefing tent now. I looked at my watch; 0810 hrs. I glanced back at the paper in my hands.

The dispatch was simple. Just words on paper. But the words gave it power.

With a long, deep, drawn breath I rose from the desk. I felt strange as I crossed the distance to the office door. Floating, everything strangely muted. Nothing felt real. I had made it. I was still alive.

I crossed the grass between my office and the briefing tent. I took a moment to compose myself and walked through the door. At once all chatter stopped and the aged eyes on all those young faces turned to me to await the word on todays mission. Some faces looked gaunt and strained. Too many close calls. Too many friends lost. Some of the newer chaps still held a hint of innocence. Just barely, bit still there.

All looked to me as I struggled to find the right words to mark this occaison.

I looked around the room, catching the eyes as I went. "Gentlemen, Orders."

I raised the paper and read:

Hostilities will cease at 11.00 today. No operations should be undertaken which cannot be completed by that time and no machines will cross the lines after that hour. Patrols will be maintained but should not operate further forward than the line of our balloons.

The room was silent. Finally, after what seemed like hours a single voice arose thick with emotion, "Sir, is it really over?"

I looked at the young boy, a lump forming in my throat, "Yes son. It's over."
Posted By: Rick_Rawlings

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/18 06:45 AM

To those of you finishing up on this challenge, I salute all of your efforts on a job well done! cheers
Posted By: Ace_Pilto

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/18 07:13 AM

Well, she's just about done.

So stand your glasses to the steady,
For this is a world of lies.
Here's a health to the dead already
And HURRAH to the next man who dies.


Congrats to all who participated, I've been checking in on this thread almost daily and it has been fantastic reading.
Posted By: Raine

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/18 03:26 PM

Thank you to all that participated in this great campaign. And let's spare a moment in remembrance of those who spent their youth in the long years of war.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: DiD Centenary Challenge - 11/11/18 03:31 PM

.

I'd like to add my thanks as well to all who participated here, your reports and stories and pics were and are very much appreciated. And to follow Raine's thoughts, a prayer for all those whose lives were forever changed by the war to end all wars --- if only such had been true.

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