OT: Albert Ball Actual Combat Report

[Dej]

Thought that those of us who like to file verbose combat reports might like to see this that I gleaned from the IWM website. Interesting how he refers to himself as 'Nieuport' as if he and the a/c are one.

 

[Winder]

Thanks not seen that one before.

WM

 

[Siggi]

Try as I might I am unable to read that scrawl.

 

[Dej]

My bottle-bottoms are bigger than yours, then . Can't format it exactly and can't be arsed to HTML it but near enough it's:

25.9.16
6 to 6.45 pm
OP
14,000 – 5,000 ft
​

60
Nieuport Scout
A213
Lewis Gun with double drums
Captain A Ball DSO MC
None
BAPAUME – CAMBRAI ROAD

110
Two formations of Rolands and Albatrosses.
Type A also other HA. Average speed about
80 miles per hour.

Nieuport could not see any HA
​

over BAPAUME at a reasonable height ; so it went
along the CAMBRAI ROAD . After being there for a
few minutes , two formations came along.
Nieuport attacked the first. The HA ran, noses down
but , when another formation came near it, turned
towards the Nieuport. Nieuport fired one drum
to scatter formation after which it turned to change
drums. [linestrike]One of the drums to so[/linestrike] One of the
drums dropped into the rudder control and
for a few seconds Nieuport was out of control.

Nieuport succeeded in getting drum on
​

gun and attacked an albatross which was
then flying at its side. Nieuport fired 90 rounds
of one in three Buckingham at about 15 yards
range underneath HA went down quite out
of control and crashed, the remainder of HA
followed Nieuport, but in the end left. In order
to keep them off at safe range Nieuport kept
turning towards them, each time this was done
H.A. made off with noses down.

(sgd) A Ball Capt
(sgd) R. Smith-Barry Major​

 

[Siggi]

Thanks Dej.

 

[Rooster89]

Awesome. Thanks Dej for the "translation" i had a hard time reading that chicken scratch too. :ernae:

-Rooster

 

[Rick Rawlings]

Albert Ball dropped his Lewis mag? Out-freaking-standing. That guy was a classy kid for including it in his report!

 

[Gandi]

excellent stuff Dej and as the chaps say thanks for the transcription....interesting about the mix of rounds in the magazine.......anyone would think that Mr Ball could have had been a doctor with that writing lol!

 

[Gousgounis]

Amazing! Thanks Dej. He refers to himself as an airplane...would never expect that, even from Ball.

anyone would think that Mr Ball could have had been a doctor with that writing lol!

So all the doctors all over the world have this *uh* amazing handwriting! :faint: Thought it happened only here..!

 

[Gandi]

Amazing! Thanks Dej. He refers to himself as an airplane...would never expect that, even from Ball.

So all the doctors all over the world have this *uh* amazing handwriting! :faint: Thought it happened only here..!

no it would appear to be part of the training to learn to write like a spider covered in ink has crawled over the page.....it adds to the mystique lol.

Still as has been said, handwriting aside (and mine's not a paragon of perfection by anyones standards) it's a fascinating little document.

as Rick says, mentioning dropping the Lewis mag'.....you'd think that you'd only put that sort of information in if it had really had a major effect on the outcome of the engagement.
I like the fact that there is little attempt to describe the enemy machines other than as H(ostile) A(ircraft)

As for using 'Nieuport' to detail what he did, could this be a way of distancing ones self from the combat, perhaps a way of coping with the stress involved by talking about an action in the 3rd person??