14. April 1917 At 13.27 h, our flight of 5 Albatros D III is getting attacked by 6 Sopwith Pup from RNAS 3. (I checked names per labels: Leonard 'Tich' Rochford, James 'Jimmy' Glen, Alfred 'Nick' Carter, J.S.T. 'Joe' Fall, Arthur 'Art' Whealy) Pretty soon, we're fighting at tree top level. I hit Whealy badly, and then Carter. After short time, I can't see anyone of my flight no more. James Glen, pulling up right in front of me, is getting a full burst, I see an explosion. He falls away. No. 1. Now, three of them devil are turning with me, and I realise, turning will be over soon - they can do better! So, I fly triangles: out of the bunch, back to it. Carter gets another severe load, and seems run off. Second approach: Now Whealy gets some, plane begins to draw trail of smoke. I know I'm fighting for my life; I perform mad dives to escape their rounds; sometimes I'm amongst the trees! Pulling out, I hit one again. Now I try to get a bit away from them, for another approach. But when I look around, there are only two Pups still flying. I realise, I've shot two down by now. I do a last approach, towards Rochford, who shows his back to me. He pulls up and left, but he gets plastered from very close, right into engine and cockpit.
Then: clack! Ammunition is out! Now I must run. Must do half a turn, and get behind the front line! The British firing from the trenches, hitting my plane. But I can't climb, cause one Pup is after me now. So I zig zag over the trenches, until I hear a different sound: now it's the Germans, shooting at the Pup. But the devil folloes - I just shot down 3 of his comrades.
Flying through alleyways and woods, I manage to reach Fontaine-Uterte airfield, and ground crew welcomes the Pup with all they have. After one round over the field, the poor devil is falling head-over-tail out of the air. (I'm credited destroying him).
Now I see: 9 % fuel left. Can't make it home no more; make a turn and land at Fontaine-Uterte.
Safe!
But then: read my thread "Kill claims form doesn't appear no more"
Then: clack! Ammunition is out! Now I must run. Must do half a turn, and get behind the front line! The British firing from the trenches, hitting my plane. But I can't climb, cause one Pup is after me now. So I zig zag over the trenches, until I hear a different sound: now it's the Germans, shooting at the Pup. But the devil folloes - I just shot down 3 of his comrades.
Flying through alleyways and woods, I manage to reach Fontaine-Uterte airfield, and ground crew welcomes the Pup with all they have. After one round over the field, the poor devil is falling head-over-tail out of the air. (I'm credited destroying him).
Now I see: 9 % fuel left. Can't make it home no more; make a turn and land at Fontaine-Uterte.
Safe!
But then: read my thread "Kill claims form doesn't appear no more"