Glad, that I had the idea yesterday, to get me one of those Chinese black-and-red note books. So, this is in it for today:
13. April 1917
Joined Jasta 12 this morning. And they only waited 'till 8.22 h, to give me a patrol flight, with Leutnant Weber and Leutnant Schiering. Wheather: typical for April; moody grey, light rain.
After waypoint 2, sudden attack by 4 Pups from some 2.000 feet higher.
We're doing fine; I can shoot one up after 4 minutes; Weber has one. There, we got company by a flight of 6 more D III's, and it's over, before the Pup pilots realised.
13. April 1917; 15.11 h We had just fuelled up and remounted the guns, when we suddenly got attacked by 9 or 10 Nieuports, and at least two SPAD VII.
Manage to hit several Nupes, but they are all over the place, like dancing butterflies! Then my Alb gets hit! Dive, turn hard - crazy, so close to the ground, but what can I do? A Nupe centers right before me! Reflex - fire!!
She turns headover and pulles right down into the trees. I'm hit again!
Turn! More hits! Tighter!! Who the hell is there behind me? It's a SPAD, dammit! I perform my special down screw turn, and can just avoid to crash into a big tree! Jesus - that was close! Breathe, man! My lungs fill. Another Nupe turns right into my curve - fire! - badly hit, she pulles out and up. Can't follow that. Turn! Check six! Clear! Further ahead, an Alb climbing after a Nupe; the Nupe climbs steeper, Alb breaks away, Nupe almost comes to a halt - and get's the full burst; cockpit and engine. Falls rearwards out of the air. Crash!! But now, I collect hits for the third time - tac, tac, tac!! The lady complains, don't like rolling anymore! I do all the tricks, and I'm lucky - the guy is chased off my tail by Neuman, I think!
I can get behind him, try to shoot - guns jam! For goodness sake, not now!
But they remain quiet! I steal away, close to the ground - between the trees - 'till I roll across the field. The boys firing from all guns, and the Nupe turns away. Poooh - someone fetch me a drink, please! And then I'll change my uniform shirt!
But: three claims, well witnessed. A good start so far!
13. April 1917
Joined Jasta 12 this morning. And they only waited 'till 8.22 h, to give me a patrol flight, with Leutnant Weber and Leutnant Schiering. Wheather: typical for April; moody grey, light rain.
After waypoint 2, sudden attack by 4 Pups from some 2.000 feet higher.
We're doing fine; I can shoot one up after 4 minutes; Weber has one. There, we got company by a flight of 6 more D III's, and it's over, before the Pup pilots realised.
13. April 1917; 15.11 h We had just fuelled up and remounted the guns, when we suddenly got attacked by 9 or 10 Nieuports, and at least two SPAD VII.
Manage to hit several Nupes, but they are all over the place, like dancing butterflies! Then my Alb gets hit! Dive, turn hard - crazy, so close to the ground, but what can I do? A Nupe centers right before me! Reflex - fire!!
She turns headover and pulles right down into the trees. I'm hit again!
Turn! More hits! Tighter!! Who the hell is there behind me? It's a SPAD, dammit! I perform my special down screw turn, and can just avoid to crash into a big tree! Jesus - that was close! Breathe, man! My lungs fill. Another Nupe turns right into my curve - fire! - badly hit, she pulles out and up. Can't follow that. Turn! Check six! Clear! Further ahead, an Alb climbing after a Nupe; the Nupe climbs steeper, Alb breaks away, Nupe almost comes to a halt - and get's the full burst; cockpit and engine. Falls rearwards out of the air. Crash!! But now, I collect hits for the third time - tac, tac, tac!! The lady complains, don't like rolling anymore! I do all the tricks, and I'm lucky - the guy is chased off my tail by Neuman, I think!
I can get behind him, try to shoot - guns jam! For goodness sake, not now!
But they remain quiet! I steal away, close to the ground - between the trees - 'till I roll across the field. The boys firing from all guns, and the Nupe turns away. Poooh - someone fetch me a drink, please! And then I'll change my uniform shirt!
But: three claims, well witnessed. A good start so far!