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.