10 January, 1918 09:45 Saint-Loup-en-Champagne, Marne Sector Jasta 19 Oberleutnant Zygmunt Dolf Hahn EK2 EK1 HHO PLM AO RA 108 confirmed kills
Zygmunt and his men were sent near Chalons to patrol enemy territory. They were assured the snow showers were localized and once they reach altitude it will all clear up. Getting to altitude was the real issue. The heavy, grey clouds covered the entire sky and punching a hole in them was a real challenge, but once above them everything cleared up. They had an unobstructed view of the blue skies above and a sea of clouds below them. The unobstructed view was what Ziggy was after. After crossing the lines and dipping their toes into enemy airspace the German Jasta was met by a flight of enemy machines. The Albatrosen had an altitude advantage and soon swooped down on the helpless SPADs. Zygmunt was immediately behind one of the French machines and firing. While tracking his target he didn’t fail to notice the Indian head on the fuselage. He knew these boys, the Amerikaners and not a skilled lot. Perhaps Hess was right? With flying like this it would take ten of them to even think of downing one German pilot. Perhaps it was only a training flight to get the tyros up to speed? In any case these children had no right being up here. Few more shots and the SPAD was going down out of control.
Zygmunt looked for more. He found one soon enough running away home. Ziggy followed and after a while saw the enemy bank to face him. At the same time Scheller followed him from higher up. Hahn pulled up to avoid a head on collision with the enemy. He looked back to see the enemy fly underneath. He then faced forward to see Scheller, who was still following the SPAD, was now on a collision course and nearly collecting Zygmunt in the process. After Hahn composed himself he resumed the pursuit. Scheller was ahead, but the SPAD turned again bringing him closer to Ziggy. He had him now all to himself, or so he thought. Scheller swooped down from above and ahead again, but this time it was a clumsy move and he stalled his plane leaving Hahn to finish the job. The SPAD banked again and this time right in front of Ziggy’s guns. The Spandaus barked for a second. Hahn didn’t think he hit anything, but the SPAD went into a spiral and crashed into the field near the aerodrome. Scheller will be furious.
Next, he watched a duo of triplets battling it out nearby. It was obvious a brace of Albatrosen was pursuing a SPAD in each group. They came very close and the French scout flew under Ziggy’s Albatros. He didn’t waste any time and positioned his plane on the tail of the retreating enemy. It only took a few seconds for the SPAD to tumble down out of the sky and crash on the outskirts of the airfield.
As he was gaining altitude to get away from the airfield gunners’ range he chanced upon a lone SPAD desperately attempting to get a good vector to land his crate. Zygmunt approached the unsuspecting Amerikaner from behind and calmly lined up his shot. The Spandaus ravaged the wood and canvas, sending the enemy down out of control. It looked like the pilot couldn’t control the plane, perhaps he was dead. As Zygmunt watched, the SPAD levelled out just above the ground and continued straight on. So much for the dead pilot theory. Hahn’s Albatros entered a dive and caught up with the wounded machine. He aimed again and squeezed the triggers. He didn’t let go until the SPAD in front of him disintegrated mid-air.
By now his men were beginning to form up on him. There was still one SPAD fighting with an Albatros that was following him closely. Ziggy watched from above, but when the Amerikaner looped his plane right in front of Hahn he opened fire immediately. He continued to observe the chase with interest and when he noticed the Albatros, who until now was doing excellent job of pursuing, waning somewhere, Zygmunt took it upon himself to finish the job. He swooped behind the SPAD and fired. The enemy pilot put up a valiant effort, but it was futile. He soon was falling out of control to crash into the ground below.
With no enemy in sight, Ziggy gave the signal to return back to their side of the mud. He was anxious to return to base. He had a lot of paperwork to fill out.
Later that evening Fuchs was sitting at their usual table. Tybelsky came over with Hahn in tow. The two men put their drinks on the table and sat around the Feldwebel, who was already nursing a drink of his own. “- Ho, ho! What’s the occasion?” He asked pointing at the drink, knowing well Fuchs doesn’t drink unless there was a reason. “- I think I shot down my first enemy!” Rudi was about to burst from excitement, but kept it contained until he could share the news with his friends. “- Well, tell us all about it!” Hahn took a sip of his drink. “- There we were over the Front ...” “- Stop, stop, stop!” Tybelsky protested. “- This is not how you start a story of your first victory.” He took out a cigar out of his pocket and popped it in Fuch’s mouth. “- That’s better.” Zygmunt instantly thought of his old friend Wolff. Was he still managing his cigar factory? He’d missed the old man. Tybelsky lit up his own cigar and leaned back in his chair. “- You may start now.” “- There we were over the Front ...”
"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys, The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain, From out of my arse take the camshaft, And assemble the engine again."
