Oberflugmaat Sigmund Winterhart Seefrosta II Vlisseghem airfield Flanders
3 confirmed kills
19th August 1918
Morning sortie
Leutnant Freymadl took the briefing and confirmed that Schwarm Zwei would be heading down towards Passchendaele to patrol around the area. Leutnant Huecker was leading a balloon busting mission so Schwarm Zwei had the bulk of the aircraft.
The weather was still decent although the huge clouds were back, making spotting the enemy that bit more difficult.
Schwarm Zwei took off and headed south west after forming up. The journey was quiet until they could see the front, Sigmund was looking around, as he looked down he saw a German balloon in the near distance explode.
He throttled up and down to attract attention and pointed to the right. He nosed down and started gently descending down towards the now smoking ruins of the balloon.
He was about to give up when he saw another aircraft silhouetted against a field of wheat down below.
"Da bist du ja!" exclaimed Sigmund as he nosed down. He could clearly see the red, white and blue roundels and dived down as the enemy aircraft was turning back towards the lines. It was a Camel and Sigmund closed in on the enemy's tail and hit him with a decent burst. He was just about to open fire again when something made him look behind. To his horror he saw another Camel on his six and about to let loose.
"Scheis!" said Sigmund as he swung the DVII around and avoided the enemy's pass.
A turning match ensued but with his extra power, Sigmund was in charge of it and the Camel pilot realised it. He tried to climb but Sigmund followed and put a long accurate burst into the Englander.
He checked his six again but the other Camel had run for home already.
Sigmund closed in again on the remaining Camel and blasted him. This time the enemy was done for, he was trailing smoke and barely staying in the air. A final flurry from Sigmund and the pilot slumped forward and the aircraft nosed down and smashed into the ground.
He took stock but couldn't see any other enemy aircraft so headed home.
Afternoon sortie (awaiting one confirmation).
After lunch Sigmund was heading to the briefing room for the afternoon jaunt. Suddenly the airfield alarm sounded. The weather had closed in, the clouds had thickened and descended and a steady rain fell. He ran to his aircraft which thankfully had been refuelled and rearmed and jumped in.
The engine was already running and Sigmund cranked the throttle up and raced down the airfield.
Several other pilots were now jumping into their aircraft too but Sigmund was already in the air and climbing.
He could see and hear flak bursts up above but still hadn't cast an eye on any enemy aircraft yet. Just then bullets smacked into his tail and Sigmund instinctively rolled and dived.
He saw a Camel zoom past him and went with him. He checked his tail but it was clear.
He started to close in on his attacker who swung around. Sigmund had the speed however and got on his tail. He blasted the Camel who levelled out, clearly damaged and another long burst had him nosing down and into the ground with a wing missing....."Habe das!" exclaimed Sigmund.
Sigmund now spotted another Camel nearby and swung around straight onto his tail. He poured a devastating burst into the Englander and the top right wing broke away and left the Camel spinning wildly into the ground.
Sigmund couldn't see any more Camels and as he also couldn't see any bombers high above he decided to set his aircraft down.
On landing he found four Camels had been downed with Freymadl and Oberflugmeister Engelfried claiming the other two. Thankfully without serious loss.
Later on Leutnant Huecker called Sigmund to his office. "Welcome Sigmund, well, it was certainly a fun packed day for us all wasn't it?" said Huecker.
"It certainly was sir, it's pretty much non-stop at present. I doubt that's going to change anytime soon either" said Sigmund.
"Almost certainly not, the allies smell a victory and they'll come at us in droves to try and get it" said the Leutnant.
"Let them come Herr Leutnant" said Sigmund.
Huecker smiled, "You're a resolute chap Sigmund I'll give you that" he continued.
"I also have some pretty good news. You're claim from this morning and your first from this afternoon have been confirmed. The ground units believe they scored hits on that final Camel so no joy on that one. Still....two out of three isn't bad meine freund" Huecker continued.
"That brings you upto five confirmed kills, a fantastic performance in a week. All I can ask is that you keep it going" said the Leutnant.
"Thank you sir and I fully intend to keep it going" said Sigmund with that air of defiance that wasn't all bluff and youthful bravado.
"Good, now, accompany me to the kasino if you would. I know the others are wanting to celebrate your success!" said Huecker.
A pleasant evening ensued during which Sigmund was informed what his nickname was around the Jasta, 'bubi'.
"A great deal of an aeroplane could be holed without affecting its ability to fly. Wings and fuselage could be—and often were—pierced in 50 places, missing the occupants by inches (blissfully unaware of how close it had come until they returned to base). Then the sailmaker would carefully cover each hole with a square inch of Irish linen frayed at the edges and with a brushful of dope make our aircraft 'serviceable' again within an hour."
