Just after breakfast, Feldwebel Messerer's body was returned covered in the Imperial flag.
A funeral for this afternoon had been arranged and the body was placed in one of the hangers.
During yesterday evening Werner had come to a decision, he would write to Inge. She deserved to know the truth and unless she was down as Messerer's next of kin she'd probably never find out. Werner had already checked with the adjutant and Messerer's next of kin was down as his father.
Just before the briefing Werner went over to the hanger. He stood there for a moment and then pulled back the flag covering Messerer's body. Werner checked Messerer's jacket and sure enough, the picture of Inge was there. Werner checked the back and sure enough, there was an address on the back. A farm way up north....it had to be the place.
"Ruhe in frieden meine freund." said Werner, gently replacing the flag over Messerer's ashen grey face.
Morning sortie
The replacement officer had not yet arrived so Werner took the briefing once more. The mission was an attack of the airfield at Saint Mard.
The weather was good again as Werner and the rest got airborne and headed south.
The journey went quietly until they came up towards the airfield when the ground fire opened up. Werner signalled to attack and nosed down towards the hangers. Kaisenberg was ready and dropped his bombs at regular intervals. Werner rolled around and watched as the bombs hit one hanger, took apart another and wrecked a storage shed.
The rest of the Schlasta did their own damage and then formed up and headed home.
While they had been out the new officer had arrived, Oberleutnant Theodor Hoeffner was 25 and from Ternitz, Austria. He'd spent four years in the K.u.K, Luftfahrtruppen before being seconded to the Luftstreitkräfte in July 1918.
Afternoon sortie
Hoeffner took the afternoon briefing and introduced himself. He thanked Werner for his efforts leading the flights (which Werner thought was a nice touch). The sortie was to be the lines near Autreville to look for any targets they could find.
The weather remained good as the aircraft took off and headed south east.
Werner, on Hoeffner's left, kept a keen eye on the skies around and also on his new CO who thankfully flew very tidily.
The flak opened up bang on schedule. Hoeffner signalled to split up and Werner went towards the lines. Kaisenberg was on his mark and the bombs blew a line of trench to pieces.
Then Werner flew along one of the roads leading towards the lines and sure enough, he spotted a column of trucks and transports.
He lined up and sped down to about 500 feet. Kaisenberg dropped the cargo bang on the money and several trucks went up in flames or were left immobile wrecks.
As Werner climbed back up he saw what looked like several aircraft coming across the lines. There were two SPADs and then another a bit behind the others.
Werner dived down and snook up behind the unknowing SPAD. He blasted the Frenchman who's terrified expression as he turned around said it all. He'd been caught with his pants down. Another burst from Werner smacked into the SPAD who now started spewing smoke and losing height.
Werner managed another burst into him and was sure he'd hit the pilot. The SPAD touched down and somehow avoided the craters before coming to a stop. As Werner flew just above him he saw the pilot clearly slumped backwards in his cockpit.
Werner now scarpered and formed up with the rest of the Schlasta who had now finished their attacks.
They arrived back safely and Werner went off to clean up and submit his report.
Once everyone was cleaned up and ready, Feldwebel Messerer was laid to rest, a small and sombre service.
Later on Oberleutnant Hoeffner called Werner to his office. "Ahh Werner, good to see you again. Well done today, that was a fine performance." said Hoeffner.
"Thank you sir, we did our best." said Werner.
"Indeed. I have news about your outstanding claims. You already had two ongoing apparently? These are confirmed. Unfortunately the one from this afternoon couldn't be certified. That brings you to seven? A fantastic effort in a Hannover meine freund." continued Hoeffner.
"Thank you sir, I've been lucky so far, I'll keep plugging away if they give me the chance." said Werner.
"It has nothing to do with luck Vizefeldwebel, you are clearly a fine pilot. I'll have begging letters from needy Jasta's in no-time. I also have this from HQ....... I'll be brief.....it is awarding you the Eisernes Kreuz Zwei Klasse!" continued Hoeffner.
Werner was delighted.
"It just so happens I have one of them here with me. Please accompany me to the kasino so I can make the award in front of the Schlasta." finished Hoeffner.
"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."
