Johann Falke FFA 8b, Alsace Front 4 February, 1915 Flugplatz Colmar
Managing to get to ten missions (enduring two engine failures, fortunately both near Colmar), Flieger Falke approached his commandant, a certain Hauptmann Rudolph Klink [incidentally, Klink had a younger brother, Wilhelm who was also a pilot]...
"So, I have flown ten missions now; can I do it?"
"Do what?"
"Have the tail of my crate painted red and white, you know, to honor my homeland"
(sigh)"...I suppose"
Klink: "It's painted incorrectly! The stripes should be the other way"
Falke: "But we are not Austrian, but I am!"
Klink: (sigh) "....it's your machine"
Falke: "Thank you, sir!"
...but there was something festering inside of Falke...something that would take time to manifest, but soon enough would show itself!
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The Saga Continues!
Regards,
Jeff
WOFF:UE Computer Specs and set-up: Homebuilt Computer! Intel i5-3570k mildly overclocked to 3.8ghz AsRock Z75 mobo Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB (EVGA one fan version) 16 GB RAM 42 inch Sharp Aquos LCD TV with 120hz refresh Very old (over 20 years now) Aiwa Receiver/Amplifier Very old giant stereo speakers with newer sub-woofer Very old Logitech Wingman joystick with two buttons and a throttle slider Very old CH Thurstmaster analog footpedals Manhattan analog/USB converter W10
Johann Falke FFA 8b, Alsace Front 22 February, 1915 Flugplatz Colmar
....just doing his duty, although his last mission had an interesting adventure rolling backwards downhill and crashing into a tree tail-first after a forced landing due to engine failure.
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Regards,
Jeff
WOFF:UE Computer Specs and set-up: Homebuilt Computer! Intel i5-3570k mildly overclocked to 3.8ghz AsRock Z75 mobo Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB (EVGA one fan version) 16 GB RAM 42 inch Sharp Aquos LCD TV with 120hz refresh Very old (over 20 years now) Aiwa Receiver/Amplifier Very old giant stereo speakers with newer sub-woofer Very old Logitech Wingman joystick with two buttons and a throttle slider Very old CH Thurstmaster analog footpedals Manhattan analog/USB converter W10
Rick Rawlings No 60 Squadron April 4, 1917 Filescamp
Woke up to the strangest dream the other day. I was a "cowboy" in the American West over the course of a several months and got into numerous adventures! Very bizarre, especially since I have never been to America and know almost nothing about its west...
Anyway, I tried to lead a flight across the lines on that very morning (the 2nd) to attack the enemy airfield directly across from us before dawn and catch the Huns before they were up and about. Unfortunately, as we were climbing off to the north, we ran into two flights of Albatros scouts trying the same plan on us! I ended up tangling with several buses singly as they came down to meet us and managed to bring three to ground before I had run out of Lewis rounds. Two of them lived and were actually aces of some renown, I heard, although they had escaped before I could get to talk to them, as often seems to be the case around here. We lost Alvord in the fight, unfortunately, he crashed trying to avoid the enemy at low level. Another condolence for me to write. The better news is that "A" flight got across the lines unmolested, led by Bishop, and did manage to do some damage to the airfield. I have a feeling that boy might be going places if he can just settle down a bit...
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
Rick Rawlings No 60 Squadron April 9, 1917 Filescamp
Two more pilots lost today. Even with our new Nieuports, we are still hard against it. (I haven't even had time to have mine painted!) I took Bishop up to attack a balloon that had been giving our infantry some trouble to the south whilst "A" flight headed off to provide us some cover. As we were reached the front, "A" flight was engaged but two of the huns managed to come down to attack Bishop and myself. We turned into them and circled for a bit before one made a run for it. Bishop went after him (impetuous, he!) and the second German took that opportunity to dive behind the young Lt. I came in hard at the tail and Bishop and his pursuer dove away. I chased the first scout for about a minute to make sure he wasn't coming back before returning to the fight. I was able to swoop in and fight off the hun chasing Bishop. The enemy pilot went down to a hard crash on fire in No Man's Land. Still, I have a feeling he will be back to pester us again soon. Two of the newer pilots (who am I kidding, it seems all we have are new pilots!) fell to the German guns, but we accounted for two of them, so it balanced, although that doesn't make the letters any easier to write. My bus was hit by ground fire, severing my fuel lines. Fortunately I got it down on a road and commandeered a truck to drive it and me back to the field. Of course, the balloon was unaffected through all this and I will probably have to send someone after it...
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
Rick, I found it odd how easily that Hun found your tail. Good thing he can’t turn with a Nieup. Great shooting. That gunsight really helps.
"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."
Tricky bast**d. Was doing a 20-20 QC in Tripehounds against Dr1s. The guy I selected hit three or four snap rolls in a row. When that didn't shake me he "dead-leaf"ed from about 4,000 feet to about 1,000. And I had it set on veteran.
I'd hate to see what an ace would do. About all that's left is to fly his plane backwards.
Rick Rawlings No 60 Squadron April 9, 1917 Filescamp
Well, finally got mine, at least a bit. We were jumped by a flight of hun bombers attacking our field and just managed to get up and away as they were passing overhead. It was a wild chase to the front where we finally caught them. I came in close - too close - behind one and gave him all I had. We entered a cloud both firing at each other when one of his rounds went clean through me just underneath the collarbone. Lots of blood and swearing later I manged to get down and was rushed to a hospital. That kept me out of action for a week. Just yesterday we went up on line patrol and were seeing nothing when we caught some white puffs back on our side of the lines. It was a brace of Albatros scouts buzzing another of our airfields. Those berks are getting awfully brazen! My wing and I swooped down and managed to take them both out. It was my 30th confirmed and a bit of good news in what is turning out to be an otherwise lousy month...
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
Rick Rawlings No 60 Squadron April 28, 1917 Filescamp
Mid Air Collision. It sounds so...clinical. When I was a boy, I never would have dreamed such a thing were possible. How would there ever be two aircraft in the sky at the same time? In the same place? Unfortunately, in this war it has been all too common. Mid Air Collision. Mid-Air? It hardly leads one to envision the fall after. The burning thick greasy smoke, the bits of wood and fabric that linger long after the plummeting mass of flesh and metal. We went up on a scramble the other day; two sets of enemy bombers over our airfield. We caught one brace before the lines and set into them. My recent injury in mind, I dove away before their return fire could hit me and young Bishop finished him off. I thought Lt. Edmund had done the same with the other, but then I saw to my horror that he had strayed too close and the two craft momentarily became one fiery mass before separating to each find their way Earthward. I had the remains of all fliers retrieved and we gave them our full attention at the internment this morning. I have already sent off the letter to Edmund's parents. Will this bloody April never end?!?
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
Rick, despite its gruesomeness, one can’t look away. I don’t know why people always mention train wrecks? There is nothing interesting about those. Cheer up, only two more days and then the Huns go on vacation. Probably beaches in Spain.
"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."
After action report and victory claim Hauptman von Baur Jasta Boelcke 12. Januar. 1917
I was leading a flight of five on a scramble mission. I identified two enemy two-seaters with seven Nieuports flying escort high above our airfield. While climbing to the enemy formation the Nieuports attacked us. One came after me but I was able to outmaneuver and get behind him. After several bursts he nosed over and crashed about one kilometer west of Pronville airfield.
After dispatching the first aircraft I went looking for the rest of the kette. I saw two Albatrosses chasing a Nieuport south, low over the lines and looked to see if there were any enemy aircraft in position to attack them. I saw a Nieuport flying north, above and to the west, so I gave chase. He must have been a good flyer because it took some effort for me to finally get an advantage on him and I had to fire quite a few bursts from my machine guns at him. But eventually he caught fire and crashed just over enemy lines about six kilometers south of the observation balloon west of Pronville airfield.
After the second action I decided to head for home. I was just touching down on Pronville airfield when I noticed anti-aircraft bursts to the south. My engine hadn't stopped so I pushed my throttle forward and my crate back into the sky. The flak seemed to be trailing the first airplane I saw (which turned out to be von Richtofen) so I focused on it and soon was able to make out a Nieuport chasing him. He must have been very focused on von Richtofen because I was able to get behind him rather easily. I fired a burst at him and he immediately broke off his attack. We then maneuvered for what felt like several minutes until I was able to get in a telling blow. He nosed over and crashed onto the northeast corner of Pronville airfield.
At this point I felt I'd pushed my luck as far as (and probably further than) I should and set up to land. Suddenly my aircraft was struck by several bullets, some very close to the cockpit. Fortunately I had some altitude still and I pushed the stick forward and kicked the rudder pedal hard to the right. This threw my attacker off and when I pulled out of my maneuver I could see him above me and circling. My machine had taken some damage and wasn't responding as quickly as normal, so I struggled to get back into the fight while the enemy aircraft danced almost effortlessly above me, me unable to climb to his altitude and him unable to get sufficiently behind me to get a good shot. In desperation I broke away from the right turn we'd been in and put all my energy into an attempt to gain altitude. The Nieuport turned and started to dive on me, but I turned back into him and went below him causing him to overshoot his dive and he ended up below me. Finally I had an advantage and I made good use of it. At first he tried to run, as our airfield is very near the front at this time, but I easily caught up to him and hit him with a burst from my machine guns. He turned back, trying to outmaneuver me, but I refused to relinquish my advantage. A few more bursts and he nosed over, briefly recovered, and then crashed less than a kilometer east of Pronville airfield.