OTT BE Mission 11, 7 Apr 1918, Water - Ship Down! (Carl Brisgamer)
PROLOGUE
Brussels, German Occupied Belgium
7 April 1918
0330hrs
Leutnant Paul Achilles walked as briskly as he was able through the dark streets of Brussels. Still suffering the effects of the evening’s drinking, his skull felt like it was being pounded from the inside with hammer. Achilles had morphia but decided against it, he needed a clear head. He had passed out and when he woke had realised what he had done. For a time he just sat with his P.08 in his hand and a bullet in the chamber. But something stopped him, a sudden urgent need to return to his Jasta, his comrades … his home. Grabbing a few things he left the small tavern and made his way to the main road heading west, the road to Bruges and to Koolkerke.
Even at this hour the road was busy with trucks moving supplies to the front and bringing wounded back from the line. Achilles flagged down one such vehicle and ordered the army driver to take him as far as Bruges….
**********
Koolkerke, Flandern
7 April 1918
0600hrs
Kapitänleutnant Willi Mattheus was already up and working when the telephone rang. He was in the middle of executing the move of his entire Gruppe to a forward airfield at Jabbecke. It was only a matter of ten kilometres, but with the roads choked with vehicles it required precise timing and organisation. Already Oberleutnant Werner Bastian and Leutnant Reinhold Poss had most of their pilots and aircraft at the new field. Back here at Koolkerke Mattheus was getting the support echelon going forward. It was no easy task after almost three years in the same location, unlike the Richthofen Geschwader that had its own train and regularly shifted up and down the line.
And now Naval Headquarters Flanders was on the phone with orders for a special mission! Mattheus took the phone from the duty NCO and scribbled down the orders – two vessels, 15 kilometres off the coast, coordinates, direction and speed – strike to be launched no later than 0700hrs. When he explained his Gruppe was almost all deployed forward it was clear that HQ was not interested in where he was to find pilots or aircraft, just that he get the job done.
He looked up at the pilot roster and checked the aircraft readiness. There were still two of the reserve Pfalz machines at Koolkerke, along with the Halberstadt CL.II which had just flown in last night to pick up urgent spares. That might do in a pinch. The Halberstadt crew of Leutnant Heinrich Maas and his pilot Flugmeister Benno Schlüter just happened to be one of the best bomber crews serving in the See Adler Staffel. Vizeflugmeister Hans Goerth was still here at Koolkerke as well.
“Sounds like you need the services of a naval pilot,” came a familiar voice from the door of the hut. Mattheus looked up and was happy to see Leutnant Paul Achilles’ tall frame in the doorway.
“Paul!” Mattheus exclaimed smiling, “it is good to see you.”
“You too Willi …. I mean Herr Kapitänleutnant,” replied Achilles.
As Mattheus shook Achilles' hand in greeting he immediately noticed the bandage that still swathed his head under his cap. The man looked pale, somehow ragged and worn out despite his period of recuperation. Achilles appeared to notice Mattheus’ concern.
“Oh this,” he said gesturing toward his head, “it’s almost good as new. I’m ready to get back to flying duties Willi, what have you got for me?”
“I have not received your medical papers yet Paul,” said a somewhat sceptical Mattheus, “Do you have them with you?”
“They were sent before I was discharged,” lied Achilles, “they must be sitting in some shiny-arsed clerk’s tray at HQ.” Achilles saw the look on his commanding officer’s face and knew he had to push his case.
“Willi, I am ready to fly,” insisted Achilles, “in fact I feel like I must fly as soon as possible. I was not in a good way before I fell, I need to get back in the cockpit if I am to have a chance to put all that behind me.”
Mattheus was not completely convinced, but he respected Achilles’ flying abilities and knew he would feel the same if the boot was on the other foot.
“OK Paul, get into your flying gear, you are going out this morning with Goerth, Maas and Schlüter. Your targets are two Royal Navy ships off the coast, a fitting task for a navy officer wouldn’t you say?”
“Yes indeed,” agreed Achilles. “Thank you Willi,” he added sincerely before offering a salute. Mattheus returned the compliment and watched as his comrade of many months withdrew to make ready for his sortie. Any lingering doubts he may have harboured were pushed to the back of his mind as the telephone rang for the second time that morning. The duty NCO answered the call, relaying the information to his Gruppenkommandeur.
“What do you mean the fuel stocks have not yet arrived at Jabbeke?” barked an incredulous Mattheus, “The trucks left yesterday!”
Reply With Quote
Nice link in from the last post - I admit, I'm having trouble finding a story line myself, to link the two scenarios. It'll come in a while - I hope. Meantime, I shall look forward to the continuing saga of Ltn Paul Achilles. Sorry, further rep not possible at present, although this and your last post deserve it! Chau for now. Mike
Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer
They sure are to me Carl! 
for combined missions and his victory, as well as the Wound Badge in black. 
REPs on the way.
Bookmarks