OTT BE Mission #12--Another Day Over the Somme 12 April 1918

[Setarius]

Lt. Forbes:
Gentlemen, from this point on, whenever you go anywhere you need to be extra careful. We have had two incidents recently where an enemy spy has tried to make trouble for us. The first incident was the replacement planes, 2Lt. McGillicuddy's body was found in a sewage trench with his throat slit. The second was the one involving you guys and the battlecruiser. It seems you were given the wrong coordinates by a person claiming to be a Capt. Sinclair. No one that I've contacted has seen or heard of a Capt. Sinclair.
Lt. Forbes: Everyone flies today. We all will be over the Somme. Lt. Kilpatrick, 2Lt. Callahan and 2Lt. Hamlett will patrol the area around Morlancourt Ridge. The rest of you are with me and we will be approximately 30 kilometers south of the ridge.
Keep your eyes open and be safe.
Good hunting.

15 March 1968
Notes from interview with Manfred von Richtofen
Reporter Leroy J. Brown of Modern Aviation

Roy Brown: Once again Thank You Freiherr for agreeing to this interview about your life and career as a pilot. This article will come out next month in time for the 50th anniversary of the battle near Morlancourt Ridge.

Manfred von Richtofen: I am here to set the record straight on several falsehoods that have been published about my life or death, depending on who you listen to.

Roy Brown: Many people say you were shot down near Morlancourt Ridge on 12 April 1918. Yet, you sit in front of me very much alive and loking to be no more than 30 years old, when you really are 76 years old. How do you explain .

MvR: It is called healthy living, good genes, and knowing the right people.

Roy Brown: OK, let's talk about Morlancourt Ridge and the air battle that took place that day. Would you take us through your actions and activities of 12 April 1918?

MvR: Our pilots were up before the sun. The cooks fed them sausage, eggs, and coffee, while the mechanics prepped the planes on the flight line.
We were in the air as the sun appeared on the horizon behind us. As planned we split into groups of 4 with half going North and half South. We were to meet near Morlancourt then head home, if we did not see anything.
After a couple of hours we landed at the Jasta, gave our reports and prepped for the next sorties.
I decided to switch some pilots around to get different people used to flying with different wingmen. From what I understand it worked out fine.

Roy Brown: What do you mean by that?

MvR: I got separated from my squadron and had to rely onwhat they reported. By this time of day the Brits had kites in the air and the Eagles were up as well hunting the Bulldogs.
Attachment 228990

Enemy spotted
Attachment 228991

Closing the gap
Attachment 228992

MvR: According to the reports I read from the Eagles, they drew first blood on the first pass, Ltn. Hüttenrauch (0) exchanged shots with Lt. Kilpatrick (2GJ).
Attachment 228993

MvR: Ltn. Leffers (0) and Lt. Kilpatrick (0) took a quick shot at each other but missed.
Attachment 228994

MvR: Then the furball began. Ltn. Leffers (1NR,5) and 2Lt. Hamlett (1NL,0GJ) exchanged fire to Ltn. Leffers detriment.
Attachment 228995

MvR: Everyone circled to get into position to make another pass.
Attachment 228996

MvR: 2Lt. Callahan (1) andLtn. Hüttenrauch (1NL) exchanged fire while 2Lt. Hamlett took a shot at Ltn. Muller (1) while Ltn. Muller (0) exchanges fire with Lt. Kilpatrick (1).
I had spied a lone camel trying to make his way across NML so, I dropped down and got behind him while he was on our side of the line.
Attachment 228997

MvR: While they guys were waltzing high above us I tok a shot at the camel but missed. Rookie (0).
Attachment 228998

MvR: Ignoring the guys above us I was able to close the range on the camel just enough so that my next shot punched a couple of holes in him.
Rookie (1+1).
2Lt. Callahan took a shot at Ltn. Leffers (0,0) but missed.
Attachment 228999