This portion of the story picks up after the actions at Belleau Wood. (OTTBE 15 & 16) (Warning, this is a long one!)
On the third night after they had been captured the trio made their break. Lefty was still a bit gimpy but with help would be able to travel. When the guards were taking a break to eat they slipped over the wall behind the barn that was their temporary prison.
They spent the next whole day hiding in a thick wood about 5 kilometers behind the lines. Hunger was gnawing away at their stomachs as they had not eaten in almost two days but at least there was a small spring in the woods that they could drink from. From the woods edge they could observe to the west a few farm buildings that were occupied by the enemy. After waiting for darkness to fall, Peter and Hermann cautiously approached the compound to see if they could get anything useful. They stopped about 100 yards short in a small ditch as there were still lights on and some activity still noticed. They planned on waiting an hour after the lights went out before approaching the buildings. They got as comfortable as they could in the ditch and waited.
They passed the time by talking about what it would be like back home at this time of year.
Peter spoke of when in May of ’13 how all of Germany was a joyous place. Even all of Europe seemed happy as King George V, Tsar Nicholas II and other high ranking international figures came to Berlin to celebrate Kaiser Wilhelm II’s daughter’s marriage. The world was like a happy family reunion as all three monarchs were cousins with a fairly strong resemblance to each other. Peter remembered a newspaper headline about the wedding read: “Guests who rule a third of the world.”
Living on the outskirts of Dresden and having no connections, the Büttners were definitely not going to the ceremony. Peter’s father still wanted to celebrate the day so he organized an extended family excursion into Dresden for a visit to the Johanneum,
a grand museum containing the royal painting collection, the Dresden Porcelain collection and the Dresden Armory collection. Peter remembered how his mother went on and on about the porcelain and how beautiful it was. He was more interested in the medieval armor and weapons collection, especially all the jousting and tournament weaponry. His fascination in this led him to join the cavalry later that summer in August.
Hermann reminisced about his time north of Hamburg growing up in Glückstadt.
His father had a bakery in the town square and was quite popular and moderately successful. Hermann worked in the bakery during school breaks but he was more interested in the waterfront. He always wondered where all the fishing and cargo boats were going to or coming from. The bakery was a gathering point for the town folk but Hermann was more curious about the world outside of Glückstadt.
The local fishermen knew the family through the bakery and they watched Hermann grow up into a strong, bright young man. Hermann would spend free time hanging out along the quay and easily became friends of most of the people that worked the waterfront. Once he had an offer to go out on a fishing trip. After pleading with his father over a couple of days, permission was given. The night before the trip he was too excited and could not sleep. His head was full of images of himself as a pirate or viking sailing across the sea, going out to loot the sea of some great treasure.
Come his big morning his enthusiasm had not waned. While others were readying to make sail one of the crew taught Hermann some of the useful and needed knots he would soon be called upon to tie. Before he knew it the boat was gliding away from the pier and towards the opening to the Elbe. When the boat entered the current of the Elbe the deck shifted slightly and Hermann fell on his bottom. The crew laughed and the embarrassed Hermann got up and held on to the rail to steady himself. He didn’t know why he fell and was a more ashamed than bruised.
10 minutes later they reached the mouth of the Elbe where it emptied into the North Sea into an area called the Heligoland Bight.
The water’s surface was much more active here and Hermann fell again. He quickly got up hoping no one noticed but soon fell again. Now his head felt strange and he realized his stomach was about to show it’s displeasure on being on the water. He reached the rail just in time. The crew laughed a bit but sincerely felt badly for Hermann. The captain turned the boat around and brought the now pale and shaky Hermann back to the Glückstadt pier. Hermann felt miserable but the captain and crew tried to encourage him.
”Not everyone was meant to be out on the water my lad. Keep your feet on dry land, have your adventures there,” the captain told him as they cast off again, leaving Hermann standing defeated on the pier.
Hermann finished his studies and then joined the cavalry when he was old enough. He tried to hold down his initial interest knowing what happened with his sea going experience. Luckily for him, riding came naturally and he quickly was noticed. He made great progress and promotions came faster than for any other in his unit. He had found a home.
Peter felt badly about his circumstances when leaving the cavalry to become a pilot. Similar to Hermann’s lack of sea legs Peter found he did not sit well on a horse. He transferred to the then fledgling air service and has never felt bad about that decision.
Hermann loved the cavalry and was an accomplished horseman winning many riding awards.
When the war started things were quite fluid on the Western Front and he actually enjoyed the action. After the trenches were established the cavalry lost it’s role in the war. For months he grew frustrated as his unit was involved in transportation, messenger service and manual labor. He had to find another way to contribute in an honorable way. He did not want to be a foot soldier as he already saw that the land was not so dry at the trenches.
The Air Service was suggested by one of his officers and he made the move.
An hour passed by like a minute as Peter and Hermann told their stories. Peter finally poked his head out of the ditch and saw all the lights were out but for one at the front door of the main building. They crept across the field and stopped at a pair of trucks tucked behind the main house. In one of them was a small treasure of supplies. They stuffed their pockets and filled a sack with food and bandages and on a whim took a couple of ‘Tin Hats’.
Back in the woods with Lefty they had a small feast compared to what they had been eating since being captured. The bandages they found were just the thing needed to clean up and hold Lefty’s leg together till they get back to their side of the lines.
An hour before dawn Peter and Hermann put on the ‘Tin Hats’ and went out to scout a path back to friendly lines. The eastern sky could be seen starting to lighten up at the horizon so it was easy to know what direction they had to go. As they came out of some woods and started to cross a road they quickly became aware of some commotion to their right. Just barely in sight there was a truck and a number of men milling around with one voice yelling out commands. It seemed the truck was stuck in some mud and they were trying to push it out. They stood in the road a second too long as the voice called out in their direction. Another soldier came up the road from behind them running towards the truck.
Peter nudged Hermann to move in that direction. He whispered, “We better help. Its still so dark they won’t notice we have different jackets on”. “Luck be with us”, Hermann whispered back as they trotted behind the third man up the road to the truck.
Without understanding English they knew what the voice wanted done. Hermann and Peter joined four others behind the truck and put their shoulders into it.
Four more were on each side all pushing in the same direction. The driver was being cautious trying not to spin the wheels hoping to get some traction, that is until the voice yelled again. Suddenly the rear wheels started spinning. The voice yelled louder. Everyone groaned, the wheels spun faster and the truck lurched forward out of the mud. The truck moved forward only six feet but the wheels spun madly flinging up a torrent of mud. Hermann was quick enough to jump away from the truck before it lurched forward but Peter had kept pushing just a bit too long. Peter didn’t jump away until after he felt the spray of mud hitting him. Hermann couldn’t help it and was the first to start laughing. The rest joined in for a good long laugh. Peter’s front was covered in mud from head to toe. Even he laughed.
When the chuckling died down the voice called out again and the soldiers climbed onto the truck. Peter and Hermann quickly started walking back to where they had first seen the truck. An offer for a ride was perceived but Peter and Hermann waved them off and walked back down the road. As the truck pulled away Peter and Hermann took a deep breath, then laughed with an arm over each other’s shoulder.
Scouting out towards the east they found a lightly held section of trenches and agreed this would be the crossing place.
Back in the woods with Lefty all was explained. Lefty had a chuckle as Peter washed the last of the mud from his hair in the water hole. When the next day turned to night the three weary pilots headed east. Crossing the sparsely held trenches was easier than they had hoped. They only saw one enemy soldier in the trench who said nothing when they crossed. Maybe it was their ‘Tin Hats’? They didn’t stop to ask.
Picking their way through no-mans-land was not easy on Lefty. He was still badly favoring one leg making it all the more difficult on such churned up terrain. The worst part of the crossing was approaching their own lines. It would be very disappointing to be shot by one of your own. Almost forgetting they were wearing enemy helmets, Peter caught a glimpse of Hermann ahead of him.
“Better toss the hat Hermann lest our boys take a shot at it”, Peter smirked while dropping the one he had on into a muddy shell hole.
When they were close enough to be heard clearly they announced their presence to the watch. After a brief exchange they were allowed to approach under the watchful eyes of a rifle toting landser squad. Once it was realized who they actually were word was passed on to the Eagles Aerodrome and a ride quickly arranged. Lefty was sent directly to the hospital.
As soon as they arrived a celebration broke out. All of the Eagle pilots wore paper medals around their necks in jest and honor for their leader. While still missing, his last kill had been confirmed and Buttner was to be awarded the prize all scout pilots yearned for, the Pour le Merite, The Blue Max! The Eagles were quite worried and rightfully so that their leader would never know he had been awarded it. “Much better to wear the medal around your neck while alive than to get it posthumously”, Buttner said while klinking his stein with several others and then downing the pint in one go.
Two weeks later things seemed back to normal around the Eagles Mess. A few new faces at the table brought home the realization of how perilous life at the front was.
The morning brought the normal patrol roster to fill out. As Büttner juggled the names on the list he pondered what HQ would actually do if he ignored them. Büttner had read and re-read the note from HQ ordering him to stop flying.
“Franz Kohler, very much mindful to details and even if a bit too technical, a very good pilot.
Konrad Schroeder, ah, our very own stable master! Whatever plane he flies he turns it into a purebred.
Theodore Schwarz, not the most attentive when flying but he has a lucky star for sure.
Gunther Rothammer, the most enthusiastic of the newer pilots and great for the unit’s morale.
Hermann Beck, can’t say enough about Beck as he can fly like a trapeze artist”.
“Pity”, he thought, “There are not enough ready pilots available to do all the needed work. Looks like I might have to help out”, as he jotted his own name at the bottom of the list.
It had been reported there were two instances earlier this morning that a British RE8 attempted to sneak over the lines for some photo reconnaissance. Büttner set up a patrol flight pattern that should find any intruder. First up would be Schwarz, followed closely by Kohler and Schroeder. Later on would be Beck, then Rothammer and finally himself.
(amazingly all three came on with the first die roll!)
Schwarz had kept himself high enough to be able to drop down unawares on any entente plane crossing the front. Slowly a layer of thin cloud drifted over his sector. At first they were thin enough to be seen through but they thickened quickly. It got to the point where visibility was minimal so he decided to drop down a bit so he could see better. To his surprise, when he cleared the mists there were two British planes right in front of him. One was probably the 2 seater that had been crossing the front earlier, the other an escort Sopwith Camel. He was briefly taken aback and for an unknown reason did not immediately fire into them.
Schwarz turned on an intercept course on the RE8 but it had seen him and turned away. The crack shot of an observer riddled his SSW D.III, tearing large holes from his wing fabric.
The Camel now became aware of the intruder because of the RE.8’s shooting. Schwarz was right behind the Camel so had to engage it, putting some real damage into it’s controls. The RE.8 fired again but this time did not find it’s mark.
Kohler and Schroeder arrived to find Schwarz already engaged with two enemy. They had a bit of ground to cover and closed the gap as quickly as they could. Again the observer scored, this time on Kohler. Kohler tried to retaliate but missed.
Two more Camels arrived from different directions, flown by 2Lt Croft and 2Lt Malley. They sandwiched the Germans and put them in a dangerous position.
(These also came in on the first die roll!)
Schwarz noticed his comrades on the RE8’s tail so went for the original escort with the red hearts. As he passed the Camel he again fell under the observer’s gun. With eyes glued to the 2 seater he nearly collided with Kohler. Kohler’s quick maneuvering saved them both from disaster.
Immediately after getting by Kohler, Schwarz finds himself facing one of the newcomers, Harold Croft. They exchanged similar blows but unfortunately for Croft his Camel began to sprout flames.
With the intense battle behind them, Noel Lewis coolly flies over one of the targets they were to photograph. Click.
Croft, in a controlled panic keeps the flames off of the fuselage as well as he can. For a split second he sees an enemy in front of his guns but his attention is on the fire so his bullets fly wildly into nothing.
Schroeder and Kohler try to get closer to the 2 seater but a Camel intercedes.
Croft, consumed with attending his hot situation nearly flies into Schroeder. He again briefly finds an enemy in his sights and this time makes Kohler pay dearly.
Schwarz reverses over the lines to find a Camel bearing down on him. Neither flinch and pieces of both planes fall to the earth as a result of their well-aimed shots at each other. They pass by looking into the other’s eyes. They turn again for another pass at each other, this time not so deadly but the damage is adding up. The Camel’s guns jam but Schwarz does not notice. Each pilot has a grim determination to down his foe by will alone. They pass so close they might as well have swords to continue the fight.
The damage is too great for Schwarz’ SSW. It rattles and whistles and feels like it will come apart at any second. After a taking stock of the D.III’s condition he knows he must leave the fight if he wants to fight another day. (1 point left!)
Kohler and Schroeder had lost the 2 seater in the scrum. When they spot it on it’s own, probably taking valuable photos of the Heer’s artillery and stockpile positions. Kohler makes eye contact with Schroeder and gestures for Schroeder to engage the RE8 and he will follow.
Schroeder ignores the burning Camel on his back and turns to follow the RE8. The Camel, even though ablaze, stays in the fight and catches Schroeder off guard and punishes his Fokker badly.
Kohler turns off to avoid colliding with Schroeder and the flaming Camel. Schroeder keeps ignoring the Camel knowing the true prize is the RE8. With the Camel burning and turning off, Schroeder starts hunting the 2 seater. The RE8 cannot out run him and he closes in. When he gets in range he calmly aims and pulls the trigger.
Not able to immediately chase the RE8, Kohler turned away from Schroeder and the burning Camel. He notices another Camel heading his way and turns to face it. They close quickly and open fire. Immediately upon squeezing the trigger Kohler’s DVII shudders and then explodes when the gas tank is hit by the Camel’s stream of hot lead.
Croft keeps fighting the fire and he knocks it down after one last small flare up.
Schroeder doesn’t know he is now the lone Eagle but that would not matter as he closes in on the RE8. Noel Lewis side slips his crate towards the oncoming Fokker to give Owen a better line of fire. Owen takes advantage of the opportunity, fires first and hits the Fokker hard.
Schroeder ignored the incoming lead and scores some similar damage to the RE8.
Schroeder tries to get in the 2 seater’s blind spot right behind it but it slows so he has to change his course. The observer is taking another photo letting Schroeder get in a shot with no return fire.
Schroeder catches Beck in the corner of his eye diving in from the right. Owen quickly trades the camera for his Lewis gun and again punished Schroeder’s DVII. With all the distraction Schroeder misses but Beck’s aim is true.
Beck overshoots the RE8’s tail and collides with Schroeder. He feels his undercarriage hit Schroeder’s top wing and fears he has done in his friend.
Schroeder instinctively dropped down when Beck’s shadow closed over him. Beck’s wheels rolled across his wing and pushed him down but somehow, he avoided any noticeable damage and catastrophe.
Owen watches what he thinks is a collision of the two Hun craft and can’t believe his eyes as the Fokkers keep flying. He almost breaks his trigger when he realizes Schroeder is still closing in. The Lewis gun does not fire to his horror.
Schroeder takes a breath and sends a last burst into the RE8. It leans to the right and spirals down out of control.
Not seeing the returning Croft, at long range he nicks Beck’s fuel line and fire bursts out around his engine.
Beck Immels (taking (0) damage) and scores a hit on the Camel’s oil line and it bellows a trail of smoke.
Croft wasn’t expecting Beck to turn so quick and was now concentrating on Schroeder. His crack shot is too much for Schroeder’s DVII and it flutters down towards the earth.
With 3 Camel’s ahead, another 2 seater with a camera appears. Beck has his hands full with flames spitting out of his engine while Gunther Rothammer is gaining on the Brisfit.
As Beck sideslips, a Malley’s Camel flies across his front. Beck turns to follow while another Camel tries to knock him off of Malley’s backside. It doesn’t work and Beck fills the chevron Camel full of holes.
Even though on fire Beck knows his job. Letting the chevron Camel go he turns on the 2 seater and smashes it’s engine. He gets in some well-directed shots but then his Spandaus quit.
British observers are well practiced and Ernest Page returns the favor and smashes Beck’s engine. The original escort Camel joins in and knocks Beck’s engine off it’s blocks. Beck’s flaming DVII spins down into the woods below.
Malley flies parallel to the newcomer Croft to give him direction with hand signals. Croft paid too much attention to Malley’s hands and flies dangerously close to his flight mate.
Büttner, arriving on the scene from above, goes straight for the 2 seater thinking Rothammer will take on the Camel he just dove over. The Camel pilot can’t believe a Hun flew into his guns and scores on the diving DVII.
Büttner knows his men well as Rothammer engages the Camel letting Büttner attack the Bristol.
Büttner’s marksmanship skills are on form and he downs the Bristol from point blank in it’s blind spot.
Malley and Croft gang up on Rothammer and Malley scores a killing blow. Rothammer never felt a thing and the SSW falls like a leaf, floating and flopping down into the ground.
Büttner now faces off against three Camels as Rothammer’s SSW falls below the fight.
The Spandaus refuse to fire as Büttner threads the needle between the three Camels.
Büttner tries to follow two of the Camels to stay away from their guns but they both reverse into his face. They didn’t expect this maneuver at all. They are surprised there is no return fire but they miss an opportunity to end this fight.
He must clear his guns of break off. Büttner breaks his own rules to fight badly outnumbered and decides to avenge Rothammer. He clears and Immels with a quick turn getting back behind the Camels. A quick burst to check his guns before committing to engaging closely.
Slipping under one Camel using it as a screen Büttner surprises another and rips into it.
Büttner slips past the two and heads for the lone chevron Camel.
He gets lucky and slips past the Camel’s guns while keeping his on the Camel. It’s pilot jerks back in the cockpit. Büttner knows this one is in trouble. Büttner turns quickly and finishes off the chevron.
The Camel that downed Rothammer now falls into Büttner’s sights. Rothammer is avenged.
The remaining Camel comes within arms-length and trades shots with the Tiger. Both sets of guns go silent.
One on one are odds more to Büttner’s liking. He calmly clears his guns. While busy clearing the errant round he doesn’t see the SE5a join the Camel. When he turns to spot his intended prey he is unpleasantly surprised.
He is more than surprised as a second SE5a joins ranks behind him. Out numbered and at a disadvantaged position, Büttner thought better and dove away towards a cloud bank breaking off.
Butcher’s Bill
Bulldogs
2Lt George Malley SD ET 2 Kills Total miss 1 Mission
C 12 -1(sd) = 11 ok
E 4 -1(bel) = 3 captured but escapes, 1 = -1 mission
2Lt Charles Trescowthick SD ET 1 Kill Total miss rest of war
C 7 -1(sd) = 6 injured, 1 = -1 mission
E 4 -1(bel) -1(wic) = 2 captured, the war is over for you!
2Lt Noel Lewis SD ET 0 Kills Total miss 1 Mission
C 9 -1(sd) = 8 injured, 3 = -1 mission
E 5 -1(bel) -1(wic) = 3 captured but escaped, 2 = -1 mission
2Lt Richard Rice-Owen SD ET 0 Kills Total miss 2 Missions
C 5 -1(sd) = 4 injured, 4 = -2 missions
E 11 -1(bel) -1(wic) = 9, no one saw him!
2Lt Lancelot Stone SD ET 0 Kills Total miss 2 Missions
C 6 -1(sd) = 5 injured, 3 = -2 missions
E 9 -1(bel) -1(wic) = 7 landed ok ,almost home, -1 mission
F/Sgt Ernest Page SD ET 0 Kills Total miss 1 Mission
C 9 -1(sd) = 8 injured, 3 = -1 mission
E 10 -1(bel) -1(wic) = 8 landed ok, almost home, -1 mission
2Lt Harold Croft RTB 1 Kill
2Lt Ronald Benson RTB 0 Kills
2Lt Thomas Fidley RTB 0 Kills
Eagles
Obltn Franz Kohler SD EXP 0 Kills Total miss
C 4 -3(exp) +1(ace) = 2 KIA
Ltn Gunther Rothammer SD EXP 0 Kills Total miss
C 3 -3(exp) = 0 KIA
Ltn Konrad Schroeder SD 1 Kill Total miss 0 Missions
C 10 -1(sd) = 9 ok.
Obltn Hermann Beck SD FLM 0 Kills
C 6- 2(flm) +1(ace) = 5 injured, 3 = -2 mission
Obltn Thedore Schwarz RTB 0 Kills
Maj Peter Büttner RTB 3 Kills
Mission results
No photos returned
4 of 7 Entente planes shot down 57%
I take this to be a Central Victory but am not sure if one needs to shoot down 75% of the enemy to gain this level?
It looks like it could be 51-75% but only says 75%?
Either way it was extremely costly with the ultimate loss of two fine pilots, one being an ace.
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