Wolfbiter
09-09-2010, 09:00
France, November 1917
My dear family,
I can scarcely contain myself--I have flown my first patrol as a member of Jasta 11, and we returned victorious! I have just finished my report, and shall tell you all that took place.
As a new pilot, I have been assigned to fly an Albatros D.Va. While it lacks the nimbleness of the Fokker Dr.I flown by my wingman, Von Wittlow, it is a sturdy, capable aircraft and I am most pleased with its performance thus far, as seen yesterday during our engagement over the front lines.
Von Wittlow and I took off just before dawn, and spotted two Allied fighters--a Spad XIII and Sopwith Camel--flying south toward our lines. They immediately broke off in different directions as we engaged. I swung my Albatros around and came about on the Sopwith's tail, but my good fortune was immediately followed by rotten luck...my guns jammed on my first shot! I followed Von Wittlow's advice, however, and strove to keep calm. This was not easy, trying to maintain my position behind the Englishman while desperately trying to clear my guns with one hand!
The Sopwith and I made two zig-zagging passes at each other, narrowly avoiding collision twice! Sweat was drenching my hair beneath my flying helmet. During the second pass, the Sopwith lined me up in his sights, but missed me completely! I hope this account does not frighten Mother and Katarina unduly. It is a risky business we are in here, but I suppose Fortune wanted to balance things out for my earlier mishap with my weapons!
Meanwhile, Von Wittlow engaged the Spad, which easily outdistanced him and came around for a pass, raking him with fire. However, despite the horrendous damage to his wings, my comrade kept the cool head he is famous for in the Jasta, waiting with iron nerve until the Spad was too close to turn away, then using his triplane's superior maneuverability to turn suddenly on the Spad and down it with a final burst of fire!
Immediately, control of the engagement shifted to us. I swung behind the Camel again, raking it with fire and scoring several hits while driving it toward Von Wittlow. I envy his nerve...a volley from the Englishman as they came face-to-face put more holes in his Dr.I. I do not know how he kept his machine airborne, he has a devil's luck in the air! A lucky shot from his Fokker must have damaged the Camel's engine, and the Sopwith dived toward the ground. I hope the pilot survived...he was courageous, even if an enemy of the Fatherland.
So we returned to base, Von Wittlow's plane in tatters but two kills to his credit, my own plane nearly unscathed. I cannot describe the mix of terror and exhilaration I felt in the air. While disappointed that I had no kills of my own, the Rittmeister himself commended us for sticking together and avoiding unnecessary risk, and the complete success of our engagement!
I look forward to reporting my own first victory to you soon!
Your son,
Wolfram Thun-Hohenstein, Leutnant, Jasta 11
(P.S. This is a somewhat dramatized version of my first game, with me flying the two German planes and my wife playing the Allies. It was a complete blast, and the results came down to some very lucky damage draws on my part, and two unlucky damage draws on my wife's--a 4 damage on one attack and an explosion on the other! But she was a very good sport, and was complimentary toward the game. She said it's easy to play (I agree) and liked the historical elements.)
My dear family,
I can scarcely contain myself--I have flown my first patrol as a member of Jasta 11, and we returned victorious! I have just finished my report, and shall tell you all that took place.
As a new pilot, I have been assigned to fly an Albatros D.Va. While it lacks the nimbleness of the Fokker Dr.I flown by my wingman, Von Wittlow, it is a sturdy, capable aircraft and I am most pleased with its performance thus far, as seen yesterday during our engagement over the front lines.
Von Wittlow and I took off just before dawn, and spotted two Allied fighters--a Spad XIII and Sopwith Camel--flying south toward our lines. They immediately broke off in different directions as we engaged. I swung my Albatros around and came about on the Sopwith's tail, but my good fortune was immediately followed by rotten luck...my guns jammed on my first shot! I followed Von Wittlow's advice, however, and strove to keep calm. This was not easy, trying to maintain my position behind the Englishman while desperately trying to clear my guns with one hand!
The Sopwith and I made two zig-zagging passes at each other, narrowly avoiding collision twice! Sweat was drenching my hair beneath my flying helmet. During the second pass, the Sopwith lined me up in his sights, but missed me completely! I hope this account does not frighten Mother and Katarina unduly. It is a risky business we are in here, but I suppose Fortune wanted to balance things out for my earlier mishap with my weapons!
Meanwhile, Von Wittlow engaged the Spad, which easily outdistanced him and came around for a pass, raking him with fire. However, despite the horrendous damage to his wings, my comrade kept the cool head he is famous for in the Jasta, waiting with iron nerve until the Spad was too close to turn away, then using his triplane's superior maneuverability to turn suddenly on the Spad and down it with a final burst of fire!
Immediately, control of the engagement shifted to us. I swung behind the Camel again, raking it with fire and scoring several hits while driving it toward Von Wittlow. I envy his nerve...a volley from the Englishman as they came face-to-face put more holes in his Dr.I. I do not know how he kept his machine airborne, he has a devil's luck in the air! A lucky shot from his Fokker must have damaged the Camel's engine, and the Sopwith dived toward the ground. I hope the pilot survived...he was courageous, even if an enemy of the Fatherland.
So we returned to base, Von Wittlow's plane in tatters but two kills to his credit, my own plane nearly unscathed. I cannot describe the mix of terror and exhilaration I felt in the air. While disappointed that I had no kills of my own, the Rittmeister himself commended us for sticking together and avoiding unnecessary risk, and the complete success of our engagement!
I look forward to reporting my own first victory to you soon!
Your son,
Wolfram Thun-Hohenstein, Leutnant, Jasta 11
(P.S. This is a somewhat dramatized version of my first game, with me flying the two German planes and my wife playing the Allies. It was a complete blast, and the results came down to some very lucky damage draws on my part, and two unlucky damage draws on my wife's--a 4 damage on one attack and an explosion on the other! But she was a very good sport, and was complimentary toward the game. She said it's easy to play (I agree) and liked the historical elements.)