phililphall
03-09-2011, 13:31
Vickers No. 7018 Motor No.701
Machine guns Nos. 17314, 10372
near Villers Plouich, 1100 hours
When patrol flying I detected shrapnel clouds in
direction of Cambrai. I hurried forth and met a squad
which I attacked shortly after 1100. I singled out
the last machine and fired several times at closest
range (ten metres). Suddenly the enemy propeller
stood stock still. The machine went down gliding
and I followed until I had killed the observer who had
not stopped shooting until the last moment.
Now my opponent went downwards in sharp
curves. At approximately 1,200 metres a second
German machine came along and attacked my
victim right down to the ground and then landed
next to the English plane.
Weather: Bright morning with clouds in the afternoon.
The victim was FE2b 7018 if 11 Squadron
von Richthofen was flying Alb DII Nr. 491/16
Richthofen landed also and was present when pilot2nd Lt. Lionel Bertram Frank Morris, 19, was extricated from the wreckage. He died before the ambulance could get him to the hospital. Observer Captain Tom Rees died in the air, having received notice of his promotion to Captain the day he died. This was Richthofen's first kill.
Machine guns Nos. 17314, 10372
near Villers Plouich, 1100 hours
When patrol flying I detected shrapnel clouds in
direction of Cambrai. I hurried forth and met a squad
which I attacked shortly after 1100. I singled out
the last machine and fired several times at closest
range (ten metres). Suddenly the enemy propeller
stood stock still. The machine went down gliding
and I followed until I had killed the observer who had
not stopped shooting until the last moment.
Now my opponent went downwards in sharp
curves. At approximately 1,200 metres a second
German machine came along and attacked my
victim right down to the ground and then landed
next to the English plane.
Weather: Bright morning with clouds in the afternoon.
The victim was FE2b 7018 if 11 Squadron
von Richthofen was flying Alb DII Nr. 491/16
Richthofen landed also and was present when pilot2nd Lt. Lionel Bertram Frank Morris, 19, was extricated from the wreckage. He died before the ambulance could get him to the hospital. Observer Captain Tom Rees died in the air, having received notice of his promotion to Captain the day he died. This was Richthofen's first kill.