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Engines roaring as the Albatros gallops up, gaining altitude. Mixed feelings about this mission. My wingman races along, trying to keep up with me. The Hauptmann's speech was a praise with venom hidden pouring down from each sentence. I liked it best when he was pure hate. We'll see how long this will last. Some POW British pilots escaped from a prison and stole a Gotha Bomber, sneaking inside an aerodrome and are now heading back to the enemy lines. We must take them down so that the enemy doesn't ...

Late morning. Open blue sky, no clouds and getting hotter by the minute. Dry mouth and very hot inside the flight jacket as the Albatros gains altitude. The Hauptmann's speech still ringing in my ears. Even to give me praise must he always use verbal violence?!... One day I'm going to hide his glasses under the wheel of an Albatros...

"Once again, you were very lucky in your last flight, Rittmeister Joachim!" "Jawoll, herr Hauptmann!" "It was a lucky shot that ...

Late afternoon. Getting dark. Engines heating before lift-off. The Hauptmann's speech still ringing in my ears. Why does he have to speak always to me in front of all the pilots?... I was expecting to fly with them. But this mission would again split us and send us alone against the enemy. After my crash landing I was a little less confident in my skills.

"Your last flight was a COMPLETE disaster, Rittmeister Joachim!" "Jawoll, Herr Hauptmann!" "You were very ...

Early morning. Still dark. Engine heating before lift-off. The captain's speech still ringing in the ears.

"Your last flight was a disaster, Rittmeister Joachim!" "Jawoll, Herr Hauptmann!" "You do understand that you were lucky to escape alive!" "Jawoll, Herr Hauptmann!" "You were even luckier to shot down an enemy airplane!" "Jawoll, Herr Hauptmann!" "I wouldn't have believed you if it wasn't for the report of the Oberstleutnant ...

"Rittmeister Joachim, I presume!" "Jawoll, Herr Hauptmann!" "So! You are the new pilot that the Command Staff sent us." "Jawoll, Herr Hauptmann!" "Are you any good? I hate to learn by heart names and then have to forgot them because the pilot made only one mission. Do you understand, Rittmeister Joachim?" "Jawoll, Herr Hauptmann!" "Very well. Find a place to sleep and then report for here to take your new plane for a training flight!" ...