PROLOGUE
Evere Airfield, east of Brussels
24 Oktober 1918
0700hrs
As the late autumn sun rose slowly into the sky the group of German Army and Naval aviators were gathered around the table set up on the edge of the airfield. Laid with a crisp white cloth, the table was dominated by a large coffee pot surrounded by receptacles of all descriptions, from fine china cups to battered tin mugs. Despite the haphazard appearance of the collected containers, none present could complain about the contents - real coffee, freshly brewed. For the men of the See Adler Gruppe so long resigned to the consumption of the ‘Ersatz’ version made from oats it was an unexpected luxury.
“Where on earth did you find such a treasure?” asked Leutnant zur See Hermann Meyer of Army pilots, Leutnant der Reserve Paul Lang. Since leaving their base at Jabbeke the See Adlers had perforce been sharing the field occupied by Bogohl 3, part of the former Englandgeschwader.
“During the last advance one of our Sergeants was out scrounging and located a French warehouse filled with sacks of the stuff,” replied Lang. “We have been rationing the beans, but with the war going the way it is ….” said Lang, adding wistfully after a pause, “…. we might as well enjoy it while it lasts.”
Meyer looked at the Gotha pilot for a moment, unsure if he meant the coffee or the fighting.
Meanwhile, Korvettenkapitän Willi Mattheus and his second in command Oberleutnant Werner Bastian stood apart from the rest of the men, sipping the flavoursome brew as they discussed details of the morning’s mission.
“I will take up one of the new Fokkers today,” declared Mattheus, indicating in the direction of the nearby line of single seater aircraft. Amidst the Fokker D.VII biplanes that were by now the standard machine there were two new monoplanes, formerly the Fokker E.V but now designated the D.VIII.
“Are you sure Willi?” replied a skeptical Bastian. The type had been withdrawn from service in August 1918 after a couple shed their wings, but now the Fokker engineers assured the Jadgstaffeln the problem had been rectified.
“The men are ….. unsure about them,” responded Matheus, “but when they see one in action their doubts will be assuaged.”
“When was the last time you took up a rotary Willi?” asked Bastian, with a knowing look.
“A couple of months,” admitted Mattheus, “but I did fly the E.V …..”
“With all due respect Herr Kapitän,” Bastian interrupted, “I must submit that since I have recent operational hours up in the Siemens I am better placed to put the D.VIII through her paces.”
Mattheus looked at his friend, his brow furrowed. “I would not ask that of you Werner,” his concern readily apparent.
“I know Willi, that’s why I am volunteering,” said Bastian. “Besides,” he added quickly, “you need to be focussed on leading the Gruppe, not handling an unfamiliar machine.”
Mattheus shook his head. Bastian was completely correct, but it didn’t mean he had to like it.
“Oberleutnant Bastian, you will take up the new monoplane, but I insist you bring the machine and yourself back in one piece, that’s an order.”
“Jawohl Herr Kapitän,” replied Bastian, “I will do my best.”
“It is time to brief the men,” said Mattheus, glancing down at his watch, “and to remind the Tommies they still have a fight on their hands.”
Bookmarks