OTT-DYM Mission 2: Coming & Going 12 January 1916
Combat Report 12th January 1916 Luftwachtdeinst/Sperrefluge Ltn S. Berthold.
2,000m, 1 French 2 engine bomber flying west. Ltn Parschau and myself engaged at separate times. We both sustained damage. As we approached our rear line trenches I was able to turn behind the enemy and fire a sustained burst into him. He crashed just short of the French lines.
Still at 2,000m, I observed a second French 2 seater escorted by a single seat scout. Both Ltn Parschau and myself engaged. Ltn Parschau sustained damage from the 2 seater and scout. I engaged the scout and followed him round. One of my bursts made him catch fire. Unfortunately the French scout pilot caught Ltn Parschau coming out of an Immelmann and shot him down. I was able to remain on the tail of the French scout and shot him down.
I lost sight of the French 2 seater and as my aircraft had sustained damaged returned to base.
aus dem persönlichen Tagebuch von Leutnant S. Kafloc:
10th Jan ’16: There has been no flying since the 5th due to bad weather.
11th Jan ’16: Ltn’s Berthold and Parschau have been given permission to fly a short patrol tomorrow to gain some experience. I wish I was going too.
12th Jan ’16: Another cold morning as I waved off the two young pilots. Lucky beggers!
Late this morning I ran out to the field as one of the Eindeckers returned. Ltn Siegfried Barthold had returned but Ltn Otto Parschau had been shot down he informed us. The Co gathered us all in the mess later.
“As you know our two scout pilots went off on a short training mission today. I have just received a call from the commanding officer of the 2nd Guards Battalion. I observed two scouts engage a French bomber over our lines.” He looked sternly at Siegfried. “Over our lines! What in Gods name where you doing that close to the front?, I continue. After nearly colliding with each other twice they managed to down the French bomber short of the French trench line. He continues! The two scouts then engaged another 2 French aircraft. Unfortunately during this encounter 1 of our scouts was shot down. Your pilot is a very lucky man. We managed to pull him from the wreckage, he has a slight head wound but should be fit for duty soon so my MO tells me. So not only do you fly in a restricted zone, you actually flyover no-mans land! You damage both my aircraft, one of which will have to be written off and one of you gets shot down. What next, oh and I suppose you’ll want a medal for shooting down 2 enemy aircraft on your first patrol?” Smiling the CO walked to the bar and ordered a bottle of champagne, “On your mess bill young Siegfried, on your mess bill!”.
Later Siegfried gave us a blow by blow account of his first patrol…..
“We just drifted over to see what it looked like, never seen the trenches. It was then we spotted the French bomber trying to sneak back home.
“The French forward gunner got a shot off before Otto or I could react.”
“I wasn’t in range yet and Otto fired a burst”
Otto’s engine was miss firing, then the plucky French observer hit my plane!
I closed, fired then my guns jammed!
Having nearly cleared my guns, As I turned the bloody French gunner again hit Otto, damaging his controls
Otto got a good burst off in return and did some damage, mainly to the fuselage.
The bloody French observer changed guns and got off a sustained burst into me.
Otto fired again and his guns jammed!
As we banked right Otto just missed me, but I had cleared my guns yet again and got off another long burst.
The bomber went down just short of the French lines.
As we flew along the lines we spotted another 2 French aircraft. A scout and a 2 seater. We both nodded and went at them.
We split up this time and closed. I was on the scout and Otto the 2 seater. The French scout was more interested in protecting the 2 seater and seemed to ignore me.
Otto’s Eindecker started to trail smoke. I assume he had been hit again.
Having missed the scout as he banked away I followed hoping for a closer shot.
I could see Otto’s plane was taking some damage from both French planes. I closed.
I hit the scout as Otto fired into the 2 seater.
As the 2 seater passed the observer had a go at me. I ignored him and went after the scout.
I put a long burst into the scout and he caught fire.
I put another burst into him at close range.
Otto had climbed to do an immelmann but was caught coming out of it by the Frenchman. Otto went down behind our lines.
As the French pilot jinked this way and that to keep the flames off him I caught him with a long burst and I saw him slump forward as his scout went down into a tree line.
I lost sight of the French 2 seater. Flew over Otto’s plane and saw some of our boys hauling him out of the Eindecker. A pretty good first outing. We bought 2more bottles of champagne before we went for a late lunch.
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