From my training period in Döberitz

‘In order to pass my exams, however, I had to go to Berlin. I took the opportunity to fly a giant aircraft in Berlin as an observer and was ordered to Döberitz (15 November 1915). I was initially very interested in the giant aeroplane. But it’s funny, it was the giant thing that made me realise that only the smallest aircraft could be any good for my purposes as a fighter pilot. A big barge like that is too immobile to fight, and that’s the main thing for my business. The difference between a large fighter and a giant aeroplane is that the giant aeroplane is considerably larger and is used more for bombing and less for fighting. I did my tests in Döberitz, together with a dear person, Lieutenant v. Lyncker. We both got on well together and had the same passions and the same views on our future activities. Our goal was to fly Fokkers and join a fighter squadron in the West. A [70] year later, we managed to work together, albeit only for a short time, because my good friend was fatally shot on his third flight.’