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Victory 06

Under the guns of the Red Baron, Norman Franks, Hal Giblin and Nigel McCrery p. 25??

25 October 1916
South end of Bapaume
Bapaume

“Combat Report: 0935 hrs, near Bapaume. BE two-seater. About 0900

I attacked enemy plane above trenches near Lesboefs. Unbroken cover of cloud at 2.000 metres altitude. Plane came from the German side and after some 200 shots he went down in large right hand curves and was forced back by the strong wind to the south end of Bapaume. Finally the machine crashed. It was plane No. 6629. Motor dashed into the earth, therefore number not legible. Occupant, a Lieutenant, seriously wounded by a shot in the bowels. Plane itself cannot be brought back, as under heavy fire. As I first saw the enemy plane there was no other German machine in the vicinity, and also during the fight no machine approached the scene of action. As the enemy plane started to go down, I saw a German Rumpler machine and several Hallberstadter planes. One of these machines came down to the ground. It was Vizefeldwebel Müller of Jagdstaffel 5. He claims to have discharged first at 300 metres and then at 1.000 metres distance, some 500 shots at enemy plane. Afterwards his gun jammed and the sight of his gun flew away. Quite apart from these curious circumstances, a child knows that one cannot hit a plane from such a ridiculous distance. Then a second plane, a Rumpler, came down, also claiming his share of the loot. But all other planes were perfectly sure that he had not taken part in the fight.

Weather: fine with occasional clouds.”

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