The Life and Death of an Ace Archives - Meet The Red Baron

Böhme describes the moment of collision

heinpoblome — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 08:55:16 +0000

“Boelcke and I had an Englishman right between us,when another opponent pursued by friend Richthofen cut in front of us. During the simultaneous lightning-quick evasive manoeuvre, Boelcke and I, obstructed by our wings, did not see each other for an instant and that is when it happened.
How can I describe for ypu my feelings at that instant when Boelcke suddenly appeared a few metres to my right, dived down, while I pulled up, and yet we grazed each other and had to return to the ground! It was only a gentle touch, but at such a furious speed it was also a collision.”

The post Böhme describes the moment of collision appeared first on Meet The Red Baron.

Böhme (Jasta Boelcke) visits JG1

heinpoblome — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:20:15 +0000

“Richthofen’s jagdgeschwader is also attached to our Army Corps and is right in the neighbourhood, but is at the disposal of the Army High Command only for special missions, while we have a prescribed sector at the Front. Of course, we do not have to stay within it meticulously; when the situation requires, very often we hunt even in the neighbouring sectors – that is what is so great indeed about fighter aviation, that one finds new tasks on every flight and then pursues them based on one’s own decision.
Yesterday afternoon on the flight back from the Front, I stopped for a coffee at Richthofen’s airfield – they always have the best cakes there. Richthofen is constantly spied on by artists, who want to paint his likeness. Yesterday, he said, he wanted to give up flying altogether and busy himself with self-portraiture, which is less dangerous and at least makes one famous just as quickly.”

The post Böhme (Jasta Boelcke) visits JG1 appeared first on Meet The Red Baron.

Wüsthoff relieved of Jasta 4 command

heinpoblome — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 10:53:02 +0000

“The following day, Richthofen made another preparation when he relieved Leutnant Kurt Wüsthoff of command of Jasta 4. Wüsthoff a 27-victory ace and Pour Le Mérite recipient, was transferred to the Geschwader staff. According to his successor, Leutnant Georg von der Osten:

“Leutnant Wüsthoff was a most dashing and successful fighter pilot. For this reason he had been assigned to command Jasta 4 by Richthofen, at the age of 19!… I heard that they did not like him very much there. He was…very much younger than all of his pilots, and he had a very cheaky way. Apart from being a very sympathetic man, he reported victories that he did not always check. So Richthofen relieved him as Staffel leader.””

The post Wüsthoff relieved of Jasta 4 command appeared first on Meet The Red Baron.