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How I met Boelcke

Event ID: 114

Categories: 

Der rote Kampfflieger von Rittmeister Manfred Freiherrn von Richthofen, 1917, 351.000 - 400.000, Verlag Ullstein & Co, Berlin-Wien

01 October 1915

49.3980764312247, 4.700531287832881
Brieftauben-Abteilung Metz
Vauziers

Source ID: 4

Der rote Kampfflieger von Rittmeister Manfred Freiherrn von Richthofen, 1917, 351.000 - 400.000, Verlag Ullstein & Co, Berlin-Wien p.   

‘Zeumer got himself a Fokker monoplane during this time, and I was able to watch as he sailed around the world alone. The Battle of Champagne was raging. The French airmen were making their presence felt. We were to be formed into a combat squadron and followed on 1 October 1915. A young, unassuming lieutenant sat at the next table in the dining car. There was no reason for him to stand out, but one fact was certain: he was the only one of us who had ever shot down an enemy aircraft, and not just one, but four. He was even named in the army report. He impressed me immensely because of his experience. No matter how hard I tried, I still hadn’t managed to bring one down, or at least none had been recognised. I would have loved to know how this Lieutenant Boelcke actually did it. So I asked him the question: ‘Tell me, how do you actually do it?’ He laughed very amusedly, but I was really serious when I asked. Then he replied: ‘Yes, Jesus, it’s very simple. I just fly up to it and aim well, then it just falls down.’ I [66]just shook my head and said that I would do the same, except that it wouldn’t fall with me. The difference was, however, that he flew Fokkers and I flew my large fighter aircraft. I made an effort to get to know this nice, modest man, who impressed me immensely. We often played cards together, went for walks and I asked him questions. I came to the conclusion: ‘You have to learn to fly a Fokker yourself, then maybe things will go better.’ My thoughts and endeavours were now focussed on learning to ‘fly the stick’ myself. After all, I had only ever been an observer. I soon had the opportunity to train on an old clog in Champagne. I did this with great enthusiasm and after twenty-five training flights I was about to fly solo.’

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