Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1

‘We are dressed and sitting in our machines. Before every flight, the engine is first “braked” – a hellish noise – then the machines are rolling for take-off. Veltjens, as leader, raises his hand, and the wild chase is on. While we climb with full running engines. “Seppl” leads us to the front so that we cut off the enemy’s way back. Soon we are at 4000 metres, then we catch sight of them. Veltjens gives us the signal to attack! Like a steer unbound, the aircraft with the Braunschweig Hussar’s crest dives into the enemy first. Even before we others have a chance to shoot, Hantelmann goes down with his left wingman on the Frenchmen flying in arrow formation. Each one grabs hold of his opponent and, as is normal in air fighting, only a few minutes pass by and the French squadron that was in the process of returning home no longer exists! Radiating joy, we gather together again around our leader and try, flushed with victory, to find new battles. We have hardly climbed out of our machines when the usual dispute arises. It is determined, though, that Hantelmann was the first to bag an opponent.’

Joachim von Ziegesar
Jasta 15