Let Let Let – Warplanes

In the distance, you hear the wispy sound of a rotary motor in the early morning hours of 23 Sept 1917. The engine sound starts off very faint, in the distance at first, then gathers with intensity as it nears the airfield. At first you search the skies for where the sound is coming from, then moments later, your eyes adjust to the early morning light and you see a small dot in the distance. That dot grows larger and larger with every passing moment until the silhouette of a lone Fokker triplane can be positively identified. You hear the perfect manipulation of the throttle – as its speed, increasing and decreasing, allows the aircraft to lose altitude gracefully. Yet, it appears that the pilot of this craft has it perfectly aligned with the turf that it will eventually land on. As the aircraft nears the field you see a perfect glide to descend ratio, everything aligned for another superb landing by its young pilot.

Just when you think that the aircraft will land at any moment, the pilot gives his aircraft full throttle andJust when you think that the aircraft will land at any moment, the pilot gives his aircraft full throttle and climbs for the sky. Up he goes toward heaven and with superb grace; he pulls the aircrafts control column to his chest and releases it slowly forward. At the correct moment the aircraft gracefully rolls over into a nice tight loop over the field. This type of manoeuvre indicates to those below on the ground that the pilot has claimed another victory over the British. The ground crew and pilots that happen to be in the area applaud the Fokker’s performance of its victory roll over the shared airfields of Jagdstaffeln (hunter squadrons, abbreviated Jasta) 4, 10, 11. This field also happens to be the Headquarters of Jagdgeschwader (hunting group, abbreviated JG) I at Marckebeeke, Belgium.

Fokker F.I flown by Werner Voss

Of course, according to the Commander of JG I, Rittmeister Baron Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, this sort of aerial exhibition was absolutely forbidden in his Doctrine of airfield conduct: Richthofen’s Air Combat Operations Manual: Nr. 42360. Fl. II. Just because this pilot happened to be the Commander of Jasta 10, was no excuse, and he knows it. But while the cat is away; Von Richthofen was on leave at that very moment in time, hunting in the Thuringia Forest as the guest of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha – the mice may play.

You watch as the Fokker triplane gracefully glides down to earth knowing that this pilot will expertly guide his aircraft towards a perfect landing. These new F.I model Fokker triplanes, as well as the future Dr.I models, had a tendency to yaw to the right. If the pilot didn’t pay special attention to the controls at all times, he could wind up doing a cartwheel into the soft turf of the airfield, spoiling a perfectly good day.

The triplane bounces once, maybe twice as it rolls to a stop near the tent hangers. The pilot’s ground crews, already on the field, help him manoeuvre his aircraft around. He assists them by applying power to his engine or retarding it as the case may be. Pilot and ground crew are intent on reducing the time required to service the aircraft so that it is ready for combat at a moments notice.

Once the rotary engine comes to a complete and sudden stop, the ground crew automatically chocks the wheels of his aircraft and the pilot removes his helmet and goggles in one swift motion. He sits in the cockpit of his Fokker F.I 103/17 for a moment, clearing both guns by pushing the charging handle forward, then back into its original position. Satisfied that his guns are clear, he unbuckles his seat-belt and starts to climb out of his machine. His ground crew is available to assist him down if needed.

He begins to discuss the Fokker’s engine performance with his motor mechanic Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) Karl Timm. Later while walking towards the Operations/ Administrative shack with his airframe mechanic Gefreiter Christian Rüser, he mentions the extra holes his aircraft might have picked up while he was claimed his 48th victory.

The pilot was a tall, slim fellow who walked with steady, confident strides; dressed only in an old grimy grey sweater, striped grey pants and high laced up leather boots.

As he entered the Operations building, he is met by his administrative officer Oberleutnant (Oblt) Ernst Weigand. He is handed a combat report to fill out. Oblt Weigand then returns to his normal duties, after a note of congratulations to the pilot for his latest victory. Leutnant der Reserve (Ltn d.R.) Friedrich Rüdenberg happened to be in the office, as the pilot arrived and began to fill out his after actions report.

His mind must have been elsewhere as he filled out the details concerning his victory from the morning’s patrol: Date – 23 Sept 1917, Time – 0930, Aircraft shot down – D.H.4, aircraft number – A7643, location of shoot-down – South of Roulers, and then there was a Freudian slip, maybe an infelicitous or fortuitous omen. On the line reserved for the victim’s name, he inadvertently placed his own name. Realizing his error almost immediately, he took corrective action to eradicate this error on his paperwork. He placed his name in its correct location, signed it and then handed it to the administrative officer for confirmation.

As he departed the administrative office and stepped into the soft turf of the airfield, his recent error might have or might have not shaken him up a bit. No one would ever know, as this day, 23 September 1917, was to be his last day on earth.

Whatever his mood was at that particular moment, it changed dramatically as he was met by his two brothers: Ltn. Otto and Vizefeldwebel (Vzfw – senior noncommissioned officer) Max who were walking towards him and waving. They had arrived at his airfield shortly before he arrived from his sortie and had arranged to have lunch with him that day.

Soup and black bread topped off with coffee and cake with family conversation mixed in lightened his thoughts as they talked. Otto’s conversation centered on his upcoming acceptance into flight school, with hopes that he would follow in his older brother’s footsteps. Max, on the other hand, referred to his time in the trenches and Werner remembered his earlier experiences there and how glad he was glad to get out of them.

Both of his brothers had noticed, as he talked and sipped his coffee, that a change had come over Werner since they saw him last. There were deep, dark circles around and under his eyes. Lines of age showed through his youthful face and it was hard to believe that this young man was barely in his twenties. He talked about how tired he was of the war, he had been at it since 1916, and how eager he was to go back on leave again, even though he had just returned.

After lunch, Werner and his brothers walked the airfield and for a lark, Werner stopped by his quarters and retrieved his camera. Photography had become a hobby shared with his commander and friend Manfred von Richthofen. He decided to take a few pictures of his brothers and include himself.

Related posts:

1. Target Voss
2. Dutch hero
3. Last action hero
4. SM.79 super detail set 1/72 Eduard
5. Fokker D-VII used in the Netherlands

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