Hunter's and collector's fever

[Olham 164]

Again and again I tell myself, to remain cool and reasonable before and in dogfights.

But each time, I get into a furball, it's gone. Fuse melting, hunting fever breaking out.

So, I did some wonderful kills of many SPADs, but I don't survive more than 3 flights in

the time of mid-1917 to the end.

Now, I refuse to change over to the Dr.1 or the D VII - that would be much better killer

planes perhaps (the D VII for sure), but I want to install a good Albatros pilot.

Now, I have three of them.

Juergen Mahlo is the youngest of them, flying Albatros D II, Jasta 2, Bertincourt, Sept. 1916.

Detlev Baron von Mahlo flies Albatros DIII, in Jasta 12, Epinoy, April 1917.

Guenther Graf von Mahlo flies the Albatros D Va, Jasta 15, Bonneuil Ferme/Golancourt, April 1918.

They are all "peeled-egg new"; all the others died; mainly in mid air collisions.

 

I hope, one day my damn brain will switch over to "cool and reasonable", and longer lasting pilots,

instead of Neanderthal outbreaks of ******** cursing.

Would be better for the neighbours...

[Siggi 10]

By the time I get to five kills I'll be a nervous wreck and probably prime desertion material.

[Rickitycrate 10]

I suffer the same problem. Then when I am very seriously picking my battles and situations something happens like archie taking me out. That happens a lot. And I get bloodlust. I feel I must clear the skies of enemies. As if I will single handed win the war. I am growing in my resolve though. Flying DiD and wanting to have a good result to post on the Killboard. Must stay alive first kills are secondary. Check your 6!

[Maeran 20]

Generally I'm not so bad. I've got a 6 kill Lieutenant with 14 hours on the clock. I'm going to put him aside however, to go properly DiD (he's still got alerts on).

 

I do tend to get into hot water when a wingman goes down. Instead of thinking, "you're a man down but you might escape," I think;

 

"I'll get you! You *********!"

 

And that's when you find you can't get home, because you have nowhere to dive and his mates can outrun you on the level.

[catch 81]

I hope, one day my damn brain will switch over to "cool and reasonable", and longer lasting pilots,

instead of Neanderthal outbreaks of ******** cursing.

 

Sweet Gordon Bennett ! Now just calm down ol' ham. For God's sake man think of the children !

[Olham 164]

RICKITYCRATE: I get bloodlust. I feel I must clear the skies of enemies. As if I will single handed win the war.

 

My god, Jim - even you? Seeing your avatar - a fine officer and gentleman - I hadn't expected that. But you named it:

single handed winning the war must be the worst mistake, so many rookies made - and got toasted. I'll try to remember that.

 

Hey, Catch - that may be my problem: I don't have any kids. (Not yet out of childhood myself, it seems...)