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R Gannon · 13 October 2009, 06:42 PM

Greg raised the point about the taking of souveniers.

Readers of JTB's Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps will be aware of this paragraph following his downing of an FA 8 two-seater on 17 Oct 17 (Obln Hadrich & Flg Horstmann both kia):

"..for although I landed a very short time after the Hun came down the Tommies had already taken what was worth taking, and the way they behaved around the machine was not very edyfying from the disciplined point of view in which I had always been brought up."

Now it would be fair to say the editors tidied this up a bit so as not to cause friction within the British Dominoin's readership; as appended to JTB's original CR is this report by 56 Sqn commander Maj Blomfeild:

"....Capt McCudden landed in the same field as the EA machine in order to put a guard on and to help salve as much as the machine as possible, but was unable to do anything as hundreds of Australian troops were looting every available part of the machine and were even going so far as to strip the dead observer of clothing."

I guess it is only natural for some people to view their own peoples & national forces (or idealogically adopted forces) through 'rose coloured' glasses - with the attached bagage that it is only the opposition who behave badly. But in truth no army or nation or indeed sports team are ever that squeaky clean.

Back to 17 Aug 18 & 56 Sqn's dogfight wirth Js 11.

I think it is also worth quoting part of Jason Pott's CR because it in part answers the question raised in another thread re SE5 v Albatros:

'...I had just got onto the tail of one when two others attacked me. A climbing race ensued in which I had a very slight advantage, but immediately I tried to dive on one the others got on my tail. Being a long way over the lines I was obliged to give up the fight. Coming back to the lines I met up with another SE5 but lost it again...'

Potts goes on to state he then met up with Capt Bowman and after patrolling a bit more they returned across the lines.

I would suspect the other SE5 was that of Wilkinson - one can deduce that a strong NW wind must have been blowing, forcing the SE5's deeper into German territory. Wikinson clearly as far SE as Wervicq.

Cheers Russ

13 October 2009, 06:42 PM	#40 (permalink)
R Gannon Forum Ace Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Adelaide Posts: 1,445	More tired & childish. Greg raised the point about the taking of souveniers. Readers of JTB's Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps will be aware of this paragraph following his downing of an FA 8 two-seater on 17 Oct 17 (Obln Hadrich & Flg Horstmann both kia): "..for although I landed a very short time after the Hun came down the Tommies had already taken what was worth taking, and the way they behaved around the machine was not very edyfying from the disciplined point of view in which I had always been brought up." Now it would be fair to say the editors tidied this up a bit so as not to cause friction within the British Dominoin's readership; as appended to JTB's original CR is this report by 56 Sqn commander Maj Blomfeild: "....Capt McCudden landed in the same field as the EA machine in order to put a guard on and to help salve as much as the machine as possible, but was unable to do anything as hundreds of Australian troops were looting every available part of the machine and were even going so far as to strip the dead observer of clothing." I guess it is only natural for some people to view their own peoples & national forces (or idealogically adopted forces) through 'rose coloured' glasses - with the attached bagage that it is only the opposition who behave badly. But in truth no army or nation or indeed sports team are ever that squeaky clean. Back to 17 Aug 18 & 56 Sqn's dogfight wirth Js 11. I think it is also worth quoting part of Jason Pott's CR because it in part answers the question raised in another thread re SE5 v Albatros: '...I had just got onto the tail of one when two others attacked me. A climbing race ensued in which I had a very slight advantage, but immediately I tried to dive on one the others got on my tail. Being a long way over the lines I was obliged to give up the fight. Coming back to the lines I met up with another SE5 but lost it again...' Potts goes on to state he then met up with Capt Bowman and after patrolling a bit more they returned across the lines. I would suspect the other SE5 was that of Wilkinson - one can deduce that a strong NW wind must have been blowing, forcing the SE5's deeper into German territory. Wikinson clearly as far SE as Wervicq. Cheers Russ __________________ Our hearts so stout has got us fame For soon 'tis known from where we came Where'er we go they fear the name Of Garryowen in glory.