German Ace(?) Waldhausen

[Graeme]

Scarlett

I've chanced upon the Cross & Cockade Great Britain Journal in which the first part of the history of No 40 Squadron appears (Volume 4, Number 4, 1973). 40 was using Mazingarbe, just south of Bethune and only a mile-and-a-half from the lines, as an advanced airfield and it was from here that Tudhope and Mannock (no mention of a third pilot) saw Waldhausen's attack on the British balloon line; both RFC pilots were experiencing engine trouble but took off in pursuit of the Albatros.

The article suggests that Booker and Thompson (Fowler isn't mentioned) were in Triplanes but I've got them down as flying Camels.

40 claimed only one more Nieuport victory ("Zulu" Lloyd claiming an Albatros on 7 October) before being re-eqipped with the SE5a.

Graeme

[Gregvan]

Hi Scarlett,

The Cross & Cockade (USA) article on Waldhausen is in Volume 8 No. 2, Summer 1967. It is a very well-written piece by Kelly Wills, who was an excellent researcher. The article is based in part on a book or booklet by Waldhausen entitled "Mit Entfalteten und Beschittenen Flügeln", published by the Jagdfliegers Bunde in 1924. I know he also wrote "Sieg und Sturz" (probably the same book as Rammjaeger says) but I cannot say much about either because I haven't been able to locate them! The article also used "McScotch" as a source, and many British combat reports, etc.

According to "The Camel File", Booker claimed Waldhausen in Camel B6227, shared with Lt J H Tudhope in Nieuport B3617 and FSL J H Thompson in an unidentified Camel of No 8 Naval Sqn. The Wills article does mention another Naval 8 pilot named Fowler, but gives no details. By the way, the Wills article says that the ground fire that crippled Booker's Camel actually came from a British Tommy who was firing at Waldhausen, but hit the pursuing Camel.

Waldhausen was flying Albatros D.V 2284/17, which was captured and became G45. It is pretty well known among the modeling fraternity. It bore the black and white diagonal tailplane stripes of Jasta 37, and Waldhausen's personal insignia of a black crescent moon and star, outlined in white. According to Waldhausen (via the Wills article) the several British pilots who spoke to him (apparently McClanahan, Tudhope, Lt Wolff and Major Tilney of No. 40 Sqn) said, "At last we have the Eagle of Lens, since for some weeks we knew quite well your black moon and your black and white stripes." As Wills points out, it is very unlikely that the RFC pilots would know of Waldhausen's "Eagle of Lens" sobriquet, and this was probably a bit of embellishment on his part. Indeed, one wonders how Waldhausen could have earned such a nickname in such a brief (albeit meteoric) career.

Greg VanWyngarden

[Graeme]

And there's more...........

Fighter Pilot was first presented as two articles in Air Stories, Volume 5, No 1 (July 1937) and Volume 5, No 2 (August 1937). This is often stated to be an autobiography; I've not been able to track down a copy, so can't say whether it's fact or fiction.

MacLanachan also penned:

56 Squadron RFC - a short story in Air Stories (UK) No 6, October 1935
43rd Squadron RFC - an article in Air Stories (UK) No 7, November 1935
No 55 Squad - an article in Air Stories Volume 2, No 5, May 1936

Two other articles (attributed to W Machalanachan) were:

No 74 Squadron RFC - Air Stories Volume 2, No 4, April 1936.
No 25 Squadron RFC - Air Stories Volume 4, No 4, April 1937

After finishing his tour with No 40 Squadron at the beginning of 1918 and being posted to HE, MacLanachan resigned his commission on 17 April 1918 "to resume his medical studies".

Graeme

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Graeme

Waldhausen flew on to Ablain St Nazaire where he set fire to the balloon operated by No 37 Section, firing upon the Section's CO, Lieutenant Thomas Kennie, as he descended beneath his parachute.

As he fired upon Kennie, Waldhausen was in turn attacked by Tudhope, who fired a long burst into the Albatros. As Tudhope disengaged, the attack was continued by Booker, Thompson and Fowler.

Interesting in the context of the discussion in the Mannock thread, Graeme. If Waldhausen had left it at shooting at the balloon and not worried about the observer, would he have avoided the Tudhope attack and subsequent capture ?

If anyone digs up the Cross & Cockade letter by Waldhausen referred to by Count_holck, could they post it ? Given the occasional use of the word in threads, it might be an interesting read.

[Graeme]

Vin

The accounts I've read make it seem that if Waldhausen had simply fired the balloon then headed straight back to the German lines, the RFC machines would have stood no chance of intercepting him. It's less clear about the RNAS trio since it looks as if they "bounced" Waldhausen from above in which case, with the advantage of height, they might still have engaged him although not necessarily on the Allied side of the lines. Given his claim record, perhaps he got overconfident in his ability to get away.

Graeme

[Immo_Frese]

Waldhausen said in his book that he usually headed straight back to the german lines after a balloon attack. But at the day he was shot down he thought it would be better to reach the clouds. He stated that the balloon he attacked stood at a height of 700 m and the cloud layer was ca. 300 m above him. But unfortunately the climbing ability of his plane was very bad that day. He said that it last an eternity to get the 300 missing meters to the clouds and that AAA had sufficient time to find the range of him. After some time, when the bursts came close and closer, he had enough and decided to dive directly for the own lines and in this situation he was intercepted by three "Sopwith-Einsitzer". He was taken completely by surprise and was wounded with the first few shots...

Immo

[Vin]

I don't suppose he wrote anywhere "If only I hadn't gone back for a crack at that observer in the parachute" did he, Immo ?

[Immo_Frese]

Vin,

no, he did not. But he mentioned that the observer visited him in the field-hospital where Waldhausens wounds were dressed and that both had a jovial talk...

Immo

[Vin]

“Crickey, Waldo, didn’t you see those three Camels ? Why didn’t you shoot through whilst you had the chance ?”

“Because, Tom, I wanted to fill you full of lead.”

“Well, you missed, you silly b…..d, and you’re the one in hospital, not me.”.

“Just you wait, I’m gunna escape and get back to my unit and I’ll track you down. So, Tom, next time you are up there in your balloon and you see an Albatros approach, just think to your self ‘That just might be old Waldo’. You know, one day you’ll be right>”

Ah, go and get….etc

Originally Posted by Graeme

And there's more...........

Fighter Pilot was first presented as two articles in Air Stories, Volume 5, No 1 (July 1937) and Volume 5, No 2 (August 1937). This is often stated to be an autobiography; I've not been able to track down a copy, so can't say whether it's fact or fiction.

Graeme

I have the book, have read it once through and referred to it many times. It is written as fact, contains some good photos and details.

Thanks again, I will try and obtain an old issue of C&C.

Cheers,
Scarlett