Victory 61

From Under the guns of the Red Baron (N. Franks et al): " Combat report: 0735 hrs, south of Bousbecque, this side of the lines. Sopwith 1, B1795; motor no.: 35123 (80 hp Le Rhône Type 'R'). Occupant: Lieutenant A F Bird, made prisoner, unwounded." Out hunting in Flandrian skies, Bodenschatz: ‘Forty-eight hours later, there is a great day. The Rittmeister starts it, despite Number II and surrounding orders concerning his person. At 7.35 he comes up against an extraordinarily brave opponent. ‘Involved in a squadron fight with Sopwith monoplanes with 5 aircraft of Squadron 11, I attacked one of the opponents at an altitude of 3500 metres and forced him to land near Bousbeque after a rather long turn. I was absolutely convinced that I had a very skilful pilot in front of me, who did not surrender even at an altitude of 50 m, shot again and, while still hovering, took a column under fire, then deliberately rolled his machine against a tree. The Fokker triplane F I. 102/17 was absolutely superior to the English Sopwith."’