Being the Field Reports of Oswald Bölcke, from August 1, 1914, to October 28, 1916 Translated from the German by ROBERT REYNOLD HIRSCH, M.E. With a Foreword by JOSEPH E. RIDDER, M.E.   1917 NATIONAL MILITARY PUBLISHING CO. 1919 BROADWAY, NEW YORK...

An unassuming book, still one of those which grip the reader from beginning to end. When the author started to write his daily impressions and adventures, it was to keep in touch with his people, to quiet those who feared for his safety every moment, and at the same time to give them a clear idea of his life. Without boasting, modestly and naturally, he describes the adventures of an aviator in the great World War. It could well serve as a guide to those who are studying aviation. Although he ha

Oswald Bölcke was born on the 19th of May, 1891, in Giebichenstein, a suburb of Halle on the Saale. Here his father was professor in the high school. His sister, Luise, and his two brothers, Wilhelm and Heinrich, were born before him in Buenos Ayres, Argentina. There his father had had his first position—rector of the German Lutheran School. Later, Oswald’s brother Martin was born in Halle and his brother Max in Dessau. Oswald was the first child born to the Bölcke’s in Germany. On the 17th of J

Halberstadt, August 1, 1914 Where I will be sent from here, I cannot say as yet. My old mobilization orders commanded me to report to a reconnoitering squadron in the first line, as commander. But these have been countermanded, and I do not know anything about my destination. I expect to get telegraphic orders to-day or to-morrow. Darmstadt, August 3, 1914 Arrived here safe and sound after a slight detour via Cologne. I am very glad that I can spend to-day and to-morrow with B. and my other old

D., June 24, 1915 Yesterday the Crown Prince of Bavaria, our chief, inspected our camp. Here we have gathered samples of about everything that our knowledge of aviation has developed: Two airplane squadrons and one battleplane division. Both airplane squadrons are equipped with the usual biplanes, only we have an improvement: the wireless, by means of which we direct the fire of our artillery. The battleplane squadron is here because there is a lot to do at present on this front (the West). Amon

July 4, 1916 I was at S. collecting all the equipment of my division. As all the authorities helped me quickly and well, I was ready to move on June 30th. Imagine my bad luck: just on this very day I was destined to make my exit from the stage. It was like this: Near Verdun there was not much to do in the air. Scouting had been almost dropped. One day, when there was a little more to do than usual, I had gone up twice in the morning and was loafing around on the field. I suddenly heard machine-g