AN AVIATOR'S FIELD BOOK _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 [Illustration: COLONEL OSWALD BÖLCKE'S LAST PICTURE] ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE Colonel Oswald Bölcke's Last Picture _Frontispiece_ After His First Victory 32 The Enemy's Aeroplane in Ruins 33 The Master-Flier and His Men 64 Bölcke and His Brother Wilhelm, September, 1914 65 Donning His Flying Dress 96 An Aviator Bombarded with Shrapnel 97 Among His Comrades 144 German Marine Aviators on a Field Near the North Sea 145 Ready for the Start 160 Bölcke and His Brother Max in France (August, 1916) 161 One of His Last Victims 182 Starting on His Last Ride, October 28, 1916--5 P. M. 183 FOREWORD BY JOSEPH E. RIDDER 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 has avoided the stilted tone of the school-master, still his accomplishments as a knight of the air must fascinate any who know aviation. For the aviators as well as their machines have accomplished wonders. They are rightly called the eyes of the army--these iron-nerved boys who know no fear. Admiral Schley's historic words after the battle of Santiago: "There will be honor enough for us all" can well be said of the aviators of all nations now at war. For in spite of all enmity the aviators have followed the knightly code of old which respects a good opponent and honors him. Captain Bölcke's death, after his meteoric career, was mourned alike by friend and foe. Great as is the damage done by this war, horrible as is its devastation, it has acted as a tonic on aviation. Before the war, of course, there had been some achievements of note. Since the day when the Wright brothers announced their conquest of the air, man did not rest till the problem was completely solved. And this war, which continually has spurred man to new murderous inventions, has also seen the airplane in action.