jhimad

This is one page from one of three books that were apparently from flight school. I can't tell where the instruction took place or when. There are sections on aircraft engines, navigation, communication, and aerodynamics, and lots that I can't read. Since this website is hosted in Britain, let me say that my grandfather was born in Welver, near Dortmund in 1898. His father was German but his mother was a Scot, so he spoke English with a Scottish accent, called me "Laddie," and loved the bagpipes. After the war he emigrated to Argentina and then the United States where he worked as a civil engineer. Ironically, he worked for the US Army building air bases, including Tachikawa in Occupied Japan, and Tan Son Nhut in Vietnam. Best wishes, John

Pages from another type of log book. I took the pictures of the page that describes the "balloon ramming." My grandfather said that going after balloons was very dangerous as they were protected by other planes, anti-aircraft, etc., and they were always on the wrong side of the line. He said the best assignment was ground attack because they would fly in low and fast, fire off their ammunition quickly, then go home before people could shoot effectively at them. John

These are images of a Flugbuch. I think my grandfather had several and that this is the last one before he was shot down and wounded. It is the only one I have. The story he told me, which he always made as light and humorous as possible, was that he was flying along at altitude when his left wing was "sawed off" by machine gun bullets. He never saw the other plane. His own plane went into a "falling leaf spin" which apparently ejected his observer, (although he might have jumped) as my grandfather never saw him again. He rode the plane to the ground, as he had no parachute. He said he thought they were not issued parachutes because "the generals wanted us to bring their plane back instead of leaving it somewhere." I'd really like to know what the entries on these pages mean. I'll try and find a better way to do the pictures. The book is obviously old, and fragile. Best wishes, John

I'll try to re-send the second postcard. The caption is cut off. It says "Flieger Rast in den Wolken," which I gather means "Fliers rest in the clouds."

These are postcards that my grandfather saved. Both have a seaplane. There is nothing written on the reverse.

Hello again: This is, I believe, certification of my grandfather's service and his pilot rating, dated when he left the military in 1919. The photograph is of my grandfather and the other photograph is of my grandfather and another man, possibly his squadron leader. I'm sorry for the quality. I only have a photocopy. Also, if it's sideways again. I'll try to figure this out. John Pilot.pdf

Here is the reverse side of the pilot's badge. I hope you can read it. I will post some other documents in a few minutes.

Here is a picture of my grandfather's naval pilot's badge. Scratched on the reverse, (which doesn't show) it says: Flugzeugfuhrer Kegel I Seeflieger Abtl. Putzig 183/14 Sorry about it being sideways. I believe that the 183/14 was his pilot number. It is also written on the inside of his pilot's logbook. His name was Joseph Ulrich Kegel. I believe he went to Putzig in 1918 after pilot training and serving in the infantry. I would really like some help translating the logbook and his notebooks and other documents. I'd especially like to know what balloon ramming was, since he did it several times. John