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BOXART STORY
Fokker monoplanes had become a significant
challenge for their opponents since the summer
of 1915 thanks to their synchronization device,
which bolstered the highly aggressive behavior
of their pilots. Fighter aces flying monoplanes
such as Wintgens, Boelcke, and Immelmann
became synonymous with what British
adversaries termed the “Fokker Scourge”.
However, Fokker's superiority was seriously
challenged in the spring of 1916 with the
introduction of new fighters like the Nieuport
11 and Airco DH.2.
One of the airmen who experienced this
transition period was Josef Jacobs. In August
1914, at twenty years old, he enlisted in the
air service. After training with FEA 3, he was
assigned to Feldflieger-Abteilung 11 in July
1915. From December 1915 onwards, he piloted
the Fokker A.I (A210/14) and the E.I (63/15)
equipped with an 80 hp engine. In January
1916, he conducted several training flights with
63/15, and on 13 January, he engaged a pair of
enemy aircraft. He attacked one of them from
a distance of 100 meters. Subsequently, his
target rapidly descended in a spiral near
Choisy-au-Bac, though the victory was not
confirmed. He encountered the enemy again
on February 1, 1916. Once more, he was not
officially credited with a victory, yet it appears
that the French indeed suffered a loss during
this encounter. Reportedly, it was a Caudron
from Escadrille C 28, and its crew, Sgt Joseph
J. Hiriat and Sgt René Jean, were taken prisoner
after crashing between German trenches.
In late February, Jacobs' Fokker was
equipped with a new 100 hp engine. However,
in early March, this machine suffered an
engine fire during a dogfight with a Farman
crew. Fortunately, he managed to land in time
to extinguish the fire. Another life-threatening
incident occurred on 13 March. While pursuing
a Caudron, Jacobs' Fokker was thrown
off balance by a gust of wind. The aircraft
plummeted tail-first, its engine died, and its
springs were broken. Despite the damage,
Jacobs eventually regained control and
performed an emergency landing in a freshly
ploughed field, causing his Fokker to flip over
onto its back. It was later revealed that the
“gust of wind” was actually caused by a German
anti-aircraft shell that narrowly missed Jacobs.
During that period, Jacobs was also piloting
the new Fokker E.III (608/15), and on March
1916, he successfully downed an enemy balloon.
However, his victory was apparently not officially
recognized, and Jacobs did not mention it in his
diary, which was unusual given the meticulous
care with which he maintained it. Nevertheless,
the balloon was indeed destroyed, belonging
to the 66° Cie d' Aérostiers, and the observer,
Sgt Armand Legube, sustained injuries.
By the end of March 1916, several fighter
monoplanes were detached from FFA 7, 11, and
39. From 1 April, a provisional Fokkerstaffel
West was established at La Ferme du Faux.
Jacobs joined this unit upon his return from
an extended leave in early May. Upon joining
the new unit, he was reunited with his 608/15
machine, which he affectionately referred to in
his diary as “my dear Fokker”. He had used this
term previously, suggesting that he may have
been flying 608/15 since February 1916 with FFA
11.
With this aircraft, he also achieved his
first confirmed victory by shooting down
a Caudron G.4 of Escadrille C 30 on May 12,
1916. Although anti-aircraft gunners attempted
to claim the victory, only Fokker machine gun
hits were found in the wreckage of the Caudron.
Furthermore, Jacobs' claim was corroborated
by a French airman, MdL Hulin, after he was
captured the following day.
Jacobs received a new aircraft, a Fokker
E.III (339/16), on 9 June, but flew it only until
16 June when the engine was damaged due to
a lack of oil. Therefore, the situation depicted
on the box art by Adam Tooby regarding this
machine is rather hypothetical. Subsequently,
Jacobs flew with his old 608/15 until 8 July.
It appears that on 1 July, he attempted to attack
an enemy balloon with this Fokker, but due to
propeller damage, the attack was unsuccessful.
The E.III 339/16 was back with a new engine on
8 July. However, by August 1, 1916, Jacobs was
transferred to another aviation unit, much to
his displeasure. He returned to his original unit,
FFA 11, on 1 September.
For more detailed information on Jacobs
and his service on Eindeckers, I recommend
referring to the publications “Blue Max Airmen
Vol. 20” by Lance J. Bronnenkant and “KEKs and
Fokkerstaffels” by Johan Ryheul. Additionally,
Jacobs' diary, with comments by Stephen
Lawson, can be found in Cross & Cockade
International Vol. 27, No. 2.
Illustration: Adam Tooby
"My dear Fokker"
Text: Jan Bobek
#8419
INFO Eduard40
April 2024