Upon the liberation of Skopje on the 25th September 1918, the cameramen of the Cinematographic section of Photography department of the Serbian Army filmed the town`s appearance, local musical orchestras, Dušan`s bridge, entry of the military units into town, citizens on the town streets, station Ajvatovac close to Skopje, as well as escorting of the captive Bulgarian soldiers through the town.

Courtesy of Jugoslovenska Kinoteka (Yugoslav Film Archive).

“In the evening they sit together in the mess and the Rittmeister looks almost tenderly at the squadron’s new acquisition, the leader of Fighter Squadron 10, Lieutenant Voss, who is young, very young, sliding around on his chair like a lively primer, this first-class daredevil. And then Richthofen suddenly stands up, approaches the astonished Leutnant v. d. Osten, reaches his hand over his shoulder and squeezes it firmly. What’s going on? Because v. d. Osten has had his first kill? But after a few words from the cavalry captain, a loud hello begins. Although Lieutenant v. d. Osten has only achieved his first aerial victory, it was also the 200th shot down by Leibstaffel Richthofen, Jagdstaffel 11, which is why the baron has invited the squadron leaders to celebrate properly this evening: Doering has turned up, Loewenhardt, Dostler, Adam.

A very short speech, a very brief look back at Squadron 11’s greatest days of success off Douai.

The telegram to the Commanding General of the Air Force is just as brief: “Jasta 11 destroyed its 200th enemy today after seven months of activity. It captured 121 aeroplanes and 196 machine guns”.

But on the same evening, another report is sent to the commander of the 4th Army Air Force, and this report is somewhat less favourable: “The squadron is being torn apart by the loss of individual squadrons. Especially on the main battle days, the deployment of several squadrons at the same time in the same area is necessary. The squadrons that have to provide cover for fighter squadrons are out of the squadron’s organisation for most of the day. An aircraft pilot who has already been called upon to carry out protection flights for long-range missions and bombing flights can no longer fully fulfil his task as a fighter pilot on the same day, as he must be unused and completely fresh in order to successfully carry out an air combat mission”.

In other words, please use us properly and don’t tire us out with tasks that others can do just as well. After all, we are fighter pilots.”

Source: Jagd in Flanderns Himmel, Karl Bodenschatz, Verlag Knorr & Hirth München, 1935

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