PROLOGUE
Evere Airfield, Brussels
8 Oktober 1918
0900hrs
Korvettenkapitän Willi Mattheus looked in wonder at the huge Grossflugzeug standing on the field. The German ace had seen a Gotha in flight once but had never been this close to one of these beasts. Only back at the front for less than a week, Mattheus was at the base of Bogohl 3 to be briefed on a critical mission.
"What do you think of our machine Herr Major?" asked Leutnant der Reserve Friedrich Ketelsen, saluting the superior officer with the Pour le Merite around his neck.
"Impressive," replied Mattheus, "although I would not trade you my Fokker."
Ketelsen nodded with a resigned look, "I used to fly these big birds to England, and now we are reduced to bombing trench lines. Tomorrow perhaps we can strike a telling blow that may do more than cause the Tommies an irritation."
Mattheus turned to the Gotha pilot, "My men are always ready to take the fight to the enemy, I expect you will need us to smooth the way?"
"Step this way Sir," said Ketelsen, "the briefing is about to start."
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