War Journal

09.09.40

Nr. 7 was on September 9 1940 I again had a Heinkel 111 h. The take off was again blind, as at this time we had very often a visibility of only some 100 meters. In the midst of the North Sea we saw an unidentified small dark point at the north-eastern horizon. When we came nearer, we saw a balloon driving across the sea obviously coming from England, in about 1000 meters. We prepared our gun in the front and gave it some bursts. I suppose the balloon had lost the gas and had disappeared in the water. We had to make 2 ascents for some important reason. We landed after 8 hours safe in Oldenburg without fog. Nr 8. was at September 10. Take off was again blind. I had a DO17 Z this time.

After the approach to Fair Isle we again had to fly 2 ascents. When returning to our base we always had to give via wireless the time of reaching the German coast, but this time, our dates were wrong. So we looked in astonishment, when 4 Me 109 came up to our receipt. They accompanied us wing by wing waving friendly to us. After having passed the coast, they disappeared to their airbase..

The flight lasted 6 an a half hours.