WAR

Udet flew regularly with Leutnant Bruno Justinus. German aviation slang
for a pilot was "Emil," and for an observer, "Franz."
They very narrowly escaped crashing in September 1915 while escorting a
bombing raid on Belfort. A bracing wire for the outer end of the right wing
snapped and the wing, with nothing to hold it steady, flexed dangerously in the
wind. The Aviatik abruptly began a sliding fall to the left; the twisting of the right
wing caused the wing to rise, forcing the left one down. Udet wrenched the
control stick to the right to bring the left wing back up. Justinus turned about in
the front seat and gave him a quizzical look. Udet throttled back, hoping that
this might ease the strain on the wing and allow it
to spring back to a more normal
attitude. The aeroplane continued in its slip, however, so Justinus clambered out
on the wing in order that his weight might restore the balance. Udet gaped at
him as he sat nonchalantly with his arms and legs wrapped around the struts.
Udet feared for Justinus out there for he wouldn't have a chance if
the aeroplane
suddenly took it into its head to cut any more capers. Besides, Udet had very
little leverage in his favor to force the stick over to one side and hold it there—he
was rapidly tiring and didn't think he could keep it up much longer. He shouted
for Justinus to come back. The Leutnant returned to his front seat, climbed in and
kicked out the plywood panel that separated the cockpits. Then he brought his own
muscle to bear on the stick.
They limped over Switzerland losing height all the time and they made it
back to Germany—barely—crossing the border at tree-top height, landing safely
in a field.
Aviatik B II