In Trouble with Bolcke Memory
I am outside with other pilots. There is grass that is long and is about 12 inches high. It is earlier in the war before I had a command of my own and much of a reputation. (Well, I did have a reputation, but not what everyone nowadays expects.) It was morning and I was feeling playful. There is a man with his back to me and about three other men probably pilots that are facing towards me. I sneek up behind the man with his back turned and pinch him on the butt! And judging by his reaction, I think it was Oswald Boelcke. He turns in a startled manner and chases after me.

He gets a hold of me and turns me over his knee and spanks me, much to my surprise. When he is done I complain to him that it hurt. He replied to me, "That was the idea. It was supposed to hurt." I get the distinct impression that it was not the only time that I got into trouble with him. I also have the strong impression that I was often very "frisky" and Boelcke wanted to get me a prostitute or some other girl like that to relieve my "urges."

I vaguely remember him going back to his office rather suddenly after the incident. The thought that reoccurs in my mind is that he is angry with me, and I didn't like that idea much. I may have followed him back to apologize or I may have waited til that evening. I am not sure.

I have the strong feeling and impression that during the war most of the pilots were in need of playful pranks. It was part of our culture, and a need to blow off steam, anxiety, and frustration. Most of us were capable of being good sports about such stuff, but I do get the impressions that certain commanders such as Oswald Boelcke and Goring reacted with more strictness than necessary. I think Hauptmann Boelcke reacted due to his temperment. It was like he felt the need to react quickly and violently. I think most soldiers put up with a certain amount of personality flaws in their commanders during wartime since more is at stake. During peacetime, I doubt Hauptmann Boelcke would have been as successful in the military. He was able to get the results that the High Command needed so certain things were overlooked. I think the same was done for me with my own eccentricities, such as my lust for women.