Participants
19 Sqdrn.
Lt. Giles Kipp-Parr
Lt. Travis Goodnight
2nd Lt. Gabriel Call
2nd Lt. Sandy McCrea
5 Sqdrn.
Sgt. Harold Price
2nd Lt. Carlton Foxx
Sgt. Owen Cadell
2nd Lt. Max Faraday
Narrative (as told to Captain E. Hopewell by Lt. G. Kipp-Parr):
We were at about 6,000 feet just east of Albert when the first four attacked; three Albatross D-III's and one D-II. There was overcast and low cloud and they were darting in and out of the clouds and we couldn't follow because of sticking with the two-seaters. The fight just sort of broke up with no damage to either side. I will say, though, that new 5 Squadron chap, Faraday, put enough rounds into one of the III's that he drove it off. Good show, that.
We were about a dozen miles into Hun-land when Sgt. Cadell's DH-4 broke an oil line and had to abort; I sent the new lad, Call, back with him. As we were approaching the supply dump, and while over, it three different times we saw single Hun a/c but they all avoided attacking. I know Travis and McCrea wanted to go after them but I kept us together.
We had been over the dump for a couple minutes – long enough for Foxx to drop several salvos - when we were attacked. It was terrible, Ev! There were just two of 'em, both Albatross D-III's, and those Huns could fly, and they had the advantage of us because we had to stay between them and the remaining two-seater. And we did quite well while there were three of us, but McCrea didn't see one of them on his tail and he was a sitting duck. Owen told me a few minutes ago that he saw McCrea crawl out from under his plane after the crash and then pass out just a few feet away – looked like he was seriously wounded, if not dead.
But that all happened after Travis. Travis was the first one to get it; a Hun came at him from above and behind and Travis did some great flying but he couldn't shake him. I didn't see much of it as I had my own problems, but I did see him crash; there's no way he could have survived. Price's observer had given up bombing by this time and was spraying the air behind him; I was after the Hun on Price's tail, and I'm sure a couple of Foxx's rounds hit my wing. You have to give the lad credit, new as he is – he stayed in the fight. That was when the other German, the same one that got Travis, hit my engine and put one through my shoulder. Fortunately Price got his plane into the clouds and away.
It's terrible losing Travis; he was a good lad and one of our best fighters. I'm sorry for your loss, Trav; I know the two of you have been together since volunteering in Texas.
Incidentally, old man, I could fly, my shoulder's not that bad. Talk to the M.O. and get me me off this bloody medical leave; the blighter's talking rubbish - three days out!
(Signed) As recorded by Major Douglas Pennington, 15 Squadron Adjutant
Combat:
Two Sop. Pups destroyed -20
One Sop. Pup aborted with minor damage -3
One DH-4 (Sgt. Cadell's) aborted (oil line) -5
One scout pilot (Kipp-Parr) shoulder wound -3
One scout pilot (2nd Lt. Sandy McCrea) captured -25
One scout pilot (Lt. Travis Goodnight) KIA -30
Mission Points:
Bombing: 50
Mission Reduction: -10
Mission TOTAL: - 43
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