Zones A & C
Sir:I took the entire B Flt, No 54 Sqdn, with me to look for enemy balloons north of Arras. The guns of 2Lts Clark and Glenn were loaded with Buckingham ammunition. 2Lts Degrande, Carson-Jeffreies, and Stramel filled out the roster. I was hoping that such a large flight would discourage interference by hostile aircraft in this morning's bright sunlight, but the enemy was unusually aggressive.
The Red Baron and one of his wingmen met us as we crossed the lines. Glenn attracted the Baron's attention, but both he and Clark managed to get out of the action (as ordered, to save their ammunition for balloons). Amazingly, all of us were among the present when the fight broke up. Clark's machine was hit by ground fire, holing the wings.
There were no balloons in the vicinity of Vimy, but we were attacked by two Albatros D2s. I was wounded in the shoulder on their first pass. Degrande, Carson-Jeffries, and Stramel all managed to get shots off, but none scored hits. I turned command of the flight over to Stramel after the excitement was over, and headed for the North Advanced Landing Field. Stramel decided the skies were too clear for me to make the trip by myself, and had the entire flight escort me.
Stramel's fuselage was hit by ground fire as we crossed back into Allied territory. A single Halberstadt D3 attacked us between the trench lines and the landing field. Clark, Glenn, and I kept out of it, but Carson-Jeffries was shot down. Fortunately, he managed to gain some control over his machine just before it hit the ground, and he pulled off a near-miraculous landing, escaping unscathed.
I then landed, and the rest of the flight continued to Corbie, so the rest of my information comes from 2Lt Degrande:
We were only a few minutes from the North Advanced Landing Field after seeing the Captain safely down, when the engines of both Clark's and Stramel's both started acting up. Clark's cut out completely, and he set down safely in a clearing. Stramel's was just running rough, so Glenn and I turned back to escort him to the North Advanced Landing Field. We were attacked by two Albatros D2s as Stramel was trying to land. I drove one of them off, and Stramel landed safely.
I figured that Glenn and I could just make it back to Corbie on our remaining fuel, but as we left the vicinity of the field, we were attacked by an Albatros D3. The action was very brief, but we burned enough fuel that I thought it best to return and land at the North Advanced Landing Field.
In the end, then, none of our aircraft returned to Corbie, and we have nothing to show for it. It could have been much worse, though. All of our aircraft will be available for operations tomorrow, and I was the only one injured. I am very pleased with all our pilots. 2Lts Clark and Carson-Jeffries made difficult landings with only minor damage to their machines. 2Lts Stramel and Degrande led the flight admirably when they were called upon. 2Lt Degrande is to be especially commended for remaining in action with the Red Baron until Glenn, with his Buckingham ammunition, had safely disengaged, even though Degrande could have easily gotten himself away in the confusion of the Baron's first pass.
(signed) Captain Matthew Edeline
"B" Flight Leader, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 5, 1917
****************
- Victory Points
- Allied Aircrew Slightly Wounded (Edeline) -10
Allied Scout Damaged/Aborted (Edeline) -3
Two Allied Scouts w/ Minor Damage (Clark, Carson-Jeffries) -6
Three Undamaged Aircraft using Advanced Landing Field (Degrande, Glenn, Stramel) -6
Mission Offset -20 - Total -45
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