54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - End of Day Report - 6 April, 1917.

Mission 21: Balloon Bursting

Four Balloons Destroyed (+100)
Five Undamaged Aircraft using Advanced Landing Field (-10)
Mission Offset (-20)
+70 VP's

Mission 22: Defensive Line Patrol

Patrolled 5 Checkpoints (+10)
Allied Scout w/ Minor Damage (-3)
German Scout Damaged/Aborted (doubled to +6)
Mission Offset (-12)
+1 VP

Mission 23: Bombing Raid

Failure to Undertake Mission (-10)
-10 VP's

Victories

Four Balloons (Degrande, Glenn (2), Stramel)

Casualties

None

Replacements

Observer: 2Lt C.H.
One DH4

Ratings Changes

Lt Grün FR +1
2Lt Clark BR +1

Victory Point Totals

+61 Today
-210½ To Date

19 Sqdrn. "B" Flight - End of Day Report - April 6, 1917

6.1 Objective: Bombing Raid (Zone “A” - Troop Encampment)
Mission Points:
Two Pup scouts damaged/aborted (Kipp-Parr, Brandt): - 6
One Jasta 11 destroyed: 40
Failure to carry out mission: - 10
Mission TOTAL: 24

6.2 Objective: Offensive Line Patrol
Mission Points:
Failure to undertake mission: - 25
Mission TOTAL: - 25

6.3 Objective: Artillery Spotting (Zone “B” & “C”)
Mission Points:
Two Zones spotted: 40
Mission deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: 40

6.4 Objective: Twilight Patrol (Zone “C”)
Mission Points:
Five hexes over-flown: 10
German a/c destroyed: 20
Mission deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: 30

APRIL 6 Total Points: +69

Personnel & Equipment Requests
None!

Optional rules used April 5:
Three-turn weather: all missions
Mechanical difficulty: not needed
Aircrew rating changes: Austen +1 PS, Cornell +1 BR
Friendly assistance: not needed
‘Symmetrical’ encounter: not needed
High Guard: not needed

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Twilight Patrol - April 6, 1917.

(Zone “C”)
Taking Part:
Pilot:
Lt. Henri LeMaris

Lt. Kipp-Parr speaking to Colonel Wagner-Stowe in the latter’s office: “Yes sir, thank you, sir, a bit of whiskey would go quite well. Regarding my decision, sir; basically what occurred was that we ran into a duo of Jasta 11 where they shouldn’t have been, namely in our far west. I had just begun our turn towards the lines and the blighters must have seen us about the same time we spotted them; they started climbing and I made the decision that we should have a go because with the bright sunlight they would at the very least be tailing us all the way to our assigned area. We had the altitude advantage and I felt we should take advantage of it. I did think about our two-seater and signaled for him to stay up; I believed he would be fine because if we weren’t able to handle the Huns the DH-4 was close enough and had sufficient altitude to get back to base before the Huns could get to them. As it turned out it worked very well - you know Harry bagged one. But even if he hadn’t it would still have worked well.”

Before the colonel could reply there was a knock at his door. “Yes, what is it, Major?”

Major Marion Abbotsford, adjutant, better know to all as ‘the Bishop’, put his head around the door, “Just letting you in on the latest, sir, that ’B’ flight replacement pilot, LeMaris, downed a Hun near St. Quintin,. A line unit and a reserve battery called in the confirmation. Apparently quite a splendid show that the PBI were able to attend - good for their morale, that. sir”

“I say, that is splendid news; thank, you, Major.

“So, lieutenant, LeMaris was out on a twilight patrol. Heard he was he with us; apparently quite an able chap.”

“Yes, sir, asked if he go out again as he’s been convalescing from a leg wound and wanted to get in a little practice. This will be his eighth Hun, I believe, sir. He’s here only as a temporary but if he’s assigned permanently would you like him to take over the flight?

“Good show, that. As the Bishop said, it’s beneficial that the infantry see we’ve our hand in.” Re-filling their glasses, he said, “No, lieutenant, you will be promoted. I don’t like the idea of an outsider assuming command - bad for team spirit, old boy. You will have to assign him as assistant flight leader, over Brandt, however. As to your decision to attack while escorting, I believe technically it was in contravention of my order to stay with the two-seaters, but I also believe this was a unique situation and speaks to your ability to make proper and expeditious decisions.

Conversation between Col. Wagner-Stowe and Lt. Kipp-Parr

Mission Points:
Five hexes over-flown: 10
German a/c destroyed: 20
Mission deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: 30

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Defensive Line Patrol - April 6, 1917

Sir:

Capt Edeline said he'd seen enough perfunctory defensive line patrols, and he wanted this one to be conducted aggressively. To that end, I took off this afternoon and climbed to 15,000 feet, even though my SPAD doesn't have the range to patrol all the checkpoints at this altitude. I was, however, well placed to spot and dive on hostile aircraft in the exceptionally clear skies.

After passing over Albert, I headed for the South Advanced Landing Field, where I found two Halberstadt D3s patrolling 7000 feet below me. I dove to attack, but they got away.

I returned to 15,000 feet and was approaching Mercatel when I spotted three Albatros D2s at 12,000 feet. Again, I dove to attack, damaging one on my second pass before they got away.

Mercatel and its Advanced Landing Field were patrolled at 15,000 feet, and I was halfway back to Albert when I encoutered an entire flight of hostile aircraft from Jasta 11 at my altitude. I managed to out-maneuver four of them, but two very well-handled Albatros D3s made head-on passes, damaging my aircraft and putting it into a spin. I struggled to pull out, and did so at tree-top level, setting my machine down (rather roughly) in a small clearing.

(signed) Lieutenant Wolfgang Grün
"B" Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 6, 1917

****************

Victory Points

Patrolled 5 Checkpoints +10
Allied Scout w/ Minor Damage -3
German Scout Damaged/Aborted (VP's doubled) +6
Mission Offset -12

Total +1

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Bombing Raid - April 6, 1917

Sir:

I regret that today's bombing raid must be canceled, as we are unable to provide escorts.

(signed) Captain Matthew Edeline
"B" Flight Leader, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 6, 1917

****************

Victory Points

Failure to Undertake Mission -10

Total -10

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Artillery Spotting - April 6, 1917.

Objective: Artillery Spotting (Zone “B” & “C”)

Taking Part:
Pilots:
Lt. Miles Kipp-Parr
Lt. Harry Brandt
Lt. Henri LeMaris
2nd Lt. Wendell Austen

Two-Seater Aircraft (5 Sqdrn.):
Sgt. Brian Cornell w/ Lt. Paul Pressing
Sgt. David Emmet w/ A/M Melvin Goodhouse

Comments:
• Nothing to it, mate; we took off in iffy weather which got sloppier as we got closer to Hun-land. 19’s K-P was leading the flight and took us straight northeast wanting to get there and back before the weather cleared. He was right, it just got worse and we never saw a Hun; good lad, that - tactics spot-on. I’m thinking they were all above us, not down in the mist and clouds where we was trying to spot for bloody arty. No problem there, in Zone “B”, anyway, but Cornell and I was circling our prams around a bit in “A” (and me praying the Hun would stay away!) with the aerials whipping all over. Finally me mate, Goodhouse, made contact with the battery. In came the bloody rounds and Bob’s your uncle - home we was after a leisurely stroll down the west side. All neat and tidy, that. Me mum coulda done it in her shopping cart.

Sgt. David Emmett (pilot, No. 9 Sqdrn.) speaking to a mechanic.

Mission Points:
Two Zones spotted: 40
Mission deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: 40

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Offensive Line Patrol - 6 April, 1917.

Objective: Offensive Line Patrol

Due to the need of four serviceable scout aircraft for the afternoon’s artillery spotting the Offensive Line Patrol was not undertaken.

(Signed) Lt. Miles Kipp-Parr, ‘B’ Flight, 19 Sqdrn.

Mission Points:
Failure to undertake mission: - 25

Mission TOTAL: -25

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Bombing Raid - 6 April, 1917.

Objective: Bombing Raid (Zone “A” - Troop Encampment)

Taking Part:

Pilots:

Lt. Miles Kipp-Parr

Lt. Harry Brandt

2^nd Lt. Wendell Austen

Two-Seater Aircraft (5 Sqdrn.):

Sgt. Brian Cornell w/ Lt. Paul Pressing

Comments:

• We were assigned a morning bombing raid on a troop encampment in Zone A. I assigned Lt.’s Harry Brandt, Wendell Austin and myself to accompany our DH-4.

• Bright sun: in the hope of avoiding Huns I took us to 15,000’ heading directly north from Amiens. We had gone only about 12 miles when we spotted two Jasta 11 aircraft about 5000’ below. I decided that our best course of action was to attack, which we did.

• The two Germans were already climbing as we dove on them at considerable speed; I attacked one Alb. D-III head-on but missed. On his dive Harry says he misjudged his opponent’s angle, but he immediately reversed into a climb which put him close on the Hun’s tail and firing into his fuselage - and sent the Hun down in flames! The next thing Harry knew he had his control lines shot away!

• After a brief mêlée the same Hun shot up my fuel system. Both Harry and I aborted back to the aerodrome; Austin and Cornell’s DH-4 had just landed.

• This will leave us both without mounts for the afternoon’s artillery spotting so we will have to “borrow” two from the newer lads.

(Note: I have been instructed to report to Col. Wagner-Stowe in regards to what might be interpreted as a breach of rules.)

(Signed) Lt. Miles Kipp-Parr, ‘B’ Flight, 19 Sqdrn.

Mission Points:
Two Pup scouts damaged/aborted (Kipp-Parr, Brandt): - 6

One Jasta 11 destroyed: 40

Failure to carry out mission: - 10

Mission TOTAL: 24

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Balloon Bursting - 6 April, 1917.

Zones A & C

Sir:

Since yesterday's operation against enemy balloons in the north of our sector failed to find any, B Flt, No 54 Sqdn, was ordered up against them again today. As Lt Grün had not yet returned by this morning, Capt Edeline asked me to lead the rest of the flight. 2Lts Clark and Glenn had their guns loaded with Buckingham ammunition, while 2Lts Degrande, Carson-Jeffries, and myself carried a standard load. The Captain suggested a route heading northeast far behind our lines, crossing the trenches at the extreme north of our sector, and searching for balloons as we returned. This would give the clear skies a chance to cloud up a bit before we entered enemy territory. I followed his advice, and we enjoyed light clouds while we were behind the German lines.

We spotted our first balloon as soon as we'd passed over the trenches. It took us a while to find the range, but Carson-Jeffries and I saw hits on our third passes, and Glenn finished it off on his fourth.

The next balloon was only a few miles south. It was protected by three Albatros D2's, who left us after a short and inconclusive scrap. If they'd stayed with us longer, the balloon might have been winched to safety. As it was, we were fortunate that Degrande and Clark hit it on their first pass, and I administered the coup de grâce.

Passing over Hill 70, we found another balloon near Lens. My gun jammed badly while attacking it, but Degrande and Carson-Jeffries each hit it multiple times, with Carson-Jeffries finally bringing it down.

Once again, another balloon was nearby. On their second pass, Degrande and Clark scored hits, and then Glenn achieved his second victory of the day. We were fortunate in all of this, I think, that despite two of us firing incendiary ammunition, no explosions were triggered.

Returning to Allied territory near Vimy, I estimated that we could just make it to Corbie on our remaining petrol. Over Arras, however, we were attacked by three Albatros D2's with other plans. With my gun jammed, and Clark and Glenn under orders to save their Buckingham ammunition for balloons, Degrande and Carson-Jeffries had their work cut out for them. Carson-Jeffries managed to hit and drive off one of the D2's, but more importantly, we all burned enough petrol in the course of the dogfight that we could not possibly return to Corbie. I signaled a change of course, and we all landed safely at the North Advanced Landing Field.

Note that the Germans were much less aggressive today. On no fewer than five occasions we saw HA above us that declined to attack.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Spencer Stramel
B Flt, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 6, 1917

****************

Victory Points

Four Balloons Destroyed (Degrande, Glenn (2), Stramel) +100
Five Undamaged Aircraft using Advanced Landing Field (Degrande, Clark, Carson-Jeffries, Glenn, Stramel) -10
Mission Offset -20

Total +70

April 6 ASSIGNMENTS

WEATHER: Fine and sunny - good visibility AM: 6+ / PM: 7-

"B" Flight No. 19 SQUADRON (Amiens Aerodrome)
33 Off. Line Patrol, Bombing Raid, Art. Spotting (PM)
SPA N.48 (L'armee de l'air) (Amiens Aerodrome)
12 Offensive Line Patrol, Trench Strafing, Photo Reconn.

"B" Flight No. 54 SQUADRON (Corbie Aerodrome)
16 Defensive Line Patrol, Bombing Raid, Balloon Bursting

Replacements:
Flight leaders will allocate replacement personnel and aircraft for their respective Flights

AAR's and End of Day Reports due the evening of April 26, 2010