Objective: Photo Reconnaissance (Zone “B” - Marshaling Yards)
Mission Points:
Photos (4 - useless): - 10
Scout pilot severely wounded (2nd Lt. Anthony Randell): - 20
Mission Deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: - 30
Objective: Bombing Raid (Zone “B” - Airfield at Douai)
Mission Points:
Bombed Objective (3 hits): +30
Mission Deduction: - 10
Mission TOTAL: +20
Objective: Twilight Patrol (Zone “C”)
Mission Points:
Five hexes over-flown: 10
Strafing of hexes: 14
Aborted to emergency field: - 3
Mission deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: +21
APRIL 9 Total Points: 11
Personnel and A/C Requisitioned:
1 Scout pilot received (2ndLt. Peter Burnett [temp.])
Returning to reserve status 12:00 hours, 10 April:
1 DH-4 pilot (Sgt. David Emmet)
1 Observer (2ndLt. Cecil Hamilton)
Showing posts with label April 09. Show all posts
Showing posts with label April 09. Show all posts
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Monday, 12 July 2010
54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - End of Day Report - April 9, 1917
- Mission 32: Balloon Bursting
- One Balloon Destroyed (+25)
Mission Offset (-20)
+5 VP's - Mission 33: Defensive Line Patrol
- Patrolled 9 Checkpoints (+18)
Mission Offset (-12)
+6 VP's - Mission 34: Bombing Raid
- Two Bombs on Target (+20)
Alllied Aircrew Slightly Wounded (-10)
Mission Offset (-10)
+0 VP's - Mission 35: Twilight Patrol
- Patrolled 5 Hexes (+10)
Trench Strafing (+26)
+36 VP's - Victories
- One Balloon (2Lt Stramel)
- Casualties
- One Slightly Wounded (2Lt Clark)
- Replacements
- Denied — One Scout Pilot (temp)
- Ratings Changes
- 2Lt Clark BR -1
- Victory Point Totals
- +47 Today
-164½ To Date
Sunday, 11 July 2010
54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Twilight Patrol - 9 April, 1917.
Sir:
The Captain asked if I would conduct this evening's Twilight Patrol, as 2Lt Clark has been grounded by the MO. I was glad to go, and headed straight southwest from our aerodrome in a mist, making only slow progress until reaching Albert, to insure the light would be fading by the time I reached the lines. Heavy cloud awaited me there, and I turned north, methodically strafing the German positions to show our infantry that No. 54 Sqdn was there for them. I hadn't progressed very far when I encountered a particularly strong machine gun emplacement. Bypassing it as the mist rolled back in, I suddenly found a Halberstadt peppering my machine. The mist, however, afforded me an escape, and I reached end of my patrol area without further incident. About a third of my ammunition remained in my belt at this point, and I was reluctant to bring that much home when there was better use for it here. I retraced part of my path, surprising Germans who'd thought I was safely past, before returning to Corbie.
(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Gerald Carson-Jeffries
"B" Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 9, 1917
****************
The Captain asked if I would conduct this evening's Twilight Patrol, as 2Lt Clark has been grounded by the MO. I was glad to go, and headed straight southwest from our aerodrome in a mist, making only slow progress until reaching Albert, to insure the light would be fading by the time I reached the lines. Heavy cloud awaited me there, and I turned north, methodically strafing the German positions to show our infantry that No. 54 Sqdn was there for them. I hadn't progressed very far when I encountered a particularly strong machine gun emplacement. Bypassing it as the mist rolled back in, I suddenly found a Halberstadt peppering my machine. The mist, however, afforded me an escape, and I reached end of my patrol area without further incident. About a third of my ammunition remained in my belt at this point, and I was reluctant to bring that much home when there was better use for it here. I retraced part of my path, surprising Germans who'd thought I was safely past, before returning to Corbie.
(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Gerald Carson-Jeffries
"B" Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 9, 1917
****************
- Victory Points
- Patrolled 5 Hexes +10
Trench Strafing +26 - Total +36
19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Twilight Patrol - April 9, 1917.
Objective: Twilight Patrol (Zone “C”)
Taking Part:
Pilot:
Lt. Henri LeMaris
'Lieutenant, we just got word from the central emergency field; Lt. LeMaris landed there a few minutes ago after a Hun machine gun put paid to an oil line. He says he’ll be back for morning duties.'
An orderly speaking to Lieutenant Kipp-Parr.
Mission Points:
Five hexes over-flown: 10
Strafing of hexes: 14
Aborted to emergency field: - 3
Mission deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: 21
Taking Part:
Pilot:
Lt. Henri LeMaris
'Lieutenant, we just got word from the central emergency field; Lt. LeMaris landed there a few minutes ago after a Hun machine gun put paid to an oil line. He says he’ll be back for morning duties.'
An orderly speaking to Lieutenant Kipp-Parr.
Mission Points:
Five hexes over-flown: 10
Strafing of hexes: 14
Aborted to emergency field: - 3
Mission deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: 21
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Bombing Raid - 9 April, 1917.
Objective: Bombing Raid (Zone “B” - Airfield at Douai)
Taking Part:
Pilots:
Lt. G. Kipp-Parr
Lt. H. LeMaris
2nd Lt. W. Austen
2nd Lt. P. Fellows
Two-Seater Aircraft (5 Sqdrn.):
Sgt. Brian Cornell w/ Lt. Paul Pressing
Sgt. David Emmett w/2nd Lt. Cecil Hamilton
Comments:
• Still heavy weather but the mission was seen as very important to lessen two-seater casualties. We flew under dark heavy clouds most of the way with periods of thunder and lightning and some mist. I took the “back route” as I felt I was least apt to get us lost (or encounter any enemy craft), and then directly west of Douai I turned east and we proceeded to the Hun airdrome there. There were no enemy aircraft about and even as we attempted to bomb the airfield none rose to challenge us.
We circled for some time waiting for a break in the weather but it wasn’t to be. We took several machine gun hits. Of their bomb loads the two-seaters were sure of only three hits.
• Having had the skies to ourselves we were perhaps not as alert as we should have been and four miles east of the lines we were dove on by Richthofen and two Alb. D-II’s. The fight broke into several duels with Sgt. Emmett with Lt. Hamilton paired with the Baron. Fortunately the clouds were low and heavy enough that we were able to climb to them before the Huns could do any damage. Lt. LeMaris drove one of the Alb’s off and Emmett was able to get clear of Richthofen.
• We returned via the back route and made it to Amiens without further encounters.
(Signed) Lt. G. Kipp-Parr, ‘B’ Flight, 19 Sqdrn.
Mission Points:
Bombed Objective (3 hits): +30
Mission Deduction: - 10
Mission TOTAL: +20
Taking Part:
Pilots:
Lt. G. Kipp-Parr
Lt. H. LeMaris
2nd Lt. W. Austen
2nd Lt. P. Fellows
Two-Seater Aircraft (5 Sqdrn.):
Sgt. Brian Cornell w/ Lt. Paul Pressing
Sgt. David Emmett w/2nd Lt. Cecil Hamilton
Comments:
• Still heavy weather but the mission was seen as very important to lessen two-seater casualties. We flew under dark heavy clouds most of the way with periods of thunder and lightning and some mist. I took the “back route” as I felt I was least apt to get us lost (or encounter any enemy craft), and then directly west of Douai I turned east and we proceeded to the Hun airdrome there. There were no enemy aircraft about and even as we attempted to bomb the airfield none rose to challenge us.
We circled for some time waiting for a break in the weather but it wasn’t to be. We took several machine gun hits. Of their bomb loads the two-seaters were sure of only three hits.
• Having had the skies to ourselves we were perhaps not as alert as we should have been and four miles east of the lines we were dove on by Richthofen and two Alb. D-II’s. The fight broke into several duels with Sgt. Emmett with Lt. Hamilton paired with the Baron. Fortunately the clouds were low and heavy enough that we were able to climb to them before the Huns could do any damage. Lt. LeMaris drove one of the Alb’s off and Emmett was able to get clear of Richthofen.
• We returned via the back route and made it to Amiens without further encounters.
(Signed) Lt. G. Kipp-Parr, ‘B’ Flight, 19 Sqdrn.
Mission Points:
Bombed Objective (3 hits): +30
Mission Deduction: - 10
Mission TOTAL: +20
19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Photo Reconnaissance - 9 April, 1917.
Objective: Photo Reconnaissance (Zone “B” - Marshalling Yards)
Taking Part:
Pilots:
Lt. G. Kipp-Parr
Lt. Henri LeMaris
2nd Lt. Wendell Austen
2nd Lt. P. Fellows
2nd Lt. A. Randell
Two-Seater Aircraft (5 Sqdrn.):
Sgt. Brian Cornell w/ Lt. Paul Pressing
Sgt. David Emmett w/2nd Lt. Cecil Hamilton
Comments:
• We began under very heavy cloud and there was some thought of aborting the mission altogether but I hoped it would clear somewhat by the time we reached the objective. I decided to give it go and kept the flight at one thousand feet for the entire time. As it turned out the whole mission was in heavy cloud with thunder and lightening at times.
• About eight miles out the motor in Sgt. Cornell’s DH-4’s started acting up and he signaled they were returning to Amiens. This left us with only one two-seater.
• East of the lines 2nd Lt. Randell (temp. replacement) was slightly wounded in the arm by machine gun fire. Given the choice to return to the emergency field or continue on, he elected to stay with us. As No. 5 were beginning to expose plates Sgt. Emmet’s DH-4 was hit twice, the first chasing him off, and while photographing he was hit in his wing. And then 2nd Lt. Randell took another round wounding him in the leg.
• Because the weather wasn’t improving and with Randell needing medical attention I aborted the mission after Emmett indicated he had exposed four plates.
• As it turned out all were worthless and the only information we could give was what we saw. (When we crossed over the lines outbound we were within sight of Vimy Ridge and it looked like a very intense battle was taking place in what was apparently a snow storm.)
• We saw no enemy aircraft, but seven different times we were hit by machine gun fire. In hindsight I realize I was wrong to keep us at that altitude; had we climbed a little we could have avoided it and faced only the occasional archie round.
(Signed) Lt. Giles Kipp-Parr, ‘B’ Flight, 19 Sqdrn.
Mission Points:
Photos (4 - useless): - 10
Scout pilot severely wounded (2nd Lt. Anthony Randell: - 20
Mission Deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: - 30
Taking Part:
Pilots:
Lt. G. Kipp-Parr
Lt. Henri LeMaris
2nd Lt. Wendell Austen
2nd Lt. P. Fellows
2nd Lt. A. Randell
Two-Seater Aircraft (5 Sqdrn.):
Sgt. Brian Cornell w/ Lt. Paul Pressing
Sgt. David Emmett w/2nd Lt. Cecil Hamilton
Comments:
• We began under very heavy cloud and there was some thought of aborting the mission altogether but I hoped it would clear somewhat by the time we reached the objective. I decided to give it go and kept the flight at one thousand feet for the entire time. As it turned out the whole mission was in heavy cloud with thunder and lightening at times.
• About eight miles out the motor in Sgt. Cornell’s DH-4’s started acting up and he signaled they were returning to Amiens. This left us with only one two-seater.
• East of the lines 2nd Lt. Randell (temp. replacement) was slightly wounded in the arm by machine gun fire. Given the choice to return to the emergency field or continue on, he elected to stay with us. As No. 5 were beginning to expose plates Sgt. Emmet’s DH-4 was hit twice, the first chasing him off, and while photographing he was hit in his wing. And then 2nd Lt. Randell took another round wounding him in the leg.
• Because the weather wasn’t improving and with Randell needing medical attention I aborted the mission after Emmett indicated he had exposed four plates.
• As it turned out all were worthless and the only information we could give was what we saw. (When we crossed over the lines outbound we were within sight of Vimy Ridge and it looked like a very intense battle was taking place in what was apparently a snow storm.)
• We saw no enemy aircraft, but seven different times we were hit by machine gun fire. In hindsight I realize I was wrong to keep us at that altitude; had we climbed a little we could have avoided it and faced only the occasional archie round.
(Signed) Lt. Giles Kipp-Parr, ‘B’ Flight, 19 Sqdrn.
Mission Points:
Photos (4 - useless): - 10
Scout pilot severely wounded (2nd Lt. Anthony Randell: - 20
Mission Deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: - 30
Sunday, 4 July 2010
54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Bombing Raid - April 9, 1917
Hill 70
Sir:All the scouts of B Flt, No 54 Sqdn, escorted two DH4s from No 5 Sqdn to bomb the enemy position on Hill 70 this afternoon. I took the formation directly to the target at 1000 feet, saving petrol in case the SPADs got involved in combat. I should have taken a slightly longer route with less time behind the lines, as 2Lt Clark was wounded by groundfire on our way to the target, and my wings were holed.
Heavy cloud his us from most HA, although two Albatros D3s were seen just above us near Arras. They did not dive on us, and we did not climb to them, as I did not want us to be distracted from our mission.
2Lt Hamilton and Sgt Barnes each put a bomb into the target on their first pass. A mist rolled in for their second pass over the target, preventing them from repeating the performance.
I led the flight back to friendly territory by the shortest route. Since we had encountered no HA, the SPADs had enough petrol for us to return to Corbie through rear areas, so no further HA were spotted. 2Lt Clark will be able to fly again in a few days — I think he finds being grounded more painful than his wound!
(signed) Captain Matthew Edeline
"B" Flight Leader, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 9, 1917
****************
- Victory Points
- Two Bombs on Target +20
One Allied Aircrew Slightly Wounded (Clark) -10
Mission Offset -10 - Total +0
54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Defensive Line Patrol - April 9, 1917
Sir:
Sgt Barnes and I conducted a Defensive Line Patrol for No. 54 Sqdn this morning, so B Flt could make a maximum effort against enemy balloons. Sgts Hill and Steele were our pilots. We climbed to 20,000 feet above heavy cloud with thunderstorms and snow showers, seeing neither enemy aircraft nor the ground as we patrolled the checkpoints from south to north. Sgt Steele brought us down through a rain shower, coming out of the clouds right over our aerodrome — some impressive navigating!
(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Cameron Hamilton
No. 5 Sqdn RFC
April 9, 1917
****************
Sgt Barnes and I conducted a Defensive Line Patrol for No. 54 Sqdn this morning, so B Flt could make a maximum effort against enemy balloons. Sgts Hill and Steele were our pilots. We climbed to 20,000 feet above heavy cloud with thunderstorms and snow showers, seeing neither enemy aircraft nor the ground as we patrolled the checkpoints from south to north. Sgt Steele brought us down through a rain shower, coming out of the clouds right over our aerodrome — some impressive navigating!
(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Cameron Hamilton
No. 5 Sqdn RFC
April 9, 1917
****************
- Victory Points
- Patrolled 9 Checkpoints +18
Mission Offset -12 - Total +6
Saturday, 3 July 2010
54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Balloon Bursting - April 9, 1917
Zones C & A
Sir:I led the full strength of B Flt, No 54 Sqdn, against enemy balloons at the south end of our sector. My orders included the north end as well, but after the entire flight got stranded out of petrol while operating against balloons there on the 6th, I thought it best to restrict our patrol to the south to insure a strong escort would be available for this afternoon's bombing raid. 2Lt Clark's machine was loaded with Buckingham ammunition, and 2Lt Stramel's gun was removed and his machine was outfitted with Le Prieur rockets. 2Lts Carson-Jeffries, Barrington, and Grün carried conventional ammunition, as did I.
With heavy cloud and thunderstorms in the area, no HA were spotted. Unfortunately, even though we swept the entire south end of the sector, only one balloon was detected, southwest of Cambrai. Barrington attacked first, but missed. Stramel went in next, firing half his rockets. One of them hit, igniting an explosion. We were relieved to see him emerge from the fireball unscathed.
Upon reaching the southern limit of our sector, we returned to Corbie. Stramel and Carson-Jeffries found that their fuselages had been hit by groundfire, but patching will be enough to repair the damage. Although we did not destroy as many balloons as I had hoped, we did destroy 100% of the balloons we found!
(signed) Captain Matthew Edeline
"B" Flight Leader, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 9, 1917
****************
- Victory Points
- One Balloon Destroyed (Stramel) +25
Mission Offset -20 - Total +5
Monday, 28 June 2010
April 9 ASSIGNMENTS
WEATHER:
10. Heavy cloud - chance of rain (AM15 + /PM13 -)
“B” Flight No. 19 Sqdrn. (Amiens Aerodrome):
19 Sqdrn.: 23 Photo Recon., Bombing Raid
“B” Flight No. 54 Sqdrn. (Corbie Aerodrome):
54 Sqdrn. : 13 Balloon Bursting (AM), Defensive Line Patrol, Bombing Raid
Escadrille N103 (Amiens Aerodrome):
56 Trench Strafing (AM), Photo Recon., Defensive Line Patrol
Flight leaders will allocate replacement personnel and aircraft
for their respective Flights
AAR's and End of Day Reports due the evening of July 12, 2010
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