Conclusion

This Wings Over France campaign took 17 months to complete, from November 2009 to April 2011. Three flights were involved at one time or another, but only B Flight, No 54 Sqdn, completed the campaign.

B Flt, No. 54 Sqdn
10 enemy aircraft downed, and 14 balloons.
+132½ points

Other flights were:

A Flt, No. 19 Sqdn
2 days
No victories.
-304 points

B Flt, No. 19 Sqdn
13 days
9 enemy aircraft downed, and 4 balloons.
+214 points

I'd like to thank Jim (B Flt, No. 19 Sqdn) for getting this started, and for letting me help with the site design.

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - End of Day Report - 21 April, 1917.

Mission 78: Balloon Bursting

Two Balloons Destroyed (+50)
Use of Advanced Landing Field by Two Undamaged Aircraft (-4)
Mission Offset (-20)
+26 VP's

Mission 79: Offensive Line Patrol

Failure to Undertake Mission (-25)
-25 VP's

Mission 80: Defensive Line Patrol

Patrolled 9 Checkpoints (+18)
Mission Offset (-12)
+6 VP's

Victories

Two Balloons (Grün)
To Date: 10 Aircraft and 14 Balloons

Casualties

None Today

End of Campaign

No Replacements or Ratings Changes

Victory Point Totals

+7 Today
+132½ To Date

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Defensive Line Patrol - April 21, 1917.

Sir:

As Lt Grün and 2Lt Kerneels-Pépin were at the North Advanced Landing Field, Sgt Dunfee and I found ourselves to be the only uninjured aircrew at Corbie aerodrome when we arrived this morning. We therefore took on the afternoon Defensive Line Patrol, but with some caution. Not only were we newly arrived, but we would be unescorted, and this was Sgt Dunfee's first combat mission. The weather was misty as we took off and passed over Albert at 15,000 feet. A light rain began falling once we reached 20,000 feet and headed toward the South Advanced Landing Field. Two Albatros D2s were seen patrolling over the field about 7000 feet below us.

Heading north, the rain stopped after we flew over Bapaume. Two Halberstadt D3s were spotted 10,000 feet over Mercatel, and then a Roland C2 escorted by two Albatros D2s only 3000 feet below us. We declined to attack any of them. Turning away from the lines after overflying Arras, we flew to St. Pol and then to Albert without encountering any further HA, and landed at Corbie under light clouds.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Maurice Berquist
No. 5 Sqdn RFC
April 21, 1917

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

Victory Points

Patrolled 9 Checkpoints +18
Mission Offset -12

Total +6

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Offensive Line Patrol - April 21, 1917.

Sir:

With Lt Grün and 2Lt Kerneels-Pépin at the North Advanced Landing Field after this morning's Balloon Bursting mission, B Flt, No 54 Sqdn, has no scout pilots available for the ordered Offensive Line Patrol. I regret that it must be cancelled.

(signed) Major Benjamin Wagner
C/O, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 21, 1917

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

Victory Points

Failure to Undertake Mission -25

Total -25

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Balloon Bursting - April 21, 1917.

Zones A & C

Sir:

2Lt Kerneels-Pépin and I took off in light rain this morning to attack German balloons north of Arras. The rain turned to mist, and we crossed the lines at 1000 feet. Kerneels-Pépin's machine was hit by ground fire near Vimy, but took no serious damage. We continued over Lens, but did not find a balloon until we were north of Hill 70. Two Albatros D2s were defending it. They attacked us, but soon lost us in the mist. We then turned our attention to the balloon. Kerneels-Pépin made the first pass, but caused no damage. I managed to hit it, however, and my Buckingham ammunition caused an explosion.

We continued northward and found a second balloon at nearly the limit of our sector. Both of us hit the balloon on our first pass and missed on our second. My third pass set the envelope on fire.

I set a course for the most direct route to Corbie, as we were at nearly the limit of our petrol. The mist lifted and the rain resumed, revealing us to an Albatros D3 in the vicinity of our first balloon. Kerneels-Pépin and I got separated, but were able to rejoin after the Albatros broke off. Shortly thereafter, when we reached the trench lines, another Albatros D3 attacked. This one seemed to focus his attention on me, but soon had gun trouble and ended the engagement.

Two Albatros D2s attacked us next. Once again, I lost contact with Kerneels-Pépin, and when we found one another again, it was clear that these three combats had left us far too little petrol for a return to the aerodrome. We made our way, instead, to the North Advanced Landing Field, where we set down safely.

(signed) Lieutenant Wolfgang Grün
Acting B Flight Leader, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 21, 1917

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

Victory Points

Two Balloons Destroyed (Grün) +50
Use of Advanced Landing Field by Two Undamaged Aircraft (Grün, Kerneels-Pépin) -4
Mission Offset -20

Total +26

April 21 Assignments

WEATHER:

Unsettled. (AM 11+) (PM 13-)

“B” Flight No.54 Sqdrn:

AM: Balloon Bursting. Any Time: Defensive Line Patrol, Offensive Line Patrol.

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - End of Day Report - 20 April, 1917.

Mission 75: Artillery Spotting

Successful Spotting (+20)
Two Allied Aircrew Killed in Action (-60)
Two Allied Aircrew w/ Minor Injuries (-20)
One Allied 2-Seater Destroyed (-15)
One Allied 2-Seater Badly Damaged (-10)
One Allied Scout Damaged/Aborted (-3)
One Jasta 11 Scout Shot Down (+40)
-48 VP's

Mission 76: Offensive Line Patrol

Two Hits on Supply Convoy (+4)
One Hit on Goods Train (+2)
Trench Strafing (+13)
Patrolled 5 hexes (-0)
+19 VP's

Mission 77: Twilight Patrol

Patrolled 4 Hexes (+8)
One German Scout Shot Down (+20)
One German Scout Forced Down w/Bad Damage and Minor Injury (+8)
One Allied Aircrew Slightly Wounded (-10)
+26 VP's

Victories

Two German Scouts (Wagner)
One Jasta 11 Scout (Grün)
To Date: 10 Aircraft and 12 Balloons

Casualties

Two Killed in Action (2Lt Ford, Sgt Woollacott)
Three w/ Minor Injuries (Maj Wagner, Sgt Barnes, Sgt Hill)

Replacements

2-Seater Pilot
Sgt. Gordon Dunfee
Observer:
2/Lt. Maurice Berquist
Denied:
Four Scout Pilots
One 2-Seater Pilot (temp)
One Observer (temp)
Two SPAD VII's
One DH4

Ratings Changes

None Today

Victory Point Totals

-3 Today
+125½ To Date

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Twilight Patrol - April 20, 1917.

Sir:

I conducted a Twilight Patrol for B Flt this evening, following my usual plan of climbing to 15,000 feet and heading toward Arras to wait for the light to fade. This time, however, I spotted two Albatros D2s 6000 feet below me while I was passing north of Albert. One was trailing smoke, and I dove to attack. I shot the undamaged HA down on my third pass, but the damaged one got away.

I returned to 15,000 feet and flew to Arras, where once again, I spotted two Albatros D2s. Both were undamaged, and flying at 13,000 feet. Again, I dove to attack, but my gun jammed. By the time I'd cleared the jam, the Albatroses had escaped.

I descended to 1000 feet and flew southward along the lines, waving to our troops. I refrained from strafing the German lines, as the two combats had used about half my ammunition. Visibility had become good, and I wanted to make sure I had ammunition available if further HA were encountered. I found a use for that ammunition between Mercatel and Bapaume, when I was attacked by a Halberstadt D3 and two Albatros D2s. I got into a turning contest with one of the Albatroses, and eventually forced it down — unfortunately behind the German lines. I expended the last of my ammunition on the Halberstadt to no avail, and broke for home. After this display, I don't see how any of our troops could have misidentified my Triplane, but a trigger-happy machine gunner fired on me, a bullet grazing my arm. I returned to land safely at Corbie aerodrome, but will be out of action for a few days.

(signed) Major Benjamin Wagner
C/O No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 20, 1917

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

Victory Points

Patrolled 4 Hexes +8
One German Scout Shot Down (Wagner) +20
One German Scout Forced Down w/ Bad Damage and Minor Injury (Wagner) +8
One Allied Aircrew Slightly Wounded (Wagner) -10

Total +26

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Offensive Line Patrol - April 20, 1917.

Zone A

Sir:

While I am aware of my orders not to conduct operations across the lines, I am also aware that B Flt, No. 54 Sqdn, was ordered to conduct an offensive line patrol today. A single SPAD VII, even in the capable hands of Lt Grün, is hardly a signficant offensive force, so I accompanied him. We took off in a thunderstorm, which alternated with periods of heavy cloud as we flew to Arras at 1000 feet. My gun jammed as we strafed the German trenches on our way over, but I was able to clear it. A goods train was spotted near Vimy, and again my gun jammed, but Grün managed to cause some damage. I cleared this second jam, but it did no good. Neither of us could hit a supply convoy found near Lens.

With the heavy cloud concealing us from HA, I decided to continue beyond Hill 70, where we attacked another supply convoy. Both of us achieved hits, and I made the signal to return to the aerodrome. We took a route along the German trenches, which we strafed from Hill 70 to Arras. Our flight back to Corbie was in light rain, which stopped just as we landed. Both our machines were found to have suffered superficial damage from ground fire.

(signed) Major Benjamin Wagner
C/O, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 20, 1917

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

Victory Points

Two Hits on Supply Convoy (Wagner, Grün) +4
One Hit on Goods Train (Grün) +2
Trench Strafing +13
Patrolled 5 hexes -0

Total +19

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Artillery Spotting - April 20, 1917.

Zone C

Sir:

2Lt Kerneels-Pépin and I escorted 2Lt Ford and Sgt Barnes to spot for our artillery south of Cambrai this morning. Sgts Woollacott and Hill were piloting the DH4's from No. 5 Sqdn. I could not help but think that, despite our experience, Kerneels-Pépin and I constituted a rather thin escort for the DH4's.

We climbed to 1000 feet and headed southwest in light rain and mist. Before reaching the lines, two Halberstadt D3's came out of the clouds forcing Barnes and Hill down on their first pass. I caught one of the Halberstadts, with Jasta 11 colourings, and forced it down as well. Both Hill and the German pilot somersaulted their aircraft on landing. Later I learned that the German was pulled from his machine with serious injuries, while Barnes and Hill, fortunately, sustained only minor injuries.

We crossed the lines and Ford soon made contact with our battery. He was able to correct the fall of shot almost as quickly, and we turned for home about the time my fuselage took superficial damage from ground fire.

Passing over the trenches, two Albatros D3's dove on us. Ford and Woollacott were shot down immediately, crashing to Earth with no possibility of survival. One of Kerneels-Pépin's struts was damaged before the Germans broke off. I escorted him to the South Advanced Landing Field and saw him down safely.

As soon as I set course for Corbie, a single Albatros D2 attacked me from heavy cloud. The pilot seemed very inexperienced, but managed to disappear into the clouds before I could bring him down. I resumed my path to Corbie, and arrived without further incident.

(signed) Lieutenant Wolfang Grün
Acting B Flight Leader, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 20, 1917

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

Victory Points

Successful Spotting (Ford) +20
Two Allied Aircrew Killed in Action (Woollacott, Ford) -60
Two Allied Aircrew w/ Minor Injuries (Barnes, Hill) -20
One Allied 2-Seater Destroyed (Woollacott) -15
One Allied 2-Seater Badly Damaged (Hill) -10
One Allied Scout Damaged/Aborted (Kerneels-Pépin) -3
One Jasta 11 Scout Shot Down (Grün) +40

Total -48

April 20 Assignments

WEATHER:

Unsettled. (AM 11+) (PM 13-)

“B” Flight No.54 Sqdrn:

AM: Artillery Spotting. Any Time: Offensive Line Patrol.