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.

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - End of Day Report - 19 April, 1917.

Mission 71: Dawn Patrol

Patrolled 12 hexes (+120)
Mission Offset (-80)
+40 VP's

Mission 72: Trench Strafing

Trench Strafing (+57)
One Allied Aircrew Slightly Wounded (-10)
Two Allied Scouts w/ Minor Damage (-6)
Mission Offset (-10)
+31 VP's

Mission 73: Photographic Reconnaissance

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

Mission 74: Twilight Patrol

Patrolled 5 Hexes (+10)
Trench Strafing (+10)
+20 VP's

Victories

None Today
To Date: 7 Aircraft and 12 Balloons

Casualties

One Slightly Wounded (2Lt Carson-Jeffries)

Replacements

One SPAD VII
Denied:
Four Scout Pilots
Two SPAD VII's

Ratings Changes

None Today

Victory Point Totals

+81 Today
+128½ To Date

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

Sir:

Since there were no pilots from B Flt, No. 54 Sqdn, available to conduct a Twilight Patrol this evening, I decided to take it on myself. Like my previous twilight patrols, I climbed to 15,000 feet and waited for twilight over Arras. Just as the light started to fade, I was rewarded with the sight of three Albatros D2s 3000 feet below me. One of the Albatroses was trailing smoke, and I thought the need for the other two to protect it would balance the odds, so I attacked. Even though my gun jammed once, I managed to clear it, and I fired on the enemy four times, from favorable positions. And yet, I saw no effect. When we'd fought our way down to 6000 feet, the Albatroses disappeared into the overcast.

It was now too dark to have a reasonable chance of spotting enemy aircraft, so I descended to 1000 feet, and made my way southward along the lines, waving to our troops and strafing the German trenches. I went as far as Bapaume, and returned to Corbie low on ammunition.

(signed) Major Benjamin Wagner
C/O No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 19, 1917

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

Victory Points

Patrolled 5 Hexes +10
Trench Strafing +10

Total +20

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Photographic Reconnaissance - 19 April, 1917.

Sir:

2Lt Carson-Jeffries was wounded this morning, and Lt Grün and 2Lt Kerneels-Pépin were forced down and will not return until evening. As all replacements were refused yesterday, B Flt, No. 54 Sqdn has no pilots available to escort this afternoon's Photographic Reconnaissance mission. I regret that it must be cancelled.

(signed) Major Benjamin Wagner
C/O, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 19, 1917

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

Victory Points

Failure to Undertake Mission -10

Total -10

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Trench Strafing - April 19, 1917.

Zone B

Sir:

Lt Grün took 2Lt Kerneels-Pépin and myself to strafe enemy trenches between Arras and Mercatel. Except for a brief snow shower, we flew toward the lines under heavy cloud and at 1000 feet. A single Halberstadt D3 was spotted in the clouds above us when we reached the trenches near Arras, but it did not interfere as we began slowly making our way southward, methodically strafing the German positions.

Halfway to Mercatel, a thunderstorm began. Lt Grün signaled that he had engine trouble, and we should accompany him back to the Mercatel Advanced Landing Field. Kerneels-Pépin and I made one final pass over the German trenches, but when we pulled up, the Lieutenant was nowhere to be found. Fearing the worst but hoping for the best, we decided to continue strafing. My chest was grazed by a bullet from the ground on our next pass, but I did not want to interrupt the mission. The machine-gunners along this sector of trench were very good, and on our next pass Kerneels-Pépin's fuselage was holed and his controls damaged. Now we really had no choice but to return. I was escorting Kerneels-Pépin toward the Mercatel Advanced Landing Field, but the gusts from the thunderstorm were too much for his damaged controls, and he was forced down before we reached it.

I returned to Corbie alone, with the thunderstorm ending just before I landed. A message from the Lieutenant had arrived before me, saying that his engine had quit but that he'd set down safely in a clearing, and would return this evening.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Gerald Carson-Jeffries
B Flt, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 19, 1917

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

Victory Points

Trench Strafing +57
One Allied Aircrew Slightly Wounded (Carson-Jeffries) -10
Two Allied Scouts w/ Minor Damage (Grün, Kerneels-Pépin) -6
Mission Offset -10

Total +31

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Dawn Patrol - April 19, 1917

Sir:

While I would not, of course, normally conduct a Dawn Patrol, I had reason to want to observe Lt Grün in action, so I asked him to accompany me on this morning's mission. We took off and climbed to 1000 feet in a snow shower that soon stopped, so we made our way toward the lines under heavy cloud cover. Crossing into enemy territory between Bapaume and Cambrai, we passed west of Cambrai to skirt its defences. The snow resumed as we passed east of Doui and Beaumont, and changed to rain for the segment from the enemy Advanced Headquarters to Vimy. It was snowing again when we flew over Arras, changing to rain which stopped by the time we arrived at the aerodrome. Unfortunately, no HA were spotted, so my attempt to observe Lt Grün was frustrated.

(signed) Major Benjamin Wagner
C/O, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 19, 1917

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

Victory Points

Patrolled 12 hexes +120
Mission Offset -80

Total +40

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - End of Day Report - 18 April, 1917.

Mission 67: Balloon Bursting

Three Balloons Destroyed (+75)
Two Allied Scouts Destroyed (-20)
Allied Aircrew Killed (-30)
One Allied Aircrew Captured w/ Serious Injuries (-25)
Mission Offset (-20)
-20 VP's

Mission 68: Trench Strafing

Trench Strafing (+19)
One Allied Aircrew Captured w/ Serious Injuries (-25)
One Allied Scouts Destroyed (-10)
One Allied Scout w/ Minor Damage (-3)
Mission Offset (-10)
-29 VP's

Mission 69: Defensive Line Patrol

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

Mission 70: Twilight Patrol

One Allied Scout w/ Minor Damage (-3)
-3 VP's

Victories

Three Balloons (Carson-Jeffries, Lumley, Kerneels-Pépin)
To Date: 7 Aircraft and 12 Balloons

Casualties

One Killed (Lt Lumley)
Two Captured w/ Serious Injuries (2Lts Milford, Bellefeuille)

Replacements

One SPAD VII
Denied:
Three Scout Pilots
Three SPAD VII's

Ratings Changes

Major Wagner PS +1
2Lt Kerneels-Pépin PS +1

Victory Point Totals

-46 Today
+47½ To Date

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Twilight Patrol - April 18, 1917.

Sir:

I took the Triplane up to 15,000 feet over Arras this evening to test the repairs to the controls. The mist began to clear when I saw to Albatros D2s at 4000 feet below me. I dove to attack, driving one of them off, but was unable to gain an advantage over the other. After it broke off, I descended to 1000 feet to reconnoitrer the lines. As soon as I arrived over no-man's land, the Red Baron appeared on my tail, hitting my petrol tank. It wasn't easy, but I eventually broke free and headed back to the aerodrome. Unfortunately, I had lost too much petrol, and had to set my machine down in a clearing between Mercatel and Arras.

(signed) Major Benjamin Wagner
C/O, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 18, 1917

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

Victory Points

Allied Scout w/ Minor Damage (Wagner) -3

Total -3

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Defensive Line Patrol - April 18, 1917.

Sir:

As No. 54 Sqdn was fully occupied with trench strafing this afternoon, Sgt Barnes and I took on a Defensive Line Patrol on their behalf. Sgts Hill and Woollacott were our pilots, bringing us up to 20,000 feet through light rain. After passing over Albert, invisible beneath the cloud, we spotted a pair of Halberstadt D3s far below us. Lt Grün had emphasized that we were not to engage in combat unless the odds were in our favour, previously damaged aircraft or lone Halberstadts, so we continued to the South Advanced Landing Field. Turning north, the weather improved to light cloud by the time we reached Mercatel. After overflying St. Pol, I chose to fly slightly nearer the lines than a direct return to Albert would require, in the hope of surprising a lone or damage HA. The decision paid off, as we soon found a single Halberstadt D3 below us, and we dived to attack. Woollacott took us in first and missed, but Hill scored hits. Unfortunately, the Halberstadt disappeared into the clouds before we could turn back for another try. We climbed back to 20,000 feet and returned to Corbie, where it was still raining.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Erskine Ford
No. 5 Sqdn RFC
April 18, 1917

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

Victory Points

Patrolled 9 Checkpoints +18
Mission Offset -12

Total +6

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Trench Strafing - April 18, 1917.

Zone C

Sir:

Lt Grün led 2Lts Bellefeuille, Kerneels-Pépin, and myself to strafe enemy trenches south of Bapaume. We took off under an overcast, but the weather began to improve. Just after passing over Albert, we were attacked by an Albatros D3 and three Albatros D2s. The Lieutenant's machine was damaged, and the dogfight developed into individual but ineffective combats until the Germans broke off.

The Lieutenant signalled that he would return to Corbie alone, so I continued toward the lines with Bellefeuille and Kerneels-Pépin. The weather had improved further by the time we arrived, and although we were able to engage in some strafing, we were attacked by hostile aircraft almost continuously. First, six Albatros D2s attacked. I took on four while Bellefeuille and Kerneels-Pépin each engaged one. The Germans eventually broke off, but two Albatros D2s and three Halberstadt D3s took their place. Kerneels-Pépin and I each found ourselves circling with a Halberstadt, but both Albatroses focused on Bellefeuille, shooting him down just behind the German trench lines.

I decided that Kerneels-Pépin and I should return, as the damage the two of us could do to the enemy trenches did not seem to justify the risk. Two more Albatros D2s attacked us as we began the flight back. Kerneels-Pépin drove one off, which was the extent of our success. On landing at Corbie, I learned that Lt Grün's controls had failed, but he had set his machine down safely just short of the landing field.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Gerald Carson-Jeffries
B Flt, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 18, 1917

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

Victory Points

Trench Strafing +19
One Allied Aircrew Captured w/ Serious Injuries (Bellefeuille) -25
One Allied Scout Destroyed (Bellefeuille) -10
One Allied Scout w/ Minor Damage (Grün) -3
Mission Offset -10

Total -29

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Balloon Bursting - April 18, 1917.

Zones A & C

Lunch at the officer's mess:

"Hey, sit over here, Bert! Did you see how the Lieutenant 'evaluated' the triplane?"

"What to do you mean, CJ?"

"When the bloody Baron and his wingman attacked us."

"Yes, that was a shame about Milford. Here for a couple days, wounded, then shot down on his first day back. I hope the Germans take good care of him. You were lucky to get away when the Baron's guns jammed."

"'A shame,' nothing, Bert! Ralph was thrown to the wolves. Grün had a chance at a head-on with the wingman, and he funked it. He can file a report saying he's thoroughly tested the triplane's buggering-off capabilities."

"It was a dogfight, CJ. Anything could have happened."

"And that's exactly what the Major would say if I tried to raise a fuss. But that triplane stands out like a sore thumb — I know what I saw."

"The Lieutenant brought us back right along the trench lines. There was nothing windy about that."

"Don't make me laugh, Bert! After bringing us halfway to bloody Belgium, if he'd taken the back route on the return, the rest of us in SPADs would have gone down out of petrol, and he'd be exposed. I don't know why the Major made Grün acting flight leader, anyway. Lumley would have done better. He was a man."

"Fat lot of good being 'a man' did him, CJ. The only thing that came out of the fireball when that balloon exploded was his engine."

"Well, I was glad to see you come out unscathed when yours exploded."

"And that was some nice work with the rockets when you put half your salvo into that first balloon."

"Look, we can sit here and congratulate each other all day, Bert, but it won't count for much when we get in a tight spot and Grün's nowhere to be found. You'd better just watch your tail for yourself when we go out to strafe trenches this afternoon."

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

Victory Points

Three Balloons Destroyed (Carson-Jeffries, Lumley, Kerneels-Pépin) +75
One Allied Aircrew Killed (Lumley) -30
One Allied Aircrew Captured w/ Serious Injuries (Milford) -25
Two Allied Scouts Destroyed (Lumley, Milford) -10
Mission Offset -20

Total -20