54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - End of Day Report - April 8, 1917

Mission 28: Trench Strafing

Trench Strafing (+31)
Two Allied Scouts Damaged/Aborted (-6)
Mission Offset (-10)
+15 VP's

Mission 29: Offensive Line Patrol

One Allied Aircrew Killed (-30)
One Allied Scout Destroyed (-10)
One Hit on Supply Convoy (+2)
Trench Strafing (+5)
Patrolled 3 Hexes (-0)
-33 VP's

Mission 30: Photographic Reconnaissance

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

Mission 31: Twilight Patrol

Patrolled 5 Hexes (+10)
Trench Strafing (+25)
+35 VP's

Victories

None

Casualties

One Killed (2Lt Glenn)

Replacements

One SPAD VII
Lt Grün's assignment made permanent

Ratings Changes

None

Victory Point Totals

+7 Today
-211½ To Date

19 Sqdrn. "B" Flight - End of Day Report - April 8, 1917

Objective: Dawn Patrol
Zones “A” “B” and “C” patrolled: + 120
Fighter pilot KIA (2nd Lt. G. Horton): - 30
Fighter destroyed : - 10
Mission Deduction: - 80
Mission TOTAL: 0


Objective: Photo Reconnaissance (Zone “C”)
Cambrai area photographed (enemy build-up):
One damaged non-Jasta 11 plane shot down (Sgt. Brian Cornell): +15
One non-Jasta 11 plane aborted (Sgt. Brian Cornell): +3
Average quality plate: +20
Mission Deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: + 38


Objective: Trench Strafing (Zone “C”)
Strafing enemy lines: +35
Mission Deduction: - 10
Mission TOTAL: +25

April 8's
Victories: 1 (2nd Lt. Brian Cornell)
Casualties: 1 (2nd Lt. Gray Horton)

APRIL 8 Total Points: + 63

VICTORY POINTS to date: + 93

Personnel and A/C Requisitioned:
2 Scout Pilots: 2nd Lt. Patrick Fellows (temp.); 1 pilot denied
1 Sopwith Pup: Received

Aircrew Rating Changes:
2nd Lt. David Emmett (temp.): + 1 PS

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Trench Strafing - 8 April, 1917.

Objective: Trench Strafing (Zone “C”)

Taking Part:
Pilots:
Lt. Giles Kipp-Parr
2nd Lt. Wendell Austin
Lt. Henri LeMaris
2nd Lt. Anthony Randell

Comments:
• For the entire mission we spotted NO enemy aircraft; Lt.’s Austin and LeMaris reported they may have seen enemy planes once or twice high above us. Our good fortune undoubtedly was the result of the rain, low clouds, or mist.

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

Mission Points:
Strafing enemy lines: +35
Mission Deduction: - 10
Mission TOTAL: +25

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Photo Reconnaissance - April 8, 1917

Part of a conversation overheard in a corner of the ‘Bear ’n Beast’ pub in East London.

“No, it’s all about our Brian. Mrs. Woolgren got the letter from her son who’s a fitter in the No. 5 Squadron, a two-seater outfit which, if you know anything about the bleedin’ army, are the work horses, you know - doing all the photographs and bombing, like that. Mrs. Woolgren says that Charlie said in his letter that two 5 Squadron planes with three scouts accompanying them went over the lines to photograph Hun troops. (He can’t say exactly where, can he, what with all the censorship but she knows her lad is in the Arras area where that big push is goin’ on.) And our Brian’s a pilot and he was flyin’ one of the two-seaters. First, as they neared the area they was supposed to photograph they spotted a crippled Hun machine going all out for ‘ome. They attack him seein’ as how he was about at their height and by his lonesome. The scouts takes a couple shots at ‘im and miss and then Brian comes up and finishes ‘im off like, sending him down in a ball of flame. Shows them fighter pilots ‘ow it’s done, doesn’t he.

“So ain’t that what ‘e’s supposed to be doin’?

“No, Cob, that’s the point, that’s the job of them scouts, the two-seaters are there to do the real work, like I told you. Anyway, they get to the area and start photographin’ and who shows up? It’s the bleeding ‘Mr. bloody Red Baron’, himself, and two other planes with ‘im. Well, to make a long story short, one of the other Huns gets too close to Brian and ‘e sends him ‘ome with a bloody nose, shooting up the Hun craft pretty well, does our Brian. And the Baron, gets real ‘ot, gets on Brian’s tail but he can’t get ‘im in his sights seein’ as how Brian out-flies him like, pretty soon the Baron just gives up and leaves the fight. Goes home, don’t you know, flies off into the clouds. I know Cob, you don’t keep us with this, having just a daughter, but that’s a real feather in our lad’s cap, so to speak. He’s a bloody ‘ero, is our Brian!

He turns to the group of men in the pub and calls out, “Listen up lads, I’m buying a round for the ‘ouse to celebrate my son the bloody ‘ero takin’ on the Red Baron and the whole bleeding Hun air force.”

Mission Points:
Cambrai area photographed (enemy build-up):
One damaged non-Jasta 11 plane shot down (Sgt. Brian Cornell): +15
One non-Jasta 11 plane aborted (Sgt. Brian Cornell): +3
Average quality plate: +20
Mission Deduction: 0
Mission TOTAL: + 38

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Dawn Patrol - 8 April, 1917.

Objective: Dawn Patrol
Taking Part:

Pilots:
Lt. Miles Kipp-Parr
Lt. Henri LeMaris
2nd Lt. Gray Horton
2nd Lt. Wendell Austin

Two-Seater Aircraft (5 Sqdrn.):
Sgt. Brian Cornell w/ 2nd Lt. Paul Pressing


Comments:
• For a flight that gained us so little it cost greatly; 2nd Lt. Gray Horton was killed by Richthofen when he and two Alb. D-II’s dove out of the clouds as were crossing the lines on our return. Horton’s Sopwith was engulfed in flames all the way down to where it crashed in no-man’s land. For a short time Lt. LeMaris was in a dogfight with the “the Baron” but the fight broke up before either could do any damage.
• The first attack had come before when we were a bit north of Douai; the enemy were not Jasta 11 but none of us were able to score.
• As to the assignment we did a lot of spotting in weather that included low cloud, mist and light rain and saw pairs of Hun aircraft two or three times (we’re not sure of one as it was very high) which declined to give battle. There was a lot of activity by the Germans infantry but it was difficult to tell if they were preparing to attack or withdraw. We went to the east of Vimy Ridge and saw that it is still occupied by the Huns. The Allied artillery barrage was something to experience - it is difficult to believe that humans can withstand that kind horror.

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

Mission Points:
Zones “A” “B” and “C” patrolled: + 120
Fighter pilot KIA (2ndLt. G. Horton): - 30
Fighter destroyed : - 10

Mission Deduction: - 80
Mission TOTAL: 0

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Twilight Patrol - April 8, 1917

Sir:

With our usual Twilight Patroller, 2Lt Clark, stranded at the Advanced Landing Field, I took it upon myself to go out and show our troops in the line that No 54 Sqdn was here for them. I took off in a mist, which soon developed into a heavy cloud which persisted for the rest of my patrol, except for a brief thunderstorm. Reaching the lines near Arras, I made my way south at a moderate pace, strafing the Germans and waving to our footsloggers. Groundfire was persistent but ineffectual. I turned for home near Mercatel, without having seen any hostile aircraft.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Spencer Stramel
"B" Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 8, 1917

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

Victory Points

Patrolled 5 Hexes +10
Trench Strafing +25

Total +35

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Photo Reconnaissance - April 8 1917

Sir:

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

(signed) Captain Matthew Edeline
"B" Flight Leader, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 8, 1917

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

Victory Points

Failure to Undertake Mission -10

Total -10

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Offensive Line Patrol - April 8, 1917

Zone B

Sir:

What a waste! We took off this afternoon, 2Lts Glenn, Carson-Jeffries, and myself, led by 2Lt Stramel, for a low-level attack against German ground targets in the center of our sector. We hadn't flown halfway to the lines when Stramel and Glenn's engines started acting up. Stramel turned back, but Glenn tried to set down in a small clearing ahead of us. If he'd been a better pilot, he probably could have pulled it off, but he rolled through the clearing and smashed into a clump of trees.

To salvage something from this mess, Carson-Jeffries and I kept going. We strafed the German trenches as we crossed near Arras, then attacked a supply convoy. I managed to hit it, but Carson-Jeffries' gun jammed. Fortunately, he was able to clear it, but by then the convoy was gone. Turning south, we next attacked a goods train, but both of us missed. We strafed the German trenches again as we returned near Mercatel. A couple of damaged HA had been seen high above us, but we weren't interfered with.

We found Stramel waiting for us at Corbie with the bad news about Glenn. Killed by a clogged petrol line, or some such rot — I'm glad the Captain is still here to write the letter to his family.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Phillip Barrington
"B" Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 8, 1917

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

Victory Points

One Allied Aircrew Killed (Glenn) -30
One Allied Scout Destroyed (Glenn) -10
One Hit on Supply Convoy (Barrington) +2
Trench Strafing +5
Patrolled 3 Hexes -0

Total -33

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Trench Strafing - April 8, 1917

Zone B

Sir:

As 2Lt Carson-Jeffries had not yet returned to B Flt, I led the rest of the flight (Clark, Barrington, Glenn, and Stramel) to strafe enemy trenches between Arras and Mercatel. Barrington's engine began acting up shortly after take-off, and he returned to Corbie on his own.

We arrived over the front near Arras without incident, and slowly began working our way south. Two Albatros D3s and one D2 attacked us as we were making our third strafing run. I cut two of them off from the rest of our flight, and all three Albatroses broke off before damage was taken by either side.

Our fourth pass over the German lines was interrupted by two Albatros D2s accompanied by the infamous all-red D3. I drove one of the D2s off as soon as combat was joined, then drove off the other shortly thereafter. Another Albatros D3 and a Halberstadt D3 dove into the fight, with the Albatros attacking me and damaging my controls. Clark's engine was the worse from an encounter with von Richthofen, so we were fortunate that the Germans did not persist much longer.

Stramel and Glenn escorted Clark and I to the Mercatel Advanced Landing Field. I've been notified that they made it back to the aerodrome safely, finding that Barrington had arrived quite a bit earlier.

(signed) Lieutenant Wolfgang Grün
"B" Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 8, 1917

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

Victory Points

Trench Strafing +31
Two Allied Scouts Damaged/Aborted (Grün, Clark) -6
Mission Offset -10

Total +15

April 8 ASSIGNMENTS

WEATHER: 7. Overcast - cloud clearing Later (AM 10+ / PM 9+)
“B” Flight No. 19 Sqdrn. (Amiens Aerodrome):
Dawn Patrol, 23 Photo Reconn., Trench Strafing

“B” Flight No. 54 Sqdrn. (Corbie Aerodrome):
12 Offensive Line Patrol, Trench Strafing, Photo Reconn.

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 June 21, 2010