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

April 19 Assignments

WEATHER:

Snow Showers but becoming fine later. (AM 16+) (PM 3+)

“B” Flight No.54 Sqdrn:

Dawn Patrol. Any Time: Photo Reconnaissance, Trench Strafing.

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

April 18 Assignments

WEATHER:

Overcast – rain expected later. (AM 10+) (PM 11+)

“B” Flight No.54 Sqdrn:

Any Time: Defensive Line Patrol, Trench Strafing, Balloon Bursting.

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - End of Day Report - 17 April, 1917.

Mission 64: Photographic Reconnaissance

Average Quality Photographic Plate (+20)
One Allied Scout w/ Slight Damage (-3)
One German Scout Damaged/Aborted (+3)
+20 VP's

Mission 65: Bombing Raid

Six Bombs on Target (+60)
Mission Offset (-10)
+50 VP's

Mission 66: Twilight Patrol

Patrolled 1 Hex (+2)
One German Two-Seater, previously damaged, Shot Down (+15)
+17 VP's

Victories

One German Two-Seater (Major Wagner)
To Date: 7 Aircraft and 9 Balloons

Casualties

None Today

Replacements

Lt Lumley's and 2Lt Bellefeuille's assignments made permanent
One SPAD VII
Denied:
One SPAD VII

Ratings Changes

2Lt Carson-Jeffries FR +1
Sgt Barnes BR +1

Victory Point Totals

+87 Today
+93½ To Date

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Twilight Patrol - April 17, 1917.

Sir:

With No. 19 Sqdn withdrawn from the offensive, and all of No. 54 Sqdn's scouts down out of petrol around Mercatel, I decided this would be a fine time to see developments along the lines for myself.

Visibility was good, so I took my machine to 15,000 feet and made my way to Arras, where I waited for twilight. I let a couple of individual Albatros D3s from Jasta 11 pass beneath me, but when an Albatros D2 came in sight four thousand feet below me, I decided to attack. We fought our way down to 6000 feet before the Albatros escaped. I returned to 15,000 feet, where I found a damaged Albatros C3 trying to make its way to the German lines. The observer put up a good defence, but eventually I was able to shoot the C3 down.

By now, the sun had set, and I descended to 1000 feet to wave to our troops. I refrained from strafing the enemy trenches, as the two combats had used most of my ammunition, and I wanted to save what little remained in case another hostile aircraft intercepted me in the clear sky. I did not have long to wait. I'd just begun heading south when a Halberstadt D3 attacked. I used up the rest of my ammunition to no effect, and broke off. I could not, however, make any progress along the lines, as I found myself tangling with the Red Baron. Only one of his guns was flashing in the twilight, and of course my guns were silent, but he and I put on quite a show for the troops before I broke away.

Further attempts to patrol along the lines seemed likely to be futile with such good visibility, so I headed back to Corbie, passing over Mercatel and the Advanced Landing Field. An Albatros D2 and D3 surprised me deep behind our lines, but I soon out-maneuvered them and landed safely at the aerodrome.

(signed) Major Benjamin Wagner
C/O No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 17, 1917

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

Victory Points

Patrolled 1 Hex +2
One German Two-Seater, previously damaged, Shot Down (Wagner) +15

Total +17

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Bombing Raid - 17 April, 1917.

Marshalling Yard

Sir:

Corps Intelligence must have seen something worrying in the photograph Sgt Barnes obtained this morning, as I'd barely found my billet when I was detailed to bomb that same marshalling yard. Sgt Woollacott was my pilot, and Sgt Barnes accompanied me, piloted by Sgt Hill. As all the scouts of "B" Flt, No. 54 Sqdn, were down out of petrol around Mercatel, we had no escort and I chose altitude for our protection. We climbed to 20,000 feet through slowly dissipating cloud, and followed the route Barnes had used this morning. Formations of hostile aircraft were seen far below us both immediately before and after crossing the trench lines, but of course we declined to attack. We approached the yards from the south, successfully avoiding the defences as Barnes had done this morning.

By this time the cloud cover was light, but we still had to descend to drop our bombs. Passing through 13,000 feet, a single Albatros D2 appeared 2000 feet below us. Thinking that an attack would give us the advantage of surprise, we dove on him. The pilot was wary, and we circled for a bit, Woollacott and Hill keeping him occupied until he'd had enough and broke away. The fight had taken us to 7000 feet, so we descended another 1000 feet to improve our accuracy, and dropped our bombs in two passes, scoring several hits on buildings and equipment.

The skies had cleared, and I was concerned that we would still be vulnerable to Archie even after we'd gotten above most German patrols by returning to 20,000 feet, so I had Woollacott take us northwest, passing over Lens, in a route home that was longer overall but spent less time over hostile territory. Numerous German patrols were seen below us, but we ignored them and arrived safely at the aerodrome.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Erskine Ford
No. 5 Sqdn RFC
April 17, 1917

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

Victory Points

Six Bombs on Target +60
Mission Offset -10

Total +50

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Photographic Reconnaissance - 17 April, 1917.

Marshalling Yard

Sir:

Sgt Barnes of No. 5 Sqdn was assigned to photograph the marshalling yard behind the centre of our sector. I took 2Lts Carson-Jeffries, Bellefeuille, and Kerneels-Pépin with me as escorts. Barnes' pilot was Sgt Woollacott, on his first operation over the lines despite having arrived on Sunday. We took off in light rain, and climbed quickly to 1000 feet.

Enemy machine gun emplacements were active, with Bellefeuille's and Kerneels-Pépin's aircraft being holed. I was forced to take evasive action to avoid being hit, myself. We circled around the marshalling yard and approached from the south in a successful attempt to avoid its defences. The rain stopped and we climbed to 3000 feet, and Barnes exposed his first plate under overcast skies.

After that first plate was exposed, three Halberstadt D3s attacked. One of them tried to separate Barnes and Woollacott from the rest of us, but Carson-Jeffries stayed with them. His persistence payed off, as the Germans eventually broke off, and Woollacott returned to 3000 feet so Barnes could expose a second plate.

After exposing that second plate, three more Halberstadt D3s attacked. Woollacott rapidly took Barnes and his two plates out of the fray. I managed to drive one of the Chambermaids off, and damaged another one. It was trailing smoke as, once again, the Germans broke off. Woollacott climbed back to 3000 feet and Barnes exposed his third plate.

Considering the petrol we'd used in these two dogfights, three plates seemed sufficient to me, and I gave the return signal. A course was set over the yard's defences to conserve petrol, and we descended to 1000 feet to avoid Archie. Kerneels-Pépin's machine was holed by machine gun fire from the ground before we reached Beaumont. After passing over that town, two Albatros D3s dove on us. Barnes drove one of them off before Woollacott extracted them from the fight. The other one soon broke off.

We were attacked again as we crossed the lines, this time by two Halberstadt D3s. While no damage was taken by either side, this combat left the SPADs dangerously low on petrol. Fortunately, an Advanced Landing Field was on the other side of Mercatel. Unfortunately, we were attacked for a fifth time as we flew over the remains of the town. Four Halberstadt D3s engaged us, and the dogfight soon split into three parts. One Halberstadt focused on Woollacott and Barnes, one on Carson-Jeffries, while the remaining two took on Bellefeuille, Kerneels-Pépin and myself. Bellefeuille had gotten separated from the rest of us after the initial attack. Kerneels-Pépin and I soon found ourselves running out of petrol, and we set down safely in a clearing just as four Albatros D2s arrived to support the Halberstadts.

Later, I learned that Carson-Jeffries and Bellefeuille also were forced down out of petrol. None of us were injured, and only Carson-Jeffries' machine sustained any damage. Woollacott managed to keep out of the Halberstadt's sights until all the Germans returned to their side of the lines. He proceeded safely to Corbie aerodrome, where Barnes' third plate was found to be satisfactory.

(signed) Lieutenant Hamish Lumley
B Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 17, 1917

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

Victory Points

Average Quality Photographic Plate (Barnes) +20
One Allied Scout w/ Minor Damage (Carson-Jeffries) -3
One German Scout Damaged/Aborted (Lumley) +3

Total +20

April 17 Assignments

WEATHER:

Overcast – cloud clearing later. (AM 10-) (PM 9-)

“B” Flight No.54 Sqdrn:

Any Time: Photo Reconnaissance, Bombing Raid.

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight- End of Day Report - April 16, 1917

Mission 60: Dawn Patrol

Patrolled 6 Hexes (+60)
Two Allied Aircrew Killed (-60)
Two Allied Scouts Destroyed (-20)
Two Allied Scouts w/ Minor Damage (-6)
Mission Offset (-80)
-106 VP's

Mission 61: Photographic Reconnaissance

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

Mission 62: Trench Strafing

Trench Strafing (+36)
One German Scout Shot Down (+20)
One German Scout Damaged/Aborted (+3)
Mission Offset (-10)
+49 VP's

Mission 63: Twilight Patrol

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

Victories

One German Scout (Lt Lumley)
To Date: 6 Aircraft and 9 Balloons

Casualties

Two Killed (Capt Edeline, 2Lt Perry)

Replacements

Observer:
2Lt Erskine Ford
Denied:
Two Scout Pilots
Two SPAD VII's

Ratings Changes

None Today

Victory Point Totals

-47 Today
+6½ To Date

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Twilight Patrol - April 16, 1917

Sir:

I thought that a Twilight Patrol would be a suitable way to get familiar with the area around my new assignment. Lt Grün told me that B Flt typically conducted Twilight Patrols between Arras and Bapaume, and approached the lines at 1000 feet to save petrol for multiple strafing passes. I decided to approach the lines at 15,000 feet, in hopes of surprising any HA I might find below me. The petrol required to reach that height, however, would prevent any but the most perfunctory trench strafing. With Grün's strict warnings not to reach the lines until full twilight, and to return immediately if visibility became any more clear, I circled the aerodrome in light cloud until I reached my desired altitude, then headed slowly toward Arras.

As I neared the trenches and descended through 11,000 feet, I saw four Halbertstadt D3s 2000 feet below me. I didn't much fancy the odds, but I thought the best defence would be a good offence, so I dove on them, leaving their formation scattered as I zoomed away. Once I reached 1000 feet, a single Halberstadt D3 attacked me before I could begin "showing the flag". My machine gave me an advantage, and I was able to fire on the Halberstadt a couple times without effect. When he managed to get in position to fire at me, however, I decided it was best to break off.

I made my way rapidly southward, strafing the German trenches as I went. The weather began to clear when I was about halfway to Bapaume, and my gun jammed temporarily on my final strafing run. I came under fire from one of our strongpoints as I turned for home, and had to take evasive action. The sky became brilliantly clear, and despite the failing light, I could see a German two-seater being escorted westward more than 10,000 feet above me. I was glad such excellent visibility held off until I was well on my way back.

(signed) Lieutenant Hamish Lumley
"B" Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 16, 1917

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

Victory Points

Patrolled 5 Hexes +10
Trench Strafing +10

Total +20

54 Saqdrn. 'B' Flight - Trench Strafing - April 16, 1917

Zone B

Sir:

2Lts Carson-Jeffries and Kerneels-Pépin returned from the Advanced Landing Field in time to join 2Lt Bellefeuille and myself on our first mission with B Flt, No 54 Sqdn. I led the group to strafe the German trenches between Arras and Mercatel.

We flew to the lines at 1000 feet and under low cloud, which began to clear when we reached the trenches. After two strafing passes, visibility became unlimited, and I thought it best to retire to our side of the lines. We circled for a while until some cloud moved in, and then returned to the lines to continue the operation. By this point, however, the Germans were ready for us, and six Albatros D2s dove on us before we could resume strafing. The fight broke up into three separate duels, with Carson-Jeffries and Bellefeuille each taking on two HA. None of us were hit, and I managed to set my opponent plunging to Earth in flames. The remaining Germans broke off shortly thereafter.

After one strafing run, we were attacked by two Halberstadt D2s and two Albatros D2s. Carson-Jeffries' machine took some superficial damage, and he was separated from the rest of us. Kerneels-Pépin did some serious damage to one of the Halberstadts. Bellefeuille tried to finish it off, but it got away.

I signalled a final strafing pass, as I felt we were attracting too much attention to risk staying over the front lines. We passed over Mercatel and the Advanced Landing Field, where we were set upon by our most dangerous adversaries yet — three very well-handled Albatros D3s. This fight split into three duels, with Bellefeuille doubling up with me against one of the HA. Fortunately, the Germans were better pilots than shots, and they soon retired without causing or taking any damage.

We returned to Corbie without encountering any additional HA. Bellefeuille's engine threatened to give him trouble on our approach to the field, but he kept it going and we all landed safely.

(signed) Lieutenant Hamish Lumley
"B" Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 16, 1917

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

Victory Points

Trench Strafing +36
One German Scout Shot Down (Lumley) +20
One German Scout Damaged/Aborted (Kerneels-Pépin) +3
Mission Offset -10

Total +49