Sergeant Artie Lange
Marieux Aerodrome
RFC 5 Piloting B.E.2c

6 Jan 17 - Artillery Spotting Over the Lines

The horrible weather has broken and all flights were scheduled for on time take off this morning. The higher ups decided that another round of Artillery Spotting was necessary as they were not confident our flight yesterday captured all fall of fire for our arty chaps. Our flight took off at 9h6 and it was bitter cold and windy. Our crates were bounced all over the sky and for the first time got air sick. We were slightly behind schedule our rendezvous with the Nieuports from Esc 26, but they were there waiting for us. This is their 3rd straight mission flying cover for our squad and I hope to meet up with them one day. A quick wave and off we go after reaching designated altitude. I love to watch them circle our formation during patrol.

Shortly after our rendezvous with Esc 26, Sergeant Benjamin Walter and Captain Douglas dropped our of our formation and started heading back towards our home field. They were loosing altitude slowly and may have experienced engine trouble. We continued on with our mission hoping they would be ok. Upon reaching our patrol sector, we spotted 3 enemy machines later to be identified as Hab III's approximately 4+ meters away. They were circling our sector but never crossed the lines to attack. It was cloudy and windy, so maybe not looking for a scrap over our side of the lines or never saw our patrol. There was quite a bit of archy fire today, but they were quite off on their aim. We confirmed our prior missions sightings and turned for home without firing a shot again. We landed safely at our home field and found Sergeant Walter and Captain Stretton waiting for us. We were happy to see them alive and well. They landed at a nearby farm after their crates engine gave way and toppled into a ditch severely damaging the plane. They only had minor bumps and bruises and will live to fly another day. They are two of our best in the squad and we toasted their lives and ours last evening. Currently waiting for our next mission.