Carrick, I think you'll have to repaint every time you get a kill.


15 July, 1916 04:50 morning mission
Cachy, Flanders Sector
Escadrille N37
Capitaine Gaston A. Voscadeaux
52 confirmed kills
Awaiting 1 claim confirmation

Despite this being a simple affair, yesterday’s Roland was still not being confirmed. Seems local anti-aircraft battery was also claiming Gaston’s kill. This will need more time before it gets cleared up. Gaston finally was assigned a new wingman. Sergent Leblanc Berneart didn’t seem too bright, but maybe that’s what Gaston needs right now. Someone who’ll follow him and listen to his commands, like an obedient dog. He met the man earlier this morning. Him and a dozen of his children. The man carries an entire photo album of his family everywhere he goes. He says it brings him peace. When Gaston thinks of his two daughters, peace isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.
Gaston’s flight was tasked today with escorting 2 Caudrons from Esc 11 on recon flight over enemy front lines north of Péronne. As they were flying over the pockmarked ground of No-Man’s Land, Voscadeaux spotted some Rolands flying low, but he wasn’t in the mood to mix it up with them. They continued unmolested. Later he noticed a lone Fokker. He followed and mixed it up with that one. The Boche pilot was a skilled flier. He tried to drag Gaston over the trenches by flying low, but Gaston didn’t take the bait. He flew further away from the front lines and waited for the Hun to turn back for home. Finally they were out of range of the ground fire. Gaston followed his target as he climbed to altitude. When he at last came in range, Voscadeaux hit and damaged the Eindecker and then watched as the prop windmilled to a stop. The Hun was desperately trying to reach the safety of a dense cloud. The moment he reached that cloud one of Gaston’s wingmen followed him in. The Fokker came out the other end up side down and crashed below.



Gaston was alone now and on his way home, but noticed two more monoplanes flying low over the NML. Voscadeaux decided to follow them. Deeper and deeper into La Bochie. He stalked them until they were ready to land and that’s when Gaston attacked. First, the trailing Fokker was peppered with bullets and diving for safety. Then the leader received similar treatment. A pale trail of smoke followed the Boche machine down, but Gaston didn’t have time to admire his handiwork. The first Fokker was back, apparently not damaged as much as Gaston thought. Few more turns and this one started to smoke as well. Gaston couldn’t finish the job, his Lewis was empty, but there was no need. The Eindecker made sweeping dive down and nearly hit the trees. Too bad Voscadeaux had no witnesses. He saw the leader make a forced landing at Athies.



Gaston was back on his way and just in time. A few kilometres away from the aerodrome his engine spluttered oil all over his wind screen. He was gliding the rest of the way home trying to wipe the grime off the glass. He touched down right in the middle of the airfield.


15 July, 1916 13:00 afternoon mission
Cachy, Flanders Sector
Escadrille N37
Capitaine Gaston A. Voscadeaux
52 confirmed kills
Awaiting 2 claim confirmations

This was ‘B’ flight only show. It was time to harass some German aeroplanes over their own field. Bertincourt was chosen for the target. As soon as they’ve arrived over the Boche aerodrome they spotted two aeroplanes coming towards them. Gaston squinted to see what they were and smiled to himself. “- Looks like Whale meat isn’t on the menu today.” He was referring to the pair of Aviatiks coming their way. It was easy prey. Voscadeaux performed his usual trick. He would fly ahead of the formation as if he were the only one attacking. The gunners of each plane would concentrate on him and ignore the rest of the flight. At the last moment he would abandon his attack and swing around the two-seaters, still keeping their attention. Meanwhile the rest of ‘B’ flight would pick apart the distracted Huns. Once the first wave would be over, Gaston would join and usually finish off one of the wounded planes. It was no different this time. After Gaston’s third pass the lumbering bomber was spiraling down. When both machines were taken care off, Gaston led the flight back home.



"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys,
The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain,
From out of my arse take the camshaft,
And assemble the engine again."