EPower, Eliza has her claws in deep. Don’t get too distracted! Congratulations on the victories.

Lt. Ainslie’s “Badger” Harris
Bruay
June 26, 1917

Harris led another intercept southeast of Lens. A and B flight were circling the patrol area. A Flight was 1000’ below and ahead. Harris saw the V Strutters come out of a cloud and dive on A Flight. He signalled the attack and dove picking one out chasing a Nieuport from A Flight. As he turned to get on his tail bullets smashed into his machine and tracers whizzed by his head. The Huns had set the perfect ambush and Harris had fallen for it. He pulled up hard and was instantly fighting with two Albatros with red fuselages. One had his elevator painted white. It crossed his mind as amusing that he noticed it while in a life and death struggle. Harris got a burst in on one of his adversaries and he broke off but it had cost Harris. The other was able to get in a burst of his own which rattled his Nieuport. His controls were sloppy and he dove west.

A and B Flight came back to Bruay in singles and pairs. Keen asked McScotch if he had seen Badger after the scrap. “Last I saw of him he was diving like the devil with that red machine latched on his tail.” Keen made his way to debrief. He knew it could happen to anyone at anytime but somehow he found it hard to believe that the American might not be coming back.”

To be continued.